New Year's Dessert Recipes

Cranberries and orange are a natural pairing, and I wanted to combine them in a cheesecake fit for the Thanksgiving table. The cranberry glaze is a really beautiful color, and the sugared cranberries are the perfect topping. Most of the work is done the night before, so it's not even that hard to make.

Great and green, this light gelatin salad made with pears and reduced fat cream cheese and whipped topping is a staple at any holiday meal in our family.

This dish is an elegant accompaniment for stuffed Cornish game hens with blue cheese and walnuts. Or serve it alongside any blue cheese dish, such as a blue cheese quiche. Easy and tasty! It also makes a lovely dessert.

Traditional Italian-American bakery-style butter cookies that will make you feel like you bought them from your favorite local bakery in New York! Fill them with raspberry or apricot preserves, or chocolate, or dip one side in chocolate and cover with sprinkles--or do both! Whatever you choose, these are sure to be your new favorite recipe for every holiday and celebration to come!

A finalist in the 2000 Share The Very Best Recipe Contest, this recipe was entered by Alma Carey of Sarasota, FL. Made with a genuine love of chocolate, this decadent brownie features vanilla-flavored white and semi-sweet chocolate morsels, chopped pecans and caramel layered within a rich cocoa batter.

A chocoholic's dream. Something for a very special occasion.

I use Indian River pink grapefruit. Serve with whipped cream.

This cranberry salad recipe is reminiscent of a Waldorf salad or a taffy apple salad. Sweet and creamy, this cranberry salad is supposedly a favorite among kids but all of the adults love it too!

As a Southern girl, I love baking from scratch and red velvet cakes are a must for the holidays. I usually make one every Christmas, especially one for my brother-in-law David. This year was so busy, I just didn't have time to make him one, but I am always making cake mix cookies for my girls as a quick snack in the afternoons after school, so I whipped up a batch of these gems for him for Christmas. They are out of this world! You don't just have to make them for holidays they are wonderful anytime, see for your self.

Just beat, melt, stir, and refrigerate...these bars are that simple.

These are amazingly addictive and easy to make. Grapes are dipped in white chocolate, then peanuts, and the result makes a beautiful presentation that is great for appetizers or desserts.

A nice deep-fried cookie that tastes delicious! This is why you only eat them once a year! Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve on New Year's!

This is a delicious variation on a classic made with the light and heavenly Italian Christmas bread. Panettone is similar to brioche but studded with raisins and candied orange and lemon peel. A luscious sauce made with orange liqueur, makes this dish perfect for the holidays. Serve as a dessert or a sweet and decadent breakfast.

A cheesecake version of a classic holiday cookie! The cinnamon whipped cream is optional---but it really adds a nice touch!

A favorite recipe that my family has been making for years that we received from a friend of the family. These are great for New Years Eve.

This is a wonderful cheesecake. The eggnog doesn't overpower the cheesecake and the cheesecake doesn't overpower the eggnog. The result is sinfully smooth and delicious!

Champagne + cupcakes= DELICIOUS! Optional: tint the cupcakes and frosting with your desired shade of food coloring.

This citrus-y tart with a shortbread crust is made with colorful blood orange juice, zest, and slices for garnish.

This is a variation on a pie recipe that evolved from trial and error. This tastes like an Orange Smoothie over angel food cake!

This is an ice cream pie that is so good it will make you sit up and kiss your mother-in-law!

A festive sandwich style cookie. Excellent for Christmas or New years' celebrations.

Refrigerator cookies with my favorite herb, rosemary! I developed the recipe for Christmas baking, but it would be wonderful any time of year!

These are rich, simple mints often seen at wedding receptions, baby showers, and graduation parties, and they make a perfect last-minute addition to holiday candy trays. Try substituting almond extract for the peppermint. You can roll them in colored sugar before flattening them, if desired.

You can vary what you top this festive cheesecake with: crushed candy canes are a must, but you can spread whipped cream on top before sprinkling with candy canes, or drizzle with some melted chocolate chips. Please add your comments as you find ways to improve this recipe!