Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

All about phyllo...and puff pastry. 

OK OK OK...what is the difference between puff pastry and phyllo dough? Find out once and for all, here. (Craftsy)

Mini phyllo baklava cups. YUM. (Cooking LSL)

This unique "orange pie" is made with phyllo crumbles! (Culinary Flavors)

Easy baked cronuts using puff pastry. (Pip and Ebby)

Phyllo crackers with caramel sauce. Cool! (Cupcakes and Couscous)

Puff pastry straws! Seems these could go sweet or savory. (Beyond the Chicken Coop)

This puff pastry wrapped baked gouda. OMG. (Little Figgy)

Cremeshnitte. Obviously this is so necessary for continued survival/joy. (My Gorgeous Recipes)

Not sweet, but this savory cheese phyllo pie pastry thing looks incredible. (All That Jas)

Apple rose tarts. Aren't these just lovely? (Kirbie Cravings)

Nutella Christmas Tree puff pastry. I know Xmas is a long way off but I love the creativity here! (Eat Well 101)

Savory hamantaschen made with puff pastry. Interesting! (Rachel Kor)

These are like...savory pop-tarts! With puff pastry! (The Baking Fairy)

Ever heard of knafeh? (Zena N Zaatar)

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Go banana! 

Banana poppy seed cake with lemon buttercream. Obviously necessary. (View from Great Island)

Two ingredient banana pancakes. Yes. (Craftsy)

Magnolia bakery's banana pudding, one of my favorites on earth. (CakeSpy)

A good-lookin' banoffee pie, indeed. (Sugar & Soul)

Ever tried Turon? (The Little Epicurean)

Banana bread with one banana. You're welcome. (CakeSpy archives)

Peanut butter banana amaranth cookies. I'm interested. (KiipFit)

Peanut butter banana cream pie, you guys I might cry because this is my dream dessert. (Get Inspired Every Day)

Maple tahini overnight oats with caramelized banana. Whoa. (Lemons and Zest)

Chocolate greek yogurt banana bread, you won't regret it. (CakeSpy archives)

Coconut banana cream pie. I like the sound of this. (Crazy for Crust)

This chocolate chip banana bread baked oatmeal thing looks awesome. (The Pretend Baker)

Banana cream pie bars. Yes please. (Averie Cooks)

Book of the week: The Cupcake Coloring Book. Sorry, no bananas in it but you'll go bananas for my cleverness in this coloring book. Buy it today!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Hot chocolate from around the world, and creative hot chocolate ideas. 

Listen, your ice cream maker isn't just for ice cream, boo. (CakeSpy)

Filipino hot chocolate, AKA tsokolate. (The Little Epicurean)

Spiced Venezuelan hot chocolate. This sounds very interesting! (American Food Roots)

Colombian hot chocolate, with...cheese!? (Kiku Corner) 

Dark chocolate atole. (With the Grains)

Russian hot chocolate. Interesting! (Janine Washle)

Parisian hot chocolate. From someone who knows! (David Lebovitz)

A fascinating trick for making Italian-style hot chocolate! (Electric Blue Food)

Matcha white hot chocolate. Fascinating! (What She Ate)

Hot chocolate...oatmeal? Believe the breakfast dream, baby. (Maria Ushakova)

Hot chocolate fudge! YES PLEASE. (Wonky Wonderful) 

Slow cooker white hot chocolate. Interesting! (Wishes n Dishes)

Cheesecake hot chocolate. Dear god. I'm done for. (Chocolate Moosey)

Coconut milk hot chocolate. Let's talk this out. (CakeSpy archives)

Book of the week: Hot Chocolate and Homicide. I'll be honest, mainly because it exists. But I need to tell you that I have a soft and gooey place for guilty pleasure books like this! 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

I know Valentine's Day is over, but these treats are where the heart's at. 

Chocolate pop-hearts (pictured top). (CakeSpy)

Cherry valentine Rice Krispie treats. Yess! (Marla Meridith)

Beary sweet ice cream cones. Technically not hearts but they're so cute they make my heart a puddle so they deserve to be here, k? (Bakerella)

Heart shaped raspberry Napoleons. So sweet! (Martha Stewart)

Heart shaped whoopie pies - so cute! (The Gourmet Gourmand)

These heart pb+j cookies make me happy. (Whisk it Real Gud)

Homemade chocolate hearts. (Seasoned Sprinkles)

Cactus heart cookies. So cute! (Whisk and Wander)

Heart shaped cinnamon rolls. (Mighty Mrs.)

