Chocolate

These cupcakes remind me of that old song lyric, "Make new friends, but keep the old." I've got my old friend cake and my new pal chia pudding. I like them both, and I thought it was time to bring them together. I personally love salted coconut frosting and could stand to make this one even saltier. Play around with the salt to suit your buds, just make sure to get it right before you let the pudding set in the fridge, as it will be hard to stir it after that.

Known as mendiants in France, these adorned chocolate bites are a holiday tradition.

This ambitious Mallomars-inspired recipe is a project: Make the (wheat-free!) cookie base and top with marshmallow on day one; enrobe in chocolate on day two.

We love the look of the homemade extra-long sprinkles on these whoopie-pie-type cookies, but they take a steady hand and a wealth of patience to shape. Use any store-bought sprinkle in their place.

Dulce de leche literally translates to “candy of milk.” In layman’s terms, it’s a caramel-like concoction made from boiling sweetened condensed milk until it becomes . . . well, pretty much an eighth deadly sin. What I love most about dulce de leche is that it has the beautiful color and deep flavor of caramel, but not the chewiness . . . so you don’t have to expend needless energy flexing your jaw muscles.

Two warnings about these cookies: Don’t give them to young children before bedtime and don’t leave them lying around, if you want any left for yourself. These cookies are crisp on the edges and have a chewy middle strewn with pockets of soft chocolate. The espresso powder, as Kelsey (The Naptime Chef) noted, amplifies the chocolate, but not the sweetness, making it a grown-up cookie. When making any cookies, make sure to cream the butter really well—this aerates the cookies and integrates the sugar—but be conservative with your mixing once the dry ingredients are added.

Tahini (aka ground sesame paste) replaces the traditional heavy cream in these orange-scented treats for a nuttier but equally rich flavor.

This Chocolate Peppermint Cream Pie is sure to be a big crowd pleaser during the holidays

Spell out holiday cheer on your favorite platter or cookie plate with these wintery snow-capped cookies.

Use dark chocolate for a less sweet finish in this recipe. Try spooning some over some freshly made crepes.

Creamy chocolate ganache, sweetened with earthy molasses, and crunchy candied pecans add texture and richness to this eminently shareable dessert.