Okonomiyaki

This savoury pancake makes a great starter for a small group or a hearty meal that serves one or two people. Look for okonomi sauce and bonito flakes at Asian supermarkets. If you can't find the more richly flavoured Japanese-style mayonnaise, substitute with regular mayo.

Fig Squares

Toffee Cheesecake Squares

A wedge of cheesecake is always tempting, but squares of it covered with toffee bits are irresistibly easy to pop in your mouth.

Maple Syrup Tarts

Baked French Toast With Caramelized Pear Sauce

This all-in-one saucy French toast bake is a sweet breakfast treat for a crowd of hungry guests. For the best texture, use pears that are ripe yet still firm.

Holiday Hermit Cookies

Associate food director Donna Bartolini knows that busy households will appreciate having ready-for-the-oven cookies in the freezer. These are chock-full of colourful fruit and crunchy toffee nuggets. Be sure to include the baking instructions on a card inside the box. Or bake the cookies and offer them ready-to-eat in a festive cookie tin.

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

Bring back warm memories of home with this lemon poppy seed loaf recipe! With tangy citrus syrup that seeps addictively into the cake, this lemon poppy seed loaf is a popular make-ahead bread.

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake With Caramel Sauce

Dust off your mother's Bundt pan—the retro ring-shaped cake is back in style, and we're celebrating with this show-stopping dessert.

Cheddar Chorizo Gougères

Smart Spaghetti and Meatballs

We've lightened up this classic Italian dish by using extra-lean ground turkey instead of the usual beef-and-pork combination. Whole wheat pasta and bread crumbs add an extra hit of fibre. Serve with a tossed green salad.