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Maraschino cherries, or at least the artificially bright red super sweet cherries that are plunked into Manhattans and nestled atop ice cream sundaes, are polarizing. They’re pretty, but their flavor is, at best, boring. Even as a kid, I tended to leave them uneaten. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Better versions of …

Read More about Brandied Cherries, a better cocktail cherry

I didn’t think I needed another ice cream book. I’ve got a solid collection with my previous favorites being David Lebovitz’s The Perfect Scoop and Jeni Britton Bauer’s Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. But then I saw that Dana Cree, the longtime pastry chef at Blackbird and currently the executive pastry chef of The Publican restaurants in …

Read More about Blueberry Sumac Sherbet, a sweet tart frozen treat

I love pie. But I have to confess, it’s never been my strong suit as a baker. My pies tend to be respectable, but… Oh. My crusts sometimes shrink during blind-baking, and when I don’t blind bake I tend to find the bottoms insufficiently crisp. My crimping skills are so-so. I theoretically understand how to …

Read More about Strawberry Rhubarb Turnovers, little handheld pies

I’ve long dismissed blondies as a sort of lesser dessert. They lacked the rich fudgy qualities of the best brownies, and they were never as flavorful or as texturally interesting as a good chocolate chip cookie. Often, they could be kind of dry, a bit too thin, not soft enough to be cookie dough-gooey and …

Read More about The Best Blondies Ever, with plenty of chocolate and a hint of coffee

I hate deep frying. It’s such a hassle. There’s a bubbling cauldron of hot oil to stand over and then there’s the problem of figuring out how to deal with it later. But there’s one thing I make an exception for: pączki. Pączki (pronounced punch-key, singular paczek [pronounced punch-ek {nota bene: “pączkis” are not a …

Read More about Pączki (Polish Yeasted Jelly Doughnuts)

Like so many other people, I like to attempt to start the year on a health kick, but sometimes, even when I’m attempting to be responsible and moderate and grown-up, I just want cookies. Especially these nibby buckwheat cookies. I’ve been making these cookies for the holidays every year for, oh, I don’t know, something …

Read More about Nibby Buckwheat Cookies, crisp and buttery