Snack

These spice-laden cookies originated in colonial New England; the candied ginger is our own addition. As the name implies, the bars are best after being hidden away for a day or two, so the flavors have a chance to deepen.

Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

Once the palmiers are in the oven, watch them closely, as they may go from a perfect dark golden brown to burned in seconds.

These turnovers are a variation on the classic pain au chocolat. For maximum flavor, look for the highest-quality chocolate possible, such as Callebaut, Valrhona, or Scharffen Berger.

You can make coffee icing by whisking together 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 3 tablespoons brewed coffee. Make the icing just before serving.

This cake is best when served the day it is made. You can bake the cake in the morning and finish it later in the day. It can stand in a cool place for about 3 hours before serving. Marrons glacés (whole candied chestnuts) are available in specialty food stores.

The most time-consuming step is making the coconut curls; in a pinch, you can use store-bought shaved coconut.

For Valentine’s Day, bake the layers in two 9-inch heart-shaped cake pans.

Draining the rhubarb keeps the cake from becoming soggy.

Toast and peel the nuts for the cake and the garnish (recipe follows) at the same time. Bake the cake up to 3 days ahead; wrap well and keep at room temperature. The candied hazelnuts and chocolate curls can also be made 3 days ahead; store in airtight containers.

The fluffy exterior of this cake conceals a delicious pink filling, made simply by combining some of the frosting with raspberry jam.

This cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.