People choose to switch to a vegan diet for a handful of reasons, which include protecting the environment and enjoying a healthier lifestyle. Whether you’ve been a vegan for 10 years or are considering a vegan-leaning diet as a future possibility…
Here are 10 of America’s most vegan-friendly cities worth visiting:
Asheville, N.C.
Asheville’s claims to fame include its lively music scene and views of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but its vegan-friendly options make it unique. The Asheville Vegan Society, hosted by Meetup, holds potlucks and dinners out, as well as encouraging sharing vegan recipes and meeting like-minded people. Plantis an all-vegan restaurant that features black pepper and herb tofu on the menu. Laughing Seed Café serves locally sourced vegan and vegetarian food.
Austin
The selection of vegan food trucks in Austin is impressive according to PETA. From vegan food at the Vegan Yacht to awe-inspiring guacamole variations at Guac N Roll, Austin has plenty of options. Find your sweet fix at Sweet Ritual, a vegan ice cream shop with varying daily flavors, shakes, and even a Glitterbeast sundae, made with salted caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, and e edible glitter.
Boulder
Boulder is home to a variety of vegan eateries, including Native Foods Café, which uses tempeh, seitan, and native chicken (made from free-range soy, wheat, and pea protein) for plant-based protein options. These are used to replace meat products in menu items like the Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, nachos, and bacon and avocado club sandwich. Another local hotspot is Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, which has options like vegan French toast and a vegan crab cake sandwich.
Las Vegas
Sin City is home to Go Raw Café & Juice Bar, a raw cuisine restaurant that includes enchiladas, “rawburgers,” desserts, and fresh juices on its menu. Simply Pure, opened by raw food chef Stacey Dougan, offers raw and cooked vegan meals, such as zucchini pasta, Thai basil spring rolls, and vegan lasagna.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is home to a host of veganrestaurants, one of which is Café Gratitude, where servers ask you what you’re thankful for each time you dine there. Try ordering the “I Am Grateful” for lunch – it’s a bowl of quinoa, kale, black beans, and garlic-tahini sauce. For an upscale dinner out, check out Crossroads Kitchen – owner-chef Tal Ronnen has cooked for Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. Still not satisfied? The city’s Vegan Oktoberfestclaims the title of world’s only traditional Oktoberfest celebration with both vegan food and beer.
New York City
The Big Apple has restaurant options for almost every type of diet, and many of them, at that. Try out Angelica Kitchen, an East Village vegan mecca where Dragon Bowls (made with steamed veggies, rice, beans, and tofu) are popular. For mock meats, head to Blossom in Chelsea, the Upper West Side, and Greenwich Village, where popular choices include pan-seared cutlets of seitan.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine, and it probably has the most vegan options. Silly’s Restaurant offers a full vegan menu including menu items like the Tempeh of Doom Dinner, as well as vegan chocolate cake and vegan milkshakes. Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro, a hotspot for vegetarians and vegans alike, specializes in pan-Asian vegetarian fare and even serves noodles with vegan duck.
Portland, Ore
Portland is legendary when it comes to vegan venues. Stay the night in the Cherokee Rose Inn, an all-vegan bed and breakfast where your morning meal might incorporate tofu scramble and vegan cheese grits or pancakes with local blueberries. According to PETA, the city is also home to America’s only all-vegan strip mall, which includes a vegan clothing company, bakery, and grocery store. Voodoo Doughnut offers vegan doughnuts, like fruit cakes topped with maple frosting or toasted coconut.
San Francisco
Vegan-friendly restaurants in San Francisco include Greens Restaurant, which has a bay view and an all-vegetarian menu including fresh spring rolls and warm cauliflower salad. Also, make sure you head over to Golden Era, a vegan restaurant featuring entrée options like sautéed basil eggplant and mushroom.
Seattle
The number of vegan restaurants inSeattle is growing, and options include the Wayward Vegan Café, where the breakfast Mexi Biscuit is made with Mexican-spiced tofu and a fried chorizo patty. Chaco Canyon Organic Caféalso has a variety of vegan options, like a quinoa, kale, and yam bowl.
Besides celebrating with friends and family by eating delicious food all day long and binge watching football, leftovers is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving, but only when done right. So to help, we gathered the best thanksgiving leftover recipes we could find that will be sure to please everyone!
