Raspberry Meringue Hearts
Here’s a lovely dessert your guests will think is almost too pretty to eat! I love the way the raspberry meringue easily drapes into a heart shape. —Mary Lou Wayman, Salt Lake City, Utah
Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pots de Creme
Lunch on the go just got a whole lot sweeter. Tuck jars of rich chocolate custard into lunch bags for a midday treat. These desserts in a jar are fun for picnics, too. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake
My Grandma Gigi loved summer berry cakes. Almost any time I’d call her during the warmer months, she’d invite me over to taste her latest masterpiece. This cake is an ode to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Mini Chocolate Wafer Cakes
I first made these cakes for a friend when I lived in the dorms at college and had no access to appliances. Little did I know I would be making them 20 years later for my children! —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina
Conversation Cupcakes
Enjoy frosting sweet sentiments onto these valentines cupcakes by baking a batch ahead of time using no-fuss cake mix. You don’t even need a heart-shaped muffin tin to make them. — Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Red Velvet Cheesecake
Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your Christmas dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina
Raspberry Moscow Mule Cake
This Moscow mule cake is my favorite cake I’ve ever made from scratch. It’s so moist and flavorful and reminds me of my favorite cocktail. —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri
Triple Chocolate Mousse Torte
When it’s too hot to bake something sweet, but you’re craving chocolate, my triple chocolate mousse tart is all you need. You don’t have to have any specific order to the layers, so get creative. —Samantha Hernandez, Vacaville, California
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cobbler
This cobbler came about because I love chocolate-covered strawberries. Top it with whipped cream, either plain or with a little chocolate syrup stirred in. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
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
Red Wine & Cranberry Poached Pears
While being poached, the pear absorbs the sweetness and spice from the sugar, wine, cinnamon and peppercorn. It makes an easy, yet elegant, dessert that’s perfect for a special night. —Kiersten Atkinson, Birmingham, Alabama
Chocolate Comfort Cake
This moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for holiday dinners. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Black Forest Upside-Down Cake
The divine flavors of this simple Black Forest cake will impress your guests and leave you with many requests for the recipe! —Kimberly Campbell, Wheeling, West Virginia
Banana Cream Chocolate Truffles
This truffle recipe was created from ripe bananas and my imagination, and the outcome blew my family and friends away! I don’t particularly like bananas, but I could eat these truffles all day long. —Michele, Lassuy, Orlando, Florida
Rustic Chocolate Raspberry Tart
Here’s a delectable dessert that all ages will enjoy. With its raspberries and Nutella-covered homemade pastry crust, you won’t be able to get enough of this. —Christina Seremetis, Rockland, Massachusetts
Chocolate Espresso-Nut Torte
I love chocolate and nuts, and they come together deliciously in this torte. Serve it with sweetened whipped cream or your favorite ice cream. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
Raspberry Coconut Balls
My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut. So we came up with 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
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
If you want to make a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. Beautiful high layers of rich sponge cake are drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. -Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri
Chocolate Lover’s Strawberry Shortcakes
As a mom of four, I appreciate shortcut recipes. This one uses refrigerated biscuits, giving me time for special touches, like adding homemade whipped cream and hot fudge. —Melissa Haines, Valparaiso, Indiana
Mango Cream Tart
This fresh, luscious tart makes me happy!—Jami Geittmann, Art Director, Taste of Home Magazine
Strawberry Mascarpone Cake
Don’t let the number of steps in this recipe fool you —it’s easy to assemble. The cake bakes up high and fluffy, and the berries add a fresh fruity flavor. Cream cheese is a good substitute if you don’t have mascarpone cheese handy. —Carol Witczak, Tinley Park, Illinois
Chocolate Framboise Parfaits
Having unexpected company? Make a fabulous dessert in minutes and relieve some of the stress of presenting a beautiful holiday dessert! It doesn’t get any easier than these quick, delicious parfaits. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
Fresh strawberries are full of water, so they have a tendency to weigh down cake batters and make soggy cakes. That’s why these strawberry cupcakes rely on strawberry jam or preserves. The concentrated flavor is just right for light and tender cupcakes. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Mexican Chocolate Biscotti
Nancy C. Evans of Phoenix, Arizona captured the spicy cinnamon flavor of Mexican chocolate in her original recipe for biscotti. The spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar is a nice addition to most recipes that feature Mexican chocolate flavors. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cherry Fudge Truffle Coconut Cheesecake
Cherries and chocolate come together in this dazzling coconut cheesecake. It’s a holiday showstopper! —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Semisweet Chocolate Mousse
A friend shared this rich velvety 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
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
Berries in Champagne Jelly
My sister gave me this recipe a few years back when I was looking for an elegant fruit dish to serve guests. I sometimes serve this party-pretty fruit treat at brunch—just before the main dish. It’s also sparkly and special enough to double as a light dessert. —Andrea Barnhoom, Scottsville, New York
Chai Truffle Tart
