A couple weeks ago, I bought a ton of heavy cream so that I could experiment making chocolate ganache (even though chocolate ganache is actually a super easy, two-ingredient operation —it’s just that I don’t think I’ve made ganache since these ganache brownies and I wanted to make sure I had room for mistakes!).

Long story short, I had a lot of heavy cream left over and needed to quickly come up with a good recipe to use it on. Naturally, I turned to crème brûlée. (more…)

Once a month, I bake for my co-workers. I let them give me requests and I try to bake something that’s up to their satisfaction.

Not too long ago, the request was Oreo cupcakes. (more…)

End your year (or start the next) with this classy Cranberry Apple Crumb Cake! 

Tart cranberries, sweet apples, and a delicate almond crumb bring this cake together. This light and versatile treat can be an after-dinner dessert or a breakfast indulgence.  (more…)

Thanksgiving leftovers are the best! But I think we can agree that not all leftovers reheat well in the microwave. Sweet potato casserole is one of those examples. It’s impossible to recreate that fresh-from-the-oven toasted marshmallow deliciousness the day after.

Unless… you repurpose your leftovers into this delicious sweet potato cheesecake! (more…)

Peanut butter cookies are classic, and these are made even better with the addition of peanut butter chips! 

These cookies are slightly softer than the regular peanut butter variety and still have that amazing salty-sweet crunch.  (more…)

When it comes to desserts, it’s how well you make the simple things that show your mastery. There are no crazy flavors or fancy sprinkles to mask your mistakes. Your pastry stands on its own.

Simplicity is a form of honesty. (more…)

I had a 10am meeting the other day and I woke up craving something sweet, but knew we didn’t have anything good already made (actually, this is a constant problem and, honestly, it’s the only reason I bake). So I sat for a minute on our living room couch, thinking about what I could make that might satisfy my sweet tooth but also be fast enough to whip up and enjoy before I had to leave.

Cookies? Muffins? Cake? How about chocolate? We also had those oranges sitting on the counter… (more…)

These are by far the easiest chocolate chip cookies I have ever made. You don’t need a mixer to cream the butter, you don’t need to use two types of sugar — you don’t even need a bowl to mix the dough! All you need is a small saucepan, a spoon, and (optionally) a whisk. 

These cookies take less than 10 minutes to bake, they’re crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They have a soft crumb and marbled chocolate throughout.  (more…)

After many years of French classes, Kings Cakes aren’t a foreign concept to me. These cakes are traditional to New Orleans and they have their own season: from the Epiphany (King’s Day, January 6th) through Mardi Gras. 

The cake is normally made with a rich, buttery dough and topped with a milk glaze. They can be made plain, with a cinnamon filling, or, more recently, with a variety of other fillings like chocolate, cream cheese or fruit.  (more…)

One of my best friend’s birthday was last week so, of course, I offered to bake the cake for her special day. I asked if she had any specific flavors in mind and she told me that she loves strawberries.

With this in mind, I went to brainstorming on recipe ideas. One of my all-time favorite cakes is this cookies and cream cake, layered with an oreo whipped cream. And strawberries taste great with whipped cream… (more…)