Heart shaped red velvet brownies. Yes, I could eat that. (Honey and Spice)

Raspberry mousse heart chocolates. Lovely! (The Loopy Whisk)

Do I want to eat these heart shaped cookies? You'd butter believe it. (Recipe Fiction)

Book of the week: Another Unicorn Coloring Book. My second unicorn coloring book, if I am honest, is my favorite! I like it even better than the first, and here's my kind and gentle reminder that you should probably buy it. 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Be still my beet-ing heart! All about baking with beets.

Beet brownies. Well, these are interesting. (Self Proclaimed Foodie)

Beet cupcakes! Yum. Pictured top! (CakeSpy archives)

Raw chocolate beet cheesecake. This thing looks incredible! (Unconventional Baker) 

Olive oil loaf cake with hibiscus beet icing. Oh sweet fancy! (Golubka Kitchen)

Beet FUDGE! I need this! (Blissful Basil)

Chocolate and balsamic roasted beets. FASCINATING! (Jerry James Stone)

Beet ravioli. OK, this and the next few aren't necessarily sweet, but very interesting! (Baked New England)

Grain free beet wraps. Listen, the main source of fascination here is that the wraps themselves are made with beets. They're pretty and sound yum! (Ingenious Cooking)

Strawberry beet popsicles. (Salted Plains)

Roasted beet biscuits. OMG! (The View from Great Island)

Salted honey rose lassi. Featuring beet! Wow. (Kale and Caramel)

Vanilla bean beet donuts. YES! (Craftsy)

Blackberry beet bliss balls. Don't try saying that five times fast--instead, eat them! (Deviliciously Raw)

Book of the week: Baking with Vegetables. This is a fun and lovely volume which features some very interesting recipes if you're interested in baking with veggies.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

A bunch of random posts I love, by people I love! 

Oatmeal cookie Irish cream cheesecake pie. This recipe is brilliant, oh, and the recipe writer talks about me in the intro. Yes, I am biased! (Sweet ReciPeas)

Unicorn rainbow donuts. WHOA NELLY. You'll be hearing more about this post next week, too. (The Flavor Bender)

Peanut butter banana ice cream. One of my favorite flavor combos! (Inside BruCrew Life)

Spiced sour cream cake. I love how it's classic but with a little interesting something something. (Coconut & Lime)

Lemon lime coconut bars with shortbread crust. OMG. (Baking Bites)

Pie crust crackers. I love that independently of each other, both me AND Lindsay posted about these just a few days apart. (Love and Olive Oil)

Chinese steamed sticky rice cakes. I'm intrigued! (Eva Bakes)

Chocolate espresso cookies. Elegant and lovely! (Coley Cooks)

Snickerdoodle chocolate chip caramel cookie bars. SWEET JESUS PEOPLE. (Crazy For Crust)

Circus animal cookie ice cream. BRILLIANT! (The Domestic Rebel)

Roasted banana pumpkin bread. OMG YOU GUYS. (Well Floured)

How to make simple syrup. This is a must-know technique! (Feast + West)

Dark chocolate dipped funfetti shortbread cookies. I dare you to find a part of that recipe that isn't lovable. (The Little Kitchen)

Book of the week: Just in case you've forgotten, I wrote a book about unicorns. Stuff Unicorns Love. You need to buy it, ok?

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Sweets inspired by princesses.

Adorable (and fairly easy to make!) Cinderella cupcakes. (JustJenn Recipes)

A cake inspired by the one made by fairies in the movie version of Sleeping Beauty! Incredible. (Rosanna Pansino)

Classic princess cake. (Passion for Baking)

Don't worry: these "apples" made from rice krispies treats are only INSPIRED by the fictional poisoned apple--not ACTUALLY poison. (Brownie Bites)

Speaking of princess cake...why is it green? (CakeSpy archives) 

Princess pull-apart cake. Cute! (Java Cupcake)

GOOOOODDDD I've always been obsessed with these Barbie "princess" cakes. (Epic Sweet)

A great and simple tutorial for how to make towers for a princess castle cake. (The Bamboo Sprouts)

Pink ruffle ombre cake with edible gold tiara. Well, obviously this is necessary. (Bubble and Sweet)

WONDERFUL patterns for making princess dress cupcakes! (Top the Cupcake)

Great sugar cookie recipe, and look, they're princess crowns! (My Cupcake Addiction)

Princess carriage cookies tutorial. So cute! (Lila Loa)

OK this one is not technically sweet, but I could not resist including these princess PIZZAS. (Pillsbury)

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Cookiescookiescookiescookiescookiescookiescookiescookiescookiescookies! SPRITZ cookies, in particular! No, the image above is not a spritz cookie but it's awfully happy, so I decided it should head up this week's links post anyway. 

