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Handle the Heat

Thoroughly tested (and positively delicious!) homemade baking recipes - no cake mixes or Keto recipes here! I'm a total chocoholic and cookie queen. Oh, and I've graduated from culinary school and written two cookbooks. Come bake with me!

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➡️ BEST Coffee Cake (it'll ruin other desserts for you...)

"Where's the coffee?" This is the most common question I get asked on social media whenever I post a coffee cake recipe. It wasn't until I became really good at developing coffee cake recipes (sorry, had to brag!!) that I realized just how common this misunderstanding is. To clear things up: Coffee cake doesn't typically contain coffee. Instead, it's meant to be served with coffee. Really, it's a loophole to enjoying cake for breakfast. So needless to say, I'm on board! Below are my BEST...

Nothing says pure joy like rainbow sprinkles. My brand new Funfetti Cupcakes recipe takes everything you love about nostalgic confetti cupcakes and makes them even better. These cupcakes are: ✨ Fluffy & moist thanks to some key ingredients ✨ Ultra creamy with a dreamy cream cheese frosting ✨ Ready in just 1 hour — so much better than boxed mix! ✨ Festive for ANY occasion — swap the sprinkles for holiday colors Whether you’re baking for a birthday, potluck, or just a Wednesday pick-me-up,...

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial send-off to summer—and the perfect excuse to bake something people will talk about all weekend. And maybe just request over and over again. Whether you’re heading to a BBQ, hosting friends, or just soaking up the extra day off at home with Netflix, these recipes are easy to make, easy to share, and impossible to forget. If you make just one recipe this weekend, let it be these S'mores Fudge Bars. Joe's entire family declared them HTH Hall of Fame worthy!...

These cookies are not for the faint of heart. They’re rich. They’re bold. They’re positively loaded with chocolate. The best part about this recipe? One bowl and no mixer required! Introducing my brand new recipe for Double Chocolate Chip Cookies—with extra thick, ultra-fudgy centers, and that melt-in-your-mouth magic that makes them impossible to forget. They’re like a brownie and a cookie had a beautiful, decadent baby. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies This recipe uses a special (easy) trick...

It's been a difficult time for Handle the Heat lately. Google, Pinterest, and Instagram algorithms have been ultra volatile and flooded with untested AI recipes. It's pushing real-deal content to the bottom rungs. Content that people like myself have worked tirelessly to provide online for free. The less people who see my content, the less revenue my business makes, and the fewer resources I have to produce more great recipes. You see, my recipes undergo rigorous testing. Not just in my own...

I take ice cream very seriously around here. But summer is busy, and even I don't always make everything from scratch! Whether you're scooping from your favorite pint or churning up a homemade batch, these quick topping recipes will help you end summer on a high note (and take any sundae to the next level). 🍦 Easy Homemade Toppings Store-bought works in a pinch, but these come together in minutes and taste so much better! 2-Ingredient Chocolate Ganache: Rich, glossy, and perfect on...

As the back-to-school season rolls around, there’s something so comforting about the flavors that take us back to simpler times. You know, times before social media and the 24/7 news cycle 🤪 Today I'm sharing some of my favorite copycat recipes that bring those iconic packaged snacks straight to your kitchen—without the artificial and cloyingly sweet flavors. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane. Let’s dive in to recreate these nostalgic treats from scratch! Copycat Cosmic Brownies One...

I'm coming to you today with TWO newly improved recipes from the HTH archives, and I couldn't be more excited! These originals were first published over 10 years ago (!!), and while they've always been well-loved, they were due for a refresh. And trust me, they deserve ALL the attention. Drumroll for the first recipe.... Cookie Butter Ice Cream: I can't even begin to describe how delightfully dreamy the TEXTURE of this ice cream is. It's everything. Yes, you get that sweet yet spiced taste...

Peach season is here in all its juicy, sun-kissed glory—and that means it’s time to fire up the oven and let those golden beauties shine. We were recently in southern California and I had the most perfectly ripe peach that inspired today's email. Whether you're dreaming of a bubbly cobbler, a flaky galette, or something a little unexpected (peach snickerdoodles bars, anyone?), I've got the perfect lineup of peach-packed recipes to make your summer even sweeter. 🍑 Let’s bake something peach...

If your garden (or local market) is overflowing with zucchini, I've got you covered! Zucchini isn’t just for savory dishes—it’s the perfect way to add moisture, texture, and an extra vegetable serving to your baked goods. Whether you're craving something rich and chocolatey or light and spiced, I have a zucchini recipe waiting for you. Here are a few must-try zucchini recipes this summer: Lemon Yogurt Zucchini Bread: Bursting with bright and tangy flavors, you can use either full-fat or...