This month, we’re going big on flavor. The markets may not be bursting just yet, but we can still lean into bakes that pack a major punch. These include a flaky pastry with a hidden filling of vibrant guava; carrot cake in breakfast form; and a cake that calls for every part of an orange.
1) Guava Cream Cheese Pastries (Pastelitos)
These Cuban bakery staples are made with buttery, flaky pastry and filled with tangy, tropical guava paste and luscious cream cheese. If this recipe feels like a daunting baking project, just break it up: Prep the puff pastry dough up to two days in advance, then assemble and bake the pastelitos when you’re ready to enjoy.
Get the recipe: Guava Cream Cheese Pastries (Pastelitos)
Shop the recipe: Sparkling Sugar
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Guava Pinwheels, Strawberry Hand Pies
2) Easiest Sourdough Discard Crackers
The easiest way to use up sourdough discard? Turn it into crackers. This recipe lives up to its name: The crackers are made with only sourdough discard, butter, your choice of seasonings, and salt. Mix the four ingredients, spread onto a baking sheet, and bake until crispy. They’ll last in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks.
Get the recipe: Easiest Sourdough Discard Crackers
Shop the recipe: Small Offset Spatula
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sourdough Graham Crackers, Light and Crisp Olive Oil Crackers
3) Southern Caramel Cake
Soft, buttery cake layers are coated in luscious, velvety caramel to create this Southern caramel cake, a beloved regional dessert. Here, white chocolate is incorporated into the frosting to make a caramel ganache that’s effortlessly spreadable and irresistibly smooth.
Get the recipe: Southern Caramel Cake
Shop the recipe: Round Parchment Paper
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Thousand Dollar Bars, Whipped Caramel Apple Cake
4) Carrot Cake Pancakes
It’s perfectly acceptable to eat cake for breakfast, but how about a carrot cake and pancake mashup instead? These pancakes are loaded with grated carrots and toasted pecans, plus the classic combo of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Rather than slathering these in a cream cheese frosting, we opted for a maple-sweetened yogurt topping for a true breakfast treat.
Get the recipe: Carrot Cake Pancakes
Shop the recipe: Cinnamon Sweet Bits
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Carrot Cake Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting, Carrot Cake Cheesecake
5) Sourdough French Toast
Move over, challah and brioche. Your leftover slices of sourdough are fair game for French toast, too. In fact, they’re the perfect vehicle to absorb even more custard without getting soggy. An added bonus: The technique of sprinkling raw sugar to caramelize each side makes this French toast an extra-special breakfast.
Get the recipe: Sourdough French Toast
Shop the recipe: Sparkling Maple Syrup
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sheet-Pan French Toast, Praline French Toast
6) Rich and Tender Banana Cake
Got a couple browning bananas on the counter? Before you reach for your loaf pan and favorite banana bread recipe, consider making this snacking cake. Mashed banana, cake flour, and sour cream create a delicate, moist crumb. Meanwhile, that fruity banana flavor is nicely offset by a sweetened sour cream glaze to top it all off.
Get the recipe: Rich and Tender Banana Cake
Shop the recipe: Cake Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Banana Snacking Cake with Chocolate Malted Cream Cheese Frosting, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
7) Whole Orange Cake
Citrus is a handy way to brighten up any bake, and in this recipe, we use a whole orange (zest, pith, and all!) to extract maximum flavor. A touch of cardamom complements the bright, floral notes in this cake, which feels like a slice of sunshine.
Get the recipe: Whole Orange Cake
Shop the recipe: Cloud Forest Ground Cardamom
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Citrus Upside-Down Cake, Orange Pound Cake with Bourbon Glaze
8) Butterscotch Pudding
If you’re looking for a smooth, silky dessert and only want to dirty one pot, look no further than Butterscotch Pudding. Adding heavy cream ensures it’s extra rich, and a splash of Scotch or butterscotch schnapps further deepens the flavor.
Get the recipe: Butterscotch Pudding
Shop the recipe: King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate and Vanilla Pudding Cups, Vanilla Rice Pudding
9) No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
These three-layer bars are easier than they look. They start with a press-in chocolate cookie crust (no oven needed!) and a whipped cream cheese mixture. We split the cream cheese filling in two: a thin layer goes straight into the crust, while melted chocolate and whipped cream are added to the remaining mixture for a tangy, chocolatey cheesecake layer.
Get the recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Shop the recipe: Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Wafers
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies, No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie
10) Chocolate Chip Sourdough Bread
It’s a natural inclination to want to add chocolate chips to all your bakes — sourdough bread included. In this sandwich loaf, chocolate chips are folded into a plush dough and studded throughout each slice. Eat it as an indulgent slice of toast, or use it to level up your French toast.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Sourdough Bread
Shop the recipe: Callebaut Semisweet Chocolate Chips
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Milk Bread, Double Chocolate Focaccia
11) Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
Lemon and poppy seeds are an unbeatable combination, and when used in these cream scones, they make for an incredibly easy but impressive bake. It’s just a matter of mixing the wet and dry ingredients and dividing the dough into triangles, yielding tender scones with a vibrant citrusy zing and a delightful crunch from the poppy seeds.
Get the recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
Shop the recipe: Half-Sheet Baking Parchment Paper
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Vegan Lemon Cake, Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
12) Chili Crisp Cottage Cheese Flatbreads
To make this easy, ultra-flavorful dough, you can just blitz everything in a food processor. Cottage cheese adds body and tang, while chili crisp supplies a flavor bomb of spice and heat. Once griddled, these flatbreads are ideal for ripping and dipping, or simply slathering in more chili crisp.
Get the recipe: Chili Crisp Cottage Cheese Flatbreads
Shop the recipe: Cuisinart Custom 14™ 14 Cup Food Processor
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Skillet Flatbreads, Grilled Flatbreads
13) Nan-e Gerdui (Persian Walnut Cookies)
Made with ground walnuts and rice flour, these spiced shortbreads are a classic treat to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The inclusion of cardamom and rose water adds a delicate floral note to complement the rich nuts. For another treat to celebrate the new year, try Nan-e Keshmeshi (Raisin Cookies).
Get the recipe: Nan-e Gerdui (Persian Walnut Cookies)
Shop the recipe: Cloud Forest Cardamom
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Rose-Pistachio Cookies with Cherries and White Chocolate, Pistachio-Crusted Icebox Cookies
14) Middle Eastern Meat Flatbreads (Lahm Bi Ajeen)
These meat-topped flatbreads can be found throughout the Middle East in various forms; this version comes to us from the founders of New York Shuk. Here, the ground lamb meat and onion topping is flavored with harissa, an addition that, while uncommon, provides an extra depth of flavor that makes these flatbreads truly stand out — add them to your Ramadan rotation all month long.
Get the recipe: Middle Eastern Meat Flatbreads (Lahm Bi Ajeen)
Shop the recipe: Half Sheet Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Hot Bread Kitchen’s Nan-e Barbari (Persian Flatbread)
15) Irish Soda Bread Scones
Irish soda bread and scones have more in common than you think: those craggy edges. Here, the best parts of both are combined into golden brown scones bejeweled with dried currants for the perfect St. Patrick's Day bake. Don’t forget to smear it with plenty of Irish butter.
Get the recipe: Irish Soda Bread Scones
Shop the recipe: Irish-Style Wholemeal Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Irish Soda Bread Muffins, Irish Soda Bread
There’s plenty to celebrate this time of year, so here are 20 spring celebration bakes for Easter, Passover, Ramadan, and beyond.
Cover photo (Southern Caramel Cake) by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova.
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