Dessert/5 recipes

Linzer Augen are Austria's almond shortbread sandwich cookies: two tender, nutty rounds glued with apricot jam, the top cut with a little window that frames the glistening preserves under a snowfall of powdered sugar. A Christmas cookie tin classic.

Classic apricot sweet simmers dried apricots with cardamom, ginger, and almonds into a fragrant, spiced compote, much like Hyderabad's qubani ka meetha. Naturally fruit-sweet, served chilled. A make-ahead Indian dessert.

A rustic free-form peach pie heaped with juicy peaches and brandy-plumped cherries over a layer of toasted almonds, the pastry folded loosely over the top and dusted with cinnamon sugar. Juicy and golden.

No-bake chocolate cheesecake built on a toasted almond wafer crust with a silky milk chocolate, cream cheese, and whipped cream filling. No oven required.

Ischler cookies are an Austrian classic from Bad Ischl: ground-almond shortbread rounds sandwiched with raspberry jam and crowned with espresso-spiked chocolate icing. Spa-town pastry royalty.

Italian rainbow cookies (seven layer cookies): three almond paste sponge layers tinted red, green, and yellow, stacked with raspberry jam, and coated in chocolate. A classic holiday bakery tradition.

Elizabeth David's Gateau Au Chocolat Et Aux Amandes recipe

Soft, chewy banana cookies loaded with chopped pecans and a hint of molasses and cinnamon. This drop cookie recipe makes 3 dozen and disappears even faster.

Pumpkin pie layered with a sticky brown-sugar date and walnut base, then spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. A holiday upgrade on the classic that tastes like pecan pie had a baby with pumpkin.

Adorable cat-shaped cookies made from refrigerated dough with pecan ears, M&M eyes, and pretzel whiskers. A fun baking project kids absolutely love.

Halva gateau is a Middle Eastern layer cake with semolina-almond sponge, coffee syrup soak, and halva buttercream. Pistachio-topped elegance perfumed with cinnamon.

Dainty sandwich cookies are tender butter rounds coated with almond-sugar tops and filled with raspberry jam or chocolate. A classic European tea-cookie tray pick.

A feather-light cheesecake lightened with whipped egg whites for an airy texture, on a cinnamon zwieback crust, finished with a sour cream, crumb, and almond topping. Far lighter than dense New York style.

A chocolate cherry fruitcake made easy with quick-bread mix, maraschino cherries, pecans, chocolate chips, and a splash of kirsch. Fruitcake even skeptics will love.

Flourless chocolate cream cake made with semi-sweet chocolate, pecans, and Irish cream liqueur, crowned with a pillowy Irish cream whipped cream topping.

Buttery shortbread cookies topped with caramel, coated in melted chocolate, and pressed with chopped pecans. Homemade Turtle-style candy cookies that make a gorgeous gift box treat.