Chocolate

For presentation, fill decorative tins and canisters with this delightful confection.

The coconut in this recipe gives a chewiness to these thin cookies.

A sinfully rich dessert that's amazingly easy to prepare.

Here is a delicious interpretation of a campfire classic.

As quick as packaged pudding, but twice as rich and flavorful.

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

"These cookies have been baked by my mother, by me, and now by my daughters at Christmastime," writes Suzanne Perry of Columbus, Ohio. "The recipe was given to my mother by a Swedish friend." Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Perhaps the ultimate springtime dessert — classic strawberry shortcakes are spruced up with white chocolate mousse.

Perfect for celebrations, the elegant torte has a filling of strawberries and chocolate ganache, which is also used as the frosting.

My children like to visit my Aunt Lisl's daughter-in-law, Dorothy, the way I used to visit Aunt Lisl. Dorothy doesn't make butter cookies, but she does make brownies which she serves at Hanukkah and every Friday night, a perfect ending to a meat meal. The children help make the brownies and then take a few extra home in aluminum foil. They love them—without the nuts.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 5 hr

"I recently went to the Good News Café in Woodbury, Connecticut, with my husband and some of our friends," says Phyllis Hertzberg of Englewood, New Jersey. "For dessert, I ordered a chocolate cupcake, and it was absolutely divine—rich and gorgeous. Everybody had a bite, and we all thought it would be a nice addition to your magazine." More like individual flourless chocolate cakes, these "cupcakes" would make a sophisticated dessert for a dinner party. They are delicate and may crumble on top, but don’t worry, since they're served upside — down with a glaze spread over them.