Pie

A mild buttermilk tang offsets the sweetness of this caramel-colored custard pie.

Tropical flavors star in this cool indulgence.

Pies are probably the most popular dessert in Lancaster. Brown sugar and sweet potato are among the many ingredients used in fillings.

In this pie, dried cherries, cherry preserves and fragrant spices accent crisp green apples.

A crunchy topping is the twist to this quintessential Thanksgiving pie.

Rich, creamy, decadent—this could be the new benchmark for an American classic.

Inspired by the creamy mint-chocolate after-dinner drink, grasshopper pie was a hostess's dream: Composed of only a handful of ingredients, it took just minutes to assemble; then it could be stored in the freezer until serving time. Here is an updated rendition-with white chocolate instead of the original marshmallows-that is every bit as cool and minty as its predecessor. Those who don't want a grasshopper-green dessert can substitute clear ("white") crème de menthe for the colored liqueur.

Tina Thompson of Orlando, Florida, writes: "Food and nostalgia are closely related in my mind. When I miss my dad, I make an extra-buttery grilled-cheese sandwich just the way he would every Saturday for lunch. When I miss my college roommate Jenny, I splurge on a new ethnic food to remind me of adventures during our junior year abroad in London. Inspired by my great food experiences there, I attended a small cooking school stateside so that I could come up with some fantastic meals of my own."

This dessert tastes indulgent, but it's made with nonfat cottage cheese, nonfat cream cheese and evaporated skim milk.

Fresh pumpkin or squash puree is always delicious but not nearly as handy as canned pumpkin.

This dessert was inspired by my good friend and great Cajun chef Paul Prudhomme. He prepares his with sweet potatoes, which are available year-round, and hence, give his version a longer seasonal shelf life than mine. If there's anything better than pumpkin pie or pecan pie, it's the two of them together. The whiskey butter adds a thoroughly Cajun twist to this sweet ending.