How to make...Chocolate cheesecake.

Ingredients

• For the Crust:
• 3/4 cup crumbled vanilla wafers (about 30 wafers)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
•  
• For the Cheesecake Filling:
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup (about 1 3/4 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and slightly cooled 
•  
• For the Glazes:
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup
• 3 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped

Procedures

1. 1
   For the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tin with paper liners. In food processor, pulse wafers until they turn into fine crumbs. Add butter, sugar, and salt and pulse just to combine. Use fingertips to press 1 tablespoon cookie mixture into bottom of each cup. Bake just until set, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer tin to cooling rack. Decrease oven temperature to 300°F.
2. 2
   For the Cheesecake Filling: In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in sour cream, then eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and salt. Decrease mixer speed to low and add chocolate. Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes.
3. 3
   Divide batter equally among muffin cups and bake until set, about 20 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes, then refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
4. 4
   For the Glazes: Bring 1/3 cup cream to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat or in bowl in microwave. Place bittersweet chocolate and corn syrup in small bowl. Pour cream over chocolate and stir until smooth. Spoon glaze over cupcakes, smoothing with back of spoon. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.
5. 5
   Put a raspberry on top (if you want to), serve and then eat (because lets face it, that IS the best part!)

How to make...Nutella cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 jar (13 ounces) Nutella (you may not use the whole thing)

Procedures

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. 2
   Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. 3
   In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter; once fluffy, add the sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Gradually stir in the flour mixture, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl with each addition.
4. 4
   Pull a piece of dough, about 2 tablespoons, from the bowl. Form a 2-inch flat (but fairly thick) circle by hand. Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the filling on top of this dough-pancake. Close the dough over the filling to form a soft dome, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie (it might resemble the top of a Hershey's Kiss; you can also flatten it with your hand, but make sure that the top of the cookie is sealed!).
5. 5
   Place cookies on the prepared sheets, 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 14-18 minutes, or until golden. Let cool on the pans. If desired, garnish with confectioners' sugar.

How to make...Ghostly halloween cupcakes.

Ingredients

•  For Cupcakes:
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream
•  
•  For Frosting
• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 1 cup marshmallow fluff
• 36 dark chocolate baking chips

Procedures

1. 1
   Make Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake tin with holders.
2. 2
   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. 3
   In a large bowl, beat butter together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla extract and beat until just combined.
4. 4
   Beat in 1/2 flour mixture, followed by sour cream. Beat in remaining flour mixture. Pour batter into cupcake holders.
5. 5
   Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
6. 6
   Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat butter for 1 minute. Add confectioners' sugar and milk and beat until smooth. Add marshmallow fluff and beat until well combined. If needed, continue to mix until frosting is proper fluffy consistency.
7. 7
   Frost each cupcake. Cut 24 of the baking chips in half. Place two halves on each cupcake to serve as eyes. Add one whole chip below eyes to serve as mouth.

How to make...Raisin cupcakes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (about 5 1/2 ounces) dark rye flour
• 1 cup (about 5 1/2 ounces) whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 3 teaspoons sugar

Procedures

1. 1
   Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or grease with butter. In a medium bowl, whisk together rye flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. 2
   In a large bowl, whisk eggs until lightly beaten. Whisk in milk, oil, and molasses. Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins. Sprinkle top of each muffin with sugar. Bake until puffed and golden and a cake tester inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes.
3. 3
   Let cool 10 minutes in pan then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Muffins will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.