Cream cheese spritz cookies. (Cooking LSL)

Spritz snowflake cookies. SO happy in pastel colors! (Glorious Treats)

Vanilla almond spritz cookies in pretty aqua and white. (Love and Olive Oil)

Alarmingly adorable spritz cookies with clever decorations. (Hungry Happenings)

Gingerbread spritz cookies. (Wilton)

S'mores spritz sandwich cookies! A great way to feel slightly summery in the winter. (The Beach House Kitchen)

Chocolate espresso spritz cookies. (The Creekside Cook)

Spiced spritz cookies with browned butter glaze. Dear god. (Land O Lakes)

Cheddar spritz crackers. Savory, yet totally sweet (figuratively speaking). (This Grandma is Fun)

Snickerdoodle spritz cookies. Me = intrigued. (Betty Crocker)

Cranberry spritz cookies. How lovely! (New England Today)

A helpful post that includes a section on troubleshooting when making spritz cookies! (Crafty Baking)

Book of the week: All of mine! I guess you probably knew I was going to say that though. Next week I'll focus on books that aren't mine, but for the holidays...there's still time to buy! :-) 

Baker's Dozen: Cookbook Suggestions

Let's get holly jolly! Here are the books I think you N E E D to buy! Some are new, some are old. But all of them are well worth owning. You can trust me when I say this. I actually don't like owning a lot of books, and every 6 months or so I purge. But all of these, I consider keepers! 

They are listed alphabetically rather than in order of preference. 

1. BAKED: New Frontiers in Baking

By Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

All of the cookbooks by the BAKED boys are excellent. But the first is still my fave: with Oprah's favorite brownies, perfect chocolate chip cookies, and more, this is an excellent baking book with tried and true recipes. 

2. Baking With Steel

By Andris Lagsdin and Jessie Oleson Moore 

Full disclosure: I co-wrote this book. So I am definitely keeping it! But you should buy it too, and not just because I co-wrote it. You should buy it because baking on a slab of steel really can up the ante of your homemade sweets and savories and deliver restaurant-caliber results. 

3. Beat This! Cookbook: Absolutely Unbeatable Knock-'em-Dead Recipes for the Very Best Dishes. 

By Ann Hodgman

I know that this sounds like a funny thing to say, but you should buy this cookbook even if you never intend on making a single thing from it. Because while the recipes are great (read: PACKED WITH BUTTER), what really "makes" this book is the headnotes and writing style, which is incredibly hilarious. Like, bust a gut laughing. I want to be best friends with the author every time I flip through it. It's available with different cover art; I pictured the version I own.

4. Betty Crocker's Cooky Book

I know I said I wasn't playing favorites, but this is probably my favorite cookbook, yes, in my entire collection. There's just something about this book. The recipes are simple and sweet and old fashioned, and perfect. It's where I found the recipe for bonbon cookies, still one of the most popular cookie recipes on this site. Bonus points for the technicolor photos that harken to another era. If you can, try to find a copy from the original printing in 1963 (not hard to find on eBay or Amazon). 

5. Bravetart: Iconic American Desserts

By Stella Parks

Everything Stella Parks touches turns to pastry gold. She's a superstar! This book is brilliant, and you can nerd out or keep it simple with her serious but inclusive approach. It's the #1 seller on Amazon for a reason. Buy it and see for yourself how amazing her recipes are! 

6. Dessert For Two: Small Batch Cookies, Brownies, Pies, and Cakes

By Christina Lane

Christina is the blogger behind Dessert For Two, and this is her first book. I love the simplicity and small scale of the recipes, but I also love her clever wit. You'll find yourself halfway in love with her by the time you've read the intro, but the recipes will really seal the deal. Already have this great book? Good, you should. Now, buy her other books; here's her author page so you can browse.