Thanksgiving Croquettes
Recipe by Serena Cosmo from the cooking blog Rustic Plate
These puppies offer the pillowy comfort of mashed potatoes, the savoriness of ground roasted turkey meat and the satisfying crunch of perfectly pan-toasted panko breakcrumbs. And the filling, which consists of cranberry sauce and a tiny piece of French triple cream cheese, adds the slightest hint of tartness and creaminess to boot. Get the recipe here.
Once the big meal is over, even after the late-night refrigerator raid (you sneak in and pick at the turkey in the refrigerator too, right?!), we’ll always have more than enough leftover turkey for Turkey Gumbo. It’s a lighter, milder version of gumbo than what you may be used to, a little more broth-y and no mouth-burning cayenne pepper or hot sauce, but feel free to douse your version with as much hot chili pepper as you like! Get the recipe here.
For those who love turkey on Thanksgiving, but then need to take a little break from it for a while, this is the perfect recipe! Plus, it’s a great dish to save in the freezer for later. Tossing the turkey breast in olive oil keeps it tender and moist, and the shallot, lemon zest, parsley, and vermouth give the final pie a little extra sparkle. Get the recipe here.
Jam those leftovers (meat, veggies, stuffing) into a bowl of carbs (leftover rolls work great) and chow down the day after Thanksgiving with this recipe. They’re customizable, so just toss whatever you’ve got left right on in! Get the recipe here.
Still got mounds of mashed sweet potatoes? Too many spoonfuls of cranberry sauce? Try this recipe for a sweet and easy breakfast-take on Thanksgiving flavors. To make sure the pancakes are fluffy, use sweet potatoes that were whipped for the big meal and up the ‘lifters’ in the recipe. Add more egg and baking powder than a normal pancake recipe…to keep them in the fluffy category. Get the recipe here.
Sure, you could make a parfait with apples or pears, but whether or not we’ll admit it, we all want pumpkin as much as possible this time of year. And post-thanksgiving, when leftovers are plentiful, is the perfect time to get your fix. This parfait made with leftover pumpkin pie and yogurt has it all: pumpkin (obviously), cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup! Get the recipe here.
Some of these are old, some are new, some are pricey, and some cheap, but all of them are worth trying at least once. They are as diverse as it gets- from the Vietnamese banh me and lobster roll to a Cubano and all-American prime rib creation- and they best represent the sandwich culture in Denver. Dig in.
The traditional Vietnamese sandwich shop and bakery is as no frills as it gets. Order at the counter and, make no mistake, you won’t go wrong with any of the choices for your banh mi sandwich. A must try is the Korean barbecue.
A twist on a classic egg salad sandwich, this version gets a white truffle flavor boost. A crisp romaine lettuce accompanies the rich salad, all served between two slices of olive oil toasted white bread.
If you crave a lobster roll in Denver, Steuben’s has you covered. At a peppered $23 a pop, this traditional lobster roll is made on buttery baked bread filled with a mound of lobster chunks.
Now a classic, this small shop in Curtis Park made its mark. The deli’s signature sandwich is made on freshly baked ciabatta bread with corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, all dressed in housemade thousand island.
The Highland deli serves this meaty creation that includes prosciutto, coppa, ham, burrata, arugula, tomato red wine, and vinaigrette on a grinder roll. 10.00 FULL / 19.00 DOUBLE
The sandwich is made on ultra crunchy bread and additions like the provolone, hot peppers, horseradish sauce make it the go-to for many sandwich lovers. Available at all Snarf’s locations.
891 14th St. Unit 160, Denver, CO 80202. Photo Credit: Serious Eats
A sandwich map would lack a little something without a tuna item and the one at Vert Kitchen won the hearts of Denver. The albacore with a healthy squeeze of lemon, chervil, cucumber, and Greek yogurt served on a crusty baguette with the day salad rocks.
There are several attractive sandiches at this eatery in North Denver but the Cuban Mix is a must. It combines Cuban roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, onions, and mustard.
2651 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211. Photo Credit: Peach Melba Toast
Cedar plank salmon is garnished with cucumbers, pickled red onions, arugula, dill yogurt spread, and lemon vinaigrette, and served on a housemade roll.
Stacked high with three deli meats including Capicolla and topped with spicy giardiniera, this well-balanced sandwich will make you coming back for more.
Homer Simpson isn’t exactly known for sage thinking, but he did create one important mantra: “Mmm donuts.” Clearly he knew something we didn’t, because 23 years after the insatiable patriarch first uttered his signature line, everyone is outright obsessed with donuts.
