Chocolate pudding is a classic, and I'm never one to mess with a good thing just for the sake of trying something new. But I've been to a few restaurants lately that are offering their own boozy versions of the popular dessert, and it's gotten me to rethink my position pretty quickly. More

Looking for edible wafer paper? A cookie cutter in the shape of an anchor? How about cute cupcake liners, or even just a basic frosting starter kit? These five online stores have everything you could ever possibly want for fancy baking and decorating!

Sometimes buying the unsweetened version isn't always better. I don't want to say who, but someone thought it would be a good idea to buy unsweetened coconut for a batch of macaroons last week thinking that this was the less-processed "better" choice, and that someone was very disappointed with her cookies. This week's public service announcement: sweetened and unsweetened coconut are two very different ingredients, and both deserve a spot in your pantry.

Monk fruit is the latest darling of the alternative sweetener world, but what is this exotic fruit, and how does it compare to sugar and other substitutes? 

Who doesn't have vanilla extract in their pantry right now? If not the extract, then maybe vanilla paste or whole vanilla beans. But what about those other flavorings you see on the grocery shelves? Read on for six additional extracts we like to have on hand for making desserts. More

Q: Whenever I use baking soda, my eyes always fall guiltily on the packaging, which tells me that I should buy a new box every month. As much as I bake, there's no way I could go through an entire box of baking soda in a month, so it seems wasteful to follow their instructions unless there's a real reason. 

There are choices we all make each day, some more important than others. What to have as a midday sweet probably falls in the 'not so important' camp. But that being said, having a little something sweet after lunch can do a lot in the happiness realm of things. And if that something is relatively healthy and without too much sugar? Even better. More

Have you ever tried making your own crackers? Your very own crispy, crunchy, seed-topped crackers? My recommendation: try it. Definitely. Crackers are surprisingly easy to make at home with just five basic ingredients, a rolling pin, and a baking sheet. Make yourself a quick batch tonight and have homemade crackers for lunches, snacks, and dinners all week long.

For something that seems specially designed to become wedged in our teeth after eating, we sure do love our poppy seeds! Maybe it's because they make muffins and loaf cakes so very pretty. Or because of the delicate crunch they give these foods. Or maybe we don't need a reason to love them at all! Are you a fan of poppy seeds? How do you use them?

How many times have you found yourself in desperate need of pancakes, but without the requisite buttermilk in the fridge? Or there's the other scenario: you want to make a recipe, but you're reluctant to buy an entire carton of buttermilk when you only need a half cup. For either situation, we have a solution. It's easy to make a very quick buttermilk substitute in less than ten minutes.