Prune

Tuscan sweets tend to be simple and rustic, like this deliciously buttery, moist cake, similar in texture to marzipan. What to drink: Tuscany's famous Vin Santo, a dessert wine made from raisined grapes.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 3 1/4 hr

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

Oregon's Willamette Valley produces great wines — as well as prunes, hazelnuts, and apples, which combine in this dessert.

Prunes and Cognac add moistness and great flavor to this rich chocolate cake.

The secret to the light and flaky crust is cream cheese. For an extra-special presentation, cut out decorative shapes from the dough scraps, and arrange them on the pie after glazing it; brush cutouts with glaze and bake.

Terrific when served with vanilla or coffee ice cream, and a very appealing breakfast or snack cake on its own.

These muffins are at once light and chewy.

This dessert, long favored by the British at holiday time, originally contained minced meat along with the fruits and spices. This version, more suited to the nineties table, is meatless and brimming with apples, dried fruit and lots of spices.