A new artisanal shop with locally sourced jellies and Nutella bacon glazes seems to open every week now, and with all that new real estate, it can be hard to determine what’s really worth it. But it’s not impossible! That is why we determined the best donut destination in every state in America just for you.
Cowarts
Don’t expect to find a s’mores donut or a maple bacon cruller at Loyless — this old-school shop is all about simple, hand-made, hand-iced classics. These basics sell out at the crack of dawn, though, so make sure to show up by 7am sharp.
Anchorage
Donuts were never exactly the purview of dinosaurs, but Dino’s sticky treats and espresso are sold under the banner of a green cartoon Brontosaurus who apparently loves eating jelly-filled pastries a whole lot more than prehistoric plants. Most of the donuts, and the “dino bones” are only $1.30 a pop, which is damn good price in the current fancy donut market.
Tucson
Some brother and sister combos are fraught with agitation. Others, like Sophy and Keng Se, can move beyond sibling rivalry and come together to launch delicious donut shops in Tucson. Their Young Donuts opened just four years back, but it’s already built quite a name for itself, even with almost no online presence. Maybe it’s because they strategically opened next to a children’s dentist office to hook their clients young, and holy shit… that might be where the name comes from.
North Little Rock
If practice makes perfect, Mark is pretty much a demigod at this point. This unassuming spot has been rolling dough since 1978 for hungry Arkansans. Little has changed, as you can see from the faded sign out front, but when you’re making cream-filled and coconut-coated donuts that are this spot-on, you don’t need to flip the script.
San Diego
Donut Bar has attracted rabid press attention pretty much since it opened, and a quick scan through its Instagram explains why. Monte Cristo donuts! Crème brûlée donuts! Whole Snickers bar donuts! If you dream it, this place probably already did it, like, six months ago. And yes, of course there’s actual booze in its bourbon maple creations. It’s a bar.
Denver
Alright, get your lazy McConaughey impression over with now. You done? Good, because there’s a lot more to this Denver shop than movie puns. Like donuts with Mediterranean sea salt caramel glaze and cups of joe from local favorite Pablo’s Coffee. (Specifically, the “Danger Monkey” kind.)
Woodbury
Alright, fine: Dottie’s Diner isn’t technically a “donut shop.” It’s a confirmed greasy spoon, but we had to make an exception here because the donuts here are too fantastic to deny. The fresh-daily roster includes plain, powdered, cinnamon, jelly, or chocolate-dipped. Don’t order breakfast without them.
Wilmington
Three generations have passed through Sweeney’s doors, and all of them knew how to roll a damn fine donut. Sweeney’s is perpetually picking up local awards for its treats, which tend to err on the classics side, but occasionally veer into trendy territory. (Yes, there are cronuts.)
Pembroke Pines
Strip mall food is definitely questionable, but you’re in good hands at this Pembroke Pines shop. Mojo Donuts opens every day at 6am and closes when the last donut is sold, so make sure to claim your Key lime pie or s’mores early, lest the hungry hordes beat you to it.
Decatur
Like most revolutionaries, the bakers here have bold ideas. Donuts need to be one contained circle of dough? Screw that, they cut one open, stuffed it with peaches, and called it a slider. Pistachios are uninspired? Well, they sprinkled some on orange icing and it’s transcendent. If the Bolsheviks were peddling stuff like this, we’d all be carrying sickles.
Honolulu
You don’t meet many “Leonards” nowadays, but this particular one is doing his best to associate the name with tasty, sugar-filled treats. The goods here are Portuguese-style malasadas, which means they have no center holes. But that just gives you more fried dough (and custard and cinnamon sugar) to tear through, so well done, Lenny.
Boise
Guru Donuts co-owners Kevin and Angel Moran are to be admired — and it’s not just because they make excellent pastries. The Morans weren’t serious bakers until they realized Boise needed a gourmet donut shop, and since no one else stepped up, they asked a neighbor to teach them the delicate art of frying dough. Bless their can-do spirit, and bless that anonymous neighbor, who’s indirectly responsible for creations such as the Charlie Brown, a pumpkin donut with a root beer glaze.
Chicago
Some like their vaults stuffed with cash, but we’ve always preferred ours to be piled high with fried dough confectioneries. At this Windy City institution, the staff is happy to ring up a triple chocolate or lemon poppy seed for you on the old-timey cash register, so long as they’re not sold out. If they are, try your luck with its new food truck/pastry van.
Louisville
Unseasoned donut eaters might get confused when you tell them the long johns at Nord’s are incredible, but pros know you’re not eating a cozy undergarment — you’re eating a super-sized donut. And the ones at here come with bacon on top.
