Noelle Carter is the former Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen director. She left in January 2019.
Snowflake pretzel rods
Time 30 minutes
Yields Makes about 45 pretzel rods
Marzipan stollen
Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Yields Serves 16 to 20 (8 to 10 per loaf)
Brown sugar shortbread
Time 50 minutes
Yields Makes 4 dozen bars or 2 dozen wedge cookies
Vegan almond sable cookies with cacao nibs
Time 45 minutes
Yields Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies
Triple-Chocolate Brownies
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 3 dozen brownies
Gingerbread Heart Houses
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size
Baklava rouláda cookies
Time 2 hours
Yields Makes about 4 dozen cookies
Homemade granola
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 2 quarts granola
Homemade cinnamon-spiced whiskey
Time 5 minutes
Yields Makes about 750-mL flavored whiskey
Black Sesame Butter Toffee with Hazelnuts
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes one 12- by 17-inch sheet
Crispix Arare
Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yields Makes about 9 cups
Ginger Chile Simple Syrup
Time 15 minutes
Yields Makes 4 cups
