#cookie-quality

#cookie-quality

Contrast is at the center of many popular culinary trends. There's also a strong emphasis on contrasting textures within a single baked good. For example, soft milk breads and laminated doughs that have been hard-baked create exciting combinations.

A 60-gram slice of sourdough contains about 6 to 8 grams of protein, comparable to an egg, and is likely to leave you feeling fuller.

Miel on Warren Street in Fitzrovia is run by pastry chef Shaheen Peerbhai, who sources ingredients from France and is known for its striped hazelnut gianduja croissant.

I like to fold the bag over my hand as I fill it with frosting and I press everything down towards the tip as I am filling. This gives more control over the bag and allows her to apply pressure and remove the air.

Usually an item like this is fairly expensive. That has been my experience with store-bought muffins. They either dry out or can get moldy.

Let's talk about holiday baking that goes beyond cookies! These are the festive winter bakes to try. The list includes an ultra fragrant gingerbread cake, a bright citrus loaf, and the perfect flourless chocolate cake. Few people love baking holiday cookies more than me, but a good amount of my favorite December baking happens outside the cookie platter. Think fragrant spice cakes, all things citrus, buttery, and bright - or deep, melty chocolate on the frostiest nights.

The Earl Grey chocolate tart fits the role perfectly for Easter, being rich without feeling heavy and fragrant without being fussy, while meeting the expected chocolate quota.

They contain less cocoa butter and often added stabilizers, which are frequently wheat-based, and that's what prevents them from melting smoothly. As such, when you bake chocolate chips into your favorite cookie or brownie recipe, you're not going to have to worry about them losing their shape or absorbing into the batter.

Even though we will always defend the viewpoint that the best way to eat Nutella is with a spoon straight out of the jar, this beloved creamy hazelnut spread actually has many creative uses in the kitchen. It's super easy to bake with and handy to have in the pantry when you're craving a rich chocolatey dessert that tastes homemade without taking hours to prep. For example, the easy-peasy two-ingredient chocolate puff pastries.

I love dessert as much as the next person. The existence of dessert is truly one of the best things to have happened to mankind, and I've always had immense respect for people who know how to make these sweet treats. Now, if you're curious like me, you've probably also tried whipping some stuff up in the kitchen (no one's going to ask if you failed. That's between you and your stand mixer).