My chai-flavored tart boasts chocolate and caramel layers tucked inside a salty pretzel crust. Truffles on top make it extra indulgent. —Chantal Bourbon, Montreal, Quebec
Strawberry-Chocolate Meringue Torte
I make this rich and delicious torte whenever I’m asked to bring dessert to any occasion. Use reduced-calorie whipped topping to create a lighter version. —Christine McCullough, Auburn, Massachusetts
Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
What could be better than a brownie crust layered with chocolate cheesecake and topped with chocolate ganache? These cheesecake bars will satisfy even the biggest chocolate lovers out there. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
Nutella-Stuffed Strawberries
Gourmet strawberries are pricey to order but easy to make. We serve strawberries with hazelnut spread as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or dessert. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Berry Rhubarb Fool
A “fool” is a British dessert that’s usually made with custard. This is a modified, quicker version I created. My kids love it because it doesn’t taste like rhubarb—so I guess it’s well named! —Cheryl Miller, Fort Collins, Colorado
Ricotta Cheesecake
When I was a nurse, my coworkers and I regularly swapped recipes during lunch breaks. This creamy cheesecake was one of the best I received. —Georgiann Franklin, Canfield, Ohio
Spiced Chocolate Molten Cakes
This splurge dessert is the kind you just have to linger over. Plunge your fork into one of the cakes and the chocolate and conversation start flowing. —Deb Carpenter, Hastings, Michigan
Two-Berry Pavlova
Here’s a light and airy dessert that I first tried in Ireland. When I got home, I made it for my kids, who loved to build their own with their favorite fruits. The whipped cream makes for icing on the cake! —Norma Stevenson, Eagan, Minnesota
Chocolate Cream Cupcakes
My favorite hockey team the Boston Bruins inspired these cupcakes. Add a love note on top using a little white icing. —Alisa Christensen, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart
Espresso enhances and intensifies the dark chocolate flavor of my truffe tart. I make the crust with toasted walnuts and dust the cooled dessert with baking cocoa before serving. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Strawberry Lemon Shortcake
I love a good strawberry shortcake, but this recipe is my favorite by far. The citrus zest in the dough adds a refreshing zip to the sweet dessert. —Nancy Hooper, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle
This rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Baking a fun treat is a must when my four grandchildren come for “Grandma Camp.” This year I’ll recruit the oldest, Henry, to help pipe the cake batter. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Cherry Cream Cheese Dessert
Pretty layers of graham cracker crumbs, tasty filling and fruit topping make these cream cheese desserts a standout! For a nice change, you can substitute blueberry pie filling or another fruit flavor for the filling called for in the recipe. —Melody Mellinger, Myerstown, Pennsylvania
Sandy’s Chocolate Cake
Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you’ll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
Cherry Kisses
Cookies that melt in your mouth and are practically fat-free—is it any wonder these crispy meringue morsels disappear as fast as I can whip them up? Friends and family love them. —Jo Ann Blomquest, Freeport, Illinois
Black Forest Tart
Cherry pie filling and a melted chocolate drizzle top a rich, fudgy cake made from chocolate cookie crumbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Sweetheart Coconut Cookies
Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones. My husband likes coconut, so I make these for his birthday. —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio
Chocolate Caramel Fondue
It’s easy to keep the ingredients for this rich fondue on hand in case company drops by. I serve it in punch cups, so guests can carry it on a dessert plate alongside whatever fruit, pretzels and other dippers they like. —Cheryl Arnold, Lake Zurich, Illinois
Cherry Kiss Cookies
Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin
Coconut Creme Chocolates
I’m a proud wife, mom of three and grandma of many. I’ve cooked many things over the years, including these marshmallowy chocolates. —Dolores Wilder, Texas City, Texas
Heavenly Filled Strawberries
These luscious stuffed berries are the perfect bite-size dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Chocoholics—like me!—know that nothing says chocolate like a flourless torte. —Kayla Albrecht, Freeport, Illinois
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
Secret Kiss Cookies
Here’s a recipe that’s literally sealed with a “kiss.” This cookie’s bound to tickle any sweet tooth. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
Cherry Almond Mousse Pie
Treat your loved ones to a luscious pie with chocolate, cherries and nuts in a creamy vanilla mousse. It’s a sweet yet refreshing dessert. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
Raspberry White Chocolate Bars
A co-worker’s mother gave me this gem of a recipe a few years back. I can never decide what’s more appealing—the attractive look of the bars or their incredible aroma while they’re baking! Everyone who tries these asks for the recipe. —Mimi Priesman Pace, Florida
Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies
I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
Chocolate-Raspberry Cutout Cookies
When my daughter, Katie, was 2, the juicy, ripe raspberries in my backyard inspired me to create this cutout cookie. It’s become a mother-daughter tradition to pick the raspberries, choose the cutter shapes, cut out the cookies and frost them. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois
Glazed Strawberry Cookies
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
Valentine Heart Brownies
Steal hearts this Valentine’s Day with brownies that have cute frosting centers. They’re simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Red Velvet Marble Cake
I watched my grandma prepare her red velvet showstopper many times for family get-togethers. The fluffy butter frosting perfectly complements the flavor of this gorgeous cake.—Jodi Anderson, Overbrook, Kansas
