For our October Cookbook Club, we cooked from Dan Pelosi’s Let’s Party! – and his Caramelized Banana Pudding was a showstopper. Layers of broiled cinnamon-sugar bananas, Nilla wafers, and creamy instant pudding come together into pure nostalgia. It’s luscious, balanced, make-ahead perfection – and maybe even better than Magnolia Bakery’s.
Grandma’s Pumpkin Chiffon Bars combine layers of flavor and texture for an unforgettable dessert. A gingersnap crust is topped with cheesecake, spiced pumpkin, and cinnamon whipped cream, creating a light and airy treat. Earning my grandma’s mark of “excellent”
To celebrate 10 years of Store-Bought Is Fine, I tackled Joe Beef’s legendary Marjolaine — a French layered dessert of hazelnut meringue, chocolate ganache, and Nutella + vanilla buttercreams. It’s a dream of a dessert
This buttery vanilla pound cake is a masterclass in simplicity — tender, moist, and balanced with a subtle tang from sour cream. It’s easy to make, endlessly versatile, and the perfect base for layered desserts, rum-soaked treats, or simply sliced with berries and whipped cream.
Grandma’s banana cookies get a modern upgrade and transform into Bananas Foster Ice Cream Sandwiches. Chewy banana-pecan cookies cradle scoops of vanilla ice cream swirled with a rich banana-rum caramel ripple. A touch of corn syrup keeps the caramel smooth, making this nostalgic-meets-playful summer dessert irresistible.
This gluten- and dairy-free Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, created by James Beard Award–winning baker Atsuko Fujimoto of Portland’s Norimoto Bakery, is rich, moist, and deeply flavorful. Ground pistachios, olive oil, and lemon zest bring depth and brightness to every slice. A standout from The New Portland, Maine Chef’s Table.
In honor of an upcoming Paris trip, we cooked our way through Ina Garten’s Barefoot in Paris for cookbook club. From classic Boeuf Bourguignon to dreamy profiteroles with salted caramel gelato and warm chocolate sauce, it was a night full of French-inspired favorites and rich, nostalgic Barefoot Contessa flavors.
Wrap up rhubarb season with Claire Saffitz’s Rhubarb Custard Cake – an easy, elegant dessert layered with lemon, dark rum, and sour cream. Topped with fresh rhubarb and baked in a springform, this cake is irresistibly moist and perfectly balanced between sweet and tart. A must-bake for any rhubarb lover.