Chocolate Butter Pecans by BearNakedBaker

Strawberry Shortcakes with Whipped Cream by Nancy Oakes

German Chocolate Cookies by Salad Foodie

This recipe from the BHG.com website was developed as a healthier alternative to outright decadent German chocolate cake. Rolled oats and flax meal are substitutes for part of the all purpose flour, and butter and sugar have been reduced. I resisted the urge to tweak ingredients as I often do, and was pleasantly surprised that they…

creme caramel by Brett Ede

Giant Valentine Heart Cookie (It’s a Puzzle Too!) by Salad Foodie

What fun this is, to get a giant heart cookie that is a jigsaw puzzle too! Package pieces in a box, or stack pieces and tie with perky ribbon to surprise the kids (and kids of all ages.) This dough has 2 cups of oatmeal which makes for a crunchy and unusual sugar cookie. One batch makes two giant cookies that cut into 10 or more…

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie by Salad Foodie

How about a foot-wide chocolate chip cookie for a party or gift? This treat is quick and easily portable. Chocolate chip cookie recipes abound, but I like this one especially. It’s Wilton’s Chocolate Chip Cookie For Giant Cookie Pans, and never fails for me to bake to chewy perfection. Add a few icing decorations or pieces of candy…

Apricot Clafoutis copyright 2011 art of living.PrimaMedia,Inc/Maria Liberati by maria liberati

This recipe is from my latest book and winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions. I created this recipe originally when I was spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology…

Peanutty Oatmeal Cookies by Salad Foodie

A different take on peanut butter cookies. The oatmeal adds chewiness, and the chopped peanuts add extra crunch. For an over-the-top serving, spread a cookie with a smear of peanut butter and dab of jelly.

Spice Nut Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze by Salad Foodie

A sassy lemon glaze sets off this spice Bundt cake. It fits the bill for morning coffee or afternoon breaktime, and keeps well several days refrigerated. If you don't have cardamom spice just replace with an equivalent amount of allspice and cloves.

Chocolate and Grand Marnier Souffle Cakes by Debi Shawcross

Individual souffle like chocolate/orange cakes

World's Best Pecan Shortbread by B Innes

The closest some people will ever get to tasting real “Scottish” shortbread is the pecan style in the grocery store. Here’s my version. It’s easy to make and is sure to become a family favorite.

Favorite Gingerbread Cake by Salad Foodie

Gingerbread cake addicts, rejoice - this recipe makes the right size gingerbread cake for a crowd! Lightly moist and lightly sweet, this version I developed over time is a good fit for a holiday dessert or treat for company. I like just a dusting of powdered sugar rather than a frosting. It’s my gingerbread cake FAV - hope you’ll try…

Roasted Banana Bars with Browned Butter Pecan Frosting by Salad Foodie

This recipe was a finalist in Cooking Light Magazine's "Twenty-five Favorite Dessert Recipes" several years ago. The notion of roasting a banana intrigued me so I was up to the challenge of trying it out. MY VERDICT: THEY ARE VERY TASTY AND I WILL MAKE THEM AGAIN. However, they are more cake-like than bar-like, and the extra steps,…

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars by Salad Foodie

An oatmeal streusel mixture serves as both crust and topping in this delightfully chewy cookie bar. The secret ingredient in the filling is purchased caramel topping. These bars are very sweet so cutting them in smaller portion sizes is appropriate. It just extends the sublime enjoyment of the treats - unless you just keep snitching…

Chef Teddy Vanilla Creme Brulee by Teddy Hedrington