Perp: 20 mins | Bake: 1 hour + cooling | Yield: 10 servings (1 2/3 cups sauce)

Ingredients:

Pastry for 1 single-crust pie (9″)

1 1/4 cups sugar, divided

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp ground cinnamon

4 eggs, beaten

1 cup mashed sweet potatoes

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp maple flavoring

1/4 tsp ground cloves

Sauce

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1//2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 tsp maple flavoring

1/4 cup sour cream

Instructions:

1. Line a 9″ deep-dish pie plate with pastry; trim and flute edges. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, pecans and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly into pastry shell. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sweet potatoes, buttermilk, butter, syrup, maple flavoring, cloves and remaining sugar. Pour over pecan layer.
3. Bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent over-browning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack.
4. For sauce, in a small heavy skillet, melt butter. Add pecans; cook over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes. Add the sugar, syrup and maple flavoring; cook and stir for 2-4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream. Serve with pie.

Prep: 20 mins | Bake: 40 mins | Yield: 12 servings (1 1/4 cups sauce)

Ingredients:

3 tbsp butter, melted

1 loaf (1 lb.) day-old cinnamon-raisin bread, cubed

3 cups chopped peeled tart apples

7 eggs

2 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cup sugar

3 tsp vanilla extract

Vanilla Sauce

2/3 cup sugar

1 tbsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp salt

1 cup cold water

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Pour butter into a 9×13″ baking dish. Combine bread cubes and apples; sprinkle over butter. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. Pour over bread.
2. Bake, uncovered, at 325°F for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and water until smooth. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir int butter and vanilla. Serve with warm bread pudding.

Prep: 20 mins | Bake: 25 mins + chilling | Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

8 egg yolks

1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided

3 cups heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1 1/2 tp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp each ground ginger, nutmeg and cloves

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. In a small saucepan, heat cream over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of pan. Remove from the heat; stir in a small amount of hot cream into egg yolk mixture. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Stir in the pumpkin, vanilla and spices.
2. Transfer to 8 6-oz. ramekins in a baking pan; add 1″ of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325°F for 25-30 minutes or until centers are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
3. If using a crème brûlée torch, sprinkle with remaining sugar. Heat sugar with the torch until caramelized. Serve immediately.
4. If broiling the custards, place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Broil 8″ from the heat for 4-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

Prep: 30 mins + Freezing | Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

1 (9 oz.) pkg. Girl Scout Shortbread / Trefoils cookies

1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling

2 pkg. (8 1/2 oz. each) Girl Scout Lemonades Cookies

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups heavy whipped cream

Lemon Curd

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup butter, cubed

Instructions:

1. Place Shortbread / Trefoils cookies in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Add butter; pulse just until blended. Press onto bottom of a greased 9″ springform pan. Freeze 10 minutes.
2. Place Lemonades cookies in a clean food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in Lemonades cookie crumbs. In another bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Spread over crust. Freeze, covered, 1 hour.
3. In a small heavy saucepan, whisk eggs, sugar and lemon juice. Add butter; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 170°F. Remove from heat immediately. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl; cool. Press plastic wrap onto surface of curd. Refrigerate until cold.
4. Spoon 1 cup lemon curd over cheesecake. Freeze 1 hour. Serve with remaining lemon curd.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 (6 oz.) pkg. Ocean Spray Craisins Original Dried Cranberries

2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until lightly and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.
2. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Serves: 16-18

Ingredients:

Crust

1 cup crushed nuts (macadamias or walnuts work best)

1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

Filling

1 cup heavy cream

1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz.), softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2-3 squares dark baking chocolate, to taste

Instructions:

1. Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a bowl, mix crushed nuts, flour, brown sugar and butter. Press evenly into a 9×9″ baking dish. Bake 30 minutes.
2. Filling: With an electric mixer, whip heavy cream until it thickens. In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
3. Grate dark chocolate squares, reserving some to top with, and fold into cream cheese mixture.
4. Spoon mixture over crust, smooth with bake of spoon, and top with reserved grated chocolate. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

Crust

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Filling

3 pkgs cream cheese ( 8 oz. each), softened

1 cup sour cream

1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.)

