American dinner party desserts recipes with 400 or fewer calories

Mrs. Harvey’s White Fruitcake

Let me say right up front - fruitcake gets a bad rap. My theory is that many object to the darker types, with lots of spice and molasses. Or the…

Good Stuff Dessert (a chocolate pudding trifle)

Years ago a friend gave me this recipe saying it is as the name says, truly “Good Stuff.” Layers start with a…

Creole Perfect Sweet Potato Pie

I have made this recipe for years. There is none better - or so I've been told by some serious and knowing Creole cooks. And while some may say…

Lemon Pastry Squares (a.k.a Lemon Brownies) - a new take on Lemon Bars!

This recipe has been circulating around the Internet as “Lemon Brownies”,…

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Chocolate chiffon cake is a light and spongy cake. Goes well with a heavy chocolate ganaché coating.

Everything Goes Oatmeal Coookies

This is an original recipe. I was making them, years ago, because my children wanted a "loaded" oatmeal cookie…

Creole Pralines

Better than a cookie (sorry bakers, but this is a Creole group) and with the true taste of New Orleans, Creole Pralines are one of the signature…

Cranberry Torte

An elegant dessert recipe that makes a showy finale to the holiday meal. It’s a make-ahead and freeze recipe, which will simplify matters on the day…

Celestial Pie

Why limit a great dessert like lemon meringue pie to just one kind of citrus fruit? Thanks to orange and lemon, this lovely pie packs a bold…

Angel Food Waldorf Cake

A company-best cake recipe with real WOW factor, from my recipe archives. Originally from the Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library (1971) though the…

Hershey's Special Dark Truffle Brownie Cheesecake

Rich Chocolate Brownies

These brownies have chocolate chips and melted chocolate in the batter, making them doubly delicious. It's a crowd-pleasing treat I can always count…

Skinny Fall Apple Cake With Caramel Glaze

What a super yummy, easy to make, apple cake. It’s loaded with great fall flavors including tons of apple…

Crowd-wowing Flat Apple Pie!

In my all time top FAVS of pie recipes, this pastry is like a Texas-size turnover! Baked in a jelly roll pan, it’s a cinch to transport to meetings…

Apple Harvest Cake

For apple season this is a slam-dunk! It's especially pleasing for its moistness and chunks of apple, plus folks appreciate a cake without frosting…