General Baking Info
Baking Tip: Ingredient Temperatures in Baking
Creaming Butter & Sugar Method (& importance of ingredients at room temperature, adding eggs 1 at a time)
Pan Measurements & Substitutions
How To Test the Accuracy of Your Measuring Spoons
Baking Ingredients & Substitutions
Making Milk from Powdered Milk (including sour milk, condensed milk & evaporated milk)
Sour Milk Substitution (in recipes)
Buttermilk Substitution (in recipes)
+Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
Homemade Caramel Sauce from Sweetened Condensed Milk
Pie & Dessert Toppings
*+Whipped Cream & variations:
Chocolate Whipped Cream
Mocha Whipped Cream
Strawberry Whipped Cream
Peppermint Whipped Cream
Grand Marnier Whipped Cream
Creme Anglaise
Fruit Sauces for Topping Desserts
Raspberry Puree (berries cooked, seeds removed)
Fresh Raspberry Sauce (fresh berries pureed & seeds removed)
Strawberry Sauce (cooked)
*Maine Blueberry Sauce (cooked)
*Cherry Topping (for cheesecake, pancakes, ice cream, etc.)
Pineapple Sauce
Mom's Lemon Sauce (good w/ gingerbread)
Black Forest Sauce (black cherry)
Grandma Radloff's Rhubarb Sauce
Chocolate Sauces for Topping Desserts
Dessert Info
Converting Cake Batter to Cupcakes or Muffins
Coffees
*Irish Coffee (Irish whiskey)
Nutty Irish (Bailey's & Frangelico)
Cafe Espagnole (brandy & Curaçao)
*Keoke Coffee (brandy, Kahlua & Creme de Cacao)
Almond Mocha (Kahlua & Amaretto)
Roasting Nuts, Toasting Coconut
Blanch Almonds to Remove Skins
How to Remove Skins from Pistachio Nuts
Roasting Nuts (for baking and for snacks)
Pies & Tarts
General Information
Making a Pie Crust, Step by Step
The Food Lab: The Science of Pie Dough
Making a Lattice-Top Pie Crust
How to Prevent Soggy Pie Crusts
Toppings for Pies
Making a Lattice-Top Pie Crust
Pie Crusts
*Basic Flaky Pie Crust (sweet or savory pies)
*Pastry-type Pie Crust (sweet pies, similar to Rough Puff)
Food Lab Easy Pie Dough (uses a lot of butter)
Gale Gand's Piecrust (uses vinegar)
Cook's Illustrated's Foolproof Pie Dough
*Pastry Shell for Pies (baked shell for cream pies, etc.)
French Pastry Crusts
French Shortcrust Pastry: Brisée, Sucrée, Sablée
Pâte Brisée (short crust for sweet & savory pies & tarts)
Pâté Sucrée (sweet pastry dough for tarts)
Pâte Sablée (shortbread cookie-type pastry dough for tarts)
Two-Crust Fruit Pies:
*Mom's Berry Pie (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry)
Pies using Baked Pie Shell:
*Cream Pies: Banana, Strawberry, Coconut, Chocolate
+Cool & Easy Pie (summertime Jello & whipped cream pie)
Chiffon Pie
Tarts (use tart pan)
Fresh Fruit Tart w/ Almond Crust
Fig (or Pear) Frangipane Tart (almond filling)
Rustic Free-form Tarts (Galettes)
Mixed Berry Rustic Pie
Hand Pies
Pie Crusts (con’t)
Press-in Crusts
Press-in Flour Crust (single crust pies)
*Graham Cracker Crust (can sub corn flakes, zwieback, vanilla or chocolate wafers, ginger snaps, ground nuts)
Fat Free Crumb Crust (Grape-nuts cereal & apple juice concentrate)
Pecan Crust (contains flour)
Coconut Piecrust (contains flour)
Savory Pie Crusts (quiche, pot pies)
*Basic Flaky Pie Crust (sweet or savory pies)
