Comforting Baking Projects That Deserve a Pat on the Back

Whether it’s your first time baking anything from scratch or you’ve been at it for years, there’s nothing more satisfying than making a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, it’s the perfect companion for your afternoon cup of tea or coffee. For more ways to indulge your inner chocoholic, check out Anna Olson’s chocolate recipes for every skill level.

Master your mirror glaze technique by following this six-step process that will take your cakes to dreamy new heights. As long as you monitor your temperatures with a candy thermometer, you should be able to create a smooth, colourful coating for your confection.

Dust off your stand mixer, piping bags and decorating tips and make a batch of sweet cream puffs infused with the flavours of coffee and vanilla. Once you’ve baked the pastry shells, you can get the kids to add the cream fillings.

These delightful bars have a burst of spring in every bite. Tart lemon cheese filling is added to a baked graham cookie base, and then finished with sweet blueberries. Don’t be surprised if your family asks you to make these again and again.

Molly makes this classic braided egg bread with a chopped onion and garlic filling for a savoury surprise in every bite. Enjoy a toasted, buttered slice on its own, or use it for a gourmet grilled cheese.

Skip the packaged pastries and bake this classic Canadian treat at home with some help from Anna Olson’s easy-to-follow recipe. Hand roll your own pastry, then add the sticky-sweet filling along with pecans, walnuts or raisins. Here are more crave-worthy Canadian butter tart recipes.

Instead of a coffee cake, take a bit of extra time and bake this sweet, braided bread filled with chopped walnuts, raisins and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. Once it comes out of the oven, drizzle the top with an orange-infused glaze.

There are lemon squares, and then there are Anna Olson’s lemon squares, topped with a fluffy, marshmallowy meringue. When you’re craving something sweet but don’t want an entire slice of pie, these are the perfect little bite. Love all things citrus? Bring more sunshine into your kitchen with these luscious lemon desserts.

In this impressive dessert, a salted honey custard is sandwiched between layers of delicate orange butter cake, then finished with a honey buttercream. It isn’t necessarily difficult to make, but it takes a bit of time to get through each step. Plus, there’s something meditative about piping each pretty coloured petal.

Jalousie is a French strudel-style dessert made with flaky puff pastry. In this recipe, Anna makes a filling with thinly sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and bits of toffee. Serve warm or at room temperature, then finish it with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream.

There is nothing better than biting into a buttery, flaky croissant, whether you prefer a sweet chocolate or almond filling, or a savoury cheese crescent. Start with Anna’s classic croissant dough, and bake one or all three of these flavours to enjoy throughout the week.

Soda breads rely on baking soda instead of yeast, making them an easy and more practical way to whip up a homemade loaf whenever the urge strikes. Ina Garten adds orange zest and dried currants to her recipe, so you can enjoy a slice for breakfast or in the afternoon when you’re craving something comforting.