RecipesCheesecake with Caramel Apple Topping Years ago, I decided to dress up my basic cheesecake by adding a topping of caramel apple slices. The rich, sweet-tart dessert is especially popular during fall and winter. —Joan Huggins, Waynesboro, Mississippi
RecipesPistachio Cream Cheese Cookies My son-in-law is a big fan of pistachios. He looks forward to these buttery cookies at holiday time, but I make them for him more than just once a year. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
RecipesMushroom Bundles My guests rely on me to come up with yummy starters like these crispy mushroom appetizers made for a New Year’s party. They vanish before your eyes. —Tina Coopman, Toronto, Ontario
RecipesPeppermint Cheesecake People are thrilled when they see me coming with this rich, smooth cheesecake—it’s always a crowd pleaser. Not only does it look sensational, but it is so scrumptious. —Carrie Price, Ottawa, Illinois
RecipesKey Lime Pie Cupcakes I bake over 200 of these cupcakes for our church suppers, and we always run out. If you can’t find Key lime juice, use lime juice. Just add a tad more sugar. —Julie Herrera-Lemler, Rochester, Minnesota
RecipesFrosted Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Heavenly is a good description for this chocolate chip cheesecake, conveniently made a day ahead. When I don’t have a candy bar on hand, I melt 3/4 cup chocolate chips to use in the frosting. —Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah
RecipesMagnificent Carrot Cake If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, nothing says Easter like a homemade carrot cake covered in rich cream cheese frosting. A touch of rum extract lends wonderful flavor to every bite of this baked-from-scratch indulgence.—Melanie Madeira, Dallas, Pennsylvania
RecipesFiggy Apple Brie Tart Our holiday gatherings often included baked Brie. I transformed it into a dessert that’s savory and sweet. It makes a wonderful appetizer, too. —Kristie Schley, Severna Park, Maryland
RecipesMint-Frosted Chocolate Cake I often make a peanut butter version of this cake but wanted to switch things up by introducing a new flavor. I tinkered with the recipe and decided mint was my new go-to ingredient. My son came up with the idea for the frosting. The rest is delicious history! The cake is fragile, so freezing the layers makes them easier to handle. —Melanie Cooksey, Monroe, Georgia
RecipesBrisket Sliders with Caramelized Onions For a dear friend’s going-away party, I made a juicy brisket and turned it into sliders. If you cook the brisket ahead, slider assembly is a breeze. —Marlies Coventry, North Vancouver, British Columbia
RecipesChocolate Cream Cheese Brownies Whenever I take these to a gathering, someone will usually announce. “Lisa brought those brownies”—and everyone knows exactly which ones they are! We live on 10-1/2 acres out in the country with our daughters, 7 and 4.
RecipesChickaritos After our son grew fond of a fast-food restaurant’s fried burritos, I created this recipe by substituting beef with chicken and skipping the frying. It’s been a hit with our family ever since! —Nancy Coates, Oro Valley, Arizona
RecipesVanilla Cheesecake To me, there is nothing better than a simple, elegant cheesecake where the vanilla takes center stage. And when I’m feeling decadent, I’ll add the rich chocolate ganache topping. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
RecipesMint Baileys Bars This Baileys bars recipe is a combo of two St. Patrick’s Day goodies. You can use any type of chips in the brownies, and you can choose to swirl in the cheesecake instead of using it as a separate topping. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
RecipesChocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Our daughter first astounded us with her cooking talents when she made this cheesecake at 13 years of age. With a unique cookie crumb crust and extra-creamy filling, people think this dessert was made by a gourmet baker! —Kathleen Gualano, Cary, Illinois
RecipesItalian Cream Cake Buttermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. —Joyce Lutz, Centerview, Missouri