Angel food cake with chocolate frosting is a dreamy dessert that requires a delicate touch. If you’re starting with store-bought cake, make sure it’s fresh and springs back when you (gently) touch it. Our go-to angel food cake recipe gets its ethereal texture from cream of tartar and finely milled cake flour, which forms less … 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
Step 1 Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the base of springform pan. Place collar on top and close so it holds paper in place. Spray parchment and sides of pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Whisk 2 large eggs, room temperature, … 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 Hawaiian delicacy with Portuguese roots, malasadas are yeasted doughnuts enriched with butter, sugar, and evaporated milk. The key to great malasadas is their fluffy texture, so don’t rush the rise, and make sure your yeast is fresh. The type of yeast you use matters here. If you only have active dry yeast available, you … Read more
Channeling Parisian patisserie for your bake du jour? Give this French buttercream recipe a go. Unlike American buttercream (a simple blend of creamed butter and powdered sugar) French buttercream can be slightly fussy. Both extremely light and exceedingly silky, it falls into the same family as meringue-based Swiss and Italian meringue buttercreams. The crucial difference … Read more
We won’t lie: A classic Italian meringue buttercream recipe requires some multitasking. You’ll heat a sugar syrup on the stovetop while whipping egg whites to soft peaks, and both must be ready at precisely the same moment. It’s a coordinated dance that many pastry chefs consider a necessary skill. With this short tutorial, you’ll soon … Read more
Whether you’re a buttercream beginner or cake decorating pro, this straightforward Swiss meringue buttercream recipe will be your new go-to. Made with whipped egg whites, Swiss meringue buttercream is airier and more stable than American buttercream (made by whipping softened butter with powdered sugar) but has a lush mouthfeel that can’t be beat. This silky, … Read more
Step 1 Preheat oven to 350° with a rack in the middle. Grease an 8×2″ round cake pan with unsalted butter, then dust with all-purpose flour, tapping out excess. (Alternatively, butter cake pan, then line the bottom with a parchment paper round and butter the paper.) Step 2 Whisk 1½ cups (187 g) all-purpose flour, … Read more