7. Dessert Mash-Ups

By Dorothy Kern

When I featured an excerpt recipe for sugar cookie dough stuffed white chocolate cups from this book on my site in 2014, it went bonkers on the interwebz. People loved it! That's a testament to the creative and incredible Dorothy Kern (also the blogger behind Crazy For Crust), who masterminded this volume which every fun-loving baker should own.

8. Erin Bakes Cake

by Erin Gardner

So, Erin is an incredible cake baker and decorator with a stratospheric internet following (check out Erin Bakes, please, right now). But in spite of her otherworldly creations, this book truly is perfect for the cake decorating newbie. Erin breaks it down from start to finish, from making the perfect cake canvas to adorning it in the most beautiful and magical ways possible. BONUS: THERE ARE LOTS OF UNICORNS IN THIS BOOK. 

9. Fannie Merritt Farmer Boston Cooking School Cookbook

A classic! Everyone should own this book, in my opinion. For best results, scour Amazon or eBay for an older edition; bonus points if it comes with some handwriting or flour on the pages! 

10. King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion

Oh yeah, I adore this book. When I am trying a new recipe or making something new that I've never baked before, I always go to this volume first for ideas. More times than not, it has a recipe for the Thing In Question or points me in the right direction. A solid and reliable volume; no wonder it won a James Beard Award! 

11. Secret-Layer Cakes 

by Dini Kodippili

If you follow Dini's blog, The Flavor Bender, then you know what a creative powerhouse she is, both with baking and with cocktail-making. This book is a love letter to cake, with a robust cheesecake chapter and plenty of surprising "reveal" cakes with clever fillings. 

12. Smitten Kitchen Every Day

by Deb Perelman

Everyone loves Smitten Kitchen! Myself included. There are plenty of reasons to love this book, as well as every other one she's written. It's anecdotal, not preachy, and yields great recipe results. What more could you hope for? See for yourself what all the hype is about. 

13. Stuff Unicorns Love

Am I going to include my own new book on this list? YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DONUT, BABY! But it's not just because I wrote it. It's because I honestly believe that it's a special book that will add magic and delight to your day. Truly! 

14. Tiki Drinks: Tropical Cocktails for the Modern Bar

by Robert Sharp and Nicole Weston

OK, so you probably know Nicole as the talented baking wizardess behind the Baking Bites blog. She has a bunch of ice cream and baking books, which you should definitely buy (here's her author page to find those). But one of my personal favorites is the tiki drink book she co-wrote. I love learning about the history of food and drink, and there are plenty of interesting stories in this book. Plus, the tiki drinks are just so pretty and HAPPY!  There are plenty of tiki fans out there; if you know one (or if you are one), you need this book! 

What cookbook(s) do YOU think that everyone should own?

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Breakfast stuff.

Homemade Vanilla Kreme Donuts, in the Dunkin' tradition. (CakeSpy)

Cathead biscuits from Biscuit Head. (Eva Bakes)

Apple turnovers. A classic sweet brekkie! (Averie Cooks)

Maple oat nut scones, in the Starbucks tradition. (The View from Great Island)

Sweet potato toast! (Craftsy)

Maple bacon fudge. It's what's for...breakfast? (Ashlee Marie)

Cranberry white chocolate donuts. *Mic drop* (in a good way). (Love in My Oven)

2 ingredient homemade pop tarts (plus a few more ingredients for decoration). (Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats)

Skillet cornbread. I'd eat this for breakfast (and beyond). (Pinch and Swirl)

Lebkuchen. It's bread-like enough for breakfast. Says me. (Craftsy)

German chocolate pancakes. Whoa! (Margaritas on the Rocks)

My kind of science: donut science. (LifeHacker)

DIY English muffins. Yeah! (Your Guardian Chef)

Lentil crepes. I'm intrigued! (Whisk Affair)

Popovers with strawberry butter. I approve. (Rasa Malaysia)

Lebkuchen! Not technically breakfast, but not not breakfast. (Craftsy)

Book of the week: Beautiful Bundts: 100 Recipes for Delicious Cakes & More by Julie Anne Hession. I just received a review copy of this book and can't wait to get baking. This book will challenge the idea that a bundt pan is a one trick pony in your kitchen. The recipes range from classic bundts to creative bundts to even pull-apart and savory options. It's really a delight, and owning this book provides an opportunity to dance around your living room singing "I like big bundts and I cannot lie!"

