Apple Cider Monkey Bread

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

Sweet roasted beets and extra-virgin olive oil add earthiness to this delicate Bundt cake, a baking project that promises stunning results. Roasting the beets beforehand concentrates their sweetness, and stacking thick layers of batter — one flavored with olive oil, the other with beets — creates bold swoops of red within the baked cake. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing to avoid blurring the lines. Because of its lightly sweet notes, this cake is equally at home at breakfast or brunch, as a snack or dessert. To dress it up further, serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream or crème fraîche.

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

Classic strawberry muffins get a few modern twists in this cheery take. First, egg yolks replace whole eggs, resulting in a richer, more flavorful crumb. The muffins get a double dose of strawberries: diced fresh berries in the batter and an optional dusting of freeze-dried strawberries on top. Finally, a reserved egg white is tossed with sugar and sliced almonds to make a crunchy topping for the muffins. As always, for the best flavor, pick the ripest, brightest strawberries of the bunch.

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

This is a wonderful but simple summer pie inspired by strawberry pretzel salad, a popular Southern dessert. The classic recipe consists of a crumbled pretzel crust, a whipped cream cheese and Cool Whip filling, and a top layer of strawberry Jell-O. In this fresher adaptation, crushed pretzels form the foundation of an easy shortbread crust, followed by a fluffy cream filling and a pile of fresh strawberries, omitting the use of gelatin. If you’re making this pie in advance — especially with juicy, height-of-season berries — complete Steps 1 to 3, then cloak the filled crust with plastic wrap and chill up to 24 hours. Just before serving, toss the berries in sugar and pile them on top.

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

This cobbler substitutes fresh, juicy kernels and corn milk for traditional heavy cream, taking advantage of the sweetness of seasonal corn and adding texture to a buttery crust. Grating two large ears of corn should produce enough liquid for the topping, but, if not, you can grate a third ear, or add cream or milk. The rich, crumbly crust also gets some of its moisture from the filling, which is extra syrupy from the mashed blackberries. Serve the cobbler warm with a splash of heavy cream, a dollop of coconut yogurt, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Finishing it all off with a drizzle of dark rum, while not necessary, is especially sweet.

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

Here’s a clever trick for making a big batch of pancakes that will save you from spending all morning at the stove: Bake them all at once on a sheet pan. In this recipe, the batter comes together like biscuit dough by cutting the cold butter into the flour before adding the liquid. This cuts down on gluten production, which means fluffier pancakes. For wonderfully crisp edges, heat the sheet pan in advance, so the batter starts cooking as soon as it’s poured into the pan. If you like, you can stir a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the batter, sprinkle it with finely chopped fruit, or mix and match toppings to please the crowd.

Jerrelle Guy · NYT Cooking

A touch of honey complements the nutty flavor of the whole-wheat flour in these muffins. The zucchini and applesauce provide moisture and flavor, and the crunchy cinnamon topping makes for the perfect textural contrast against the soft cake. These muffins are a great addition to your morning cup of coffee. Store them on the counter, uncovered, to help preserve their crunchy coating. They also freeze well and can be reheated in a low-temperature oven or thawed at room temperature.