Cranberry-pomegranate hand pies
Cranberry-pomegranate hand pies

There’s no fuss, just fun, when it comes to making these pies, Hughes says. “You can crimp them with a fork. You can press the edges. You can make cute little designs when you’re venting them.”

Saffron shortbread
Saffron shortbread

Melinda Price enjoys experimenting with recipes using the saffron grown on her Lake County farm.

“Saffron has been used for centuries in America by the Amish and Mennonite communities, who, like us at the farm, flavor everything from chicken soup to bread with it,” she says.

She found a winner in this saffron shortbread, based on a recipe by Shira Bocar of Martha Stewart Living. It’s been a big hit with farmstand and online customers.

Pear-thyme galettes
Pear-thyme galettes

Like all of Erin Gleeson’s recipes, this one is open to interpretation. Not a fan of Gorgonzola? Try a different type of cheese or skip it all together. Any kind of jam would work, too. Vanilla ice cream is an ideal accompaniment.

Hand Pies
Hand Pies

Learn how to make a hand pie dessert

Baklava
Baklava

Learn how to make this traditional Greek dessert from scratch!

Whiskey apple upside-down cake
Whiskey apple upside-down cake

This boozy sweet and salty cake is the perfect ending to any meal. "Not only does it pair beautifully with just about any nightcap you can think of, it will taste even better in the morning, warm with a cup of coffee," Gray says.

 

Chef Jammir Gray
Compline Restaurant and Wine Bar, Napa

Miss Norgueira's sweet rice
Miss Norgueira's sweet rice

For years, Stanislaus County dairy farmer Marcie Davis has been making this rice pudding recipe from the book "Portuguese Home Cooking," by Ana Patuleia Ortins. This is one of the Davis family's favorite treats made from their sheep farm's milk.

Empanadas de manzana (Apple empanadas)
Empanadas de manzana (Apple empanadas)
Chef David Gomez's mother used to make a bread pudding with cinnamon, sugar, cheddar cheese, raisins and apples during the Lenten season. "This is an empanada version I created to honor those memories," he said.
Summer fruit dessert tacos
Summer fruit dessert tacos
"It's really easy to switch it up" when making fruit tacos, Guerrero said. For example, choose different fruit or drizzle the tortilla with jam or caramel sauce rather than chocolate sauce.
Citrus brioche tart recipe
Citrus brioche tart recipe
Brioche gets taken to the next level with the addition of fresh citrus!