Category: Bakes
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Fluffy Muffin Expert Tips: The Secret to Bakery-Style Muffins at Home
Muffins should be fluffy, not heavy! But getting the perfect texture isn’t just about ingredients—it’s about technique! I’ve made countless batches and I’m here to give you all my fluffy muffin expert tips. Get ready to bake muffins that are soft, airy, and absolutely irresistible! If you’ve ever bitten into a bakery muffin and wondered,…
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The Role of Flour in Baking & How to Choose the Right One
Every aspiring baker needs to understand the role of flour in baking. Not all flours are the same, and knowing their differences is important for really making amazing baked goods. I think choosing the right flour can really take your baking to the next level. So let’s look at flour’s role in baking so you…
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How to Make Choux Pastry: Easy Recipe for Beginners
I love making choux pastry. This classic French pastry dough is used in some of the most elegant desserts out there—think éclairs, profiteroles, and cream puffs! I must have made thousands of them in my time working as a pastry chef and at home. I still remember the first time I tried making it—I was…
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Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake – A Spring Dessert Favorite
Today I’m introducing my Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake recipe. After baking hundreds of cheesecakes over the years, I’d say I’ve learned a thing or two about getting them just right. I made this one for a birthday party recently, and the entire thing was gone within minutes! The best part? It’s such an easy cheesecake recipe,…
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How to Hold a Piping Bag: Useful Tips to Know
Learning how to hold a piping bag properly is super important for anyone who loves baking. Piping bags make decorating easier, neater, and more fun. They help you create perfect swirls, clean borders, and even delicate lettering. While working as a pastry chef, I used a piping bag often for decorating cupcakes, frosting layer cakes,…
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How to Quenelle Like a Pastry Chef: Step-by-Step Guide
You really should know how to quenelle! It’s an essential skill for aspiring pastry chefs, and it really adds that elegant touch to your desserts—like my individual sticky toffee puddings. A quenelle is a smooth, oval shape made by scooping slightly-softened ice cream, whipped cream, or even mashed potatoes! It’s a much more professional alternative…
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Individual Sticky Toffee Puddings with Gooey Centers
Sticky toffee pudding is a classic British dessert for Christmas-time. I personally make it every year for my family! The warm, melty, gooey cake with dark caramel sauce is so irresistible on cold winter days. Normally this holiday dessert is made in a baking dish, similar to an American poke cake. A heaping spoon of…
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Persimmon Cheesecake with Red Wine Sauce
Nothing quite says Christmas like my Persimmon Cheesecake with Red Wine Sauce. This is a special dessert recipe I’ve carefully developed—just in time for Christmas! It’s a combination of a creamy, orange-flavored cheesecake with my special red-wine poached persimmon topping. The aroma when making this—it really is one of the best holiday aromas you can…
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Water Bath Baking Essentials: Get Perfect Results Every Time
Curious about how to bake with a water bath? Discover how this technique helps create creamy, crack-free desserts every time! If you’ve never tried baking cakes with a water bath, I’m here to help. All it involves is placing your cake pan inside another larger pan of hot water while baking. And why? It’s so…
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Baking Tools You Can’t Live Without: Essentials for All Skill Levels
Looking to make baking easier? Here are the must-have baking tools that every home baker (like you!) should try. Through the years, I’ve tested more tools than I can count. I’m all about quality—tools that are easy to use and built to last. I hate it when equipment breaks after only one or two years.…
