Dessert Recipes

My neighbor Carol wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a lug wrench—don’t ask—and this sweet, almost buttery smell hit me before … Read more

Meredith wasn’t trying to impress anyone that Tuesday afternoon. I’d stopped by to return her garden shears—the ones she’d loaned me three weeks ago that … Read more

The neighborhood Halloween party was in six hours and I’d completely forgotten. Not just forgotten the party, but forgotten I’d volunteered to bring the dessert … Read more

My neighbor across the hall, a retired pastry chef named Mrs. Kowalski, watched me one October evening as I stood in my kitchen doorway, staring … Read more

My neighbor, a retired baker named Margie, asked why I couldn’t just whisk the pumpkin filling by hand instead of dragging out my stand mixer. … Read more

There used to be a tiny bakery tucked between a laundromat and a used bookstore in my old neighborhood called The Frosted Spoon. They made … Read more

I was digging through the back of my pantry last Tuesday, looking for a bag of chocolate chips I swore I had bought, when my … Read more

There used to be a tiny bakery on the corner of 5th and Elm in my old neighborhood called “The Little Hen.” They made these … Read more

The church bake sale was in twelve hours and I’d completely forgotten. My sister-in-law, Carol, had texted me the reminder at 9 PM the night … Read more

My sister-in-law, Jen, wasn’t making a big deal of it. I’d stopped by to borrow a hand mixer, and the smell of butter and vanilla … Read more