Heather Baird

Made with layers of sponge cake and buttercream frosting and topped with fresh flowers and sugar pearls, this sweet monogram cake makes a lovely focal point for wedding receptions, baby showers and more.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate a milestone birthday? Try your hand at this delicious, three-tiered cream tart number cake. Each digit is made of three, soft, chocolate cookies filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with truffles, chocolate bars, sprinkles and more for a very happy birthday treat.

Boutique-bakery cupcakes are easy to make at home with just a few inexpensive supplies. Learn how to pipe buttercream roses, starry swirls and lofty ruffles. Four basic piping tips are used in this tutorial, but there are scores more to choose from — so feel free to branch out! Just one word of advice: Jumbo piping tips are ideal for filling up the top of a cupcake with buttercream. They make an impressive and pretty topping without much work.

One of the most problematic kitchen essentials to store is the humble sheet pan. Because of its flat shape it’s often relegated to the bottom of the cupboard with other things stacked on top. Retrieving them for use can often be a noisy, clanging affair. The solution to this problem is extremely simple and inexpensive. You’ll need just a couple of items to easier navigate your baking pan arsenal.

This classic southern dessert is usually made as a layer cake, but we’ve simplified into a one-pan bundt cake. Plan ahead because this cake needs to cool for about 2 hours before adding the cream cheese glaze.

It’s hard to improve upon a classic, but these cookies will give your conventional chocolate chip cookie recipe a run for its money. The addition of caramel bits and dry-roasted peanuts makes these reminiscent of our favorite caramel-peanut chocolate bar. They’re crunchy, chewy, and so satisfying!

Part of having a well-organized kitchen is ridding your cabinets of oversized packaging. That often means decanting pantry essentials into clearly labeled glass jars and canisters. Use our guide to make permanent canister labels that are easy to read and won’t peel or scratch off with washing.

These mini Bundt cakes are well-doused in aged rum, and covered in delicious cinnamon hard sauce. They’ll be a welcome sight on any holiday table. Display the cakes on sprigs of fresh rosemary and garnish with cranberries to give them festive holiday color. These cakes can be packaged individually in gusseted treat bags for gift-giving.

These personalized shortbread ornaments can double as holiday place cards or Christmas party favors. Simple letter stencils can be found at most any craft store. Plan ahead because the royal icing on these cookies needs to dry for at least four hours or overnight.

It’s hard to beat a classic! Bourbon balls are traditional Christmas treats that make wonderful homemade gifts. This version is made with ground pecans, but ground walnuts can be substituted in equal amounts. For a festive finishing touch, display and serve them in paper cones made from decorative card stock.

These chocolate cookie shot glasses make such a fun treat for kids and adults alike. You can fill them with candy, milk — most anything — but you can’t go wrong with our raspberry mousse filling. Find the required cookie shot glass pan at kitchen supply stores or online.

Portable sundaes in jars are the perfect hand-held treat. Mix-and-match your favorite ice cream and toppings ahead of time, then store the lidded jars in the freezer till it's time to party. Homemade caramel and chocolate sauces make these extra-indulgent, and they’re a quick fix with our simple recipes. Add colorful squares of fabric to the jars' lids to match the season and occasion.

Portable hand pies are the ideal sweet treat for enjoying a dessert while mixing and mingling. This recipe makes ten servings so there’s plenty to go around. Serve with napkins — no plates required. Perfect for tailgates, backyard get-togethers or any casual party.

This easy recipe will transport party guests to a tropical state of mind, no matter the season or occasion. These handheld mini tarts are a perfect sweet treat for weddings, summer soirees, bridal or baby showers or fall tailgates. Use ready-made pastry shells to shortcut the prep time.

Kick off your summer celebrations with a 5-ingredient dessert that's low on effort, but big on flavor.