Almond

A quick almond crust gets filled with ice cream and topped with cardamom-scented whipped cream and berries.

This is a terrific fall dessert. Soft, syrupy pears and tart sour cherries are nestled under a nutty, spiced topping, which is baked until crunchy and golden brown. At the restaurant, the topping crumbs that fall from the crisps onto the baking tray are one of my favorite snacks, and my staff and I can't resist nibbling on them whenever the crisps come out of the oven. Be sure to bake the crisps until the juices bubble up thickly; otherwise, not enough of the moisture will evaporate and the fruit will be soggy.

Terrific when served with vanilla or coffee ice cream, and a very appealing breakfast or snack cake on its own.

In this version of the classic holiday dessert, a croissant bread pudding is steamed in the oven instead of on the stove top. Ignite the finished product in front of the guests for maximum effect.

Almonds, pistachios, raisins, ginger and a touch of tea team up in a luscious sauce.

A classic combination of tender shortcrust pastry and soft, candy-like caramel filling.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Lime curd and tart cranberries are balanced by a layer of sweet white chocolate cream. For best results, use imported white chocolate, such as Lindt or Perugina. Begin preparing the tart two days before you plan to serve it.

"Biscotti have become very popular recently, but my mother-in-law, Helen, has been baking them for years," says Janet Mercuri of North Royalton Ohio. "Now that I've started using her recipe, friends tell me that my biscotti taste just like their grandmothers' —and I'm not even Italian." These have a subtle anise flavor and would be nice with a caffè latte.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Ground almonds create texture and thicken the sauce of pollo almendrado—our homage to New York's large Mexican and Central American population.

Studies from Northwestern University and the University of Kentucky indicate that fiber-rich bran from oatmeal can actually reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

Prepare this cake a day ahead.

A veg-forward main or gets-along-with-everyone side.

A make-ahead pantry salad that's friendly on the wallet too.

As energizing as an energy bar, with a much simpler ingredient list.

This laid-back Italian tart is made with a tender, buttery shortbread crust, filled with apricot jam, and blanketed in a layer of sliced almonds.

Nutty and deeply chocolatey, these brownies just so happen to be gluten-free.