• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

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

Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel

Dec 14 by Anita 4 Comments

It’s full on cookie baking time and I’m excited to be part of Rodelle‘s annual Christmas Cookie Campaign again! Visit Rodelle’s page to see the collection of cookie recipes my fellow Rodelle ambassadors have created for this holiday season: there are some delicious choices to fill out your holiday table and your gift baskets. I’m sharing a riff […]...

Filed Under: Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: cookie, gingerbread, holiday, rode, thumbprint, vanilla

Dessert Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide 2016

Dec 13 by Anita Leave a Comment

After cookbook recs, here’s my holiday gift guide 2016. Just a couple weeks left until Christmas! While I’ve been crossing names off my Christmas list, I’ve also been adding more and more items to my own wish list – occupational hazard of shopping? Does this happen to anyone else? So much for being virtuous and […]...

Filed Under: Reviews, Tools Tagged With: chocolate, christmas, gift guide, heath, holiday, king arthur flour, nordic ware, nutty cups, rodelle

Alphabet Cranberry Linzer Cookies

Dec 15 by Anita 10 Comments

Alphabet cranberry linzer cookies – the classic holiday cookie updated with a spiced cranberry filling and letter cutouts to spell your warmest holiday wishes. Cookie swaps are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season: since I never have enough time to make all the different cookies I’ve been dreaming of, going to parties […]...

Filed Under: Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: almond, christmas, cookie, cookie swap, holiday, linzer, rodelle, vanilla

Holiday Gift Guide for Bakers

Dec 8 by Anita 1 Comment

Whenever my family or friends ask what I want for Christmas, there’s always the unspoken assumption, “What don’t you already have?” Do I need another whisk? Another cookbook for my over-extended shelves? The newest ice cream maker model? Well, the answer would be yes to all of those (sidenote: my daughter Isabelle has discovered the joys […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Reviews, Tools Tagged With: christmas, cookbooks, gift guide, holiday, tools, treats

{Cookbook Review}: Guittard’s Roasted Banana Chocolate Tart

Nov 5 by Anita 10 Comments

Happy November! I had a breakneck schedule in October and we’re already counting down to Thanksgiving, so it’s pretty much a headlong rush to the end of the year. I AM looking forward to putting some holiday recipes and sharing my annual cookbook reviews and gift guide though – so don’t worry, they have a […]...

Filed Under: Chocolate, Cookbooks, Recipes, Reviews, Tarts Tagged With: chocolate, cookbook, guittard, holiday, roasted banana, tart

Happy Holidays! A Photo Recap of Williams Sonoma Holiday Party

Dec 22 by Anita 27 Comments

  One of my favorite things about the holiday season is all the visual eye candy; although most of my photography revolves around food, in December I wish I could just hang out in department stores and people’s homes, capturing all the glitter and lights.  I’m happy to share some shots from the Williams-Sonoma holiday […]...

Filed Under: Events, San Francisco, SF Events Tagged With: christmas, holiday, party, williams sonoma

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)


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

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, daughter, and dog Max. More about pastrygirl

my cookbooks



contact me

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!
  • home
  • my books
  • recipes
  • sweet san francisco
  • reviews
  • conversions
  • shop
  • archives
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

© 2006–2025 Anita Chu. All Rights Reserved. Design by Deluxe Designs