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Leite's Culinaria

January Ends in Flakes and Joy

Published 3 days ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader,

January always feels longer than it has any right to be. It starts with fireworks and resolutions and ends with me clutching a mug of something hot, wondering why my socks are never fully dry. But here we are—almost through it—and that deserves a little celebration.
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In my family, the end of a hard month always called for something sweet. My Vovó would bake without announcement, like it was an instinctive act of optimism. No declarations, no “we survived” speeches—just a table dusted with flour and the quiet comfort of pastry cooling on a rack.
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Now, I do the same. By the last weekend of January, I want warmth that smells like butter and vanilla, joy that flakes, and proof that I can still coax something beautiful out of the oven (and this weather). It’s not about dessert—it’s about reward. About sweetness as punctuation.
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So yes, make the cake, the tart, the thing that gets powdered sugar everywhere. You’ve earned it.

How to Bake January Into Submission

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  • Don’t rush the butter. Cold butter equals flaky joy. Warm butter equals regret.
  • Add zest—literally. A little citrus turns “winter baking” into “minor mood improvement.”
  • Glaze like you mean it. A drizzle is polite. A pour is celebration.
  • Bake extra. Share with whoever made your January survivable. (Even if that person was you.)
  • Clean later. The powdered sugar can wait. The satisfaction cannot..

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WHAT'S INSIDE...

​David Lebovitz's Best Brownies​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.79 from 71 votes

I’ve made a lot of brownies in my life, and these really are the best.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Homemade Twinkies​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 from 30 votes

These homemade Twinkies rival the real deal from Hostess with their fluffy cream filling and sponge cake. Just like the ones from your childhood. But better.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Applesauce Bread​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.91 from 130 votes

This applesauce bread with cinnamon is an easy quick bread that's only subtly sweet yet contains all the flavors of fall. It's ready with just 10 minutes of effort and a little patience while it bakes. Perfect for a last-moment sugar fix or slip a slice (or two) in the kids' lunch box.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.89 from 35 votes

This eggless chocolate chip cookie dough tastes just like Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough except it's specifically made without eggs. But it boasts exactly the same flavor and mouthfeel as the real deal. Safe for children and anyone else a little leery of raw eggs.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Hershey's Chocolate Cake Redux​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.94 from 45 votes

This Hershey's chocolate cake recipe with frosting is an old-fashioned classic American dessert that will never, ever disappoint. Simple and simply the best.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 from 59 votes

This chocolate sour cream Bundt cake is quick and easy to make but complex as hell in taste. And if the cake weren't enough, on top is a sinful chocolate glazzle--that's a glaze that's drizzled.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Banana Bread By Cook's Illustrated​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.89 from 93 votes

This banana bread from Cook's Illustrated includes yogurt and walnuts for a scrumptiously moist, easy, classic, nutty quick bread. We consider it the best we've ever had.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​New York Times' Chocolate Chip Cookies​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.87 from 142 votes

Say hello to the recipe that started an Internet craze and made bakers rethink how to make cookies. This originally appeared in an article I wrote for the New York Times on July 9, 2008. What makes them so damn special is the dough is refrigerated for 36 hours for a more complex flavor and greater variation in texture. Sea salt is the finishing touch.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Pistachio Shortbread Cookie​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.94 from 31 votes

These pistachio shortbread cookies are tender and crumbly like shortbread, yet subtly flavored and sweet like cookies. So which are they? Who cares when they taste this lovely!
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Chocolate Cake With Salted Caramel Frosting​

This stunning dessert is made with two layers of rich chocolate cake that's filled with salty-sweet caramel buttercream frosting.
​☞ ​Try this recipe​

Leite's Culinaria

David Leite

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