Is there a marked difference between New Jersey–style crumb cake and New York–style crumb cake? Not really. But as someone from the Garden State, I’ll always think of this style of cake as the former. “Crumb cake” is a moist vanilla cake topped with a thick layer of cinnamon-scented brown sugar streusel. Unlike “coffee cake,” … Read more
The sun is out, the birds are singing, and there’s a sweet scent in the air. Strawberry season is officially upon us, which means that these strawberry muffins should be at the top of your to-bake list, right along with the requisite strawberry shortcake. Showcasing spring’s finest jewels, these muffins are chock-full of strawberry flavor … Read more
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 the last time you had a chocolate cupcake was at a childhood birthday party, it’s high time to bake a batch. This chocolate cupcake recipe is ridiculously easy—the batter comes together in about 5 minutes, no equipment required. But it delivers big on flavor thanks to a healthy dose of salt, vanilla extract, and … Read more
Chicken piccata is a classic Italian dish made from pounded flat chicken breasts dredged in all-purpose flour, pan-fried, and topped with a lemony white wine and caper sauce. While staying fairly true to tradition, this version leans into the quality that, in our humble opinion, unites all the best chicken piccata recipes: an ample amount … 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
Sicilian pizza is an Italian-style pie identified by its thick, chewy, bready crust—similar in texture to a slab of focaccia, but under a layer of toppings like tomato sauce and other ingredients. In Sicily cheese is not required, but in this more American take on the classic, mozzarella and pepperoni pair up for a nostalgic … Read more
Step 1 Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Scatter 1 cup coarsely chopped raw pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and 1 cup (packed) unsweetened coconut flakes on another rimmed baking sheet. Toast coconuts and pecans, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back and stirring after … 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