Pâte Brisée (butter crust for sweet & savory pies)
Cheddar-Cheese Crust (apple cheddar pie)
Crispy Potato Crust (w/ Parmesan cheese)
One-Crust Pies:
Custard-type Pies
Tips for Making Pumpkin & Custard Pies
*Custard Pie (also Coconut Custard Pie)
French Apple-Custard Pie (w/ almond topping)
Chess Pies (butter, egg, sugar)
Chess Pies (plain & lemon)
Cakes & Cupcakes
General Information
Swiss Rolls (rolled cakes w/ filling)
Most Popular Cakes 1948 - 2008
Baking Tip: Ingredient Temperatures in Baking
Pan Measurements & Substitutions
Cake & Frosting/Topping Combinations
Converting Cake Batter to Cupcakes or Muffins
Homemade Buttermilk Substitute (Sour Milk)
Yeast Cakes
Fruit Cakes
Also see Types of Cakes: Fruitcakes
Cheesecakes
Tips for Making the Perfect Cheesecake
No-Bake Cheesecake (good in summer)
+Sarah Mace's Springform Cheese Cake (NY Lindy type)
Eli's Chicago-Style Cheesecake
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake
Fluffy Cheesecake (Polish)
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake (topped w/ white chocolate mousse, one recipe has no eggs)
Divine Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake
Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake w/ Ganache
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Chicago-style Blueberry Cheesecake
Cheesecake Toppings
Also see Fruit Sauces for Topping Desserts above
Lemon Curd Topping for Cheesecake
Pomegranate Topping for Cheesecake
Almond & Pecan Cheesecake Toppings
See Pumpkin Cheesecake for Brown Sugar & Bourbon Cream Topping
For sugared cranberries or blueberries, see Amaretto Ricotta Cheesecak
Pound Cakes
*Lemon Pound Cake w/ Lemon Glaze
Poke Cakes
Tres Leches Cake (Three Milk Cake)
Tres Leches Cake w/ Summer Fruit
*Better Than Sex Cake (pineapple & coconut)
Chocolate Butter Cakes
Black Magic Cake (w/ coffee & mayonnaise)
*Hershey's Black Magic Cake (w/ coffee & buttermilk)
HERSHEY'S Deep Dark Chocolate Cake
Classic American Chocolate Layer Cake
Tuxedo Cake (whipped cream frosting, chocolate ganache drizzle)
Black Forest Cake (whipped cream frosting, cherries, shaved chocolate)
Original German Chocolate Cake (coconut-pecan topping)
Mahogany Cake (Ermine frosting)
Red Devil’s vs Red Velvet Cake
"Flourless" Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate Mousse Cake (like a lava cake)
Cracked Chocolate Earth (flourless)
Cream Cakes (rich cream replaces butter)
Upside-Down Cakes (butter cakes)
Pineapple Coconut Upside-Down Cake
Apple Walnut Upside-Down Cake w/ Calvados Caramel Sauce
Warm Pear & Walnut Cake w/ Lemon Custard Sauce
Peach Upside-down Gingercake
Spice Cakes (butter cakes)
Apple Cider Donut Cake (bundt cake)
Old-Fashioned Apple Cake w/ Brown Sugar Frosting
*Carrot Cake (& cupcakes variation)
*Susan's Tropical Carrot Cake (coconut & pineapple)
Pecan Applesauce Cake
Doctorbird Cake (original Hummingbird Cake)
*Mom's Gingerbread w/ Lemon Sauce
Pumpkin-Walnut Roulade w/ Spiked Cream (jelly roll pan)
Tomato Soup Cake (Depression Era to 1960s)
Swiss Rolls (Cake Rolls)
Swiss Rolls (rolled cakes w/ filling)
Sponge Cake Roll (Jelly Roll, strawberry & chocolate variations)
