Category: Desserts

Limoncello Pound Cake from Frankie Avalon

The Frankie Avalon Italian Family Cookbook (which I cowrote with a man who can truly be called an American show business icon) is jam-packed with wonderful Italian-American recipes to savor again and again. This recipe for a moist and citrusy limoncello pound cake is based on the one from his Mom’s recipe box.

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Berry Meringue Slices

It’s been over a dozen years since I first had this perfect summer dessert while researching my KAFFEEHAUS book in Vienna.. Hans Diglas’s cafe-restaurant is one of the most enjoyable spots for traditional food (including pastries), and it has the advantage of being around the corner from St. Stephen’s cathedral. It was there that I first […]

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Chocolate-Orange Macarons

An excellent recipe for exquisite macarons, flavored with orange and dark chocolate. These homemade cookies are much cheaper to make than buying them, once you have the proper equipment.

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Viennese Sachertorte

Sachertorte has been famous almost since its conception almost 200 years ago. It made its inventor so famous that he was able to build a hotel, one that is still one of the premier establishments in Vienna, a city renown for its elegance.  But I will warn you…Sachertorte isn’t for everybody, and it takes a discerning […]

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Spicy Stout Gingerbread

My friend Bruce Aidells wrote a great book on cooking with beer (look for a used copy), and he asked me to come up with a contribution.  I offered this stout gingerbread, and the recipe now makes an annual appearance on my Christmas baking list.  The caramel notes in the stout work beautifully with the […]

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Spicy Stout Gingerbread

I offered this stout gingerbread, and the recipe now makes an annual appearance on my Christmas baking list. The caramel notes in the stout work beautifully with the molasses and brown sugar. It keeps forever…but it doesn’t last more than a couple of days in our house. Make it as a single cake, and it is a perfect addition to a holiday potluck.

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Thanksgiving Meatless Mincemeat Pie

A simmering pot of mincemeat announces the holiday season with its heady, spicy aroma, but this one is meat-less. The suet and beef from the old recipes are gone, and the fruit flavor has been increased with apple juice concentrate, which also acts as a sweetener. A

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