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

It's the holidaze now, so let's hit the bars. Cookie bars, that is. 

"So-good cheesecake bars". I believe it! (Hostess at Heart)

Nanaimo bars are what you need. (CakeSpy)

Rainbow cookie bars. These are so H A P P Y ! (Kids Recipe Box)

Maple walnut bourbon bars. Bliss! (Sweet ReciPEAS)

Eggnog sugar cookie bars. Yes please. (Inside BruCrew Life)

Rainbow marshmallow dream bars. Dreeeeeeeamy. (Number-2 Pencil)

Holiday Twix Bars. Yes! (Love in My Oven)

Dorie's Maine Bars. Vaguely gingerbread-like, totally yum. (Eva Bakes)

Holiday magic cookie bars. GOOD IDEA. (CakeSpy)

Lofthouse-style sugar cookie bars. I might die of happy. (Something Swanky)

Lemon sugar cookie bars. Well, these look great. (The Salty Marshmallow)

Fudge-filled chocolate chip cookie bars. Great idea! (Back for Seconds)

Key lime pie bars. Yum. (Little Spice Jar)

Not technically bars, but this 2 ingredient fudge is pretty as a picture. (Bellyfull)

White chocolate cranberry oatmeal bars. WHOA. (Buns In My Oven)

Book(s) of the week: You DO know what I'm going to say, right? You need to purchase both of my soon to be released books, Baking With Steel and Stuff Unicorns Love! Right now! 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Ins-PIE-ration. 

This pumpkin pie bakes its own crust. Really! (Craftsy)

Apple pie baked brie. This is so brilliant. (Well Floured)

Mini pumpkin pies...baked in pumpkins. I die of cuteness! (Pinch and Swirl)

Marshmallow meringue pumpkin pie. Wow. (A Whisk and Two Wands) 

Pumpkin pie with a cornucopia crust. This is awesome! (Kudos Kitchen) 

Pecan pumpkin pie. Why decide between the two classic Thanksgiving picks? (Taste of Home)

Pumpkin pie breakfast parfaits. Any recipe that advocates eating pie fixings for breakfast is A-OK by me. (Katalyst Health)

Cinnamon maple cream topping. Perfect for any pie! (Betty Crocker) 

Butternut squash pie. I'm into it. (House of Yumm)

For the vegans out there: Aquafaba lemon meringue pie! (CakeSpy)

The secret ingredient that will make your next pumpkin pie incredible. (CakeSpy)

Chocolate pecan bourbon pie. Yes. (Blue Bowl Recipes) 

Cheeseburger biscuit pie. This def doesn't fit in with the others but I came across it and can't get it out of my mind. (Pillsbury)

Book of the week: A Year of Pies. This book came out a few years ago but it's necessary today! It features a year's worth of seasonal pie inspiration. Full disclosure: I have a recipe in the book! :-)

FUN OF THE WEEK: Take this unicorn quiz I designed!  

Loading What Kind of Unicorn Are You?

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Olive oil pistachio tuiles. (Colavita)

Golden Milk Pistachio cake. I need it. (The Baking Skillet)

Pistachio cupcakes with orange mascarpone frosting. WHOA. (Wild Wild Whisk)

Pistachio pudding parfaits. Sweet! (Taste of Home)

Pistachio croissants. (Cherry on My Sundae)

Chai spiced vegan shortbread with chocolate and salted pistachios. Looks awesome. (My Vibrant Kitchen)

Elderflower and pistachio muffins with lemon curd. Whoa! (Beach House Kitchen)

Espresso gelées with candied pistachios. Pinkies ouuuuut! (Food and Wine)

Cardamom pistachio baklava. Need this so baaaaad. (Foodie With Family) 

Butter cake with pistachio. Perfect. (Purple Cinnamon) 

Pistachio and passion fruit entremets. Beautiful. (Cooking Me Softly)

Lemon and pistachio cannoli. I'm down. (Jamie Oliver)

Pistachio cream doughnuts. And I DIE. (out of pleasure) (Certified Pastry Aficionado)

Mango kulfi popsicles (made with sweetened condensed milk) and garnished with pistachios. Whoa! (Feed Your Temptations)

Pistachio chocolate chip cookies. Simply brilliant. (Where Do You Get Your Protein)

Book of the week: The Cupcake Coloring Book. Did you know that you can win a copy for you AND a friend this week on my Facebook page? Check it out here. 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Halloween, duh.

