When finished baking, the shortbread should be a light golden brown and smell like absolute heaven.

Yes, swapping out the vanilla extract for almond extract is perfectly fine here—in fact, the cookies will taste great that way.

It’s best to freeze this ricotta cheesecake minus any toppings, as freezing and thawing the toppings can get messy—for one, fresh fruit slices can become mushy when thawed out. Once the cheesecake has thawed overnight in the fridge, add the toppings and serve.

We can confidently say that this is the best chocolate cake recipe and, at Taste of Home, we make (and eat!) a lot of cakes. With three moist, fluffy cake layers and a rich, decadent chocolate frosting, we think this will become your go-to chocolate dessert as well.

If your cheesecake does crack, don’t worry! Just pile on some sweetened whipped cream, lemon slices or lemon curd and no one will know. It will still taste delicious.

We can confidently say that this is the best chocolate cake recipe and, at Taste of Home, we make (and eat!) a lot of cakes. With three moist, fluffy cake layers and a rich, decadent chocolate frosting, we think this will become your go-to chocolate dessert as well.

You can use either white sugar or brown sugar. Brown sugar lends a richer, more molasses taste.

After you’ve let your dough chill and rolled it out with a rolling pin, dust your cookie cutter with flour before pressing it into the dough for nice, even Christmas cutouts.

Our red velvet cake recipe is traditionally southern with light, tender, ruby-red cakes held together with a rich vanilla frosting.

What a great make-ahead treat! This cake log is perfect for the holidays because you can make it when you have time, store it in the freezer and scratch dessert off of your to-do list.

A cookie press works a little bit like a caulk gun: Load it up with dough, and press the trigger to release the dough. A disk at the bottom of the chute forms the dough into the desired cookie shape. You’ll want to refer to your owner’s manual for specifics on how to use your cookie press. There is more than one type of cookie press, and vintage models work slightly differently than modern spritz makers.A cookie press works a little bit like a caulk gun: Load it up with dough, and press the trigger to release the dough. A disk at the bottom of the chute forms the dough into the desired cookie shape. You’ll want to refer to your owner’s manual for specifics on how to use your cookie press. There is more than one type of cookie press, and vintage models work slightly differently than modern spritz makers.

Grab some ice cream—especially vanilla, if you have it. Drizzle a bit of caramel syrup on top, spread on a dark apple butter, or go with candied pecans and whipped cream. For a lighter take, simply dust confectioners’ sugar over the top.

Cream cheese will soften at room temperature after 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on how warm it is in your home. If you need to soften cream cheese quickly, you can also place it in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds (unwrapped and in a bowl).

Protein balls are a wonderful snack to have on hand—each ball is low in sugar and clocks in at under 100 calories. However, you can also eat them as a wholesome dessert or as a sweet finish to a high-protein breakfast. You could also eat one alongside your favorite protein bar, or enjoy a couple in place of a protein bar before or after a workout.

Whether served as an indulgent dessert for a hot summer’s day or as a super-fun birthday party cake, our ice cream sandwich cake is a delicious treat loved by all.

Here is the story behind this lucky dessert—and a guide on how to make king cake from scratch.