MAKES: 3 to 4 dozen TIME: About 11/2 hours, largely unattended These are not quite your grandma's maple cookies, especially if you try any of the variations. Rice flour makes the dough tender and snappy, but if you don't have any handy, cornmeal, semolina, or simply...
MAKES: 1 loaf (8 or more servings) TIME: About 1 hour, plus time to cool An Eastern European cake with deep, rich gingerbread-like taste and dark color. It's loaded with flavor from the rye flour, spices, honey, and coffee. Add up to a cup of chopped dried fruit...
MAKES: About a dozen squares TIME: 40 minutes Somewhere between a brownie, a cookie, and fudge. 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened, plus a little for the greasing pan 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg Pinch salt 3/4 cup...
MAKES: 1 loaf (at least 8 servings) TIME: About 11/2 hours, largely unattended, plus time to cool I love regular pound cake, but I love the sweet and mild corn flavor of this even more. Thanks to whipped egg whites, it's light and tender, not leaden as you might...
MAKES: About a dozen squares TIME: About 1 hour Tangy and sweet, with a tropical twist from the coconut, this variation on gooey lemon bars is incredibly easy to prepare. Be sure not to overbake them; they're done when the edges are firming up and the middle is still...
MAKES: 6 to 8 servings TIME: About 1 hour with a prepared crust, plus time to chill A twist on classic lemon meringue: Lighter than coconut cream pie, with a rich and creamy filling and a delicate topping. For something even lighter, try the fruit variation, which...
MAKES: One 2-layer cake (about 12 servings) TIME: About 1 hour, plus time to cool Though usually viewed as opposite flavors, chocolate and vanilla combine beautifully. Vanilla's perfumy and musky aroma and flavor provide a wonderful backdrop for the earthiness of the...
MAKES: 3 to 4 dozen TIME: About 30 minutes Thin, light, crisp, and chocolaty, these cookies are spread onto the baking sheets instead of being mounded and dropped. They're showstoppers, but this version is super-easy to make. When the cookies are still warm, they are...
MAKES: About 11/2 cups TIME: 15 minutes Ganache, one of the most useful of all dessert sauces, sounds far more difficult than it is, thanks to its French name. But it's a snap to make and can take on a number of different guises. You can use milk or white chocolate in...
MAKES: 3 to 4 dozen TIME: About 21/2 hours, largely unattended Finely chopped nuts, sugar, and egg whites are the base of this cookie; the nuts add flavor and texture, while the sugar and egg whites make them crisp and chewy, sort of like a flat macaroon. Don't let...
