• Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Dessert First

a san francisco food and travel blog | all things sweet

  • About Me
    • about pastrygirl
    • faq
    • press
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • My Books
  • Recipes
    • Breads
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies
    • Custards
    • Fruit
    • Ice Cream
    • Pastry
    • Tarts
  • Sweet San Francisco
    • Sweet Spots
    • SF Events
  • Travel
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • California
    • Hawaii
  • reviews and recs
    • Cookbooks
    • Chocolate
    • Tools
  • Conversions

Mermaid Birthday Cake for a 6th Birthday Party

Mar 4 by Anita 3 Comments

A mermaid birthday cake for a swimming party: every little girl’s birthday dream, judging from the popularity of mermaid parties lately. Although Isabelle’s birthday was in January, holiday craziness usually means we don’t end up having her birthday party until February. This year she was very clear on her desired party theme: she’d been to […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, cake, mermaid, mermaid party, white cake

Superhero Girl Cupcakes

Mar 14 by Anita 3 Comments

Superhero girl cupcakes for my superhero girl’s 5th birthday. Although Isabelle’s birthday was in January, we were still on vacation in Hong Kong we didn’t throw a birthday party for her until after we got back. Last year I speculated as to whether she would pick the same theme for her 5th birthday party. Pusheen actually […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, cupcakes, isabelle, life, party, superhero girl

Pusheen Birthday Party for a 4 Year Old

Mar 15 by Anita 9 Comments

This post is a bit belated but I couldn’t not share pictures of a Pusheen birthday party! Isabelle wanted a Minnie Mouse party like she had last year – I think she’s at the stage where she enjoys the comfort zone of repetition and wants to repeat the same fun experiences over and over again. I asked if she […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, cupcake, life, party, pusheen

Happy Birthday to Me: Strawberry Pink Velvet Cake

May 10 by Anita 25 Comments

This is a big post, and it’s a big birthday for me. Last week I turned 40. (I actually made this cake in time for my birthday, I’ve just gotten to posting about it now). When I started this blog ten years ago, I was single, working full time as a design engineer in San […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, buttercream, cake, life, pink velvet, strawberry, swiss meringue

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes For A 3rd Birthday Party

Apr 15 by Anita 30 Comments

One of the best reasons for having a kid: an excuse to make adorable Minnie Mouse cupcakes for a Minnie Mouse birthday party. I probably wouldn’t have thought of making these years ago, but here I am fancying up some cupcakes for Isabelle’s birthday! Just for the record: we celebrated Isabelle’s third birthday on her […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, cupcake, life, minnie mouse, party, vanilla

Happy Birthday to Me: Strawberry Rose Fraisier

May 4 by Anita 30 Comments

  Yearly birthday confession time: in the last few years I’ve gotten really bad at remembering my birthday. Not in a I-don’t-want-reveal-my-age way, but in a I’ve-got-so-much-to-do-I-just-plain-forgot way. I’m way past the age of all-night celebrations in a nightclub anyway, and once you have kids, all the elaborate party planning ends up going to their birthday […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Pastry, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, blog, cake, fraisier, life, rose, strawberry

older posts »

About Me
Mentions in the Press
Want to go to pastry school?
Email me

subscribe to receive posts in your inbox

Archives

best of dessert first


The Making of Macarons (Sucre Cuit Style)

Hong Kong Eggettes (Daan Jai) for Mom


Tis the Season

A Better Brioche for World Bread Day


Consider the Humble Chocolate Chip Cookie

A Feast of Figs


Pure Dessert, Pure Inspiration

My Own Remembrance of Things Past: Dan Tats


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

Still Life of Strawberry Tart

disclosure

This site uses affiliate links. Purchasing through the links will give this site commissions. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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, baby girl, and rescue cockapoo Snickerdoodle. More about pastrygirl

my latest cookbook


My newest cookbook, Lollipop Love, is now out!

stay connected

Subscribe to new posts by email

  • home
  • my books
  • recipes
  • sweet san francisco
  • reviews
  • conversions
  • shop
  • archives
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

© 2006–2023 Anita Chu. All Rights Reserved. Design by Deluxe Designs