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Dessert First

a san francisco food and travel blog | all things sweet

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Lemon Verbena Cake

May 8 by Anita Leave a Comment

This beautiful lemon verbena cake is the essence of spring and one of my go-to teatimes cakes. It’s based off an Ina Garten recipe that I made for the first time many years back. It instantly went in my favorites file, and I decided last week that it was time to revisit this classic and […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: bundt cake, cake, lemon, lemon verbena cake

Marking a Milestone: Chocolate Whipped Cream Cookie Sandwiches

Mar 31 by Anita 3 Comments

Dear readers, I’m back! Apologies for my extended absence, as the last few weeks were given over to finishing edits on my third cookbook. It’s with a sense of relief and anticipation that I let go of the manuscript, and let the publisher take over. I’m looking forward to sharing more about the book as […]...

Filed Under: Chocolate, Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: book, chocolate, cookie, lemon, whipped cream

Making Do: Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Mini Cakes

Apr 9 by Anita 15 Comments

The days are starting to fall into some semblance of a schedule, albeit a very flexibly-written one. For example, baby is in her best mood in the morning, which means I usually spend that time interacting and playing with her, since she’s at her most adorable and responsive. Afternoons are more of a mixed bag: […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: buttermilk, cake, cupcake, lemon

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

{Cookbook Review} I’m Back! With Apricot Lemon Hazelnut Bars

Jun 15 by Anita 18 Comments

Hello all! I’m back from a 12 day Mediterranean cruise – Rome to Venice, with a bunch of Greek isles in between. I finally got to tick quite a few places off my travel wish list; I’m eager to share a recap with you in the next few weeks! But first, thanks for your patience […]...

Filed Under: Cookbooks, Cookies, Recipes, Reviews Tagged With: alice medrich, apricot, bars, chewy gooey crispy crunchy, cookbook, hazelnut, lemon, review

Frosty Relief for a Hot Summer’s Day

Jun 26 by Anita 39 Comments

You know what’s really fun on a hot, sweltering, summer’s day? Licking a blissfully chilly popsicle down to the smooth wooden stick, racing to finish it before it all melts down your chin. You know what’s really not fun on a hot, blistering, summer’s day? Trying to take photos of these popsicles before they melt […]...

Filed Under: Fruit, Ice Cream, Recipes Tagged With: frozen yogurt, lemon, popsicles, raspberries


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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

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

my latest cookbook


My newest cookbook, Lollipop Love, is now out!

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