Baking
Chocolate-Espresso Brownies
Using stencils to add powdered sugar designs is a great way to dress up the treats.
Goat Cheese and Tomato Tart in a Cornmeal Crust
In this recipe we call for a 10 1/2- by 7- by 1-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable fluted rim; you could instead use a 10- by 1-inch round tart pan with a removable rim. The cornmeal makes a tender, delicate crust.
Old-Fashioned Apple Cake
This moist cake is delicious served warm with cream, but can also be offered cold.
Sweet Potato Rolls with Dried Tart Cherries and Cardamom
A touch of cardamom lends subtle spice to these innovative crescent-shaped rolls.
Polish Rugelach
This cookie is popular in most of Eastern Europe. It features a tender pastry and, in this rendition, a delicious not-too-sweet cranberry and walnut filling. The cookies are formed by rolling up triangles of the pastry into small crescents.
Hazelnut Macaroon and Strawberry Tart
The failure-proof cookie-like crust can be prepared ahead. Use any leftover dough to make a few cookies.
Viennese Linzertorte Cake
You'll find all the flavors of a traditional Linzertorte — a hazelnut, spice and raspberry jam tart — in this delicious cake. The top is covered with a piped frosting that imitates the lattice crust of the classic dessert. One ingredient that is a definite departure from the original is the Chinese five-spice powder; it adds a lovely nuance.