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Dessert First

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Chinese Sugar Egg Puffs (Sai Yong): Easiest Donuts Ever

Feb 18 by Anita 44 Comments

  It’s been a non-stop parade of celebrations these couple of weeks. First Valentine’s Day, then Isabelle turned 25 months (I know, once babies turn 2 you don’t really do the month thing anymore, but it’s still a milestone), we celebrated 4 years since we adopted Snickers (I need to do a post on that […]...

Filed Under: Pastry, Recipes Tagged With: asian, beignet, chinese, chinese baking, donut, pastry, sai yong, sugar egg puff

Hokkaido Milk Bread: The Tangzhong Method

Feb 4 by Anita 127 Comments

  One of my pastry goals for 2015 is to start making more Asian pastries. I grew up poring over the Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks on my mom’s shelf, but I also remember the red bean and sesame-filled buns, flaky egg custard tarts, and fluffy breads from the Chinese bakeries and […]...

Filed Under: Breads, Recipes Tagged With: asian, bread, chinese baking, hokkaido, milk bread, pastry, tangzhong, water roux

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Mango Mousse Cake

Jan 8 by Anita

Happy 2014! I hope you all had a great holiday and are staying warm and cozy wherever you are. Now that the business of 2013 is done, I’m looking ahead to this year and a fresh set of to-dos....

Filed Under: Asia, Fruit, Pastry, Recipes, Travel Tagged With: cake, chinese baking, hong kong, mango, mousse, vacation

Another Year, Another Birthday: Mango Passion Fruit Cake

May 8 by Anita 45 Comments

This last weekend was my birthday, and I have to say it was one of my most memorable ones, despite the fact that I practically forgot about it until it was upon me. I had a lot of other things on my plate like Isabelle’s red egg and ginger party, and getting ready to go […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes, San Francisco, Sweet Spots Tagged With: cake, chinese baking, mango, mousse, passionfruit, rich table

Hong Kong Eggettes (Daan Jai) for Mother’s Day

May 8 by Anita 35 Comments

My first trip to Hong Kong that I remember happened when I was in fourth grade. (My very first time to Hong Kong, I was only a few months old, and therefore have no memories of that trip – a shame, as my maternal grandmother passed away shortly afterwards). When I went again as a […]...

Filed Under: Pastry, Personal, Recipes, Reviews, Tools Tagged With: chinese baking, daan jai, eggettes, hong kong, mom, review, williams sonoma

Chinese New Year: Sesame Seed Balls

Feb 22 by Anita 36 Comments

The Sunday just past (Feb. 18) marked the first day of the Chinese New Year 4705, or the Year of the Pig. There have been firecrackers going off late into the night, lucky oranges and plum blossoms in shop windows, and a lot of red and gold decorations everywhere. Many Chinese holiday traditions are heavily […]...

Filed Under: Chocolate, Pastry, Recipes Tagged With: asian, chinese baking, chinese new year, sesame seed balls

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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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