Pumpkin-Walnut Roulade w/ Spiked Cream (jelly roll pan)
Other Cakes
Fresh Strawberry Cake (deep dish pie pan or 9-inch round cake pan)
Victoria Sandwich Cake (19th C. recipe)
Financiers (small cakes & variations)
Roasted Hazelnut Financiers (small cakes)
Neapolitan Cake - chocolate, strawberry & vanilla layers w/ vanilla buttercream frosting
Holiday Cakes
Easter Nest Cake (chocolate mousse cake)
Foam Cakes (leavened w/ egg, serve w/ fruit, whipped cream)
*Angel Food Cake (& variations: Marble, Chocolate, Gold-Silver, Peppermint, Cherry, Choc. Chip)
+Incredible Pineapple Angel Cake (low fat - uses cake mix)
Sponge Cake Roll (Jelly Roll)
Chiffon Cake (& variations: Maple Pecan, Butterscotch, Pineapple, Chocolate Chip, Spice, Orange, Bit O' Walnut, Cherry Nut)
Biscuit de Savoie (Sponge Cake)
Ladyfingers
Trifle
French Génoise (French Buttersponge)
Almond Sponge Cake (Biscuit Joconde)
German Baumkuchen (Tree Cake)
Sachertorte, Sacher Cake
White Cakes
Rich White (or Silver) Cake (egg whites)
Traditional Coconut Cake w/ 7-Minute Frosting
Pink Champagne Cake (1950s)
Mary Lincoln's White Almond Cake
Yellow Butter Cakes
Rich Yellow Cake (whole eggs)
Gold Cake (egg yolks)
Louisiana Crunch Cake (w/ coconut)
Strawberry Cake
Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple Cake
Neapolitan Cake
Butterscotch Cake w/ Penuche Frosting
Traditional Lemon Layer Cake (lemon curd filling, fluffy lemon frosting)
*Boston Cream Pie (can make cupcakes)
Smith Island Cake
Cupcakes
Converting Cake Batter to Cupcakes or Muffins
Strawberry Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot Cake (w/ cupcakes variation)
Missouri Black Walnut Cupcakes (cardamom)
Snacking Cakes
Sweet Cream Cake (dust w/ cinnamon sugar or confectioner's)
Powdered Donut Cake (nutmeg)
Berry Cream Cheese Cake (chunks of cream cheese in batter)
Raspberry Almond Snack Cake (almond flour)
Apple (Snacking) Cake (or pear)
Swedish Visiting Cake (almond flavors)
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake (or Oatmeal Raisin Cake)
Cake & Pastry Fillings, Frostings & Glazes
Cake & Pastry Fillings
*Rich Custard Filling (Pastry Cream)
Crème Anglaise (English Cream)
Frostings
Types of Frosting, Icings & Glazes
Cake & Frosting/Topping Combinations
Whipped Cream Frostings
Chantilly Cream (Sweetened Whipped Cream)
Whipped Cream Frosting w/ Cream Cheese
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting w/ Whipped Cream (uses fresh strawberries)
American Buttercreams
Buttercream Frosting (vanilla, chocolate, coffee, mocha, citrus variations)
True Buttercreams
Cream Cheese Buttercreams
Icings & Glazes
*Mom's Vanilla Icing (Confectioner's Decorating Icing) (variations: almond, citrus, cognac or rum)
Water Icing (glacé icing, just sugar & water)
Simple Sugar Glaze (corn syrup)
Basic Fruit Glaze (jam or fruit preserve)
Lemon Glaze (Lemon Pound Cake recipe)
Ganache
Boiled Frostings
Ermine Frosting (a.k.a. Boiled Milk Frosting)
Pastries
Types of Pastries
Baked Pastries
Handmade Puff Pastry (Rough Puff Method)
*Apple Dumplings (or Peach)
Apple Turnovers (puff pastry)
*Apple Phyllo Triangles (raspberry...)
