Chocolate Cheesecake is one of the most popular desserts of all time in my family. It is incredibly versatile in that it can be served at birthdays, holidays, or just because you're in the mood. I'm always surprised to meet people who won't make cheesecake because they find the process intimidating. I understand why it might seem like that, which is why I wanted to film this episode for you. The key to making the batter of the cheesecake is making sure it is completely smooth

I've made a version of this cookie for my show before. It's a traditional Greek Easter cookie that's usually rolled in sesame seeds. The first time I filmed this recipe for the show the cookies were pastel, which I thought were really pretty for Easter. Today I'm making a Cinnamon Sugar Koulourakia, another version of this sweet butter cookie. These cookies have a shortbread-like consistency and the dough is easy to prepare. They're great for dunking in tea or coffee at any

I was so excited to film this Greek Tsoureki recipe because it's something I've enjoyed my entire life. Making it for this episode conjured up so many happy Easter memories. Easter is such a big holiday in Greek culture, we've always spent it with big groups of family and friends and they're the meals I cherish most. Tsoureki is a traditional Greek sweet bread. It's typically enjoyed throughout the day and evening on Easter day. People slice pieces for breakfast or a quick sn

Boozy Cherry Bombs are a really fun treat for Valentine's Day, or anytime you want to spruce up a cocktail. We love making these for parties and I make them without alcohol for the kids. When I'm preparing for a party I soak the cherries in a giant jar for a few days. This makes it easier for me because I can just finish them off the day off, plus the generous soaking time makes them extra flavorful. The day of the party I finish them off by dipping them in the chocolate and

We are deep in Homemade Hot Chocolate season in Connecticut. I know that may sound silly to say, but I love this sweet treat in the winter. I look forward to making it every year and so do my children. I think it's one of those wonderful drinks that is equally comforting and decadent. Over the years I've tried many hot chocolate mixes, but I really like making it from scratch the most. Many people look at me sideways when I say that, but it is actually much easier than you th

As a mom of four I’m well aware of the importance of having just as many recipes for the kids as the adults at any holiday. These Pumpkin Sugar Cookies are one of those recipes that all ages enjoy. Since my kids are capable in the kitchen these days, I often hand this recipe off to make from scratch. However, it can be really fun to make them when you’re looking for a baking project to complete together. I love making recipes like this because they also travel well. If you’r

There’s pumpkin cheesecake and there are pumpkin muffins, and then there are Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. This delicious dessert is exactly what you imagine them to be. They are individual pumpkin cheesecakes served in muffin cups and eaten like a cupcake. I honestly don’t know of any more popular dessert with the younger set of kids in my household. To make these gems you start with a traditional pumpkin cheesecake batter. This is very easy to make. My only tip to you is tha

I had so much fun making this Brownie Espresso Dessert Martini for you. Making desserts I know everyone will love always puts me in a good mood! I started this recipe by making brownies from scratch. As I said in the episode, you can definitely use a boxed mix if you want. However, if you have the time, I promise you’ll love the homemade brownie recipe. When they’re still warm from the oven pour the Kahlúa on top so it soaks in thoroughly and evenly. Once the brownies are re

I like to bake for my family, and sometimes I try to make recipes that aren’t too dessert-like so they’re good snacks to enjoy during the school week. These Greek Yogurt Peanut Butter Muffins with Chocolate Chips are one of these recipes. They aren’t made with any oil or butter, instead I use a protein-packed Greek yogurt for moisture and fat. Then I add in flavor with peanut butter and a little honey for sweetness. If you want more sweetness, you can add more honey or sugar!

