Tarte Tatin

French for “caramely apple goodness atop a buttery crust,” a tarte Tatin is nothing more than a tart turned upside down, nothing less than pastry perfection.

Applesauce Bread

Comfort finds us in unexpected ways. And thank goodness for that–or rather, thank goodness for this not-too-sweet, subtly apple-y quick bread.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 1 H, 30 M
• 21

Doughnut Pudding

When life hands you too many doughnuts—yes, it’s possible—just make pudding. An easy-to-rationalize, drop-to-your-knees-it’s-that-good, doughnut pudding.

Chocolate Tart with Pine Nuts | Torta al Cioccolato con Pignoli

We don’t know much Italian, but we’re pretty certain this tart, with its molten filling and brownie crust, translates as “Oh, that’s so good!”

• Quick Glance
• 40 M
• 3 H, 20 M
• 8

Crisp Peanut Butter Cookies

Uncannily crisp, melt-in-your-mouth, shortbread-like lovelies from San Francisco’s Miette that are unlike any other peanut butter cookie you’ve experienced.

• Quick Glance
• 20 M
• 50 M
• 14

Buttermilk Sandwich Loaf

A fast-rising home-baked white sandwich loaf that tastes–dare we say it?–better than mom’s. Way better. And just wait ’til you toast it.

Zucchini Cake with Lemon and Poppyseed

A charmingly old-fashioned cake that puts to lovely use the abundance of late-summer zucchini languishing in your veggie bin or garden.

Plum-Blueberry Upside-Down Cake

This super simple, purple-stained cake—er, what’s left of it—bears no surprises. Just old-fashioned goodness and the season’s most compelling fruits. Got milk?

Peach and Crème Fraîche Pie

A haute yet humble peach pie that draws inspiration from the classic. Whether you seek convention or innovation, you’ll find it here.

Pâte Sucrée

The name of this sweet and sturdy pie crust is French for “so much better than your silly American pastry dough.” Though we’ll let you be the judge of that.

Cherry Clafouti

A simple, old-style French dessert that’s as easy to toss together as it is to tie a scarf.

Blueberry Tea Cake

An irresistible tea cake that’s essentially dessert masquerading as breakfast, lunch, or pretty much any nosh time when you crave something sweet.

• Quick Glance
• 15 M
• 1 H
• 12

Rachel’s Very Beginner’s Cream Biscuits

Scandalously simple. Ethereally airy. Magical. That’s just a sampling of what folks are saying about these two-ingredient Southern cream biscuits. See for yourself.

• Quick Glance
• 15 M
• 30 M
• 53

Congo Bars

Better known as seven layer bars, this bewitching stack of graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, coconut, and nuts just may exceed your childhood memories.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 40 M
• 33

Chocolate-Coconut Macaroon Pies

These little cups of toasted coconut, full of creamy dark chocolate, are like chocolate-dipped macaroons in reverse: lots of chocolate and a little coconut.

Coconut Cake

Flaunting an ever-practical, always-stunning, goes-with-anything white, this froufrou coconut cake livens up holidays, dinner parties, bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, and Tuesday nights.

• Quick Glance
• 25 M
• 1 H, 15 M
• 22

Brioche

Is there a more perfect breakfast? These glorious, golden brown brioche get their glow from lots of egg yolks and a healthy amount of butter.

Spoon Bread

From the cooking icon Edna Lewis, this light, airy spoon bread whispers, in that inimitable Southern way, to be included on tables everywhere. Even in the North.

Lemon Chess Pie

This Southern creation is a simple affair. Just eggs, butter, sugar, and, of course, lemon, it’s a pleasantly homey dessert, perfect for any afternoon or occasion.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 55 M
• 20

Homemade Twinkies

These little ditties are miles away from the cello-wrapped Twinkies you grew up eating. They’re delicate sponge cakes filled to bursting with a lappingly good seven-minute frosting.