Category: Desserts & Muffins

Classic birthday party fare!

For a low-carb chocolate cupcake, aka, “minute muffin,” click here.

Vanilla Cupcakes
Yields 24 cupcakes

CUPCAKES
3 cups (12 ounces) cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon table salt
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ⅓ cups sugar
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted … Read more

Instant childhood memories.

For a low carb version, try Ruled.me’s flourless, fudgey version.

Classic Brownies
Yields 24 two-inch-square brownies

1-1/4 cups plain cake flour (5 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces Guittard Unsweetened Chocolate Gourmet Baking Bar, chopped fine
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1-1/2 sticks), cut into six 1-inch pieces
2-1/4 cups sugar (15 3/4 … Read more

This is the basic apple pie that I’ve been making for decades. My first recipe came from Joy of Cooking, and in later years I’ve added a few tweaks from America’s Test Kitchen. My one ironclad rule—keep everything cold, especially if making during hot weather. Dip your hands in ice water and dry them off. Chill bowls, forks, … Read more

Custards baked in individual ramekins cook faster, are more evenly textured, and un-mold more easily, so you’ll need 8 un-greased 6-ounce ovenproof ramekins. And for my keto friends, here’s a low-carb version.

Classic Crème Caramel
Serves 8

CARAMEL
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Custard

CUSTARD
1-1/2 cups pasture-raised whole milk… Read more

My mother’s been making this cake ever since the 1980s. I’m fairly certain her recipe was based on one of Maida Heatter’s cake recipes in Book of Great Desserts. I changed some of the brands from the ones my mother used (Callebaut chocolate instead of Baker’s, for instance), but other than that, here’s a recipe that’s been pleasing friends and … Read more