Nussstangen (German Hazelnut Twists)
Franzbrötchen (German cinnamon pastry)
Napoleons (Mille Feuille)
Baked Squash Blossoms w/ Ricotta & Honey
Kringles (Wisconsin Danish Pastry)
Crêpe Desserts
Strawberry Cream Crepes (cream cheese)
Crepes w/ Mascarpone & Cherries (& mini chocolate chips)
Chocolate-Mascarpone Crepes w/ Strawberry Sauce
Crêpes Suzette (orange sauce)
Cherries Jubilee served over crêpes
Darkest Chocolate Crêpe Cake (hazelnut filling)
Fritters & Other Deep-fried Desserts
Rosettes (uses rosette iron)
Classic Apple Fritters Doughnuts (yeast dough)
Peach Fried Pies w/ Cinnamon Crust (cream cheese pie crust)
Copycat McDonald’s Apple Pie (uses flaky pie crust)
Pâte à Choux
*+Cream Puff Dough (pâte à choux)
*Cream Puffs (Profiteroles)
Cream Puffs filled w/ Ice Cream
Cream Puffs w/ Lemon Mousse & Blueberry sauce
Churros (deep-fried Mexican dessert, served w/ chocolate sauce)
Puddings & Fruit Desserts
Parfaits
The Bostini (Boston Cream Pie transformed)
Custards
Diana Kennedy's Flan Caramel Custard
Chocolate & Mousse Desserts
Banana Mousse (heart-healthy, banana and yogurt)
Puddings
Tapioca Pudding (Quick tapioca & Pearl)
Tapioca Coconut Pudding (can add pineapple, mango. papaya, and/or kiwi)
Chocolate Nutella Pudding (w/ hazelnuts)
Other Fruit Desserts
Mango Pineapple Crumble(serve w/ yogurt for breakfast or ice cream for dessert)
Grandma Radloff's Rhubarb Sauce
Rhubarb Compote w/ Vanilla Sauce
+Lemon Cloud (low fat)
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Fresh Fruit Salad
Fruit & Cheese (French tradition)
Jell-o/Gelatin Desserts
Tips for Making Jell-O Desserts
Whipped Jello Mandarin Orange Mousse (whipped jello w/ whipped cream added)
Lemon Mousse Jello Cups (mousse layer is jello mixed w/ whipped cream)
Strawberry Panna Cotta (panna cotta layer made w/ unflavored gelatin, milk, cream)
Rainbow Jello Dessert (5 flavors of jello layered w/ white layers made of sweetened condensed milk & unflavored gelatin)
Red, White & Blue Layered Jello Dessert (w/ white chocolate pudding layers)
Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cups (fresh raspberries, unflavored gelatin, & whipped cream)
Icebox (Refrigerator) Desserts
Lush Desserts (Dream Bars)
Bread Puddings
New Orleans Bread Pudding (raisins & apple, Rum Walnut Sauce)
Whiskey & Bourbon Sauces for Bread Pudding
Early American Fruit Desserts
Rhubarb Crumble Bars (oatmeal)
Fried Apples (serve over ice cream)
Seared Apples w/ Brandied Cider Syrup
Roasted Pear Crumble (individual pear crisps)
Cherry Cobbler
Peach Cobbler (Northern)
Winter Fruit Gratin (pears, apples, cranberries)
*Apple Dumplings (or Peach)
Ice Cream, Sherbets, Sorbets, Ices
General Information
FDA Regulations on "Ice Cream"
Homemade Ice Cream & Sherbets
What are Ice Creams, Gelato, Sherbets, Sorbets, Granitas...
How to Make Ice Cream: Ice Cream Bases & Flavorings
Blueberry Ice Cream (can make w/ mixer)
+Jane's Ice Cream in a Can (for the kids)
No Churn Ice Cream & Sherbets (use sweetened condensed milk)
No-Churn Ice Cream (& many flavor variations)
No-Churn Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Maple Brown Butter Walnut Ice Cream
Pineapple Coconut Sherbet (uses cream of coconut)
Churned Ice Cream & Sherbets
Nice Cream
Nice Cream (banana base)
Lemon Cheesecake Nice Cream (made w/ cottage cheese)
Other Ice Cream Desserts
+Jane's Chocolate Waffle Sundaes
Mocha Ice Cream Terrine (3 ice creams layered)
Cake & Ice Cream
Pie w/ Ice Cream
Store-bought ice cream bars, etc.
Flambéed Fruit Desserts w/ Ice Cream
Crêpes Suzette (orange sauce w/ crepes)
Homemade Ices
2 Ingredient Healthy Mango Sorbet (made in blender)
Watermelon Granita (no-churn)
Mango-Lime Granita (no-churn)
Easy Frozen Fruit Dessert (frozen concentrated juice mixed w/ a little sugar & ice, then blended)
Ice Cream Toppings
Ice Cream Sundaes
Cantalope Wedges w/ scoop of vanilla ice cream
Vanilla Ice Cream w/ Fresh Mascerated Strawberries (whipped cream optional)
