Cioppino

  Cioppino is a hearty seafood and tomato stew first invented in San Francisco by Italian fishermen. Today, Cioppino is made in many different ways across the country. In many recipes, the seafood is all just added to the pot to simmer with the stew, but in the recipe, the seafood is individually seared so […]

Italian Anise Cookies

Cakey, with a little heft, Angelettis share similarities with a scone or a biscuit. A combination of shortening and butter gives the cookies both ethereal texture and rich flavor, while baking powder provides just enough lift. Lemon zest and juice ably complement the refreshing hit of anise, which fully permeates the cookies.

Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The problem with spice cakes? Spice. Some variations suffer spice overload, which makes them gritty and dusty. Others are so lacking in spice flavor that it seems as if a cinnamon stick has only been waved in their general direction. We wanted an old-fashioned, moist, and substantial spice cake with spices that were warm and […]

Maple-Whiskey Pudding Cakes

These individual desserts bake up with a gooey sauce beneath a layer of rich, tender cake. We tried a few different types of whiskey here: our favorites were Jameson for its clean, bright flavor and Rittenhouse rye for its spicy depth. This recipe can easily be doubled to serve eight. Serve the pudding cakes warm, […]

Salted Peanut and Caramel Tart

The classic peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich—also known as the Fluffernutter—is inarguably all-American. And Le Petit Grain, a Parisian boulangerie headed by Edward Delling-Williams, created a delicious riff on that childhood favorite. The bakery combines all of the elements into elegant individual tartlets called tartes cacahuètes (literally, peanut tarts). A buttery, cookie-like pastry is filled […]

Gingerbread Layer Cake with Ermine Frosting

  WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS We wanted the dark, moist crumb and spicy bite of gingerbread in a tender, sophisticated layer cake. For fiery flavor, we added 2 tablespoons each of ground ginger and freshly grated ginger, and we enhanced that heat with both white pepper and cayenne pepper. Molasses and coffee contributed moisture, rich […]