1
/
50
Cherry Hand Pies
There's nothing better than a sweet, from-scratch delight like traditional cherry pie. These precious little hand pies always go fast when I sell them at my pie bakery! —Allison Cebulla, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2
/
50
Chocolate Guinness Cake
One bite and everyone will propose a toast to this silky-smooth chocolate Guinness cake. The cream cheese frosting reminds me of the foamy head on a perfectly poured pint. —Marjorie Hennig, Seymour, Indiana
3
/
50
Semisweet Chocolate Mousse
A friend shared this rich velvety chocolate mousse recipe with me. I love to cook and have tons of recipes, but this one is a favorite. Best of all, it's easy to make. —Judy Spencer, San Diego, California
4
/
50
Chai Cupcakes
You'll get a double dose of the spicy blend that's frequently used to flavor tea in these moist cakes. Both the cupcake and frosting use the blend, which combines some of the best flavors of the season. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
5
/
50
Perfect Chocolate Fudge
This rich chocolate fudge is sure to delight someone you love. —Dorothy Anderson, Ottawa, Kansas
6
/
50
German Apple Cake
With the long, cold winters we have here, this German apple cake recipe has warmed many a kitchen. The cake is perfect for breakfast, dessert or as an evening snack. I’ve made it for many parties, and I’ve always received compliments on it. —Grace Reynolds, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
7
/
50
Brownie Kiss Cupcakes
It’s fun to prepare individual brownie “cupcakes” with a chocolaty “surprise” inside. My goddaughter, Cara, asks me to make them for her birthday to share at school. This year, she requested 32. I later found out she only needed 27 for her class…wonder where the other five went!-Pamela Lute, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
8
/
50
Honey Cinnamon Bars
My Aunt Ellie gave us the recipe for these sweet bar cookies with cinnamon and walnuts. Drizzle with icing, and serve with coffee or tea. —Diane Myers, Star, Idaho
9
/
50
Pecan Kringle Sticks
My family loves that the kringle is flaky and not too sweet—it just melts in your mouth. This makes a beautiful presentation on a cookie platter along with other holiday sweets. —Connie Vjestica, Brookfield, Illinois
10
/
50
Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
I can't go to any Christmas gathering without this show-stopping dessert in tow. The combination of cranberries, chocolate and orange is a winner. —Laura Lufkin, Essex, Massachusetts
11
/
50
Peanut Caramel Brownie Bites
With their multiple decadent layers, these brownies are my family's absolute favorite. —Ella Agans, Birch Tree, Missouri
12
/
50
Creamy Rice Pudding
I was fortunate to grow up around fabulous cooks. My mother and grandmother taught me to experiment with recipes, and we tried a lot of variations on this one. No matter how we chose to embellish it, it was always tasty. When I make this, it brings fond memories to mind. —Laura German, North Brookfield, Massachusetts
13
/
50
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Using hot chocolate mix and marshmallow bits in the cookie dough really makes these cookies taste like hot cocoa. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
14
/
50
Chocolate Chess Pie
This is one of my mother's go-to recipes. It's a yummy spin on classic chocolate chess pie. — Ann Dickens, Nixa, Missouri
15
/
50
Giant Buckeye Cookie
I’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. —Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
16
/
50
Air-Fryer Apple Pie Egg Rolls
These easy apple pie egg rolls can be prepared as needed, using egg roll wrappers as vessels for the fruit rather than traditional pie crust. The air-fryer method of cooking results in a crispy, crunchy crust with a tender, juicy filling. Flavored cream cheese spread may be used instead of plain, depending on availability. —Sheila Suhan, Scottdale, Pennsylvania
17
/
50
Cinnamon Chocolate Cake
A healthy hint of cinnamon gives this chocolate cake an extra step up over the expected sheet cake. Its sweet frosting is full of crunchy pecans. —Victor Clifford, San Jose, California
18
/
50
Slow-Cooker Strawberry Soda Cake
When you want a sweet cake without the heat of the oven, this slow-cooked strawberry spin on cola cake comes in handy. The topping smells divinely like chocolate-covered strawberries. (Remember this one for Valentine’s Day!) Delicious served with whipped cream or powdered sugar. —Laura Herbage, Covington, Louisiana
19
/
50
Cookie Sticks
If you have a craving for cookies and you want them now, these yummy strips take just a few minutes to make from start to finish. —Kathy Zielicke, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
20
/
50
Chocolate Pecan Fondue
When our kids have friends sleep over, I like to surprise them with this chocolate treat. Our favorite dippers include fruit, marshmallows, cookies and pound cake. —Suzanne McKinley, Lyons, Georgia
21
/
50
Magic Bars
These rich bar cookies will melt in your mouth! They’re ideal to have on hand for a snack. —Pauline Schrag, Theresa, New York
22
/
50
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
23
/
50
Bake-Sale Lemon Bars
The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin, who is famous for cooking up farm feasts. —Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois
24
/
50
Chipotle Crackle Cookies
I usually bake these special cookies for the holidays, but my family loves them so I bake them for their birthdays. The addition of ground chipotle chile pepper gives these cookies a little zing. The dough may be sticky, so I dip my hands in confectioners' sugar for easier handling. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
25
/
50
Winning Apple Crisp
I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
26
/
50
Pineapple Orange Cake
This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
27
/
50
Frosted Red Velvet Cookies
My student job in college was in the bakery. These dreamy morsels take me back to that special place and time. Red velvet lovers will appreciate this fun take on the cake. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota
28
/
50
Cherry Fudge Truffle Coconut Cheesecake
Cherries and chocolate come together in this dazzling coconut cheesecake. It’s a showstopper! —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
29
/
50
Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies
It was so fun to experiment with this brownie recipe. When my daughter tasted the final version, she told me they were the best brownies ever! Now that sure makes a mom feel good. —Dion Frischer, Ann Arbor, MI
30
/
50
German Chocolate Cake
According to my husband, this is the best German chocolate cake recipe in the whole world. Every bite has a light crunch from the pecans, a sweet taste of coconut and a drizzle of chocolate. —Joyce Platfoot, Wapakoneta, Ohio
31
/
50
Caramel Heavenlies
Before I cut these bars into triangles, I usually trim the edges so all the cookies will look the same. My husband and daughter love that part since they get to eat the scraps. —Dawn Burns, Lake St. Louis, Missouri
32
/
50
Lime-in-the-Coconut Almond Bark
I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois
33
/
50
Cherry Bars
Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
34
/
50
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband's favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
35
/
50
Lemon Chiffon Cake
This moist, airy lemon chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
36
/
50
Mocha Baked Alaskas
Make these baked Alaskas ahead of time—you can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida
37
/
50
Apple Dumpling Bake
I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana
38
/
50
Banana Bread Pudding
When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting banana bread pudding she'd make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren. —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
39
/
50
Peanut Butter Pudding Dessert
Here's a fun layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. If you want it even nuttier, you can use chunky peanut butter, and if you're not a fan of cashews, substitute your favorite nut. This peanut butter lasagna is one of my favorite pudding desserts. —Barbara Schindler, Napoleon, Ohio
40
/
50
Cranberry Layer Cake
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
41
/
50
Dream Cupcakes
My grandchildren absolutely love these cream-filled cupcakes, and I hope the chocolaty treats become a favorite in your home as well. —Dorothy Bahlmann, Clarksville, Iowa
42
/
50
Lemon Meringue Muffins
These muffins taste like a favorite pie of mine. The meringue adds a unique flavor.—Nancy Kearney, Massillon, Ohio
43
/
50
Berry Whirligig
Blackberries are an Oregon treasure. We love to go out and pick our own. Whatever we don’t eat fresh, we freeze to enjoy whenever we start dreaming of this irresistible treat. —Pearl Stanford, Medford, Oregon
44
/
50
White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
Friends sometimes ask me to make these for wedding receptions. For a fancier presentation, I cut the bars into triangle shapes and drizzle white chocolate over each one individually. —Erika Busz, Kent, Washington
45
/
50
Warm Chocolate Melting Cups
These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests. They are always surprised that such a chocolaty dessert is so light—less than 200 calories apiece! —Kissa Vaughn, Troy, Texas
46
/
50
Lattice-Topped Pear Slab Pie
A lattice top serves as a charming frame for this special holiday dessert filled with fresh pears and candied fruit. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you like. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
47
/
50
Gran's Apple Cake
My grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe one that we treasured. Even though I've lightened it up, it's still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California
48
/
50
Banana Skillet Upside-Down Cake
My grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream. —Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
49
/
50
White Chocolate Cranberry Almond Tart
A sweet white chocolate drizzle perfectly balances the tangy cranberries in my signature holiday dessert. I also make this tart for local coffee houses and restaurants. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
50
/
50
Nana's Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Frosting
Even though Nana is no longer with us, her treats bring me so much joy every time I bake them. For a more indulgent version, double the frosting and pile it on high! —Chekota Hunter, Cassville, Missouri
Originally Published: December 01, 2020