Halloween Jell-o Jigglers. Yeah! (CakeSpy for Serious Eats)

Spooky mummy pizza. You have to warm up for dessert somehow! (Marla Meridith)

Zombie brain brownie bites. Love! (Sugar Hero)

Jack-o-lantern pumpkin pies. Cute! (Domestic Gothess)

Halloween ice cream treats. I like this idea! (Taste of Home)

Behold, the "Witch's heart" Halloween cocktail! (The Flavor Bender)

Chocolate date witch hat cupcakes. So cute! (Blooming Bites Photography)

Halloween monster whoopie pies. I can't stand it! Too cute! (Baking Bites)

Monster mash halloween brownies. VIBRANT! (Buy This Cook That)

Candy corn cheesecake. So clever! (Wilton)

Halloween spider treats. Love this! (One Little Project)

Absolutely adorable Halloween decorated pretzels. (Butter With a Side of Bread)

Mini pumpkin spice latte bundt cakes. Too cute also! (Domestically Blissful)

Not dessert, but I love the idea: pizza skulls. (Plain Chicken)

Book of the week: The Candy Corn Cookbook. I don't own it yet, but I am delighted that it exists! Maybe we should all buy it before next Halloween!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Halloween things on sticks.

Pumpkin oreo pops. Cute! (Suburban Simplicity)

Halloween pumpkin spice Rice Krispie treats on sticks. (Just a Little Creativity)

Halloween marshmallow pops. Insanely easy! (My Baking Addiction)

Easy Halloween cookie pops. Sweet! (Love From The Oven)

Creepy corn dog centipedes. haha! (Hungry Happenings)

Candy corn popsicles. Love it! (Real Simple)

Pumpkin pie pops. Gosh these are cute. (The Domestic Rebel)

A cool roundup of fall-themed cake pops. (Pint Sized Baker)

Creepy cupcakes with attached cake pops inspired by the movie "IT". (City Cupcakes)

Fudge brownie pops.  Bet these would be great with Halloween candy! (The Baker Mama)

Frankenstein pudding pops. Love it! (Design Eat Repeat)

Halloween Push-up pops. (Betty Crocker)

Halloween emoji cupcake dessert. CUUUTE! (Spot of Tea Designs) 

Book of the week: On a Stick! This inventive book features food on a stick (not just Halloween foods). Authored by the incredible Matt Armendariz, who is also a skilled photographer, this book is a flavor and visual feast. 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Odd mix, but these links are about figs...and a couple about creating art.

Figs

A primer on using fresh figs in cooking and baking. (Craftsy)

Fudgy fig roll cake. Sounds incredible! (BBC Good Food)

Upside-down fig cake. (Genius Kitchen)

A caramelized fruit tart made with fig and pistachio. WHOA. (The Original Dish)

Savory, but I had to include: roasted brussels sprouts with figs. Two of my favorite foods in one dish! (Only Gluten Free Recipes)

Also savory: fig pizza. Don't knock it til you've tried it (then you'll never knock it). (Baking Steel)

A truly gorgeous fruit tart. (Nathalie Bakes)

Apple fig polenta torte. It's elegant, and the fruit makes it ok for breakfast, I think. (All That Jas)

Creating

How to defeat your inner (bully) editor. Some good tips here. (PR News Wire)

The five stages of creating art. (Craftsy)

Why you should try a new craft! (Craftsy)

How to become a better artist in 30 days. (Craftsy)

Book of the week: Baking With Steel. I co-wrote this brilliant book, which drops in December! Check it out: it includes the delectable fig pizza pictured top! 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Pumpkin pie bites. They look yum to me! (Pumpkin n Spice)

Pumpkin spice almond butter cups. Nomsies. (Eat Spin Run Repeat)

Pumpkin roulade. Roll with it! (CakeSpy archives) 

These pumpkin biscuits sound great! (Taste of Home)

The secret ingredient to make your next pumpkin pie amazing. (CakeSpy archives)

Pumpkin caramel chocolate cups. YUM! (Catching Seeds)

Best-ever pumpkin pie with sweetened condensed milk. (CakeSpy archives)

Pumpkin pie with candied pecans. Whoa! (The Verdigris)

Cinnamon sugar pumpkin bread. That crispy top! (Averie Cooks)

An epic and beautiful marbled pumpkin cake. (Also the Crumbs Please)

and a few savories...

