Jessica Berndt, Recipe Tester

More nuanced than gingerbread and not at all like fruit cake, this French pain d’épices is unforgettably fragrant with spice and nostalgically rich with tradition.

• 15 M
• 1 H
• 6

This triple layer of awe-inspiring cakedom is baked with rich molasses and apple and frosted with a decadent cream and caramel sauce.

• 2 H
• 3 H
• 6

Sorta like apple pie without the crust, this simple autumn dessert comes together with absolute ease…and will earn you quite a lot of accolade.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 1 H, 25 M
• 0

Lunch. Brunch. Starter. Midnight nosh. There’s no time of day when this impressive (and easy) tart isn’t irresistible come late summer.

• Quick Glance
• 1 H
• 2 H, 15 M
• 0

Make it regular or make it dairy-free and vegan. Either way, it’s going to be satisfying as can be.

• 1 H
• 5 H, 30 M
• 2

One of those desserts that makes people do face-plants into their dessert plates.

• 1 H
• 3 H
• 12

Insanely gooey goodness can be yours in minutes thanks to these shortcut sticky rolls.

• 25 M
• 1 H, 15 M
• 4

One taste and you’ll understand why this is the most popular recipe from The New York Times. A new American classic.

• 15 M
• 1 H, 30 M
• 38

An innovative and enticing way to preserve summer’s most ephemeral luxury for indulging all year long.

• 30 M
• 45 M
• 4

A cousin to crumble and crisp and cobbler, a pandowdy is simply another spectacular fork-to-pie-hole delivery system for fruit, sugar, and spice buried beneath buttery biscuits.

• 20 M
• 1 H, 40 M
• 2

Ethereally airy biscuits. Sweetly spiced stone fruits. This riff on classic shortcake swaps strawberries for the unexpected to really quite surprising and clamor-for-more effect.

• Quick Glance
• 25 M
• 55 M
• 0

A gorgeous dessert, this almond cake has a rich, buttery flavor and toasted almond topping. Serve with strawberry-rhubarb compote or seasonal fruit.

• Quick Glance
• 1 H
• 1 H, 25 M
• 0

An updated Italian classic made with all the usual suspects along with an unexpected drizzle of pesto that transforms a frugal veggie-bin catch-all into something truly astounding.

• Quick Glance
• 30 M
• 1 H, 30 M
• 0

Inspired by the tropics, this simple single-layer cake is quick and easy yet lacks nothing in terms of satisfying richness.

• 20 M
• 1 H, 10 M
• 12