Welcome to BA Bake Club, a community of curious bakers. Each month senior test kitchen editors Jesse Szewczyk and Shilpa Uskokovic share a must-make recipe and dive deep on why it works. Come bake and learn with us—ask questions, share pics, listen to our podcast, and lots more here. This shareable pull-apart monkey bread will … Read more
Every family has its own preferred ratio of spices in their chai masala. I like my chai to be a bit heavier on the cardamom and ginger side! For this chai masala, I freshly grind all the spices before blending them together. I use this chai masala quite a lot for baking, but you can … Read more
We won’t sugarcoat it. This old-fashioned fudge recipe will test your willpower. First, it has no modern tricks to hide behind—no sweetened condensed milk or marshmallow fluff to make easy work of it. Second, you’ll have to beat it with a wooden spoon for about 6 minutes; not long in the grand scheme, but eons … Read more
This cocoa cake asks little and gives so much. But you don’t have to take our word for it: This is “hands down my favorite cake to bake,” writes one reviewer, who goes on to say it’s “always reliable and always delicious.” Another reports to have made the recipe no less than five times, and … Read more
Madeleines are technically made with a sponge cake batter, but many categorize them as cookies. They’re small, shaped like a shell, and can be made as an overnight dessert. Feel free to bake the madeleines and enjoy them dusted with powdered sugar; however, if you enjoy being extra, you can coat them in a thin … Read more
Plum pudding tastes best when it’s made days, weeks, or even months ahead of time, according to American culinary legend James Beard. “It was customary to make it in early Advent—the religious season before Christmas Day—and use it the following year,” Beard wrote when he published this recipe in 1963. “Everyone in the family was … Read more
We love a lot of things about hand pies. They can be sweet or savory; enjoyed with a group or stashed in the freezer to bake off individually night after night; and eaten for dessert, breakfast, or an afternoon pick-me-up. Plus, you can fill them with pretty much anything you’d find in any of our … Read more
In a perfect world, Halloween cookies don’t compete with the annual bonanza of candy corn, peanut butter cups, and other sweets that vie for candy lovers’ attention this time of year. Instead, my ideal Halloween treats celebrate that bounty. That’s why I was immediately on board with my test kitchen pal Kat Boytsova’s idea to … Read more
Step 1 Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat oven to 350°. Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Step 2 Whisk 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon, 1½ tsp. ground ginger, 1 tsp. ground nutmeg, and ¾ tsp. ground cloves in a small bowl to make pumpkin pie spice. Whisk 3 … Read more
These banana chocolate chip muffins have range. Serve them at brunch, take them to a housewarming party, or make a batch to snack on throughout the week—no matter the time or place, they’re sure to please. Overripe bananas have the best texture and richest banana flavor, so wait until yours are brown and speckled. To … Read more