1New Orleans-Style Beignets
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 2Bananas Foster Cheesecake
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREBananas Foster is a classic dessert that should never go out of style, and now we’re bringing it back in with this bananas Foster cheesecake. Boozy caramelized bananas are piled over a fluffy banana cheesecake for a classy, show-stopping dessert that’s sure to be the belle of any ball you bring her to.
Get the Bananas Foster Cheesecake recipe.
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3King Cake Cheesecake Bars
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREThese king cake cheesecake bars combine the rich, creamy goodness of cheesecake with sweet cinnamon roll dough, all topped with festive purple, green, and gold sugar.This dessert is as easy as it is delicious, thanks to two simple tricks: store-bought cinnamon roll dough and a food processor. The dough gets unrolled to form the top and bottom crusts, and the cheesecake filling is whipped up in the food processor. With just 30 minutes of prep, plus baking and cooling, you’ll have a party-perfect treat.
Get the King Cake Cheesecake Bars recipe.
4Confetti Cookie Dough Ball
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5Chocolate Mint Moon Pies
Hearst Owned 6Mardi Gras King Cake
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAMKing cakes are one of the best parts of Carnival season. They’re traditionally sweet pastry shaped into a ring (like a crown) and covered with icing and colored sprinkles (gold for power, green for faith, and purple for justice). Whoever finds the toy baby inside their slice is king for the year (and has to bring the cake next Mardi Gras!).
Get the Mardi Gras King Cake recipe.
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7Bourbon Balls
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBERIf you’re looking for a boozy treat to get your Mardi Gras party started, these little bites are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
8Baked Alaska
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREAsk a local where you should go to get an epic dessert in New Orleans, and many of them will point you in the direction of Antoine's in the French Quarter. To make yours look just like theirs, use your meringue to pipe on the outside of your cake too.
Get the Baked Alaska recipe.
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9Pecan Pralines
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCEPralines are a delicious Southern caramel-like candy made with sugar, butter, vanilla, and some form of dairy (like heavy cream or evaporated milk, which is our choice). You can make them with any nut, but pecan is classic.
Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.
10Turtle Cheesecake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONThis rich turtle cheesecake takes its inspiration from turtles, a delicious chocolate candy filled with gooey chewy caramel, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, and crunchy toasted pecans all throughout. It's a masterpiece.
Get the Turtle Cheesecake recipe.
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11Bananas Foster
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHYTraditionally, rum is the liquor of choice to flambé bananas Foster, but no one’s stopping you from experimenting with bourbon or anything over 80-proof that has great flavor. As the sauce ignites, the flames will die out as the alcohol is cooked off, leaving you with the flavor of whatever you choose.
Get the Bananas Foster recipe.
12Paczki
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREPaczki (pronounced something like puhnch-kee) are a traditional Polish dessert typically prepared on Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) as a way to use up all the rich ingredients typically given up for Lent. If you're looking for a decadent treat, these dense jelly donuts should be next on your baking list.
Get the Paczki recipe.
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13Copycat Cosmic Brownies
LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHYThe classic Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie is an extra chewy brownie with a simple ganache on top along with those iconic chocolate chip candies. Our version is a little fudgier, but is still just as chewy. They'll make you feel like a kid again, perfect for getting in the mood to dress up in your Mardi Gras finest.
Get the Copycat Cosmic Brownies recipe.
14Banana Pudding Cookies
PARKER FEIERBACHIf you love banana pudding, you’re in for a treat. These cookies have everything you love most about that classic dessert, but are much easier to eat on the go (when you're heading out to watch the parades, perhaps?).
Get the Banana Pudding Cookies recipe.
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15Tie Dye Rainbow Cheesecake Bars
CHELSEA LUPKINGet your groove on with these tie dye-inspired cheesecake bars. We used Mardi Gras gold (yellow and orange) for power, green for faith, and purple for justice, but pick your favorite bright colors—we do recommend staying under four though, so you don't risk them muddling together!
Get the Tie Dye Rainbow Cheesecake Bars recipe.
16Sugar Cookie Bars
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCERThe easiest way to make sugar cookies for a crowd is to turn them into bars. Somewhere between a blondie and cookie, these sugar cookie bars are thick and soft with buttercream spread on top. They take less time than scooping individual cookies and are just as good.
Get the Sugar Cookie Bars recipe.
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17Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
PARKER FEIERBACH 18Pecan Pie Brownies
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDSFor the brownie lover, pecan pie can be kind of a bummer. No longer! Make these quick-and-easy beauties for the chocolate lover in your life—it's got the oooey, crunchy topping they'll love, in a delicious portable package.
Get the Pecan Pie Brownies recipe.
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19No-Bake Banana Caramel Pecan Pie
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 20Bread Pudding
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREThis rich, custardy dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. We love challah for its subtle sweetness and light, airy texture, but any [stale] bread will do. Though raisins are optional, we think they add a nice pop of sweetness and texture.
Get the Bread Pudding recipe.
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