Dessert

When I was growing up in Louisiana, fall meant pecans littering the ground from the stately trees in our suburban neighborhood. On walks home from the bus stop, we would dip into various neighbors’ backyards and gather as many pecans as would fit in our pockets and backpacks. My favorite thing to do once all the nuts had been shelled (by hand!) was to make pecan pie. This recipe uses cane syrup, which adds a more complex sweetness than corn syrup. Plus, by toasting the pecans, you bring out the .…

I prepare Nutterbuddies—small crispy peanut-butter-and-chocolate squares—as a confection for many of the restaurants I’ve worked for, in Seattle and Chicago, and they’ve garnered quite a cult following.

Creamy, nutmeg-spiced eggnog is one of my favorite holiday indulgences, and has been since I was a child. Now I’ve turned my favorite holiday cheer into a compelling ice cream.

This vegan pecan pie is flavored with coconut oil, maple syrup, and almond milk, while tapioca flour takes on the role of thickener, replacing eggs.

The filling of this tart reminds of me of the hot Mumbai summers when Mum would make mango shrikhand for us, with the beautiful fragrance of floral cardamom and saffron and the warm notes of nutmeg. Mango and ginger are a great pairing, so the base of the gingersnap crust pairs well with the silky smooth shrikhand filling in the tart. I love this tart and my kids love it too. It is so easy to make that it has become a regular in our home. It is definitely a showstopper for a party as well! It is.…

These no-bake bars are a cross between cheesecake and Klondike Bar. They're frozen and coated in a milk chocolate shell that hardens almost immediately.

This subtly spiced, sweet potato-based marvel borrows from the Basque cheesecake tradition. It's baked until its exterior is a deep copper, with a pale interior.

I am always in search of the best brownie, and I figure if you can’t find it, make it. So here it is: a triple chocolate brownie, with a layer of toasted chopped nuts encased in dulce de leche, then topped with a zesty cheesecake mixture and baked again. I rest my case.

This simple baked custard from the Darden Sisters relies on honey for sweetness and a bit of citrus extract and zest for a boost of flavor.