Baking

These delicate, buttery crackers make excellent accompaniments to cocktails. After a few days they become somewhat softer but can be recrisped in a 300°F, oven for 5 minutes.

The lusciously sticky caramel-pecan top layer in this brownie was inspired by the chewy chocolate candies called "turtles."

This tart is a snap to put together, thanks to purchased puff pastry. The square shape is something different for the summer table.

Peaches are accented with honey in this fabulous home-style dessert. It's delicate, so slide a ten-inch-diameter tart pan bottom or the bottom of a ten-inch-diameter springform pan under the free-form tart to support it and make it easy to transfer.

Serve any leftovers for breakfast or a late-afternoon snack.

France's classic flourless chocolate cake is a perennial favorite on dessert lists. Ours has a trendy tropical garnish of mango and crystallized ginger and is served warm.

Old-fashioned upside-down cake was everywhere last year, modernized with a variety of fruit and spice combinations.

Carrot cakes have been a part of American baking for years, and they remain a favorite dessert in the heartland. This version has a hint of orange from the juice and peel and lots of the rich cream cheese frosting that everyone expects (and loves). Thin orange peel strips make a pretty garnish.

The crust of this gorgeous dessert is brushed with a layer of melted milk chocolate for a sweet surprise.

If you don't have tartlet pans, you can make one large shortcake in an eight-inch-diameter pan and then cut the cake into wedges.