• 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

Holiday Pinwheel Cookies

Dec 9 by Anita Leave a Comment

These holiday pinwheel cookies have become my daughter Isabelle’s favorite new way to celebrate the season. We made these cookies over the weekend, and now I have a plate of them next to me as I’m wrapping presents and writing Christmas cards. What more festive way to welcome the holidays? I made these cookies as […]...

Filed Under: Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: christmas, cookies, pinwheel cookies, rodelle, vanilla

Vanilla Apple Cider Panna Cottas

Nov 22 by Anita 1 Comment

Inspired by the beautiful panna cotta I had at the Botanist Gin dinner, I wanted to make a panna cotta dessert for the holidays. Since I had apple cider for Thanksgiving in the house, I used this recipe from Food and Wine to make some vanilla apple cider panna cottas.  The vanilla and cinnamon give the […]...

Filed Under: Custards, Recipes Tagged With: apple cider, panna cotta, vanilla

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

Vanilla and Chocolate Choctal Ice Cream Review

Jul 22 by Anita 3 Comments

Taste tests are one of my favorite things to do: the scientist in me loves comparing and contrasting, quantifying the differences between similar items, finding my personal choice that I like best. Choctal Ice Cream thus appealed to me instantly. All of their ice creams are made with single origin varieties of vanilla beans or […]...

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: chocolate, choctal, ice cream, review, vanilla

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes For A 3rd Birthday Party

Apr 15 by Anita 30 Comments

One of the best reasons for having a kid: an excuse to make adorable Minnie Mouse cupcakes for a Minnie Mouse birthday party. I probably wouldn’t have thought of making these years ago, but here I am fancying up some cupcakes for Isabelle’s birthday! Just for the record: we celebrated Isabelle’s third birthday on her […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, cupcake, life, minnie mouse, party, vanilla

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

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