Cake

Begin preparing the cheesecake one day before you plan to serve it.

Molasses adds richness to this cake. It has a down-home style that's just right for a more casual turkey dinner.

At the Markham in New York, this cake is served with toasted almond ice cream.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Similar to a flourless cake, this one contains only a small amount of flour, which results in an incredibly rich, fudgelike dessert.

Moist gingerbread is paired with a brandy-spiked dried-fruit compote in this luscious finale to the feast.

Here's a fine-textured cake with a luxurious cream cheese and whipped cream frosting.

Made with a fraction of the butter used for most upside-down cakes, this dessert has the flavor and texture of angel food cake — and it tastes so good that nobody will know it has been streamlined.

An old-fashioned layer cake topped with a lusciously sticky icing.

A big finish for a big celebration dinner.

"Whether it's served warm or cool, my mother's apple cake is the best I’ve ever tasted," says Amanda Denton of Barre, Vermont. "It's moist on the inside and has a beautifully browned crust. This recipe ranks right up there with love and support as the great things my mother gave me."

"This incredible cheesecake was made by the mother of my first boss," says Jim Carrier of Greenwich, Connecticut. "When I called Mrs. Marshall to ask if she would consider showing me how she made it, she warmly replied, 'I would be delighted to share the recipe with you, kid.' On the evening of my 'seminar,' it was a wonderful sight as I walked into her kitchen and found the stage set with all the ingredients and utensils for the important lesson. Mrs. Marshall sat on a wooden stool and directed me through the entire process. 'Pick up that wooden spoon—and save some energy for later,' she said. 'You will be beating the egg whites by hand. We don’t use any electrical appliances in this production except the oven!' I dutifully followed each step. This is a cheesecake recipe to treasure." Although Mrs. Marshall doesn't use any electric appliances to make this cheesecake, feel free to use a food processor for the crumbs and an electric mixer for the filling. The cake will rise as it bakes and fall as it cools. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 6 1/4 hr

The cider sauce adds an extra spark of ginger to this old-fashioned cake.