Christmas

This ice cream doesn't hit you over the head with the flavor of chestnuts. Mellow and creamy, it's great on its own — though when we're not having it with the Tarte Tatin, we like to serve it with a delicate butter cookie.

The pork and figs need to marinate overnight, so be sure to begin one day ahead.

These flavorful pancakes make a great breakfast (drizzled with maple syrup) or appetizer (topped with chives).

Quinces take the place of apples, tarting up the classic dessert.

This easy dessert has it all: chocolate cookie crust; rich, creamy filling; and a glistening tumble of berries on top.

Juniper berries add a wintery, almost piney flavor. They're available in the spice section of many supermarkets and online from deandeluca.com.

A thick, rich glaze makes these decadent.

This classic truffle is made from a simple bittersweet ganache. Adding a few special ingredients makes these truffles anything but ordinary - for variations see balsamic truffles, mango curry truffles and meyer lemon and thyme truffles

Tender cake, creamy filling, crunchy nuts, and tangy–sweet kumquats add up to one glam holiday dessert.

Serve with roast pork or cottage cheese.