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Dessert First

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Coconut and Mango Yogurt Cheesecake

Nov 10 by Anita 56 Comments

  Now that it’s officially holiday season (no, I don’t have Christmas decorations up yet, but yes, my Halloween decorations are down), that means holiday vacation is almost here. Last year we made our first trip with Isabelle to Hong Kong for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately this holiday we’re staying in town, so Asia will have to […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Custards, Recipes Tagged With: australian yogurt, cheesecake, coconut, greek yogurt, mango, no bake, noosa

Deep Dark Chocolate and Ghostly Meringue Cupcakes

Oct 31 by Anita 30 Comments

  Happy Halloween! So I just want to say now that all these years before when I would do the ritual complaint of, “Things are so crazy busy around the holidays!” I was saying this without a kid. Now that I have a kid, I truly understand what CRAZY BUSY around the holidays mean....

Filed Under: Cakes, Chocolate, Recipes Tagged With: chocolate, cupcake, ghost, halloween, meringue

Homemade Halloween: Making “Twix” Bars

Oct 22 by Anita 42 Comments

  With Halloween coming up next week. I’m finishing all my preparations, which mostly involve putting together Isabelle’s costume and moving all the pumpkins in the house back to their designated places, after she’s moved them all again for the twentieth time. Apparently pumpkins are way more fun than her regular toys – who knew? […]...

Filed Under: Candy, Photography, Recipes, San Francisco Tagged With: candy, candy bar, caramel, halloween, twix

Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream and Apples

Oct 14 by Anita 56 Comments

  Indian summer continues on in full swelter here in the bay area. It’s honestly the hottest it’s been here for the last six months: the mornings start out promisingly grey and overcast, and then by mid-morning it’s just cloudless sky and shimmering heat. Not-so-little-Isabelle is growing out of her summer t-shirts and shorts, clothes […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: apple, cake, caramel, chocolate

Hello Fall: Peach and Brown Sugar Brioche

Sep 24 by Anita 27 Comments

  Happy fall! Although we’ve got all sorts of autumn bounty showing up at the market, apples and pears and figs everywhere, I’ve still got a soft spot for the late harvest peaches. It’s sort of like the weather here right now: tentatively overcast, even a tease of rain, and then a brilliantly warm day […]...

Filed Under: Breads, Recipes Tagged With: brioche, peaches

A Trip to Tillamook and Gougères

Sep 15 by Anita 32 Comments

  Disclosure: I was invited on this trip as a guest of Tillamook. All opinions in this post are my own. Happy Monday! Here’s a post I’ve been eager to get up – a recap of my trip up to Portland, Oregon to visit the Tillamook factory! I’ve been peripherally aware of this Oregon-based brand, […]...

Filed Under: Pastry, Recipes, Travel Tagged With: cheese, gougeres, oregon, portland, tillamook, travel

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Archives

best of dessert first


The Making of Macarons (Sucre Cuit Style)

Hong Kong Eggettes (Daan Jai)


Tis the Season (Chocolate Mint Macarons)

A Better Brioche


Consider the Humble Chocolate Chip Cookie

A Feast of Figs


Pure Dessert, Pure Inspiration (Chocolate Citrus Tart)

My Own Remembrance of Things Past: Daan Tats


The Slow Drip of Coffee on a Languorous Summer's Day

Still Life of Strawberry Tart

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about pastrygirl

Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. More about pastrygirl

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Please e-mail anita {at} dessertfirstgirl {dot} com with all collaboration inquiries, pastry questions, or just to say hi! I look forward to hearing from you!
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