• 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

Seashell Macarons with Sea Salt Vanilla Buttercream

Oct 12 by Anita 3 Comments

I wanted to share a special order I did for a client a month ago: seashell macarons for a mermaid-themed birthday party. Although I’ve made Minnie macarons for my daughter’s birthday, I haven’t tried piping any more complex shapes, so this was a fun challenge. They were surprisingly easy to do and make a striking […]...

Filed Under: Cookies, Pastry, Recipes Tagged With: buttercream, macaron, seashell

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

Holiday Gingerbread Cake with Cookie Butter Frosting

Nov 18 by Anita 22 Comments

Happy birthday to my husband! When you’re married to a food blogger people tend to say things like, “You must eat really well!” and “How lucky to have a house full of food all the time!” Well, to be honest, he’s actually a better cook than me, so sometimes he comes home wanting dinner and […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: biscoff, buttercream, cake, cookie, gingerbread, speculoos, swiss meringue

A Sunshine-y Cake for Spring

Mar 7 by Anita 26 Comments

Thanks to everyone who commented on last week’s post with their favorite pie. I have about a hundred pie ideas to make now! The two winners of a copy of Pieography are: Commenter #3, ladywild and commenter #6, Sarah! Congratulations! For the rest of you, remember my pie recipe is available on my site....

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: buttercream, cake, curd, vanilla

A Winning Blackberry Lemon Cupcake

Dec 12 by Anita 15 Comments

Photo courtesy of Driscoll’s About a week ago I got to be part of an exciting event: Driscoll’s held a holiday cooking and food photography workshop in San Francisco and several local food bloggers, including yours truly, was invited to attend. I had previously got to tour some of the farms that grow Driscoll’s berries, […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes, San Francisco, SF Events Tagged With: blackberry, buttercream, cupcake, driscoll's, lemon


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