From James's kitchen

Recipes

Tested, annotated, and worth returning to. Browse dependable recipes for everyday cooking, relaxed weekends, and occasions worth sharing.

Baking · 224 recipes

Clear filter
Whoopie Pie 2169

Original Authentic Whoopie Pies

I'll always love the original Chocolate Whoopie Pie, but you can find countless versions on the web for Pumpkin, Ginger, Red Velvet, Lemon, Banana, and many more creative Whoopie Pies. The next time you're in the mood for a cupcake, give this "cousin" a try…

Read recipe
Butterscotch Pot de Creme170

Butterscotch Pots de Creme

I had lunch recently at Gjelina ( http://www.gjelina.com ) on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. I suppose it falls under the category of “trendy”, but I love the combination of good food and great people-watching, so I always look forward to having a bite there.…

Read recipe
Lemon tart 1172

Perfect Lemon Tart (Tarte au Citron)

This is one of my favorite tarts - very lemony, with a rich creamy filling. Paul Bocuse’s “Simple French Recipes for the Home Chef” calls for crème fraiche, but I find the heavy cream works just as well. This is the perfect finish to a great dinner.

Read recipe
Pear tart slice173

Pear Tart with Almond Frangipane Filling

This is one of my favorite French tarts. Most of it can be made ahead, so it’s great when you’re having guests, because it can be baked several hours before serving. This is a classic recipe that can be found in numerous cookbooks. In Julia Child’s Masterin…

Read recipe
Clementine Almond Cake slice176

Clementine Almond Cake

Every part of the Clementine -- peel, pith, and flesh -- plays a role in this moist almond cake. Each slice has a sophisticated slightly bittersweet marmalade-like flavor, since boiling the Clementines beforehand mellows any bitterness from the skin and pit…

Read recipe
Sweet potato muffins180

Sweet Potato Maple Muffins

These muffins are a great alternative to pumpkin. You can use cinnamon and nutmeg in place of the spices, but I think allspice and cloves give them a unique flavor. I usually make extra sweet potato for dinner and then make these muffins the next morning.

Read recipe
Pumpkin cheesecake184

Pumpkin Cheesecake

I’ve been making this cheesecake at Thanksgiving for years and it’s always a crowd pleaser. The Whipped cream topping is particularly good with the pumpkin spices; the addition of sour cream gives it a crème fraiche quality.

Read recipe
Pumpkin muffins seeds192

Moist Pumpkin Muffins

I use pumpkin all year long, but it’s especially nice during the autumn months. These muffins are lightly sweetened with brown sugar, and stay very moist. Pumpkin works particularly well with whole wheat and creates a very tender muffin. This recipe also wo…

Read recipe