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Bananas Foster Gelato
The classic combination of bananas and rum is reinvented as an ice cream dish that's even better with ribbons of caramel topping. It's an outstanding treat for adults! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
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Pina Colada Zucchini Bread
At my husband's urging, I entered this recipe at the Pennsylvania Farm Show—and won first place! You'll love the cakelike texture and tropical flavors. —Sharon Rydbom, Tipton, Pennsylvania
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Classic Tres Leches Cake
Tres leches means "three milks." This cake gets its name because it uses three kinds of milk—evaporated, condensed and cream. This tres leches cake's light and airy texture has made it a classic in Mexican kitchens for generations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Coconut-Rum Cake Pops
Plan your own tropical escape with these surprisingly light-tasting pops. Angel food cake is a nice change of pace.
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Sweet Potato Mini Cakes
Whenever I make these cute desserts, I think of my grandmother. She always used extra sweet potatoes from her garden in pies, breads and cakes and added black walnuts from her trees for good measure. —Joyce Larson, New Market, Iowa
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Eggnog Mini Loaves
The seasonal flavors of eggnog, rum extract and nutmeg shine through in these moist, golden loaves. Tender slices are just right with a cup of coffee. —Beverly Elmore, Spokane, Michigan
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Raspberry Coconut Balls
My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois
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Creamy Cranberry Cheesecake
This creamy cheesecake is perfect for holiday desserts. The colorful topping is so good that I prepare it separately and use it as a cranberry side dish at Thanksgiving. —Mary Simonson, Kelso, Washington
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Coconut Mango Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
All the fun flavors of Puerto Rico come together in a dessert that's both exotic and familiar. Topped with a brown sugar rum sauce, it's even better with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. —Jennifer Jackson, Keller, Texas
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Rich Hot Fudge Sauce
I've made this scrumptious topping since the early 1980s. It always turns out smooth and yummy. The dark chocolate flavor, with a hint of rum extract, is not overly sweet but will still satisfy a chocoholic's cravings. —Carol Hanihan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Creamy Tiramisu Cheesecake
The Italian word "tiramisu" means "pick-me-up" and refers to a dessert of ladyfinger sponge cake dipped in coffee, embracing mascarpone cheese. Work that in with cream cheese and you have a guaranteed picker-upper that redefines a classic. —Mrs. Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
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No-Bake Chocolate-Pecan Tartlets
At the last minute, I frantically came up with this treat for a holiday tea. The tartlets were quickly gobbled up. Now, I make them for our annual Teacher Taster's Choice and special family gatherings. —Joy Johnson, Culbertson, Montana
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Creamy Chocolate-Banana Pie
You can make almost any dessert more awesome with chocolate. In this cream pie, fresh banana and chocolate make a truly irresistible combo. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
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Tropical Muffins
I entered these muffins at our county fair and won the grand champion award for baked goods. They're so moist, they don't need butter. —Sylvia Osborn, Clay Center, Kansas
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No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cheesecake
I make this cannoli cheesecake in the summer for a flavorful and refreshing treat. I love the added bonus of not having to turn on the oven in hot weather. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Frosted Butter Rum Brickle Bites
The rum, real butter and toffee bits made these cookies my husband’s new favorite. If you’d like them less sweet, skip the frosting and sprinkle the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while still warm. —Cindy Nerat, Menominee, Michigan
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Oma's Marzipan Stollen
My German grandma made this stollen for us when we were young. I love its homey taste and how it reminds me of her and the German food she made. I often freeze this sweet bread once it’s shaped into a braid. Then I can pull it out the night before, let it rise on the counter overnight, and bake it in the morning. —Abigail Leszczynski, Beauford, South Carolina
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Tiramisu Cookies
These tiramisu cookies bring out the delicious flavors of tiramisu, sandwich-style. Pack these treats in a decorative container for an easy edible hostess gift. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Eggnog French Toast
This recipe is a favorite of our family and not only at Christmas. We especially like to prepare this hearty breakfast when we go camping. —Robert Northrup, Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Eggnog Pie
