Cocoa

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.

Brushing the sponge cake for the Bûche de Noël with this flavored syrup hydrates it and keeps it moist.

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.

Our slice-and-bake technique is easier to manage than shaping a crescent version—a touch of sanity during holiday baking madness.

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.

Maybe you forgot his or her birthday, or maybe you didn't forget, maybe you never even knew, but jeez, it's today, really? This cake won't work for a kid's birthday—that calls for more...of everything—but if you just got home, dinner isn't even made, and it turns out it is someone special's day, you just have to bust out a cake, and this one is all from the pantry and requires minimal gear and cleanup. Send him out for a pint of ice cream or suggest she use the shower first-this cake can be in the oven before your celebrant gets back. Thirty minutes later and it's out and cooling on the counter. Fair warning: this cake is like that guy who never moves out of his parents' house—born there, no matter how ready it seems, it falls to pieces when you try to get it out. Cut into wedges and lever them out individually, then cover your tracks with vanilla ice cream or plain or chocolate whipped cream.

Dried fruit is the secret to moist low-fat baked goods. These cupcakes have such a rich, chocolaty flavor, you would never know there were dates in the batter if you hadn't baked them yourself.

Making your own flavored vinegar and oil might seem like a crazy thing only chefs in the Hot 10 would do, but once you make them (which is easy), your salads will enjoy instant upgrades.

These vegan brownies took at least thirty rounds of serious test-kitchen madness (not kidding!). When we finally said, okay, okay, moist and crumbly and chocolatey and delicious, we gave in. I used flaxseed meal and warm water to create a binder that replaces the need for egg. These egg-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, guilt-free brownies are some of the best you will ever taste! They will crumble a bit more than regular brownies, so beware of crumbs!

These deep, dark brownies, a Lauren family favorite, are from Ricky Lauren's The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History.

Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Carnation malted milk powder, we love you (and this devilish cake) so, so much.

The one-bowl chocolate cake is a busy baker's workhorse, and a concept that's been riffed on in countless ways by just about every cookbook, food magazine, and professional domestic goddess over the past few decades. And for good reason-who doesn't love being minutes away from homemade chocolate cake, no complicated machinery required? My version is naturally sweetened with maple syrup, which also makes it unbeatably moist.

Brownies can go two ways—fudgy or cakey—and these rich, decadent squares decidedly fall into the fudgy category.

Because it contains more essential oils, whole grain rye flour can spoil quickly. Store the unused portion in the fridge or freezer.

In this easy, creamy dessert, a slightly crumbly flourless hazelnut-cocoa crust complements a rich chocolate filling.

Slightly undercook these mouthwatering morsels for a molten effect.

These taste even better a few days after they're made.