This is the lemon cake for people who don’t typically like lemon cakes. I know, because I’m one of them. My friend Sarah recently celebrated her 30th birthday, and I wracked my brain for at least a month beforehand to come up with the perfect birthday cake for her. She’s an accomplished baker in her own right, so I didn’t want to make something she’d typically make herself. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: LEMON! Sarah’s husband isn’t the biggest fan of lemon desserts, so

If Nutella is crack, then speculoos cookie butter must be krokodil. “Speculoos” doesn’t have the most appetizing name to English-speaking ears, but don’t let that stop you from trying what may be the one of the world’s best wintertime sweet snack. A traditional shortcrust biscuit popular in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, this spiced cookie is a less overpowering cousin to the gingersnap, but is also zingier than any animal cracker. It also provides the perfect crunch.

If you would like to taste the essence of fall in a neat little 2×2 inch square, I suggest you try these amazing pumpkin bars. I make a big batch of these every autumn, sometimes even several times a season. They’re perfect for celebrations, parties, and thank-you presents for the pumpkin spice-lovers in your life. The moist yet fluffy texture of the sponge combined with the earthy pumpkin flavor, zingy sweet spices, and rich frosting make for the perfect Halloween-time treat