Category: Desserts

A Not-So-Classic Crème Brûlée

Rhubarb and rosemary are surprising bedfellows in this crème brûlée. Upright stalks of brilliantly hued rhubarb are always the first to arrive in the spring produce parade. Rhubarb’s natural astringency may overwhelm at first bite, but with a little sugar and fruit, its tartness is successfully tamed. For this dessert, however, I chose not to…


How to Make Classic French Madeleines

Madeleines are the little French butter cakes that most (non-French) people think of more as a cookie. I don’t think they’re for the inexperienced cook—they are a little tricky and need a fair amount of confidence to turn out just right. That said, I’ve tried to cover all the small details in this recipe so…


Repurpose a Favorite Savory Ingredient for Cake That’s Simple yet Sophisticated

One of the most attractive aspects of making a cake with oil rather than butter is the way it expedites the mixing process: There’s no waiting for butter to come to room temperature and then beating it with sugar before you even start to add the rest of the ingredients. The batter is ready to…


30-minute Puff Pastry Glazed Doughnuts Are the Ultimate Lazy Breakfast

It’s hard to deny the satisfaction of freshly made doughnuts, be it fluffy yeasted doughnuts or rich and cakey doughnuts. But in my opinion, the very best homemade doughnuts don’t start with pulling out the stand mixer or heating oil for deep-frying. Instead, they start with a box of puff pastry. Unlike other doughnuts, puff…


What My Husband’s Homemade Cake Donuts Taught Me About Hospitality

When my husband, Andrew, and I first bound together our souls and wallets the year after we graduated from college and moved to a new state, we, like many who marry young, were completely broke. We moved to a tiny basement apartment in Charlottesville, Virginia, with popcorn ceilings and a musty odor. Like any other…


No Time? No Problem: A 5-minute Brownie in a Mug Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

There are plenty of days when we’re fired up and eager to begin a baking project. Unfortunately, those moments don’t always line up with when our chocolate cravings hit. More often than not, we start craving a warm, fudgy brownie right as we sit down to relax in front of the television, perfectly content to…


Polenta Pound Cake With Spiced Mandarins

If you wanted to, you could plate this in individual servings elegant enough for the nicest restaurant in town, but you absolutely do not have to. Makes 8 to 10 Servings For the Polenta Pound Cake Pan Goo, for greasing the pan (recipe follows) 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2…