• 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

Chinese New Year Cotton Cheesecake (Year of the Rat)

Jan 20 by Anita 4 Comments

  The lunar new year is on January 25, and I’m celebrating the Year the Rat with some cheesecake. Namely, Japanese style cotton cheesecake adapted from Joanne Chang’s Pastry Love. Coincidentally, this recipe appeared in the New York Times around the time I was contemplating making it so maybe we were on the same wavelength! […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Cookbooks, Recipes Tagged With: cheesecake, chinese new year, cookbook, cotton cheesecake, japanese cheesecake, pastry love

Matcha Creme Brulee Tarts from Tartine

Nov 21 by Anita 4 Comments

These matcha creme brulee tarts from Tartine’s latest cookbook are gorgeous and capture everything I love about this landmark San Francisco bakery: they’re classic, updated with a twist, and come together perfectly. The original Tartine cookbook is a long time favorite of mine, a lovely ode to this institution that’s served up sweet bites of […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Custards, Recipes, Tarts Tagged With: cookbook, creme brulee, matcha, tart, tartine

Perfect Dark Chocolate Pudding

Dec 26 by Anita 1 Comment

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the holidays! I have one last recipe to share and send out the year: a perfect dark chocolate pudding, from none other than Dorie Greenspan. After lots of elaborate holiday desserts, here’s something simple, yet very easily made spectacular; a perfect dessert to pull together when you think you’ve […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Pastry, Recipes Tagged With: chocolate, chocolate pudding, cookbook, dorie greenspan, everyday dorie

Best Baking Cookbooks of 2018

Dec 4 by Anita 2 Comments

Time for one of my favorite posts of the year – compiling my list of best baking cookbooks of 2018. The only problem with this task is that it usually ends up becoming my own wish list! Due to serious bookshelf overflow at our house, I’m forced to consider all my cookbook acquisitions very carefully. […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Reviews Tagged With: best baking cookbooks, best baking cookbooks of 2018, cookbook, cookbook review, review, roundup

Apple Meringue Crumb Cake

Oct 17 by Anita 2 Comments

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting crisper, and fall baking season is fully underway.  I’ve spent the last few weekends baking various things with apples because it just feels so properly autumnal, and also because Isabelle, at four and half, declared herself capable of learning how to peel apples. She was right; with the proper […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Cookbooks, Fruit, Recipes Tagged With: apple, apple meringue cake, cake, cookbook, review, traditional jewish baking

Best Baking Cookbooks of 2016

Dec 7 by Anita 2 Comments

Happy December! It’s time for one of my favorite posts of the year: my picks for best baking cookbooks of 2016 ! I’ve just returned from a couple weeks out of town – visiting family in the Midwest over Thanksgiving weekend and then flying immediately afterwards to Honduras for work meant not much time for […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Reviews Tagged With: best baking cookbooks, best baking cookbooks of 2016, cookbook, cookbook review, review, roundup

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