What are the holidays without wheat, dairy, eggs, and refined sugar? Pretty dreary, I imagined — until I came up with this moist, richly flavored gingerbread cake that I will be happily baking for months, if not years, to come. More

You probably already know Peter Reinhart from his much-loved bread baking books The Bread Baker's Apprentice and Artisan Breads Every Day. Heck, this is the guy who taught many of us how to bake in the first place! So it was a bit of a surprise to discover that his latest book was not another tome on pizza crust or the perfect baguette, but rather a collection of gluten-free and sugar-free recipes. But I figure that if anyone can develop gluten-free breads and treats worthy of a bakery display case, Peter Reinhart can. More

I have always felt alternately fascinated and frustrated by carob chips. They're advertised as a low-sugar chocolate substitute, but as any true chocolate devotee will confirm, they are definitely not chocolate. So what's up with carob chips? Do you ever bake with them? More

Q: My fiancé and I just got an ice-cream maker as a wedding gift. I can't wait to start experimenting. However, he is watching his weight and would prefer that I not make full-fat ice cream on a regular basis. Can anyone recommend a lighter ice cream recipe that isn't icy or lacking flavor?

Sent by Erika More

Q: My brother-in-law, who is not yet 30, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. My sister doesn't want to cook separately for her husband and her three kids, and she asked me for help finding recipes. What are some low-carb, diabetic-friendly dinner recipes that the whole family will love?

Sent by Elizabeth More

We've all faced ingredient conundrums and last-minute shortages in the kitchen. Oh no! Out of eggs! No crème fraîche! Need a buttermilk substitute! Thankfully, there are a few tried-and-true substitutions you can turn to in a pinch. These can also be helpful if you're trying to modify a recipe out of dietary necessity (shifting it to be dairy or gluten-free, for example). This guide will help get you started. More

Last week my sweet nephew turned one! As any culinary minded aunty would do, I set about to make something celebratory for my favorite little human. What I came up with has no refined sugars and is full of dates and bananas. Even the grown ups enjoyed a slice or two after the baby fest. More

Once upon a time, it was unusual to even ask dinner guests about food allergies, let alone their preferences. Today, it can seem strange to have a dinner party without some sort of food restriction. Paleo, vegan, no carb, no gluten: sometimes planning a menu can require research into what these diets mean exactly. Fortunately, specialty food like gluten-free flours and vegan meat substitutions are much easier to find. But where to draw the line before you're practically making individual meals for each guest? The New York Times asked this question this past week — see what they had to say. More

Q: I'm planning a baby shower for a colleague who has gestational diabetes and is on a strict sugar-free diet. My challenge is providing desserts that the guest-of-honor and guests will want to eat, besides a fruit bowl. Any ideas for simple, crowd-pleasing, sugar-free desserts?

Sent by Callie More

Who: Kim Boyce
What: BakeShop
Where: Portland, Oregon

Kim Boyce is a celebrated cookbook author and whole grain baker. (We've featured her James Beard award-winning cookbook Good to the Grain several times here on The Kitchn.) She recently opened a retail space, BakeShop, in a family neighborhood of North East Portland. Her confections are unbelievable and her cheerful attitude infectious. More