New Orleans
Some people will tell you to get a beignet at Café du Monde and consider their work done. But we don’t feel comfortable basing a pick solely on beignets. Yes, it’s deep-fried dough, but it’s not technically a donut. For something more traditional, head to DISTRICT. The two-year-old shop offers donuts “simple,” “fancy,” or “extra fancy,” but the Dough-La-Mode with Creole Creamery ice cream in the middle is the move you want to make.
Portland
Portland, ME, has a similar spirit to Portland, OR, so of course one of the city’s most beloved donuts shops insists on making its pastries out of local potatoes. This isn’t some hip nonsense, though. Holy Donut’s spudnuts are just as delicious as the flour-based treats you know — arguably more so when they add that coffee brandy icing.
Ocean City
Fries and ice cream tend to hog the boardwalk cuisine spotlight, but anyone who’s frequented Ocean City knows The Fractured Prune is the real star. The marshmallow-, mocha-, and honey-glazed pastries are the kind of thing you will fight an enterprising seagull over, and lucky for America, the mini-chain is expanding to new coastlines.
Somerville
For those raised on Dunkin’ Donuts, the prices at Union Square Donuts might seem steep. But when $3 is all that stands between you and a Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch or “FluffaNutta” (OK, that one’s $3.50) pastry, you swallow the deluxe cost. Along with a mouthful of peanut butter pastry cream.
Kalamazoo
This Michigan mill has a bountiful selection, but its candy bar series is probably the most impressive. The Reese’s Donut, Snickers, and Mounds of Coconut are all based on deconstructed and remade versions of your favorite treats and are rebuilt into a new pastry. The final products are, like, three times bigger than the original candies, so make sure to pay your compliments to the chef. And schedule a dental cleaning immediately thereafter.
Minneapolis
In case you were wondering, the glam dolls in question are co-owners Teresa Fox and Arwyn Birch. These ladies teamed up to create a vintage-inspired shop with one seriously inventive menu. Everything is made from scratch — and the dairy is locally sourced from the Hope Creamery — so you know they aren’t messing around. Another sign they’re serious? The peanut butter and Sriracha Chart Topper.
Ocean Springs
Like its pal over in Portland, Tato-Nut Cafe is mighty proud of its potato dough. So much so that it bills itself as home of “the only real donut.” The blueberry cake variety is the attraction here, but the Persian (a sort-of glazed cinnamon bun) is also pretty popular.
Bozeman
On the one hand, Granny’s Gourmet Donuts is a filthy liar. It’s run by Robert McWilliams who, last we checked, does not answer to Nana. But on the other hand, it’s got several donuts with fresh fruit on the inside and out, plus an orange cream one to complement the Boston cream. So we’ll let the transgression slide. Just this once, Bob.
Lincoln
Nate and Lucas Gingery started their careers as male models in New York, but the brothers soon decided male modeling was kind of the worst, because it put a serious cramp on their donut fixation. So they did a grand tour of NYC’s pastry scene before they moved back home to Lincoln to start The Doughnut Hole. Originally just a farmers market stand, the spot now has its own brick-and-mortar location to house so, so many churro donut holes. Pay close attention to the Facebook page on Friday, when the brothers Gingery post weekly giveaways.
Las Vegas
It takes a certain amount of flash to get noticed in Vegas, and the massively popular Pink Box Doughnuts has it in spades. (See what we did there??) Donuts topped with Cocoa Pebbles or a chipotle caramel glaze exist right alongside the traditional picks, which are pretty spectacular on their own. Also, because this is Vegas, you can obviously order a Fat Elvis, a peanut butter-filled pastry topped with chocolate and a banana slice.
Lebanon
Life-long Lebanon residents will wistfully tell you about skipping out of Muriel’s as a kid with a greasy paper bag full of hot donuts. It’s such an integral part of the city, there were practically riots when Muriel and Francis Malville closed the shop temporarily in 2007 for health reasons. That might sound extreme, but one bite of a Muriel’s jelly stick (that’s a jam-filled cruller) and you’ll understand. The mayor certainly does — the place is now an officially recognized historic landmark.
