This matcha green tea mug cake is vibrant, earthy, and ready in just a few minutes in the microwave. The matcha gives it a naturally bright green color and a pleasantly bitter, fragrant depth that the maple syrup balances beautifully. Made with milk and oil, no eggs needed. A quick and unique treat for any…
These steamed coffee cupcakes, known as Fa Gao or Prosperity Cakes, are a beloved traditional Chinese New Year treat. Made with brown sugar and real instant coffee, they steam up into soft, pillowy cakes with a characteristic split top said to bring good fortune. The coffee gives them a rich, aromatic flavor that is wonderfully…
These fried sesame balls are golden, crispy on the outside, wonderfully chewy inside, and filled with sweet red bean paste. A beloved Chinese bakery classic that is easier to make at home than you might think. The glutinous rice dough gives them that signature stretchy, satisfying texture, and the sesame crust adds a nutty crunch…
This easy Chinese New Year sweet rice cake (Niángāo) is made with glutinous rice flour, brown sugar, and fragrant mandarin zest. Traditional recipes require over 12 hours of steaming, but this simplified version is ready in just one hour and comes out beautifully glossy, slightly chewy, and naturally sweet. A meaningful, festive cake to share…
These eggless red velvet cupcakes are made entirely in the microwave in just a few minutes. Rich cocoa flavor, that deep red color, and a soft, moist crumb, all without an oven. Made with just milk, oil, sugar, flour, and a little red food coloring. A quick single-serving Valentine’s Day dessert or anytime you want…
This eggless red velvet mug cake is ready in just a few minutes and has that classic combination of deep red color, subtle cocoa flavor, and a moist, tender crumb. Made in a mug with just a handful of simple ingredients and topped with chocolate chips and powdered sugar. The perfect quick treat for Valentine’s…
This Earl Grey orange chiffon cake is incredibly soft, light as a cloud, and made with just 5 simple ingredients. The Earl Grey tea gives it a gentle, floral bergamot flavor, while orange zest adds a bright citrusy note that makes every bite feel elegant and aromatic. A simplified version of the classic chiffon recipe…
These lemon lavender shortbread cookies are rich, buttery, and have a delicate floral note from culinary lavender and a bright, tangy lemon glaze drizzled on top. The lavender gets lightly crushed with sugar to release its fragrance into the dough for a wonderfully aromatic result. Simple to make and gorgeous on a plate, they are…
A creamy, silky French custard tart (Parisian flan) with a buttery pastry shell. Rich vanilla custard baked until golden and set. A classic French bakery dessert that is easier to make at home than you would expect. For more tart recipes, try my Mini Fruit Tarts or browse all pies and tarts. Suggested recipes If…
This tofu and okra stir-fry is a quick, savory weeknight dish that comes together in about 15 minutes. Firm tofu and fresh okra are tossed with mung bean sprouts, garlic, light and dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil for a wonderfully aromatic result. Simple ingredients, bold flavors, and a genuinely satisfying plant-rich meal…
This French King Cake (galette des rois) has a crispy, shatteringly flaky puff pastry shell wrapped around a sweet, buttery almond cream filling. The almond paste is rich and fragrant, the pastry bakes to a deep golden brown, and the tradition of hiding a small charm inside makes it the most fun dessert to serve….
This buttery, flaky tart crust is made entirely by hand with no food processor or stand mixer needed. Cold butter gets worked into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then milk and egg yolk bring it together into a smooth, workable pastry. It is versatile, reliable, and the perfect base…