Similar to flan in its delicate texture, this classic creme caramel is as simple as it is sophisticated. You’d expect nothing less from the French, yes?
Desserts
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Because some things don’t change. Including the lure of old-fashioned, uncomplicated, chewy chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges and soft centers.
Hamantaschen
Our testers are singing the praises of these sweet cookies that are stuffed with poppy seed and apricot filling. We’re quite certain you will be, too.
New Orleans-Style Beignets
Airy and yet dough at the same time, these iconic, anytime-of-day New Orleans pastries come buried beneath mounds of sweet, sweet confectioners’ sugar. All we have to say is, don’t wear black.
Small Batch Brownies
These small batch brownies make just enough batter to fill a loaf pan so you don’t have an entire baking pan hanging around all week tempting you. Ideal for just the two of you.
Homemade Twinkies
Like the classic, these sponge cakes are crammed to almost bursting with irresistibly sweet, fluffy, creamy goodness—but minus the chemicals and other abominations.
Chocolate Soufflé
If you’ve been hesitant to make chocolate souffle out of fear, worry not. This easy version is guaranteed to reach lofty heights. A no-stress, high-stakes dessert. We show you how.
Monkey Bread from Zoë François
A gooey, sweet, classic bread made from pull-apart blobs of brioche dough coated in a buttery, cinnamony caramel sauce that’s gonna distract you in the best possible way.
Panettone
Panettone, which makes its traditional Italian Christmas appearance, is gussied up here with any dried fruit you fancy. An ever so slight twist on a classic.
Gingerbread Cheesecake
This gingerbread cheesecake tastes like the classic Christmas spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove in each and every bite of this simple yet stunning dessert.
Cheese Danish
A startlingly spectacular made-from-scratch cheese Danish that is going to forever change your notion of what a cheese Danish ought to be.
Make-Ahead Cinnamon Coffee Cake
No need to get up hours ahead to produce a cinnamon-y sweet coffee cake, still warm from the oven. Mix it all ahead and pop it in the oven when you wake up. It’s that easy, ya’ll!
Dorie Greenspan’s Rugelach
These butter and cream cheese pastries are filled with cinnamon-sugared nuts, a slick of jam, currants, and a handful of chopped chocolate.
Chewy Hermit Bars
These chewy hermit bars are a revelation. They’re wonderfully spicy, plumped with raisins, and amazingly chewy–even fudge-like.
Eggnog Pie
Essentially a slightly tipsy cheesecake, this bourbon-enhanced eggnog pie is something we’re classifying as “holiday desserts for parties where people like to party.”
Pumpkin Meringue Pie Ice Cream
A cool, creamy version of our favorite pie. Pumpkin ice cream with chunks of crunchy crust and, get this, swirls of marshmallowy meringue.
Cranberry Scones
Got leftover cranberries? Then you’ve got the fixings for these incredible scones that balance tart berries with sweet white chocolate and knee-wobblingly flaky pastry.
Day of the Dead Cookies
These sugar skull cookies are classic Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) treats, but work for Halloween, too.
Halloween Caramel Apples
Forget bobbing for apples. This endeavor requires less effort yet yields more caramel-cloaked gratification and a more elegant version of those sticky, red apples of our youth.
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Candied Hazelnuts
Give this decadent dark chocolate mousse a try and see why our testers are calling it the best chocolate mousse they’ve ever tried.