Flaky Seafood Pie

One of the pleasures of the cooking traditions of the British Isles is seafood pie, with its bounty of northern seafood in a creamy sauce topped with flaky pastry. You can make the pie a day ahead and refrigerate it or freeze it. If you prefer, use pie pastry (one double-crust recipe) instead of puff pastry.

Merguez Sausages

Harissa, a paste made from crushed chilies, gives these North African-inspired lamb sausages their signature kick. Find boneless lamb shoulder and sausage casings at your butcher, and make sure the meat is chilled before you work with it. For easy prep, enlist a helper for filling the casings.

Speckled Easter Egg Chocolate Cake

Brilliant blue icing and a fun speckled effect make this show-stopping chocolate cake look like a robin's egg. For best results, practise your speckling technique on waxed paper before tackling the cake. The speckling can get a little messy, so protect the cake plate with strips of waxed or parchment paper.

Maple Choux au Craquelin Nests

Red Wine-Poached Pear Tartlets

The contrast of buttery cream and red wine–poached pears makes these tarts a stunning addition to your holiday spread. For the prettiest presentation, prepare the pastry, cream and poached pears in advance, then assemble the tarts just before serving. Use a small melon baller or a metal measuring spoon to easily core the pears.

Over-the-Top Chocolate Raspberry Dome

Here's a gorgeous ending that's sure to make a splash: layers of chocolate and passionate pink mousse surrounded by chocolate cake ribbons and iced with chocolate ganache.

Apple Fritter Monkey Bread

This pull-apart monkey bread tastes just like apple fritters, and it conveniently separates into little doughnut holes for shareable bite-size treats! Get the kids involved in rolling the dough pieces into balls and building the bread in the Bundt pan.

Berry Charlotte

This show-stopping classic is less intimidating to make than it appears. Top it with whatever fresh berries are local or in season. For a pretty presentation, tie a ribbon around it.

Rhubarb Dream Cake

With its pink rhubarb top, this light and fluffy cake is almost too pretty to eat!  Almost!

 

Thatched Gingerbread House

A beautiful gingerbread house is a great project - just the kind that makes family traditions and memories, as well as a not-to-be-missed decoration for the house and a delicious post-Christmas treat for the builders.