YOU GUYS. PUMPKIN PIZZA CRUST. (The Spiffy Cookie)

Savory pumpkin ravioli. Noms. (King Arthur Flour)

Savory pumpkin scones with gruyere and sage. Whoa! (Food and Wine)

Book of the week: Cooking with Pumpkin: Recipes that Go Beyond the Pie by Averie Sunshine. You may know Averie from her inspiring blog, Averie Cooks. With recipes both sweet and savory (pumpkin mac and cheese omg), this book is an incredible resource for pumpkin lovers!

NEWS of the week: The Pillsbury Bake-Off is BACK! After a hiatus, America's largest amateur baking competition is making its return. Are you a home baker who feels like winning big money? Enter here!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Letters n numbers.

Tele-graham crackers. Pictured above. (CakeSpy archives)

Toffee alphabet. My recent Most Favorite Thing. (Club Crafted)

A primer on using candy lettering on cakes. (Craftsy)

Also on Craftsy: a whole class on lettering and monograms for cakes! Wow. (Craftsy)

A LOVING surprise-inside cake. (Hungry Happenings)

Birthday number shaped rice krispies treats. Love this idea, want to make them! (Beau-Coup)

Alphabet donuts. (The Pink Wings)

EASY Diy conversation hearts. Why wait for Valentine's day? (Craftsy)

Baked letter churros. (Studio DIY)

Chocolate chip roll-out letter cookies. (Oh Happy Day)

Dutch letters! OK, technically it's just one letter. ;-) (Midwest Living)

How to bake and ice a number cake. (She Who Bakes)

Birthday cupcakes with chocolate numbers. Oldie but goodie. (Cupcake Project)

Alarmingly adorable lettered cookies in these care packages. (Bake at 350)

M&M number cake. (17 Apart)

Book of the week: Do Your ABCs Little Brown Bear. A children's book illustrated by my amazing MOM! Since it's numbers I say it fits here :-) 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Coco-nutz! 

Chocolate coconut cups. I think they're healthy but mostly I think they look delicious! (Big Man's World)

Bounty coconut bliss balls. Yum! (Rainbow in My Kitchen)

Lime in the coconut cookie fudge. YUMMMMZ. (Pillsbury Bake-Off Archives)

Two bite coconut cream pies. Delicious and adorable. (Dessert for Two)

Coconut milk hot chocolate. Worth your time! (CakeSpy)

Mango coconut energy bites. Yum-worthy combo. (Desserts by Juliette)

Homemade sno-balls! ! ! ! ! ! (Coconut & Lime)

4 ingredient coconut macaroon bars. Yes please. (The Domestic Rebel)

These almond tahini cookies are made with coconut flour! (Hein Stirred)

Triple peanut butter coconut cream pie. Pictured top. (Peanut Butter and Company)

Pineapple cupcakes with toasted coconut. Alarmingly adorable toppers. (SugarHero)

Mandel bread with cocoa nibs. Not coco-nut but still good! Yum! (The Finer Cookie)

These coconut almond balls are off the hook! (Sweet and Savory by Shinee)

Book of the week: Actually, I want your help here. I want to buy a book about baking with coconut flour. I came across this one which looks good: The Healthy Coconut Flour Cookbook - but is there another one you suggest, dear readers?

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links

Foods that look like other foods. (whoooooa)

Banana sundae ice cream cupcakes. Cute! (Baking Bites)

Pasta doughnuts. (Donal Skehan)

These are not actually bagels. (CakeSpy)

Burger macarons! (Dul Licious)

Milk and cookie shot glasses. (Pop Sugar) 

Hot dog cookies! (CakeSpy for Serious Eats)

Apple pie tacos! Pictured top. (Craftsy)

How to make a realistic porterhouse steak...out of cake. (Instructables)

Meat loaf that looks like cake. Yup. (Taste of Home)

Cookies that look like pizza. STOP IT TOO CUTE! (Sweet Sugar Belle)

Pie fries! (CakeSpy archives)

Rice krispies treat chicken wings. Really cute actually! (Party Pinching)

Ice cream cone cupcakes. A classic! (Like Mother Like Daughter)

Object of the week: Adult beanbag pizza chair. Obviously I need this. You too.