I receive a “What should I bake?” text on a near-weekly basis from a different friend or family member, followed up with some hyper-specific constraint. It’s fun to rack my brain and trawl through our recipe archive to find the perfect match, and I’d bet that most of these queries may be what you’re looking for right now too.
Most recently, a friend headed to Fire Island for the week was on the hook for dessert. He wanted something portable enough for the beach and vacation home-friendly (those kitchens are never equipped with what you want). Berry Easy Jam Bars was a clear choice: It’s 10 ingredients (which are probably already on the grocery list) and all the baking supplies you’d need would be stocked in even the sparest of Airbnb kitchens; plus, they’re sturdy enough to be tucked into a storage container without crumbling.
In a few weeks, I’ll be on my annual Lake Michigan trip, and our group of six is in need of a hearty breakfast that comes together quickly to fuel a day of fruit picking and farm visits. Cottage Cheese Egg Bites are protein-packed and can be made ahead then reheated, and we’ll supplement them with a crowd-friendly Sheet-Pan French Toast.
A non-baker friend took the plunge and bravely volunteered to bring dessert to a dinner party. She’d never baked a cake before, so my mind immediately went to Everyday Olive Oil Cake. It’s a rich, tender cake that’s also truly failproof, and easy to dress up with whipped cream and whatever fruit looks good at the market.
I’d thought I met my match with a request for a birthday cake that was gluten-free, dairy-free, and almond-free. But then I realized that both my favorite chiffon cake recipe (I made it for my wedding cake!) or this King Arthur classic, when made with Gluten-Free Measure-for-Measure flour, check all the boxes. I have yet to be stumped! For every baker, for every occasion: We’ve got a recipe for you.
