Luscious New Year's Desserts

These delectable mini cakes are an irresistible treat; don't skimp on the chocolate truffle icing!

A classic favorite -- champagne and strawberries -- gives this gorgeous cake flair. It's so elegant, nobody will ever guess that it starts with a mix.

The Arborio rice in this Festive Rice Pudding is a short-grain rice used for risotto. It's available in grocery stores and Italian markets.

The ginger-cinnamon scented pears work beautifully with chocolate. Try it with a chocolate mousse or ice cream.

As with most cheesecakes, this one is very rich and should be cut into small servings. Cheesecakes are best when served the next day, so take advantage of this built-in bonus and prepare in advance.

When baking cupcakes, either from scratch or from premade mix, use extra-fine sugar to make the smoothest frosting.

Celebrate the season in style with this cake. Decorate the frosted cake with Caramelized Stars, chopped pistachio nuts, and shaved white chocolate.

Mascarpone is a buttery-rich cream cheese with a mild flavor that works well in both savory and sweet dishes. Here it's used to enhance a filling of cocoa powder and vanilla.

A frothy delight, zabaglione (zah-bahl-YO-nay) is one of Italy's most prized culinary masterpieces. Here in these Layered Chocolate-Zabaglione Cream Cakes, it crowns a springy chocolate sponge cake.

Frozen puff pastry makes the rustic appeal of this recipe easy.

Almond Log Cake sweetly celebrates the French custom of burning a Yule log, which prevents bad spirits from flowing down the chimney into the new year. Fortuitous almonds also add extra value.

Chocolate cupcakes are topped with a layer of Chocolate-Pecan ice cream "frosting" before being garnished with caramel ice cream topping.

Make a versatile panettone bread pudding that can double as a brunch entree or dinnertime dessert.

Turn this treat into a trifle by piling the ingredients in alternate layers in a 3-1/2-quart trifle bowl.

Pull together 5-ingredient Maple Ricotta Flans in just 15 minutes.

Evaporated fat-free milk makes this Cardamom-Cranberry Rice Pudding taste rich and creamy without added fat.

From Russia with love -- these sweet and light glazed desserts make for a glowing finale to a holiday meal.

Make this dessert a little more decadent by replacing the kiss with a rich chocolate truffle and drizzling on hot fudge or hot caramel sauce. Tuck each little bite into a serving container of its own.

This all-white dessert -- angel food cake topped with whipped dessert topping, white chocolate, and coconut -- provides an energy boost after a long day of sledding.

Layers of raspberries and custard topped with lacy caramelized sugar form this elegant yet easy-to-make dessert.

Slicing into Sherry-Almond Sponge Cake is a little like opening a beautifully packaged gift. Inside, there's a lovely surprise: a rich-hue berry filling nestled between two sherry-infused cake layers.

May your New Year be as rich and delightful as this spectacular dessert. With brandy-soaked cherries inside, the recipe is a mini-and-mod takeoff on the classic Black Forest Torte.