With its distinct multilayered presentation, Smith Island cake might just be the most flashy regional cake in the United States. Named after a group of three Island communities on the Chesapeake Bay (Tylerton, Ewell, and Rhodes Point) collectively called Smith Island, the layer cake is said to have been baked since the 1800s as a … Read more
If a coffee cake and a focaccia had a baby, it would look something like this. Sugar cake is a tradition of the Moravians, a group of Czech Protestants who landed in the same Pennsylvania region as the Amish and Mennonites, and later settled in North Carolina. In 1766, the Moravian church founded Salem, now … Read more
I once heard the Appalachian author and editor Ronni Lundy say, “There’s no such thing as a bad biscuit,” and the idea has stuck with me over the years as I’ve tried many times to prove her wrong: overworking, overcooking, and generally overthinking dozens of attempts. Even a botched biscuit has its charms when it’s … Read more
This is a classic green bean casserole recipe for the 21st century. Whether you grew up with the canned soup version at every Thanksgiving dinner or this is your first time encountering the storied side dish, it’s guaranteed to impress. This iconic casserole recipe is steeped in post–World War II American culture: In 1955, Campbell’s … Read more
It’s tough to describe exactly what a caramel roll is, yet every Midwesterner seems to know. It’s not a sticky bun, and it’s not just a cinnamon roll either. A caramel roll is a large cinnamon bun that is soft, plush, buttery, cinnamon-y, drenched in caramel, and sometimes includes nuts. It’s distinctively pronounced car-mull (not … Read more
A kringle is a flaky, buttery pastry with deep Northern European roots. Danish immigrants brought the tradition for making the original pretzel-like specialty with them to their new homes in the small town of Racine, WI. After combining Danish and American baking techniques, the Wisconsin kringle was born: a shareable large oval pastry that gets … Read more
Recipe inspiration can strike anywhere, and this idea came to me as I was eating a piece of one of my favorite candies, Chimes Ginger Chews. Chimes’ founder, Elvis Sae-Tang, was inspired by the ginger candies from his parents’ Javanese village and wanted to share the health benefits of these delicious treats with the world. … Read more
Step 1 Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 375°. Whisk 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 1½ tsp. Diamond crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ¾ tsp. baking powder in a medium bowl to combine. Step 2 Whisk 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, 2½ tsp. vanilla … Read more
Step 1 Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°. Toast 1⅓ cups unsweetened coconut flakes in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet, stirring halfway through, until golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Let cool. Step 2 Generously coat a 10”-diameter tube or 15-cup capacity Bundt pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray, … Read more
Linzer cookies are handheld riffs on linzer torte, a jam-filled cake from Linz, Austria, that dates to the 1700s. Black currant preserves were traditional in 18th-century Austrian abbeys, but modern bakers customize their linzer cookie recipes in all sorts of ways. Swap blanched and toasted hazelnuts for some or all of the almonds in the … Read more