Dessert & Treats Recipes

Prep now and enjoy wonderful pies all season. Make the crust and topping in advance and keep them in the freezer for up to three months, then defrost fully before using.

Use this lemon glaze with our Glazed Lemon Pound Cake.

Both make-ahead and no-bake, this Italian treat will lift everyone's mood—including the chef's! Grab an Americano at a coffee shop to infuse the store-bought ladyfingers with freshly brewed flavor. Then, after layering the newly caffeinated cookies with marsala-spiked mascarpone, pop it in the fridge for an overnight chill that will set you up for slicing success. All that is left is a final dusting of cocoa powder before serving and you'll be all set to end the evening on a high note.

To satisfy a serious chocolate craving whenever the mood strikes, bake a half-batch of brownies in a standard loaf pan. Inspired by buckeye candies, these treats are run through with a ribbon of rich peanut-butter cream that takes on a caramel flavor in the oven. 

This all-purpose buttercream has an ultra-silky, stable texture that spreads beautifully over cakes and cupcakes, and can be piped into perfect peaks and patterns.

Prep now and enjoy wonderful pies all summer by making this topping ahead and keeping it in the freezer.

This easy mousse-like treat blends the tartness of Key lime pie with the richness of cheesecake. Its graham-cracker crust sets in the freezer rather than the oven, and the traditional whipped-cream topping is folded right into the filling, along with fresh citrus juice and zest, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk. Chill it overnight, and wake up to a world of bliss.

Try Martha Stewart's quick and easy cream cheese frosting recipe. Cream cheese frosting is a delicious delight atop cupcakes and a favorite on pumpkin cake, carrot cake, and more.

Everyone needs a delicious coffee cake recipe in their repertoire, and this cinnamon streusel coffee cake recipe is the perfect option. Meaning "something strewn" in Old German, streusel is easy to throw together -- and then to throw on top of this sour-cream coffee cake. The sweet glaze in the recipe is the perfect coffee cake topping.

What's gooey on the inside, crackly on top, and supremely delicious all over?Our fresh take on this crowd-pleasing dessert. Unsweetened chocolate and brown sugar impart a rich, well-rounded flavor, while adding a bit of oil to the batter results in the addictively chewy texture that makes this version an instant classic.

Hot-chocolate mix is a wintertime staple. A homemade version is delicious and natural—containing only cocoa, sugar, and salt—and especially economical compared with store-bought mixes.

As if a deeply chocolatey cookie wasn't enough of a treat, these little treasures have a creamy peanut butter filling too. 

This quintessential chocolaty dessert transports exceptionally well.

This beauty is baked with a splash of Chambord and layered with a sweet raspberry filling, both of which offer bright counterpoints to the thick layer of chocolate-cream cheese frosting and whole berries scattered on top. You won't be able to have just one slice.

Studded with cranberries, this quick bread is adaptable: Try it at breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Marbling cheesecake is an easy way to elicit oohs and aahs. This one has a raspberry puree swirled in.

Use this rich vanilla custard to fill our Boston Cream Donuts, Classic Cream Puffs, or Star Tart.

Use this pate a choux recipe to make mouthwatering pastries such as profiteroles, cream puffs, and eclairs.

Want to learn how to make macarons? We've taken the guesswork out of making these patisserie beauties, so you can prepare them at home. Our foolproof macarons recipe calls for making your own almond flour (it's so much easier than it seems), then adding just four other ingredients: powdered sugar, egg whites, white sugar, and any filling you please.

These large cookies have a classic lemony flavor, a chewy texture, and glistening, crackly tops created with a double sprinkling of sanding sugar.

The creamy lemon squares of your dreams take just 15 minutes of prep: Stir together a mere three ingredients to create a sunny, puckery filling for the buttery shortbread crust in this dessert.

A traditional cottage pie is made with ground beef and topped with mashed potatoes. We used potato slices, which saves time and looks good, too. For a shepherd's pie, use lamb. Or, try a turkey twist: Add 2 cups finely minced turkey meat along with the peas.