Recipes with sugar

Easy blender eggnog spiked with brandy and lightened with folded whipped cream. A make-ahead holiday drink you can even freeze, finished with a dusting of nutmeg or cinnamon.

Homemade whole wheat baking mix with wheat germ, dry milk, and shortening. A healthier DIY Bisquick alternative that keeps for months and makes pancakes, biscuits, and muffins in minutes.

I would strongly suggest using libby’s pumpkin puree. Semi sweet chips make for a more savory cookie and an excellent addition to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Upside-down apple cake with caramelized Granny Smith slices, applesauce-enriched batter, and a cinnamon cream cheese topping. Served warm for the ultimate fall dessert.

Monaco-style sweet-sour braised pearl onions with tomato, vinegar, sugar and herbs. Classic French Riviera vegetable side dish and cold antipasto topping.

Thick, chewy white chocolate macadamia nut cookies baked low and slow for soft centers with golden, crispy edges. Bakery-sized cookies loaded with buttery macadamias and creamy white chocolate chunks.

Molasses muffins spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, studded with raisins. Make-ahead batter keeps in the fridge for fresh muffins anytime.

Onion cheddar bread made with whole wheat flour, onion soup mix, and sharp cheddar rolled inside. A jelly-roll style yeast bread with cheese baked on top.

Glazed carrots in a sweet orange juice and raisin sauce thickened with cornstarch. A bright, naturally sweet side dish with no butter or cream needed.

Easy chocolate coconut pie with semisweet chocolate, evaporated milk, and flaked coconut baked in a single shell. A 30-minute pantry pie that tastes like a baked Mounds bar in slice form.

Graham cracker pie with a cinnamon crumb crust, creamy vanilla custard filling, and golden meringue topping. An old-fashioned custard pie with crumbs on top and bottom.

Chocolate chess pie: classic Southern chess pie with cocoa, evaporated milk, and butter. Six-ingredient custard pie with a crackly top and rich fudgy center.

A sweet, sipping chocolate, perfect on a cold winter day. I use 85% chocolate. The amount of sugar can be decreased, or the chocolate can be increased for a richer chocolate flavor.

A delicious accompaniment for any dish. Vary the number of chili peppers in the sauce according to personal taste.

Papaya custard sautees fresh papaya with butter, brown sugar, and brandy, then layers it under a rich egg custard with crumbled butter cookies. Baked until silky and set.

Traditional Chinese braised duck webs simmered for 3 hours with star anise, ginger, and rice wine, then glazed in glossy oyster sauce. Served over stir-fried broccoli and dried mushrooms.