Desserts

There’s a moment in my kitchen every winter when the house smells like warm butter, citrus, and frying dough — that’s crostoli season. These thin, crispy fried ribbons of dough, dusted with clouds of powdered sugar, are the sort of pastry you think will be easy to stop eating but never can. Popular around Carnevale … Read more

There’s something quietly magical about making candy at home: the way the kitchen smells like warm spice, the bright glossy surface of the finished pieces, and the tiny rush when you crack a piece and hear that satisfying snap. Homemade cinnamon hard candy has been one of my go-to quick projects when I want a … Read more

Introduction to Monster Cookie Protein Balls Protein snacks are everywhere in the fitness world right now, and for good reason — we all need something that’s portable, filling, and actually tastes like a treat. I first made these quick monster cookie protein balls on a rainy Saturday when I needed something that would satisfy the … Read more

There’s something about that first forkful of a coffee ice cream cake that always makes me pause — the cool, creamy coffee flavor hitting the tongue, the fudgy brownie base giving a little resistance, and then the soft vanilla swirl with streaks of chocolate. This is not a cake you rush. It’s an indulgent, make-ahead … Read more

Introduction to Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes There’s something about the way lemon and blueberry play off each other that makes me want to bake every spring: bright, sunny lemon that cuts through the sweetness, and blueberries that pop with little bursts of juice. These lemon blueberry cupcakes are exactly that—light, a little tangy, and wildly forgiving. … Read more

Introduction Birthdays always call for something a little extra — a little confetti, a little sparkle, and a dessert that says “celebrate.” I started making these birthday cake doughnuts when my son wanted cake for breakfast on his birthday, and they’ve since become our go-to party treat: familiar cake flavor, but dippable, shareable, and endlessly … Read more

Introduction to Italian Nut Roll Cookies Italian nut roll cookies are the kind of cookies I make when I want something nostalgic, a little fussy in a comforting way, and perfect with coffee. Think of a tender, buttery shortbread-like dough wrapped around a warmly spiced nut and jam filling, baked until golden and sliced into … Read more

Introduction to Strawberry Danish I remember the first time I tried to replicate a bakery strawberry danish at home: the kitchen smelled like caramelized butter and warm strawberries, my counter was dusted with flour, and the first batch came out a little flat because I had over-handled the pastry. Years of repeating the recipe — … Read more

Introduction to Strawberry Dole Whip I still remember the first time I chased down a Dole Whip at a theme park — the warm sun, the long line, and that first bright, icy bite that tasted like summer in a mouthful. This strawberry take on the classic Dole Whip captures that same nostalgia but at … Read more

I make chocolate covered banana pops every summer — they’re one of those lazy-weekend, kitchen-with-bare-feet recipes that somehow feel celebratory and practical at the same time. The first time I made them, the chocolate snapped pleasingly when I bit into one and the banana was still soft and cool inside; that contrast is the whole … Read more