Dessert recipes

Granny Smith applesauce tarts with golden hot-water pastry shells filled with honey-sweetened, lemon-brightened chunky applesauce. A lighter, old-fashioned dessert.

A multi-layered chocolate showstopper: fudgy brownie, chocolate ganache, cocoa meringue, mocha mousse, and rum sauce all in one jaw-dropping dessert.

Creamy pumpkin pie enriched with real maple syrup and warm spices bakes into a silky autumn dessert that tastes like fall in Vermont.

Mexican-style bread pudding (capirotada) with orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, Monterey Jack cheese, and toasted almonds. A sweet-savory dessert tradition.

Gooey caramel and chocolate chip bars made with German chocolate cake mix and pecans. A semi-homemade shortcut dessert that bakes in under 30 minutes.

Three-ingredient French chocolate praline dessert sauce: semisweet chocolate melted into heavy cream with praline folded in or sprinkled on top. Ready in 10 minutes.

Baked bananas in a buttery caramel syrup scattered with raisins and pecans. A simple, old-fashioned dessert ready in 45 minutes, served warm with whipped cream.

Patriotic layered parfaits with red gelatin, creamy vanilla pudding, and fresh blueberries. These make-ahead Fourth of July desserts look stunning in clear glasses.

Sicilian cassata cake with a delicate sponge layer, Marsala wine soak, and rich chocolate custard filling. A traditional Italian celebration dessert built in stages.

Port-soaked dried figs stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with a whole almond. An elegant make-ahead appetizer or dessert bite that needs overnight chilling.

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.

Pumpkin swirl pie with a cream cheese layer, pumpkin pie spice, and a marbled top. Two fillings baked in one crust for a showstopping holiday dessert.

Lattice strawberry rhubarb pie with warm spices, ruby fruit bubbling through a woven golden crust. Classic spring dessert that balances tart rhubarb against sweet strawberries.

Spiced apple pie with cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, and allspice in a flaky double crust dressed with pastry leaves. Bakery-quality dessert with deep autumn warmth.

Pumpkin marble cheesecake on a gingersnap-pecan crust with swirled pumpkin spice and vanilla cream cheese batters. A stunning fall dessert with two-tone visual appeal.

Tender zucchini bundt cake spiced with cinnamon and studded with nuts, crowned with tangy lemon cream cheese frosting. Elegant from-scratch dessert for summer gatherings.