Gail Simmons transforms dense, dull apple bread pudding into a rich and flavorful recipe that’s perfect for your holiday table.

"We Brits consider this 'pudding,'" says cookbook author and TV star Nigella Lawson of her buttery, sweet dessert. "Think bread pudding, only so much more luxurious. When I make this for supper, we eat nothing else. Why would one need to?

With white chocolate in both the pudding and the sauce — and bittersweet chocolate shavings on top — this sweet, custardy bread pudding is sure to please.

Bey and Jay. PB&J. Platano con salami. They're all iconic duos and pastry chef Paola Velez has one more to add to the canon: guava and cheese.

I find nothing more satisfying than recreating the unique breads of Latin America in my own kitchen. I especially love when the bread is meant to be stuffed with savory fillings and drowned in spicy salsa — in Mexico, the torta ahogada is just that. Birote (pronounced bee-row-teh) is a crunchy, darkly baked sourdough bread said to have a flavor unique to the environment of Guadalajara, but if you grab your favorite beer and some limes, you'll come pretty close!

This tender quick bread has a lightly crunchy crust and is perfect with a cup of tea.

Michelle Gayer tops her sensational focaccia with sweet, tender strips of roasted butternut squash scattered with thyme and drizzled with honey.

Michelle Gayer of Salty Tart bakery in Minneapolis smothers her monkey bread with honey-laced brown butter before baking.

In a class at Point Reyes's new culinary center, students learn to top focaccia with pears and blue cheese.

Nan-e barbari is a classic Persian flatbread that gets crisp and golden in the oven, thanks to roomal, a flour paste that's spread over the bread before it's baked. Jessamyn Rodriguez likes to serve it with feta and olives.

Good News Lionel Vatinet developed this hearty bread—a good source of fiber—to satisfy his Eastern European customers.

These chewy pretzels from chef Hans Röckenwagner develop a shiny, professional-looking crust as they bake.