Cookie

These dramatic cakelike cookies are a New York City favorite — and we think they deserve a wider audience.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 45 min

American spice: Powdered-sugar icing decorates these crisp gingerbread-like treats.

Swiss butter cookies with rich ganache filling.

"My parents and I recently celebrated my mom's birthday at a local restaurant called The Farmhouse," writes Karen Eschenbach of Emmaus, Pennsylvania. "We ended a wonderful meal with an even better dessert—chocolate-peanut butter 'beggars' purses.'" Each elegant phyllo "purse" contains a flourless brownie topped with peanut butter and chocolate ganache.

This recipe makes more meringue than you'll need for 8 servings. You can pipe the extra into sticks and bake them to eat as a snack. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Judith W. Harris of San Mateo, California, writes: "I recently made these chocolate almond bars for a tea. They were all consumed with requests for more." Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr

Espresso and a selection of favorite liqueurs are good with the brownies.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

For a more delicate cookie, chop the raisins instead of adding them whole (most easily done with an oiled knife).

These ultra-rich and chocolaty sandwich cookies have creamy, coffee-spiked centers.

Presenting the ultimate treat for the die-hard chocolate fan….

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 5 hr (includes chilling)

If you can't find Italian Moscato, substitute Essencia, the Muscat-based dessert wine made in California. Serve this rich custard with the raisin-studded cookies featured here.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 6 hr

These nut meringues are also called erstesternen ("first stars"), a reference to the heavenly signs indicating the end of a fast day. They are traditionally served by German Jews at the meal following Yom Kippur.

You might be tempted to bake 2 sheets of brownies at a time in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Don't give in to this urge—they must go in the middle of the oven to cook through and brown evenly.