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...
8 days ago • 1 min read
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...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
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...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
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....
3 months ago • 2 min read
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...
4 months ago • 2 min read
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...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Surprise! I am SO excited to share that The Floral Apron just got a rebrand and a full website redesign! Here's a peek at the new homepage: Isn't it beautiful??? My old website was functional, but I made it years ago—back when I first started The Floral Apron as a hobby (wayyyy back in 2021). And now that sharing recipes with you has been my real, live full-time job for the last year, it was time for a refresh! I've spent the last few months doing what I normally do (researching, testing, and...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Hey, Reader! I've been sharing fewer recipes than usual this summer because I've been hard at work on a secret project 🤫 I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm almost ready to share it with you all. (And before any of you get too excited, no, it's not a cookbook 😅) Keep an eye out for next month's newsletter, where I'll share my big news... or maybe sooner, if I can't keep it under wraps ;) Until then, these no-bake treats are my go-to when I'm craving something sweet but...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hey, Reader! Have you been able to enjoy cherry season yet? It's my husband's favorite fruit, so we always get a ton this time of year. I already pitted quite a few last month, but I have three more bags in the fridge right now... just waiting 😅 I have a special appreciation for eating cherries straight out of the bag, but if you want to change it up and make something with your cherries, here's some inspo for ya! My Favorite Cherry Recipes This small batch cherry jam recipe has gotten over...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Hey, Reader! I spent the better part of the last couple weeks finishing up my testing on popular vanilla bean pastes, and I was really surprised by the results! Overall, I liked most of the vanilla bean pastes I tried. Most of them had a nice, strong vanilla flavor. There was only one brand I don't recommend (and unfortunately, it's probably the easiest one to find in grocery stores...). Read all about my findings on my website, or watch my short summary on YouTube below: This video has done...
9 months ago • 2 min read