Baking

Maybe you forgot his or her birthday, or maybe you didn't forget, maybe you never even knew, but jeez, it's today, really? This cake won't work for a kid's birthday—that calls for more...of everything—but if you just got home, dinner isn't even made, and it turns out it is someone special's day, you just have to bust out a cake, and this one is all from the pantry and requires minimal gear and cleanup. Send him out for a pint of ice cream or suggest she use the shower first-this cake can be in the oven before your celebrant gets back. Thirty minutes later and it's out and cooling on the counter. Fair warning: this cake is like that guy who never moves out of his parents' house—born there, no matter how ready it seems, it falls to pieces when you try to get it out. Cut into wedges and lever them out individually, then cover your tracks with vanilla ice cream or plain or chocolate whipped cream.

I found this recipe while working with a lady who is gluten intolerant. At that time there weren't many recipes for her dietary needs and I wanted to make a special cake for her birthday. It's quite large, always popular and well suited for dessert. It's also great for Passover—a bonus!

This loaf is the perfect fall breakfast with warm coffee—lightly spiced, perfectly sweet and dense, but only in the best way that oats, nuts and shredded apple can be. Grate the apple on the large holes of a box grater down to just the core.

Sweet and smoky flavors make this quick and easy pizza a new favorite.

Oh, wait: Did we mention the prettiest cake in the display case also happens to be gluten-free? Eat at will!

Dried fruit is the secret to moist low-fat baked goods. These cupcakes have such a rich, chocolaty flavor, you would never know there were dates in the batter if you hadn't baked them yourself.

Just dump, shake, and bake this super tasty, couldn't-be-easier dessert. It's even better when made with our Homemade Yellow Cake Mix .

Skillet-toasting quinoa will add texture and flavor to a dish. I recommend using a nonstick skillet for this. If you use a standard skillet, the quinoa requires more attention and the skillet needs occasional scraping. The goal is for the quinoa to retain its tenderness but acquire a toasted exterior. You can cook the quinoa more or less, according to your taste preferences.

This easy cheesecake is one part soufflé, one part custard, resulting in a lightly sweet and airy cake that is super simple to make.

Yes, it's a long recipe with several parts, but each step is easy enough, and it can all be made ahead.

The joy of this simple dessert is that it is even better at room temperature, so you can make it in advance with ease. Be sure to pull it from the oven when the egg mixture is just set, so that the luscious cooked plum texture can meld perfectly with the batter. Think of it as a thick fruit pancake cooked effortlessly in the oven while you do other things.

Ripe heirloom tomatoes and sharp cheddar cheese are a match made in heaven in this savory pie.