DESSERT

I’ve always believed that some desserts have an almost magical ability to transform an ordinary gathering into something special. This chocolate peanut butter cheesecake is one of those recipes in my collection. I perfected it last winter when I was testing recipes for my sister’s birthday celebration. After five different variations (and many willing taste-testers … Read more

There’s something about the combination of sweet and tangy that always brings me back to my childhood. This pineapple dip is one of those recipes that started as a happy accident in my kitchen about five years ago. I was planning to make a traditional fruit salad for a neighborhood potluck when I realized I … Read more

The first time I made this Strawberry Honeybun Cake, it was raining outside my kitchen window. I remember because the gentle patter against the glass created this cozy atmosphere that seemed perfect for baking something sweet and comforting. I’d been experimenting with my grandmother’s classic honeybun cake recipe for weeks, trying to give it my … Read more

The first time I made this Snowy Bavarian Bliss Cake was for my mother’s birthday last winter. We were expecting a small gathering of family, but a surprise snowstorm left us all happily stranded at home with nothing but good company, warm coffee, and this magnificent cake taking center stage on my worn oak dining … Read more

The aroma of cinnamon and sugar swirling through my kitchen on weekend mornings has become something of a tradition in my home. This Cinna-bun Cake recipe emerged during one particularly chilly autumn Sunday when I was craving the comfort of cinnamon rolls but didn’t have the patience for all that rising and rolling. After several … Read more

There’s something magical about the recipes that find their way into our regular rotation almost by accident. This pistachio pineapple cake came into my life during a summer gathering at my sister’s house years ago. I remember taking that first bite – the subtle nuttiness of pistachio paired with sweet pineapple immediately transported me back … Read more

I’ve always found there’s something magical about upside-down cakes – that moment when you flip the pan and reveal the glistening fruit layer that’s been caramelizing beneath the cake. My strawberry version came to life during one particularly abundant spring when my local farmers market was overflowing with ruby-red berries. After watching my children devour … Read more

There’s something almost magical about the way certain foods can transport us back in time. For me, wet walnuts bring me straight back to those summer afternoons at my grandmother’s house, where we’d walk down to the local ice cream shop after dinner. While everyone else reached for rainbow sprinkles or hot fudge, I always … Read more

I first created this Cherry Earl Grey Milk Tea on a rainy Sunday afternoon when I was craving something comforting yet special. My kitchen window was streaked with raindrops, and I found myself drawn to the bag of cherries I’d picked up at the farmers market the day before. They were so plump and vibrant … Read more