Baking Recipe Index

Welcome to my baking recipe index, where you will find homemade breads, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, candy, tarts, quick breads, frostings, fillings, and dessert sauces. These recipes include everyday favorites, special-occasion desserts, baking class projects, and gluten-free options, all with detailed instructions and plenty of photographs to help you along the way.

Breads

There is nothing quite like the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. These bread recipes include soft dinner rolls, whole wheat loaves, cinnamon raisin bread, savory garlic-herb bread, and a few gluten-free options. Some take a little patience, but warm bread with butter is usually worth the wait.

Cakes

Whether you are looking for a birthday cake, cupcakes for a party, or something involving far too much chocolate, you will find it here. These cake recipes range from simple favorites to layered cakes, cheesecakes, and gluten-free desserts, with plenty of frosting, fillings, berries, and chocolate along the way.

Candy

Homemade candy sounds complicated until you actually make it. These candy recipes include chewy caramels, marzipan, and chocolate peanut butter cups made with ingredients you can pronounce. They are great for gifts, holiday trays, or keeping hidden in the kitchen for yourself.

Cookies

Cookies are one of the best places to start baking because even the imperfect ones usually taste good. Here you will find soft cookies, crisp cookies, brownies, biscotti, bar cookies, gluten-free graham crackers, and several recipes involving molasses, ginger, or chocolate—sometimes all three.

Pastries

Homemade pastries require a little more effort, but flaky layers and warm fruit fillings make a convincing argument for doing the work. These pastry recipes include buttery doughs, classic techniques, and desserts that look impressive without requiring you to spend the entire day pretending you own a French bakery.

Pies

Pie is mostly an excuse to wrap fruit, chocolate, custard, or pecans in pastry, which seems like an excellent use of flour and butter. These pie recipes include flaky homemade crusts, fruit pies, cream pies, gluten-free options, and a strudel that I am including here because it knows where it belongs.

Quick Breads

Quick breads use baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast, so there is no waiting around for dough to rise. This section includes muffins, scones, biscuits, pumpkin bread, and other easy recipes that work for breakfast, dessert, or eating directly over the kitchen sink.

Sauces, Frosting, and Fillings

A good cake, tart, or bowl of ice cream can usually be improved with the right sauce, frosting, or filling. Here you will find fruit sauces, lemon curd, chocolate ganache, buttercream, marzipan, pumpkin puree, and other useful recipes for finishing desserts—or eating by the spoonful when no one is looking.

Tarts

Tarts are a little like pies dressed up for company. These tart recipes include fresh fruit, pastry cream, chocolate, caramel, nuts, citrus, and even a savory quiche. Some are simple, some require a few extra steps, and all of them give you a very good reason to own a tart pan.