I love to make apple desserts in the fall. We always go apple picking and have so many apples to use up all at once! This Apple Strudel is made in the style of an elephant ear pastry. I fill pastry dough with shredded apple, sprinkle it with sugar and butter, and pop it in the oven. The nice thing about this dessert is how incredibly easy it is. It’s a lot easier than making a pie from scratch, I think. I put my kids in charge of shredding the apples and then we work with th

It wouldn’t be right to let one more summer pass by without me filming an episode about the classic Chocolate Cookie Icebox Cake. This cake is a true classic and pleases just about everyone who tries it. I grew up enjoying this cake because my mother used to make it, and now I make it for my family. The premise of this recipe is that chocolate wafer cookies are layered with whipped cream and then popped in the fridge. While the whipped cream and cookies are chilling, the cre

The beauty of pound cake is its simplicity. The ratios of ingredients are easy to work with and it yields a delicious, flavorful cake every single time. This Coconut Pound Cake is a favorite for us in the warmer months. We like the tropical flavor and often serve it with fresh fruit and whipped cream to create the perfect summer dessert. Making this pound cake is really easy. In fact, there are many times I put my children in charge of making it. They like to get involved i

This is such a fun and interesting cake to make. I call it the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Cake and it’s exactly what it says it is. It’s like a giant Chipwich. The same summer ice cream treat we all love, but on a giant scale. The key to making this is using great ingredients. First, get cookies that are your favorites and are sturdy. Sometimes I’ll make homemade cookies, but I’ll often buy them, too. Then, use your favorite ice cream. In this video I do a classic van

This is one of the most time-honored summer desserts in the whole world. I can’t get enough of Classic Lemon Bars and I don’t think I’m alone in that sentiment. I’ve been enjoying these since I was a child when my mother would make them. Now I make them a lot for my own family and I also make them a lot in the summer for my catering clients. When I’m serving these at a party, I cut them up into very small squares and they’re very elegant on a dessert platter. The concept of

I love serving delicious cakes at spring meals. This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake is one of those cakes that is perfect to serve at occasions right now. It really works at all kinds of warm weather events and is even dressy enough for Easter. Lemon is always a wonderful flavor for desserts. It’s a nice alternative to chocolate and vanilla. At Easter it functions as a great second cake to have on the table in case someone doesn’t like carrot cake. I like to fold fresh blueberri

Today I’m making Easter Sugar Cookies. I don’t care how old my children get, I don’t think I’ll ever stop making specialized cookies for holidays. You’ve seen me bake all kinds of cookies for Christmas, and a few for Greek Easter, and here’s a new one for you. This recipe would work well for any holiday, all you have to do is change the cookie cutter shape you are using. Making these cookies is very easy, but I do have some tips for you. First of all, don’t let the dough get

I love a good cupcake moment. Even though my kids are a little older they are totally down for cupcakes on special occasions. Needless to say, these Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are ideal for Easter. Carrot cake is a staple dessert and I absolutely love it any time of year. However, it can be tricky to have a huge cake at home because it doesn’t stay fresh for very long once you slice into it. This is why I like to make cupcakes, especially around the hol

There’s something about cheesecake that makes life feel like a celebration. Maybe it’s because we know that cheesecake takes just a little bit longer to make than regular cake. It feels indulgent and fun because it’s that much less accessible. This No Bake Hot Chocolate Cheesecake is kind of cool in the sense that it is a fun dessert that makes everyone happy, but it’s a little bit easier than many cheesecakes because it doesn’t require the whole delicate baking in a water ba

These are one of my favorite things to make. They are Valentine’s Cheesecake Balls made with cream cheese and Oreo cookies. I call them my “cheater truffles”! This is because they taste exactly like delicious truffles you can buy at a beautiful chocolate shop, but are so much easier to make. I think they are also a little more kid-friendly than gourmet truffles because they can be flavored with different extracts and everyone loves the crushed Oreo shell. This is such a fun

The holidays are a time to let your hair down in the kitchen. At this time of year, I’m always more lenient about what I eat and am happy to make our seasonal favorites so we can all have a little extra fun. Delicious and delightful Reindeer Chow is one of those recipes that really deserves to be brought out on repeat in December. It contains all the flavors we love – chocolate, peanut butter, and more – and is dressed up with green and red holiday M&M’s. I keep it on our cou