Dessert Recipes

The summer I turned thirty, I wasn’t expecting a baking lesson from my usually quiet plumber, Mike. I was fixing a leaky faucet in my … Read more

“I have absolutely no interest in those frou-frou holiday desserts,” my cousin declared every summer, arms crossed and unwavering. For years, she claimed she was … Read more

The summer I turned twenty-three, I was waiting in the parking lot of a tiny, bustling farmers market when the sharp scent of cinnamon sugar … Read more

“Last Fourth of July, I wasn’t planning on sticking around long at my neighbor Joan’s place. I’d just popped over to borrow some sugar, but … Read more

This was supposed to be a straightforward stack of classic buttermilk pancakes. I grabbed the wrong food coloring—red, instead of the usual yellow for my … Read more

It was 11:17 PM on a sleepy Wednesday, and I suddenly craved something light, sweet, and, well, festive. I didn’t have a fancy cake pan … Read more

Last Tuesday afternoon, my neighbor watched me wrestle with a stubborn jar of peach preserves and didn’t say anything at first. Then, with a gentle … Read more

Someone asked me last week why I always insist on making dark chocolate cherry clafoutis whenever cherries are in season. Honestly, I never thought this … Read more

“The neighborhood block party was in just under two hours, and I hadn’t even thought about dessert. Honestly, everyone else was bringing these multi-layered, weeks-in-the-making … Read more

There used to be this tiny, tucked-away café in the heart of Portland’s Pearl District that made the most unforgettable amaretto cherry jam. When they … Read more