I tackled Claire Saffitz’s kouign-amann recipe, a buttery French pastry made with laminated yeasted dough and plenty of caramelized sugar. While challenging, Claire’s detailed instructions and YouTube guidance make homemade kouign-amann surprisingly approachable. The result is crisp, deeply caramelized, perfectly sweet, and packed with heavenly, flaky layers throughout.
Discover Afton Cyrus’s New England anadama bread recipe—a traditional yeasted bread that balances cornmeal’s subtle texture with molasses’ deep, toasty sweetness. This version softens cornmeal before mixing, eliminating grittiness while delivering authentic flavor.
Missing December cookie swaps in New York, I got a sweet dose of nostalgia at a friend’s festive cookie exchange. From Eric Kim’s iconic gochujang caramel cookies to peppermint mocha and lemon ricotta, this holiday cookie swap menu delivered big flavors, cozy vibes, and plenty of sugar-high joy.
Samin Nosrat’s Oat and Honey Dinner Rolls are impossibly soft, moist, and flavorful thanks to a Tartine-inspired oat porridge folded into the dough. These rolls can be made ahead, proofed overnight, and baked fresh for Friendsgiving or any holiday meal. Perfectly golden, tender, and irresistible with salted butter.
Confession from a Mainer: I prefer these pumpkin whoopie pies to the classic. Light, tender cakes get real pumpkin and warm spices, then sandwich a bourbon-kissed cream cheese frosting. Not too sweet, irresistibly snackable, and perfect for fall gatherings, gifting, or coffee breaks. Cozy, balanced, and ready for repeat baking.
These towering popovers from Erin French’s Big Heart Little Stove are crisp, airy, and totally irresistible. The real magic is the roasted rhubarb jam butter that’s sweet, tangy, and impossibly creamy.
This Pride, we’re going all in on joy and sprinkles with Casey Elsass’s Birthday Suit Cake. It’s a naked funfetti cake – moist, tender, and bursting with sprinkles. Smart tweaks like cornstarch and egg whites elevate the classic, while cream cheese frosting keeps it fuss-free. A celebration in every slice!
Lacey Ostermann’s cheesy garlic swirls are a savory twist on classic cinnamon rolls, made with her pillowy sandwich bread dough. Filled with garlic-parmesan butter and melty mozzarella, then sliced and baked until golden, these rolls are buttery, cheesy, and completely irresistible – perfect for any carb-loving crowd.