Sometimes you might not know exactly what you want to bake, but you know you want it to be chocolate. Or lemon. Or another favorite flavor. Here are my top picks in several popular flavors.
Top 25 Chocolate Recipes
Probably the most universally beloved flavor for desserts and certainly one of the most versatile, chocolate holds nothing back, whether it stands on its own or is paired with any other flavor you’d like to add.
Double-Chocolate Muffins 77
Chocolate–Chocolate Chunk Cookies 144
Flourless Chocolate Almond Cookies 151
Chocolate Wafer Cookies 159
Brownies 180 or Flourless Brownies 181
Chocolate Cake 196
Molten Chocolate Cake 202
Dense Flourless Chocolate Cake 203
Death-by-Chocolate Torte 207
Chocolate-Mocha Dacquoise 247
Mississippi Mud Pie 282
Chocolate Chiffon Pie 286
Chocolate Tart 295
Chocolate Gelato 310
Chocolate Pudding 326
Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding 329
Chocolate Mousse 330
Chocolate Gelée 336
Chocolate Soufflé 344
Chocolate Fudge 347
Chocolate Truffles 347
Peppermint Bark 351
Chocolate-Dipped Anything 353
Chocolate Babka 431
Pain au Chocolat 482
Top 25 Vanilla Recipes
Vanilla is so ubiquitous in baking, you might forget about it. These recipes put it front and center—use the best vanilla you can find, and if it’s your favorite flavor, consider adding an extra teaspoon.
Overnight French Toast 119
Custard-Filled Doughnuts 127
Zeppole 132
Sugar Cookies 157
Vanilla Wafer Cookies 161
Vanilla Meringues 174
Yellow Cake 211
White Cake 212
Classic Pound Cake 214
Gooey Butter Cake 228
Vanilla Cream Pie 276
Poached Pears 303
Simplest Vanilla Ice Cream 309
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 310
Simplest Vanilla Pudding 325
Panna Cotta 335
Crème Brûlée 338
Vanilla Bread Pudding 341
Vanilla Soufflé 344
Vanilla Taffy 354
Divinity Candy 354
Marshmallows 354
Cream Puffs 451
Gâteau St. Honoré 478
Crème Anglaise (Custard Sauce) 579
Familiar flavors like cinnamon and ginger plus more unusual ones like cardamom and saffron are perfect for baking anytime because they bring an unbeatable depth of flavor.
Gingerbread 68
Pain d’Épices 69
Gingery Sweet Potato Waffles 117
Gingersnaps 161 or Pfeffernüsse or Speculaas 164
Snickerdoodles 170
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies 211
Carrot Cake 230
Cinnamon Cake 231
Honey-Spice Cake 234
Cranberry-Walnut Torte 238
Fruitcake 244
Mincemeat Pie 275
Pumpkin Pie 280
Mulled Cider Granita 318
Pumpkin Custard 338
Cornmeal Pudding 343
Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread 419
Cinnamon Rolls 429
Stollen 432
Swedish Saffron Buns 434
Churros 457
Cinnamon-Sugar Twists 467
Brandied Fruit Pastries (Eccles Cakes) 475
Baklava 489
Semolina-Date Pastries 503
Top 25 Citrus Recipes
Use citrus to liven up rich custards and buttery cakes or feature its refreshing flavor in the light desserts that are perfect in the dead of summer. Its brightness is welcome nearly everywhere, and with so many types, there are endless possibilities for variation.
Lemon-Poppy Bread (or any of its variations) 65
Orange–Olive Oil Biscuits 86
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes 103
Florentines 155
Lemon Squares 186
Olive Oil Cake 216
Lemon Chiffon Cake 220
Lemon-Ricotta Cheesecake 222
Claudia Roden’s Middle Eastern Orange-Almond Cake 236
Lemon Meringue Pie 278
Key Lime Pie 279
Grapefruit Icebox Pie 289
Lemon Tart 295
Orange Sherbet 317
Coconut-Lime Sorbet 321
Orange Cream Pops (or Coconut Key Lime Pops) 321
Lemon Mousse 333
Orange Soufflé 345
Candied Orange Peels 355
Panettone 433
Lemon Turnovers 470
Strawberry-Lemon Napoleon 477
Cheese Danish 486
Orange Marmalade 575
Lemon Curd 579
Something kind of magical happens when you caramelize sugar. It can become an addictively crunchy brittle, a soft and chewy candy, or a molten sauce, with a complex and nutty sweetness that makes it one of the most satisfying things to make.
Sticky Pecan Muffins 81
Caramelized French Toast 118
Alfajores 165
Stroopwafels 179
Pecan-Caramel Bars 183
Caramel Popcorn Bars 189
Caramel Cake 212
Sticky Toffee Pudding 237
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake 239
Caramel-Peanut Pie 281
Salted Caramel Tart 290
Tarte Tatin 296
Salted Caramel Ice Cream 315
Caramel Pudding 326
Flan (Crème Caramel) 338
Milk Caramel Fudge 347
Caramels 349
Toffee 352
Monkey Bread 428
Croquembouche 459
Palmiers 467
Caramel Apple Turnovers 470
Breton Butter Cakes (Kouign-Amann) 483
Caramel Sauce 581
Dulce de Leche 583