12 lattice recipes

A lattice-topped mincemeat tart for Christmas: spiced fruit mincemeat baked in a crisp butter-and-lard shortcrust under a delicate woven lattice, dusted with icing sugar. One big tart instead of fiddly individual pies.

Lattice cherry cheesecake: a creamy almond-scented cheesecake on a slice-and-bake cookie crust, topped with cherry pie filling and a piped lattice of batter. A showstopping shortcut dessert.

Lattice top turkey casserole with leftover turkey, mixed vegetables, and cheddar in cream of mushroom soup, topped with a golden Bisquick lattice. Classic post-holiday leftover dinner.

Blueberry lattice pie with a bright, fresh filling: a portion of berries is cooked into a glossy cornstarch glaze, then the rest fold in whole, so it sets clean instead of soupy. Lemon, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Coconut custard pie baked in a water bath and slipped into a pre-baked shell, topped with a drizzled chocolate lattice. A silky, nutmeg-scented classic.

Fresh blueberry lattice pie baked inside an oven bag for a bubbly, perfectly thickened filling and golden crust. Simple ingredients: blueberries, flour, sugar, and lemon.

Fresh raspberry pie with a woven lattice crust, made with real berries cooked down with cornstarch for a thick, glossy filling. Dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with chocolate leaves.

Lattice-topped raspberry pie with a glossy, pre-cooked filling that sets up sliceable, never runny. Heaps of raspberries thickened with cornstarch under a golden woven crust. A blue-ribbon berry pie.

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.

Summer peach and berry lattice pie with fresh orange juice, nutmeg, and a golden egg-washed crust. Use any mix of strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

This was a big hit at our house: only a little strip was left along one edge of the casserole! I used nonfat mayonnaise, and bet that nonfat yogurt would work just as well to cut down on fat. I was out of peas, so used corn. And I used leftover chicken instead of turkey. Save this one for a neat way to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.