Recently I was making a batch of brownies for a friend who was going to drop by, and I didn't have the butter nice and soft. I'd just made tea and had a genius idea: I'll put the butter in close enough proximity to the warm burner that it'll soften in no time. Well you can probably guess what actually occurred: melted butter on the burner. Dumb move. Here's a better way... More

I suspect that I won't need to do much convincing with this recipe. I also suspect that your guests won't need much convincing to try a slice. It's cake. Made with eggnog. Glazed with sweet boozy icing. An extra pinch of nutmeg and a special baking trick with a whisk are all you need to put this holiday treat right over the top. More

Q: I was so excited to see that Trader Joe's carried white chocolate chips without hydrogenated oil that I bought 3 bags — but now I realize I should probably use them up before they go bad. What can I make besides cookies, white chocolate drizzle, or white chocolate buttercream? More

If you use your microwave to quickly soften butter for baking, you know that the difference between "perfectly soft" and "melty mess" is a matter of seconds. But before you grab a fresh stick to start over, check out America's Test Kitchen's great tip for reviving overly soft butter — all it takes is a couple minutes and a few ice cubes. More

Years ago when I was working as a wedding planner, our crafty in-house letterpress guru, Jennifer, would bring the entire office weekly homemade treats. I had yet to venture into the world of baking, so I was often completely mesmerized by the complicated recipes she tackled. (Profiteroles au chocolat, anyone?!) More

Q: I've been experimenting with making a rich from-scratch hot cocoa. I've tried several kinds of cocoa powder, and a few different techniques, and to me the result always tastes a little powdery, not creamy enough. More

If you peek inside my cupboards, you'll see countless little jars of herb and honey concoctions that are both delicious and healing. Making herb-infused honey has become one of my favorite ways to use leftover sprigs of thyme from cooking dinner, a handful of wild mint found while foraging, or the buds of an edible flower bouquet. It couldn't be easier to do. And if you start now, there's plenty of time to make them for holiday gifts, too. More

This recipe for fudge is a classic one from my childhood. I like it because it requires no special equipment or ingredients — just sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt, butter and vanilla. Even a candy thermometer is optional if you are gutsy enough to use the soft-ball test. I like this recipe for its practicality and deliciousness, but I love it because it's my father's recipe and every time I make it, it's like I'm spending time with him again. More

Let's talk caramels. The candy kind. The chewy, melt-in-your-mouth, deeply sweet, and insanely addictive kind. These make some of the best gifts ever, whether the event is Christmas, a birthday, or a thank you for a favor. Or no reason at all. You probably already have the ingredients in your pantry, and if you haven't made caramels recently, you probably don't know how easy they can be. Grab a bag of sugar and your candy thermometer, folks! We're making caramels today. More

In a bid to consumers from hot-weather countries like India and Brazil, Cadbury recently announced its newest invention: chocolate that stays solid, even after three hours in 104-degree heat. More