Stand Mixer

Use this focaccia to make Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Onion Sandwiches and Genoa Toasts.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 4 hr (includes cooling)

The big bowl and tireless motor of a standing mixer take the heavy work out of preparing these tender brioche loaves.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 3 hr This one-bowl cake, which is really simple to assemble, owes its airy volume and fine, even texture to the proper whipping of the egg whites. When the cake is in the oven, some volume builds from the air you have whipped into the whites. But most of the volume is produced by steam, which evaporates from the liquid in the egg whites and passes through the air cells of the egg whites, expanding them. A portion of confectioners sugar helps yield an especially delicate and tender cake. Be sure to measure out your ingredients before starting.

This bread gets even better if stored for a day. Enjoy it toasted and buttered for breakfast.

Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are layered with white chocolate cream and store-bought puff pastry for a beautiful finale.

This recipe calls for sand sugar or pearl sugar (both sometimes known as coarse or crystal sugar), both of which have larger grains than granulated sugar and are used for decorating baked goods. Sand sugar has slightly smaller and shinier grains than pearl sugar.

In most baking recipes, it is customary to see salt measured in teaspoons. The amount of salt called for in the following recipe, however, is correct for the proportion of flour used.

Apple cakes are among the most popular Irish sweets. In this version, a sour cream cake flavored with cinnamon, ginger and allspice is baked atop caramelized apples and then turned out like a tarte Tatin. Serve this with vanilla ice cream.