Baking

Adding fleur de sel at the end transforms this tart into a delicious cross between a cheese course and dessert.

While apple pie has an all-American reputation, both the fruit and the dessert are of European origin. However, several centuries of apple cultivation and dessert baking have given us de facto ownership, and the pie has become a must on many Thanksgiving tables. Cheese was produced by many of the German dairies in and around Philadelphia. The pie has no bottom crust and is baked in an oval dish, so it resembles a cobbler.

Can be prepared in less than 45 minutes.

Hazelnuts give these airy and crunchy nuggets a distinctive flavor.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Bake this at least a day before serving.

Start this meal with garlicky potato soup; serve the pizzas with marinated beets and red onions; and end with orange slices drizzled with Marsala, and biscotti.

The Italian combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, called gianduia, is used here in a sumptuous, dense cake. The torte's lustrous chocolate glaze makes this a perfect dessert for holiday entertaining.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Vanilla bean and brandy accent the cake, and a few raspberries tint the peach topping a delicate pink.

A sophisticated dessert that comes together easily because the pastry, cream and sauce can be prepared ahead of time. Serve the leftover cream filling like a pudding, and top it with fresh fruit.

Kind of a cross between a steamed pudding and a brownie, this rich-tasting dessert has only 1 tablespoon of added fat.