Dessert Recipes

I was folding laundry last October — a Tuesday, I think — when the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg hit me from nowhere. Not from … Read more

The office holiday party was in twelve hours and I’d completely forgotten. I mean, completely. I’d been so wrapped up in wrapping presents and untangling—honestly, … Read more

Introduction My sister had sworn she was “over” candy corn for a solid decade. Every October, she’d roll her eyes at the little orange, yellow, … Read more

My neighbor, a retired baker named Mrs. Gable, watched me fumble with a piping bag one October afternoon. I was trying to make ordinary spiderwebs … Read more

My neighbor swore she hated cranberries. For years. Every Thanksgiving, she’d push the sauce to the side of her plate, making a face like she’d … Read more

My neighbor’s kid asked me last week why I couldn’t just dip pretzels in white chocolate and call them bones. I started to explain why … Read more

The woman at the farm stand watched me eyeing the pecan bins with a mix of hope and hesitation. I was holding a bag of … Read more

The lady at the holiday market stall watched me eyeing her tray of perfect little chocolate truffles. I was trying to figure out how she … Read more

My nephew Leo asked why I couldn’t just stick the pretzels in the cake ball before I dipped it in chocolate. I started to explain … Read more

I was standing in the checkout line at the hardware store—of all places—holding a new paintbrush and a bag of birdseed when the woman behind … Read more