Custard

These pots de crème won raves from our food editors for their wonderful butterscotch flavor and creamy texture. The combination of muscovado and Demerara sugars gives the custard its deep flavor.

This makes one large crème brûlée for sharing. Prepare the custard up to a day ahead, and chill the topping for at least one hour. Set out small plates and a large serving spoon so that guests can help themselves.

The fabulous texture and perfect balance of coffee and brandy flavors in the custard are enhanced with a crunchy brown-sugar topping. Bake the custards a day ahead so that they chill fully before the topping is broiled.

In this great dessert, luscious custard tops a thin layer of mocha ganache.

This is the best clafouti I have ever tasted, for it is short on flour, long on custard, and the butter gives it an added depth of flavor. Remove the pits if you like. If you leave the pits in the cherries, be sure to warn your guests so they don't crack their teeth!

This traditional French dessert combines all the best qualities of custard, pudding, and cake.

Lime peel adds a lovely touch to this creamy dessert. Begin preparation a day ahead.

Try this sweet alternative to fat-and cholesterol-laden crème brûlée.

(POTS DE CREME AU CITRON ET A LA VERVEINE) Often used to make herb tea and liqueurs in Provence, the fragrant herb lemon verbena gives a nice lift to these rich, silky lemon custards. Look for fresh lemon verbena at farmers' markets and nurseries; dried lemon verbena can be found at specialty foods stores.

Sformato D'Asparagi con Fonduta This savory flan has an intense asparagus flavor. Its texture is unusually tender for a flan, without a trace of egginess.

This is an elegant dessert, light but filled with berry flavor — and it's much easier to make than it looks. The generous crust is made from store-bought shortbread, so rich in butter there's no need to add more. We used Walkers, a pure-butter shortbread from Scotland that's widely available in supermarkets.

In this intriguing twist on a delicious and popular dessert, the ancho chilies add a touch of earthy heat.

Ground cardamom is worth seeking out for this recipe — it adds another dimension to the dessert. The spice can be found at many supermarkets, Middle Eastern and Indian markets, and specialty foods shops. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr

Begin preparing the custards a day ahead so that they can chill overnight.

Chill the flans overnight before serving.