Stand Mixer

This rich dessert is perfect for the holidays and other special occasions.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The espresso-flavored cream puff pastry and fluffy coffee and chocolate custard filling vary from the traditional plain pastry and praline buttercream. Delicious on its own, this is even better with the chocolate caramel sauce.

If you don't have the pastry rings we call for in this recipe, you can use 1/2-cup muffin cups. However, the batter will fill 6 muffin cups, making smaller cakes.

To create a basket-weave design, follow the instructions at the bottom of the recipe.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 5 hr

The secret to these macaroons' texture is the Italian meringue, composed of egg whites and a boiling sugar syrup. When baking these for Passover, dust the sheets with matzo cake meal; you can use flour at other times.