Dessert/4 recipes

Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies pack 2 1/2 cups of rolled oats with semi-sweet chocolate chips and optional nuts into a chewy or crisp drop cookie. Choose the bake time to nail your texture.

Fudge pudding cake that bakes into two layers: chocolate cake on top and a rich fudge sauce on the bottom. A self-saucing dessert with walnuts and real chocolate.

Lemon sours are three-layer cookie bars with a buttery shortbread base, coconut-nut filling, and tangy lemon glaze on top. A sweet-tart bar cookie that cuts into neat squares.

Slice-and-bake chocolate cookies made with melted unsweetened chocolate, Dr. Pepper soda, and chopped walnuts. The soda adds a subtle spiced sweetness you can't quite place but can't stop eating.

A from-scratch coconut custard pie with a silky cream and egg yolk filling loaded with shredded coconut, topped with billowy golden meringue. Old-fashioned diner pie done right at home.

Orange cherry biscotti: twice-baked Italian cookies studded with dried cherries and zested orange. Crisp, dunkable, and nearly fat-free. Pairs with coffee, tea, or sweet dessert wine.

Chocolate spritz cookies made with cocoa and real butter, pressed into shapes and drizzled with melted semi-sweet chocolate. A holiday cookie press classic.

Crisp, crumbly Swedish coconut cookies leavened with baker's ammonia for an ultra-light snap. Rolled into walnut-sized balls and baked until golden. Makes 4 dozen buttery, coconut-flecked treats in under an hour.

Peanut butter rounds rolled in egg white and coated in toasted wheat germ for a nutty, crunchy crust. Dark brown sugar, sesame seeds and a touch of nutmeg set these apart from the usual fork-criss-crossed peanut butter cookie.

Hot fudge pudding cake that creates its own chocolate sauce as it bakes. Cocoa batter topped with sugar and hot water transforms into cake over a pool of rich fudge sauce.

Soft cocoa oatmeal cookies with plump raisins, made with egg whites instead of whole eggs. A lighter chocolate cookie that stays chewy and satisfying for days.

Family tree cookies are giant chocolate cookies shaped like trees with branches for piping family names. A fun baking project with kids using cocoa dough, chocolate chips, and royal icing.

Chocolate malt ice cream sandwiches pair slice-and-bake chocolate cookies with a homemade malted chocolate ice cream lightened with skim milk and egg whites. A nostalgic, from-scratch frozen treat.

Chocolate crossword cookies: thick, chewy chocolate bar cookies loaded with chocolate chips, baked in a pan and cut into squares. A bake-sale favorite with a brownie-cookie hybrid texture.

Buttery slice-and-bake cookies studded with chopped almonds or hazelnuts, then dipped in melted chocolate. Crisp, nutty, and elegant enough for a holiday cookie box.

Three-layer butter pecan cake filled with rich, from-scratch burnt-sugar caramel, frosted in buttercream and crusted with pecans. A classic Southern caramel cake worth the fuss.