A frosted coconut sheet cake cut into 12 squares on a piece of parchment with a person grabbing a piece.
Edd Kimber
1 of 8

Coconut Sheet Cake

This coconut sheet cake, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting and a dusting of desiccated coconut, is the lightest, fluffiest sheet cake we’ve ever tried.
Three plates, each with a crème caramel on them with spoons resting on the side.
Laura Edwards
2 of 8

Crème Caramel

I find this dessert such a simple comfort. It might be the most basic of baked custards, but it really is heaven on a plate. Perhaps it is the memories of eating it as a child, or maybe it’s the texture. Either way, it is a delicious, classic dessert that deserves to be brought back from the annals of “retro” and “old-fashioned” to sit proudly on our dinner tables once again.
Brown buBrown butter salted peanut caramel chocolate chip cookies on parchment paper.tter salted peanut caramel chocoalte chip cookies on parchment paper.
3 of 8

Brown Butter Salted Peanut Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

: Edd KimberThe ultimate chocolate chip cookie with brown butter, salted peanuts, caramel and lots of chocolate. Super quick and easy to make.
Several pieces of coffee coffee cake stacked on a wire rack, with a cup of coffee next to them.
Edd Kimber
4 of 8

Coffee Coffee Cake

This coffee coffee cake gets a caffeine boost from the ribbon of espresso swirl running through it and is lavished with a sweet streusel.
Whipped Swiss meringue buttercream with flecks of vanilla.
Cenk Sönmezsoy
5 of 8

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This Swiss meringue buttercream is a light, airy frosting made with egg whites, sugar, butter, and vanilla. Perfect for frosting a simple vanilla sheet cake, or for eating directly from the bowl.
Twenty-four raspberry cheesecake streusel bars on parchment paper.
6 of 8

Raspberry Cheesecake Streusel Bars

: Edd KimberLemon-infused cheesecake bars topped with jammy raspberries would be wonderful just on their own, but I wanted to make something a little more impressive, so these are topped with oat streusel, adding great texture.
Several lemon madeleines next to a madeleine pan and a bowl of lemon glaze nearby.
Laura Edwards
7 of 8

Lemon Madeleines

These lemon madeleines, which are easy to make and subtly sweet, make the perfect cookie or tea cake thanks to their lovely lilt of citrus.
Six everything bagel buttermilk biscuits on marble.
8 of 8

Everything Bagel Buttermilk Biscuits

: Edd KimberI love an everything bagel, with its pungent garlic and onion, but I don’t always have time to whip up a batch of bagels. When the craving for that flavour hits but the time doesn’t permit these biscuits are the perfect thing.



About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leiteโ€™s Culinaria. I’m the author of The New Portuguese Table and Notes on a Banana. For more than 25 years, I’ve been developing and testing recipes for my site, my books, and publications. My work has also appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appรฉtit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and more. I’m also a cooking teacher, memoirist, and inveterate cat lady.


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