Cortney Smith, co-owner and instructor at Gather Food Studio & Spice Shop, for her personal festive events makes stollen and buñuelos (a Mexican sweet bread of fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar).

Tarts look fancy, but they all start with the same thing: a good, sweet shortcrust pastry shell. This easy shortcrust tart dough, also known as pâte sucrée, bakes into a buttery, shortbread-style ...