Toms River
Pro tip to prospective business owners: if you can’t come up with a name, consult the children. When Dominic Livolsi opened Uncle Dood’s two years back, he used the nickname his nephew gave him to sell the place. From the looks of it, his plan worked, although we do think his wild donut creations had a little something to do with his success. Those include the Nut Tellin’ Ya (Nutella icing and cinnamon sugar), Bed Rockin’ (vanilla frosting and Fruity Pebbles), and Vermont Swine (maple icing and bacon bits). Clearly, this dude is just good at naming things across the board.
Santa Fe
Finding a dark chocolate-glazed donut is a non-issue. Maple bacon? Also a cinch. But Whoo’s has both those things on the same donut plus chili brown sugar. There’s no way you’ll find anything like that outside of Santa Fe.
Brooklyn and New York
You know you’re doing something right when The New Yorker, which is typically more concerned with publishing jokes Frasier would love than anything about donuts, devotes an entire feature to your shop. Fany Gerson opened in Bed-Stuy five years ago and Dough utterly exploded. Now, it’s got three additional Manhattan locations and a Smorgasburg residency. It’s impossible to go wrong with any of its creative flavors (oh hey, chocolate with Earl Grey), but if you ever stumble across an available blood orange, get it immediately.
Durham
It’s frankly shocking Wes Anderson hasn’t made a movie about Monuts Donuts yet, considering it started out as a tricycle-operated stand in a farmers market. The current chalkboard boasts autumn-friendly selections like Apple Cider and Orange Velvet (that’s pumpkin and cream cheese), plus beer nerd-friendly flavors like Double Chocolate Stout. Which you can drink with real beer, since Monuts has its own beer and wine menu.
Fargo
Remember those “dirt” pudding cups with gummy worms from when you were a kid? Sandy’s has a Dirt and Worms donut to make your feel young again. But if you’d rather not eat gummy worms before noon, and want something, you know, more reasonable, there are still plenty of glazed and marble cake options at your disposal.
Centerville
Two words: pretzel donuts. A few more: they’re the most famous item at Bill’s, they’re hand-twisted, and you need to get your hands on one, pronto.
Oklahoma City
Don’t worry, the pastries at this OKC shop are anything but frigid. Polar Donuts serves buttery, pipping-hot spudnuts every day starting at 5am. The place is run by Younts Waters, an Air Force vet who served in the Gulf War before pooling his life savings to open his own donut haven, which now boasts trademarked originals like Strong Pimp Hands (a sort-of bear claw with apple-cinnamon filling) and Camel Toes (two fused donut squares with cherry filling).
Portland
Plenty of people will still insist that Voodoo is the Portland place for donuts. Those people have never been to Blue Star, whose Facebook cover image alone is enough to make you a lifetime convert.
Philadelphia
Federal Donuts makes wonderful coffee, donuts, and chicken, but only one of those things made the name. There are several reasons for that: the grapefruit brulee, lemon ricotta, and strawberry lavender donuts, to name a few, but we also appreciate the delicious ode to Dale Cooper the place mounted last year.
North Kingstown
Before we sell you on how excellent Allie’s is, we must issue a disclaimer: the shop is currently closed while it undergoes state-mandated construction. There’s no official reopening date yet, but Allie’s is hoping to be back in business by Halloween. Now that we’re sure you won’t go pounding on the windows just yet, here’s why you should once things are in order. Allie’s takes its sprinkle game seriously, as you can see in this blindingly pink image above. If you believe the hype, the best Boston cream donut here is the best you’ll ever eat in your life. Plus, there’s beer here.
Charleston
After graduating from the Culinary Institute of Charleston, Allison Smith could’ve taken her career a number of different ways. Ultimately, she decided to open this donut shop, and the world is better for it. Smith has managed to distill already-popular foods like lemon meringue pie, French toast, PB&J, and tiramisu into fried-dough form — and she’s also not afraid to get a little edgy with curried cocoa and Chinese 5 Spice.
Rapid City
The family-owned bakery has been going strong for 20 years and with any luck, it’s got another 20+ left in the tank. After all, the people of Rapid City need their Oreo donuts.
Nashville
Nashville locals have fallen so hard and fast for Fox’s, they’ve even taken engagement photo shoots there. And although both parties in that couple were human, you might be inclined to straight-up propose marriage to a baked good once you’ve eaten a Fox’s apple fritter. Or Simpsons donut. Or hazelnut. Or…
Austin
Gourdough’s takes the concept of savory donuts to dizzying levels. Of course there’s this bacon-topped business (the Flying Pig), but for something truly different, try one of the “donut entrees” like the Mother Clucker, an outrageous combination of fried chicken, honey butter, and freshly fried dough.
