Dessert/8 recipes

French cream pie is a vintage sour cream and raisin filling spiced with cinnamon, cooked custard-style in a double boiler, then chilled in a baked shell and crowned with billowy whipped cream.

Creamy maple syrup pie with chopped walnuts in a silky custard filling. A Quebec-style tarte au sirop d’érable cooked in a double boiler for pure, unburnt maple flavor.

Frozen cranberry souffle with Italian meringue and whipped cream, garnished with spun sugar cranberries. A showstopping holiday dessert that's made ahead and served frozen.

No-bake cheesecake with graham cracker walnut crust, applesauce-swirled filling, and warm spiced apple topping. Mix filling uses box convenience with fresh flavor from lemon and homemade sauce.

A four-layer cheesecake masterpiece: walnut-graham crust, dense cream cheese filling, silky sour cream topping, and whole strawberries drenched in a Cointreau-spiked raspberry glaze. Plan ahead; it needs 2 to 3 days to reach peak flavor.

Spiced gingerbread with cinnamon, mace and nutmeg, brightened with orange zest and brandy, studded with raisins. A moist, dense holiday loaf perfect for Christmas tea trays.

Low calorie marbled chocolate cheesecake made with cottage cheese, skim milk, and whipped egg whites on a cocoa cookie crust. A no-bake, lighter cheesecake with bold chocolate swirl.

Thin, delicate cookies rolled into calla lily shapes while still warm, then filled with fresh whipped cream and a candied orange peel stamen. Edible art for special occasions.

Rich chocolate layer cake with cocoa, hot coffee, and a hint of almond extract. Colette's recipe bakes into two moist 9-inch layers that are begging for your favorite frosting.

No-bake rocky road chocolate creme pie loaded with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips in a chocolate cookie crust. A pudding-mix shortcut dessert that comes together in 20 minutes plus a quick chill.

A surprising sweet-savory pie layering sautéed zucchini with caraway seeds and lemon zest beneath a rich, buttery lemon custard. The kind of old-fashioned garden pie that turns zucchini skeptics into believers.

Chocolate cinnamon angel food cake made from scratch with egg whites, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. A light, fat-free cake with warm spice and delicate chocolate flavor.

Moist two-layer chocolate cake with a bright orange zest frosting. Boiling water in the batter creates an extra-tender crumb. Drizzle with orange liqueur for special occasions.

Banana walnut upside-down cake with a brown sugar-maple syrup caramel, sliced bananas in concentric circles, and a cinnamon butter cake. Served warm with whipped cream.

Flourless chocolate decadence cake with melted chocolate, cocoa, and a glossy ganache glaze. Dense, fudgy, and naturally gluten-free with a truffle-like center.

Mini cherry cheesecakes with vanilla wafer crusts and homemade tart cherry topping. Single-serving cream cheese desserts baked in muffin cups, ready for any party tray.