Chocolate

Toasted hazelnuts are the perfect complement to luscious dark chocolate and fragrant cinnamon in these decadent holiday cookies.

Who knew chocolate mousse could be so simple and so fast? Once you have the ingredients on hand, you can put this decadent dessert together in a flash.

Of all the quirky, inexplicable, reindeer-embellished holiday traditions out there, making your own Yule log might take the cake. Why would anyone in their right mind create a dessert that is supposed to look like something cut from the forest? Because it will be exponentially more impressive—and downright delicious—than any cake, pie, or sugar cookie on the table. Besides, we're not encouraging you to make just any old Bûche de Noël: Our updated, streamlined version resembles a slender birch branch, adorned with funghi-inspired meringues. So who knows? This might just become your new weird Christmas tradition.

The intensity of this ganache balances out the other sweeter components in our Bûche de Noël. If you prefer rounder, less sharp flavors, use semisweet or milk chocolate instead of bittersweet.

Ground almonds and cocoa powder take the place of flour in this super moist, super simple chocolate cake.

White chocolate gives a rich, creamy finish to these deliciously spiced slice-and-bake cookies.

The swirly meringue topping on this pie is stable enough to make a day ahead and keep chilled—even if you've bruleed it.

TIP: To ripen bananas quickly, put unpeeled bananas on baking sheet and bake at 350° 15 to 20 minutes or until skins have blackened. Slice skins open and scoop out banana.

Earthy and sweet with molasses, rich with cream, and bittersweet with dark chocolate, this sophisticated pie is a breeze to make.

These fondant cakes are absolute show-stoppers and so simple to make. Dip your spoon in for luscious mouthfuls of molten peanut butter goodness.

Salted caramel and rich fudgy chocolate is truly a match made in heaven. I can't stop baking this tempting brownie—it's just the thing for an afternoon treat or to take to a friend's house (they'll love you forever!).

This cheat's tiramisu is so easy and delicious (perfect for stress-free entertaining!). Pretty much anything with coffee in it usually gets my vote!

You don't have to use a vegan chocolate to make this decadent tart—any bittersweet baking bar will be great. But if you want to go dairy-free, be sure to read the label.