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The Floral Apron

Hi, I'm Alyssa! The Floral Apron is home to easy-to-follow recipes with cleanup ratings. Every single recipe has a picture of the dirty dishes at the end, so you know exactly what you’re committing to before you even start on it! I also take care to thoughtfully write all of my recipes, so they’re great for beginners.

A stack of Special K bars on a cutting board.
Featured Post

In need of no-bake treat recipes this summer?

Hey, Reader! Summer is well on its way, and we're having our first real heat wave this week, which is a real whiplash after our big trip a couple weeks ago—more on that below! I'm working my way through 10+ pounds (about 5 kilos) of fresh-picked blueberries with a lot of recipe testing. Until I have those recipes finalized and ready to share, here are some of my favorite recipes that don't require your oven: My Favorite No-Bake Recipes My aunt Deb was known for her Special K bars! If you've...

A mini strawberry cheesecake cut in half with a fork

Hey, Reader! There are few things better than fresh-picked berries, and strawberries are at their peak right now! Here are my favorite recipes to honor the humble berry: My Favorite Strawberry Recipes My newest recipe, mini strawberry cheesecakes are baked in a muffin pan with no water bath. They can be made with strawberry jam or fresh strawberries! For the strawberries 'n' cream lover If you won't be able to eat all of your strawberries fast enough, make my small batch strawberry jam! My...

A woman in a kitchen with a box for an ice cream maker

Happy Saturday! If you dread having to buy new minor kitchen appliances because it's hard knowing which online reviews you can trust, me too. That's why I started creating product reviews! For the last few years, any time I buy a new appliance, I take tedious notes and track everything I like and dislike about it over the next 6-12 months. I then compile all that information into a video, so you know if the product is actually worth purchasing. I bought a new kitchen appliance in September,...

A mini chocolate cheesecake on a plate

Hey, Reader!\ Spring has officially sprung, bringing longer days (finally!) and lots of blooms 🌼 It's been a little quiet on my end because I've been hard at work on a new long-form YouTube video. If you want to see it as soon as I post it, make sure you're subscribed :) Once I finish that project, I'm really excited to get back to sharing new recipes every week! I've been working on quite a few since last year, and most use a fruit that's almost back in season 🍓 Until then, if you've only...

Macarons that look like Easter eggs

Hey, Reader! I'm not sure what it's like where you are, but it feels like spring here in California's Central Valley! The almond blossoms have come and gone, and I'm starting to plan this year's herb and vegetable garden. If it's not feeling like spring yet, the following recipes may or may not help speed the change in weather along ;) Recipes to Welcome Spring Easter is coming up on April 5, and these lemon meringue macarons are my favorite kind of Easter egg. They look like a real egg when...

A hand holds a chocolate muffin

Happy almost Valentine's Day, Reader! When it comes to Valentine's Day, I feel like there are two kinds of recipes: The ones that make cute little hearts out of everything in shades of red and pink, and the ones that overload on chocolate. I love both, but I have more far more chocolate recipes than heart recipes on my website, so I guess that tells you where my preferences lie! Speaking of, did you know that you can add The Floral Apron as a preferred source on Google? You might have noticed...

A stack of vanilla macarons on a small cake stand.

Happy January, Reader! If you have a resolution to try a new type of recipe this year, I would love to help you check it off your list! That's the whole reason I share my beginner-friendly recipes with video tutorials and cleanup ratings: So you know exactly what to expect the entire time! Here are my favorite recipes for growing your skills in the kitchen: Want to make homemade bread? The easiest bread recipe I know is my small batch focaccia. I make it all the time to serve alongside...

A Linzer cookie in the form of a gingerbread man

Happy December, Reader! Every time I think of Christmas cookies, I think of the failed batch of gingerbread cookies that my mom and I made (rather, attempted to make) years ago. We made a handful of different cookies that year from a well-known magazine—including three-color pinwheels that turned out great!—but for some reason, the gingerbread dough turned into a literal brick in the fridge. We tried rolling it out, and it wouldn't budge at all. We thought letting it sit out might soften it....

A hand holds a glass jar of granola

Happy almost Thanksgiving, Reader! I know we're still a couple weeks out... but I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year, and it's been all I can think about recently 😅 In order to make the actual day a little less stressful, I'm prepping some of my favorites now! Hopefully this list of make-ahead recipes can save you time this Thanksgiving, too :) Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Favorites These mini pumpkin cheesecakes are always at the top of my list. You can make them now and freeze...

A fork removes a piece of mini pumpkin cheesecake.

Hey, Reader! Fall is officially here, and that means that pumpkin bakes are on the way! ...along with the inevitable ¾ cup of leftover pumpkin that you put in your fridge with the best of intentions 😅 You can throw the can out in three weeks when it's well past its prime, orrrr you can give it a second chance and make a pumpkin dessert this weekend to use it up! I've put a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes below. Each one uses one cup or less of pumpkin, so they're perfect for helping you...