Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 Recipes

Brownies sandwich a layer of vanilla ice cream and crunchy bits of candy cane. To make these trifles in a pinch, pick up brownies from the coffee shop.

Gingerbread is soaked in a lemony white chocolate cream sauce, and topped with cranberries and strawberries.

Think you don't like fruitcake? Thank again. Chunks of dense fruit-studded cake meld with a smooth vanilla pastry cream, rum-soaked fruit, and candied pecans.

This rich chocolate pudding, caramel, and whipped cream trifle is for the kid in all of us. Top it off with spicy gingerbread people, or use a mix of cookies from a cookie swap.

Presented in pretty coffee cups, these strawberry jam-topped custards are served with nutmeg-dusted sugar cookies. Don't save them just for dessert -- offer as a snow day treat or at a holiday open house.

A Southern classic gets a new look. Four shallow layers create big impact in both flavor and color. A citrus gelatin is the base for a tangy cream sauce, cherries, and mini marshmallows. For crunch, large shreds of coconut are added just before serving.

Fluffy vanilla sponge cake soaks up the flavor of syrupy red-wine-poached pears and cranberries. The whipped cream layer gets and extra boost of richness from mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts. If mascarpone isn't your thing, whipped cream cheese is the perfect stand-in. you can also trade purchased pound cake for the homemade cake layers.

These easy Christmas cookies from cookbook author Dorie Greenspan are glazed with a smooth icing and snipped dried cranberries.

No time to bake? No problem! You don't even need to turn on the oven to create these irresistible treats from cookbook author Dorie Greenspan.

In this quick recipe from baking guru Dorie Greenspan, a spice-flavored crust is topped with smooth custard before baking.

"You can don your cookie-making cap, even at the last minute. No one -- even Santa -- can resist these treats," says baking guru Dorie Greenspan.

These decadent cookies from cookbook author Dorie Greenspan are the perfect treats to make the night before Christmas. A crunchy-chewy chocolate filling is sandwiched between vanilla wafers.

Mop up the flavorful sauce in this stew with crusty baguette pieces or biscuits. Or serve the slow cooker stew over a bed of rice or noodles.

This slow cooker, creole-style dish has just five ingredients, making it ideal for busy weekdays.

This polenta makes a fabulous, vegetarian slow cooker dinner or hearty side dish. Mushrooms, dried tomatoes, and baby spinach add tons of flavor.

Wide ridged noodles are the perfect accompaniment to this slow cooker pasta sauce. The thick ragu will cling to the pasta.

This seasonal slow cooker dinner gets its flavor from chunky-style applesauce and pumpkin pie spice.

This smooth potato soup with crunchy topping is a savory dish with colorful flair, all for just 64 cents per serving!

These warm buttermilk biscuits are sure to disappear from your holiday table quickly thanks to the delightful surprise of sharp cheddar cheese.

A two-layer crust locks in the juice and adds flavor to this succulent pork roast. Before roasting, begin by spreading a layer of bacon, apricot preserves, and garlic on the pork roast. Then, top with a coating of bread crumbs, parsley, and rosemary.

This recipe is sure to win over Brussels sprouts-haters. A drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle of salt and pepper, and squeeze of fresh lemon are the only ingredients needed to transform them into a mouthwatering side dish.

This thick fruit sauce takes just 10 minutes of prep time. Cherries, apricots, apple slices, and dried plums are reduced with port wine and sugar to create a deeply flavored mixture that's delicious spooned over meat or served with a cheese tray.

Two types are potatoes are layered with sautéed onions and a creamy sauce in this comforting side dish. Nutmeg and thyme add holiday flavor.