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 eggs

2 tbsp lime zest

1/4 cup lime juice

Caramelized mangoes

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp ( 1/8 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

5 cups chopped mango

Instructions:

1. Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9″ springform pan with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Press crumb mixture evenly over bottom and up the side of prepared pan. Bake 5-6 minutes, then allow to cool.
3. Filling: Reduce oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sour cream on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk, beating until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on low until combined, scraping down sides of bowl. Add lime zest and juice, and beat on low until combined. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake 1 hour. Remove from oven and place pan on a cooling rack for an additional hour. Refrigerate at least 6 hours, until firm.
5. Run a knife around the edge of cheesecake to separate form springform pan, then remove side wall. Gently run a knife between bottom crust and base of pan to separate cheesecake. Place on a cake stand or serving platter.
6. Caramelized Mangoes: Combine sugar and water in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking 3 minutes or until golden; do not stir. Add butter to pan and stir to combine.
7. Reduce heat to medium. Add mango to pan, gently stirring to coat. Cook 10 minutes or until mango is lightly browned, stirring frequently. Allow to cool and serve cheesecake topped with mangoes.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate cookies or chocolate graham crackers

3 pkgs. cream cheese (8oz. each), softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup cottage cheese

1/3 cup plus 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp flour

1/4 cup amaretto or 2 tsp almond extract

2 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

4 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cpus powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup raspberry jam

1 pint raspberries

Instructions:

1. Cheesecake: Preheat oven to 315°F. Coat bottom and sides of a 9″ springform pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle crushed cookie crumbs on bottom of pan.
2. Beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar, cottage cheese, cocoa powder, flour, amaretto or almond extract, vanilla and salt. Beat on low until smooth. Add eggs and beat on low until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Slowly pour mixture over crumbs in prepared pan. Bake on middle rack 75 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool on a rack and refrigerate overnight.
4. Frosting: In a large bowl, stir together melted butter and cocoa powder until evenly mixed. Add in powdered sugar and milk. Beat on low until smooth and easily spread. Stir in vanilla.
5. Run a knife around edge of cheesecake to separate from springform pan, then remove side wall. Gently run a knife between bottom crust and base of pan to separate cheesecake. Place on a cake stand or serving platter.
6. Spread raspberry jam on top, leaving about a 1″ border around the edge. Pipe frosting to make a border around the top and bottom of the cheesecake. Top with raspberries.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

6 tbsp (3/4 stick) butter, melted

Cinnamon Swirl

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1/3 cup (2/3 stick) butter, melted

Filling:

4 pkgs. (8 oz. each), softened

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

4 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Cream cheese frosting, optional

Instructions:

1. Crust: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Stir in melted butter. Press mixture into bottom of a 9″ springform pan.
2. Bake 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Once cool enough to handle, wrap the bottom of the pan with a few layers of foil.
3. Cinnamon Swirl: In another bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter. The mixture will be thick and gooey. Set aside.
4. Filling: Beat cream cheese on medium 2-3 minutes, until smooth. Add brown sugar and sugar, and continue beating an additional 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Add sour cream and beat until incorporated.
5. Add eggs one at a time and beat on low until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Gently stir in vanilla and salt.
6. Pour 1/3 of the filling over cooled crust. Gently spread 1/3 of prepared cinnamon swirl over filling. Repeat this process until you have poured all of the filling and top with the last of the swirl.
7. Place springform pan in a large roasting pan. Add hot water to roasting pan halfway up the side of springform pan to form a water bath. Carefully place in oven and bake 60-70 minutes. At this point, the cheesecake will be slightly jiggly to the touch, but the edges will be set. Turn off oven and allow cheesecake to cool in the oven 30 minutes. Then remove roasting pan from the oven.
8. Allow to cool completely before removing cheesecake from water bath. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edge of cheesecake to separate form springform pan, then remove side wall. Place on a cake stand or serving platter.
9. Top with cream cheese frosting, if desired.