Even better than holiday eggnog in a glass is eggnog on a plate! This creamy pie delivers all that rich, wonderful flavor. It’s pretty, too, with a sprinkling of nutmeg on top. —Florence Shaw, East Wenatchee, Washington
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Butterscotch-Rum Raisin Treats
I love making rum raisin rice pudding around the holidays. Those flavors inspired this recipe. Crispy rice cereal adds crunch, but nuts, toasted coconut or candied pineapple could do the job, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
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Autumn Surprise Pie
What better way to welcome fall than with a homemade pie? This one calls for apples, pears and raisins flavored with rum extract. —Karen Gauvreau, Portage, Michigan
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Butterscotch Eggnog Stars
These yellow star-shaped cookies with a "stained-glass" center are almost too pretty to eat! But they have a rich eggnog flavor that is irresistible. Although they take a little time and patience to prepare, they're worth every minute! —Cheryl Hemmer, Swansea, Illinois
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Butterscotch Fruit Dip
If you like the sweetness of butterscotch chips, you'll enjoy this warm rum-flavored fruit dip. I serve it with apple and pear wedges. It holds up for up to two hours in the slow cooker. —Jeaune Hadl Van Meter, Lexington, Kentucky
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Pina Colada Icebox Cake
This icebox cake has all the flavors of a pina colada. It takes just one bite to escape to a tropical island! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, VirginiaGrapefruit Alaska
Easily impress your guests with this quick dessert. It takes just 30 minutes to prepare, and you'll receive rave reviews. —Peg Atzen, Hackensack, Minnesota
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Bananas Foster Sundaes
I have wonderful memories of eating bananas Foster in New Orleans, and as a dietitian, wanted to find a healthier version. I combined the best of two recipes and added my own tweaks to create this southern treat. —Lisa Varner, Charleston, South Carolina
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Frosted Nutmeg Log Cookies
"This is my son's favorite Christmas cookie. It is a very old recipe that I have used many times." These delightful gems have great nutmeg flavor and are a perfect way to ring in the holidays. – Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
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Coconut Banana Bread
White chocolate is the wonderfully different addition to this tropical-tasting bread. The moist slices are so scrumptious, they disappear as soon as I serve them.
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Cranberry Chip Monkey Bread
Monkey bread is no stranger at our house, but I wanted a holiday version. This one with cranberries and eggnog is a breakfast treat or knockout dessert. —Katherine Wollgast, Florissant, MO
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Make-Ahead Blintz Casserole
Blintzes are thin pancakes filled with cheese or fruits. I created an easy casserole version with cheese filling and topped it with apples. —Ann Hillmeyer, Sandia Park, New Mexico
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Holiday Spritz
I tried substituting rum extract for vanilla in a classic Christmas recipe, and the end result was a cookie that tasted a lot like eggnog! —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
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Eggnog Cheesecake
I make good use of extra eggnog by creating this luscious cheesecake. A bit of rum extract adds a special taste. —Kristen Grula, Hazleton, Pennsylvania
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Spiced Rum-Nut Brittle
Seasoned with cayenne pepper and cinnamon, this spicy microwave brittle packs its own heat and warms up holiday visitors. It also makes a superb stocking stuffer! —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
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White Chocolate Christmas Torte
Talk about a scene-stealer! This raspberry-filled cake, an exceptional dessert for any meal, is an especially lovely ending for a holiday feast. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
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Mini Rum Cakes
My mother and I tried many different types of rum cake to find the best one, and finally hit on this cake that doesn't dry out and imparts the most flavor. For a really moist cake, brush rum over the individual sponge cakes before topping them with the filling. —Dona M. Hoffman, Addison, Illinois
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Bananas Foster Oatmeal
This oatmeal tastes like bananas Foster, my favorite dessert. If you can’t find rum extract, double the vanilla. —Carol Touchton, Seffner, Florida
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Eggnog Fruit Bread
Presents from the pantry are a tradition in my family, and this moist, fruity quick bread is a favorite. I wrap loaves in cellophane and garnish with stickers and curly ribbons. —Margo Stich, Rochester, Minnesota
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Chocolate Pineapple Trifle
We have this dessert every Christmas Day. Sometimes I'll serve individual helpings in stemmed goblets for an elegant holiday look. —Gloria Vrabel, Webster, Massachusetts
Originally Published: December 05, 2019