Salt Lake City
You can’t eat just one of these donuts. Maybe one cinnamon crumb, followed with one strawberry frosted, and then one old-fashioned to balance it all out. You could get a coffee for dipping, but the chocolate milk is a far superior option.
Manchester Center
The quaint, old-school vibes (the letters out front are even mismatched) might have something to do with how far and wide this name has spread, but we have a sneaking suspicion it’s the cookies and cream cake donuts that keep luring people into Manchester.
Richmond
The upcoming opening of Sugar Shack’s sixth location in Corona Beach, FL, is exciting news for the many fans who’ve been admiring the VA chainlet from afar, so as it expands along the East Coast, let’s take a moment to appreciate its ample talents: Sugar Shack understands that crushed candy bars, sea salt, and shredded coconut all have their places atop the right donut, and also knows how to mark an occasion with themed donuts — a Tequila Sunrise for Cinco de Mayo and a Cadbury Egg for Easter. Between this and Shake Shack, we’re starting to think we should get all our food from shoddily-built homes!!
Seattle
Wander into the Pike Place Market anytime between 8am and 5pm, find Daily Dozen Doughnut Co., and plop yourself in front of its Donut Robot, Mark II. (No really, he has a name.) Mark II churns out freshly formed dough, which then hits a bunch of hot oil, and travels on through the conveyor belt to a multi-tiered donut tree. The whole process is more soothing than a damn babbling brook.
Parkersburg
JR’s Donut Castle boasts 34 different types of donuts, but devoted customers are quick to recommend the Maple Cream Fill. Also, while you’re there, you might as well get a pepperoni roll, because people are equally crazy over those meat treats.
Appleton East, Appleton West, and Menasha
Originally started in Frank and Marie Manderfield’s home kitchen in 1934, Manderfield’s has become a locally famous, three-location brand, with help from Frank and Marie’s kids and grandkids who’ve continued the baking tradition in various forms. This is due in large part to the raised donuts, which sell out so fast the Manderfield’s recommend you call at least a day ahead to reserve yours. Trust them — they’ve been doing this for a while.
Rock Springs
Jay and Penny Hammond and Derek and Michelle Johnson opened the shop back in 2011, when the local donut scene was rather bleak. Their brainchild’s made the scene a lot brighter now, and even got a hot cameo on Food Network Canada’s Donut Showdown.
Skip the oven to save time on your next key-lime pie. All you need is heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, lime, and Ritz crackers. Start by making the custard: combine the heavy cream, condensed milk, and lime juice and stir. Then, pour a layer of the mix into your pie dish (or glass if you prefer), cover it with a layer of crackers, and repeat. Chill the cake until frozen and enjoy.
Don’t have confectioners’ sugar? No need to go to the grocery store because you can make it at home using granulated sugar and a blender or food processor. Add the sugar to your mixing device of choice and set it to ‘pulse’ or ‘blend’ until it has reached a powdery consistency. Sift through a strainer and you’re good to go!
This will save time and earn you creativity points: instead of frosting your cupcakes with frosting, melt marshmallows on top. After your cupcakes are baked, place a marshmallow on top of each, and stick them back in the oven for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the oven and press down gently to create that snow-white cap.
Pro-tip: For a more toasty topping, broil the marshmallow topped cupcakes, but be sure to watch them closely!
Whether you’re making cake, cookies, or something on the savory side, stop your batter from getting all over the place with a paper plate. Just poke the ends of your mixer’s beaters through the middle of a paper plate before attaching them to the mixer. The plate will act as a shield, keeping your batter where it’s supposed to be.
First, make sure you are using waxed, unflavored floss. You don’t want a minty cake! Then, place toothpicks around the cake where you want to slice. Align the dental floss around the row of toothpicks and wrap fully around the cake. Hold the ends with each hand and pull out and away from the cake, so the floss cuts through the cake as the circle of floss tightens. Move the floss slightly from side to side to help the cutting movement. To separate the layers, slide a piece of cardboard or baking sheet with no sides in-between and lift the top layer. And voila!
Pro-tip: For sponge cakes, use a serrated knife to make a few cuts along the toothpicks to give the floss a head start.
If you’re lucky enough to have leftover cake (especially after reading this), keep it nice and moist with just bread and toothpicks! Cover the cut, un-frosted part of your cake with bread slices and hold them in place with toothpicks, then store in the refrigerator. The bread will get hard and stale, but the cake will stay nice and soft. Sorry, bread—you’re being sacrificed for a greater good.
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