Dessert/4 recipes

Traditional Chinese almond cookies with butter and shortening get an egg wash for glossy shine. Dough chills 2 hours, then slices into rounds topped with whole almonds.

Chocolate mint sticks: a three-layer holiday bar with a fudgy brownie base, a bright green peppermint buttercream middle, and a glossy chocolate glaze on top. A Christmas-cookie classic.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Sweet Chocolate Cake recipe

Cola chocolate cake with marshmallows baked in, topped with a broiled peanut butter and brown sugar frosting loaded with chopped peanuts. A true Southern classic.

Godiva white chocolate cheesecake with mascarpone, cream cheese, espresso, and chocolate liqueur baked in a water bath. A crustless, silky-smooth cheesecake garnished with fresh raspberries.

A deliciously rich chocolate pecan pie using dark, milk and white chocolate studded with pecans.

A creamy, spice-forward pumpkin pie made the traditional way. Canned pumpkin purée, warm cinnamon and nutmeg, and a 9-inch baked crust come together for a Thanksgiving dessert that holds its shape. No microwave needed.

Quick fruit cobbler with canned peaches and apricots, tapioca for thickening, and Bisquick biscuit topping. A low-calorie dessert ready in 45 minutes with minimal prep.

Super leprechaun cookies 'n' mint cake: a cheerful green bundt with a hidden chocolate-mint candy bar swirl, glazed with melted cookies 'n' mint chocolate. An easy, festive St. Patrick's Day cake.

Eggless chocolate banana snack cake with mashed ripe banana, cocoa, brown sugar, and a vinegar-baking soda lift. Topped with melted chocolate chips. A no-egg, no-dairy 8-inch square cake.

Quick microwave cheesecake with sour cream filling and melted chocolate drizzled on top. Cooks in 18 minutes with no water bath, ready after chilling.

Black Forest rugalach pastries with a cream cheese dough wrapped around boozy cherry, dark chocolate and walnut filling. The Jewish bakery classic given a chocolate-cherry overhaul straight out of the German cake playbook.

Soft banana spice cookies with cinnamon, cloves, walnuts, and raisins. Made with mashed bananas and packed brown sugar for a chewy, cake-like drop cookie. A great way to use overripe bananas.

Pumpkin snack cake spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, made lighter with egg substitute and low-fat milk. Soft, moist, and dusted with powdered sugar.

No-bake cafe au lait blender cheesecake whips cottage cheese, instant coffee, and whipped topping into a light gelatin-set dessert. Cinnamon zwieback crumbs top each slice.

A lemon cake mix gets a serious upgrade with orange juice and fresh blueberries, then frosted with a homemade citrus cream cheese whipped frosting loaded with fresh orange and lemon zest. Semi-homemade but nobody will know.