Vanilla

Pear wedges are tossed with brown butter (easily made by melting butter, then keeping it on the heat until golden and nutty) for an especially comforting treat.

This cheesecake, a delicious contrast of sweet vanilla and tart cranberry, is a scruptious conclusion to any dinner. Whipped cream rosettes are a pretty finish.

This classic southern dessert is very rich and sweet and should be served in small wedges.

A delicious spread that would be perfectly at home with hot tea and warm scones on a winter's day.

The cookie-like dough is great for the novice pie maker, as any imperfections can easily be patched. Be sure to use ripe, juicy pears. Offer this with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

European-style butter pushes the already incredible crumbly richness of classic shortbread to a whole new level.

Active time: 1 1/4 hr Start to finish: 6 1/4 hr (includes chilling)

I've often made this luscious spread with little yellow plums gathered from my friend Ilene's fruit trees. Red or purple plums work equally well. Because fruit butters are slowly cooked down to a thick paste, they require a good deal of stirring to prevent scorching. Active time: 2 hr Start to finish: 3 hr (plus 1 day for flavors to develop)

Vanilla sugar keeps indefinitely and is wonderful sprinkled over French toast or on berries. It can also be used in place of sugar and vanilla extract when baking. You can add more sugar to the container and the bean will continue to infuse it. Active time: 5 min Start to finish: 2 days

When buying fresh apricots, look for fruit that is plump, fragrant, and gives a little when squeezed. Poaching time depends on the ripeness of the fruit.

This delicious custard sauce, which accompanies the Rote Grütze, also goes well with summer fruit tarts.

Whimsical pinwheel-shaped biscuits swirled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and crystallized ginger top a layer of fresh peach filling.

This variation on the classic Irish apple cake has a top and bottom crust made from a biscuit-like dough. You can cut this cake into wedges or dish it out with a spoon like a cobbler.

These Christmas cookies are topped with white icing and silver dragées for added elegance. Look for the dragées in the cake decorating section of your supermarket.