Dessert/8 recipes

Light spiced apple cake with nutmeg and ginger, topped with cinnamon-walnut sugar before baking. Cut into rectangles and serve warm or at room temperature for coffee cake perfection.

Four-ingredient chocolate coconut candy drops made with unsweetened chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, flaked coconut, and walnuts. Placed in a hot oven that's turned off, they develop a gorgeous glossy glaze as they cool.

Pat Korth of Muskego offered a coconut variation on the peanut butter kiss cookie.

A light, fluffy Czech pound cake, known as Babovka, with a delightful two-tone vanilla and cocoa layer. Perfect for tea time or dessert, this cake is simple to make and visually appealing.

Fudgy brownies lightened with prune puree instead of butter, topped with a chewy coconut macaroon layer and a chocolate drizzle. A two-in-one treat that's richer and more wholesome than it looks.

Dense chocolate fudge cake with oats, Kahlua, and chocolate syrup, topped with a broiled brown sugar and nut crunch. One pan, under an hour, and dangerously rich.

Classic Italian sponge cake made with a warm egg foam, cocoa powder, and no butter at all. Light as air with a deep golden crust and tender chocolate crumb.

For years I only ate carrot cake with a butter and cream cheese frosting, but I was surprised by this glazed carrot cake. It was actually delicious. I will not mind enjoying a glazed carrot cake any more.

Two-layer spice cake with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and plumped raisins, frosted with Swiss meringue mocha buttercream. A showstopper dessert for serious bakers.

Orange balls are a no-bake holiday classic: crushed vanilla wafers mixed with butter, powdered sugar, frozen orange juice concentrate, and pecans, rolled in coconut for a bright citrus bite.

Chocolate madeleines: classic French shell-shaped tea cakes made with semi-sweet chocolate, butter, and cake flour. Delicate, buttery, and with a tender crumb under a crisp edge.

Robert Redford poke cake: chocolate cake soaked with sweetened condensed milk and butterscotch, topped with whipped cream and crushed toffee bars. Classic make-ahead potluck dessert.

Rich buttermilk chocolate layer cake with melted chocolate and chopped nuts folded right into the batter. A from-scratch classic that bakes up tender and moist every time.

Fudge-almond cheesecake on a spicy gingersnap crust, flavored with almond and vanilla extracts, then topped with a glossy semi-sweet chocolate fudge layer. Rich, creamy, no-crack method.

I was looking for a recipe that transported well.The kids love these easy to make bars. They are great to take to the park,on a picnic or on a hike.I wrap them individually in plastic wrap and they are just great!

Crunchy twice-baked biscotti loaded with chopped Heath bars, pecans, and butterscotch extract. Makes 36 to 48 cookies that are built for dunking in coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.