Abigail Dodge

For graduation, Juneteenth – any festive occasion, this lovely layered cake is just the thing. It can be made up to a day ahead (it slices best after being refrigerated for at least a couple hours). If making three layers seems too daunting, go for two layers (see directions after recipe). The cake layer here is lightened with whipped cream (instead of butter). The whipped cream filling has the addition of sweetened condensed milk to help stabilize it.

Deeply fragrant, soft-textured and just a little bit rustic, this homemade oatmeal honey bread makes your kitchen smell like you’ve been baking all day, but it comes together with surprising ease. If you’re new to bread baking, this tender loaf, perfect for toast and sandwiches, is a great place to start.

With this recipe, you can whip up a batch of tender, chocolate cupcakes in no time. Zero fuss and no fancy steps — just easy pantry magic. These “quick-mix” cupcakes live up to their name, coming together in minutes using a bowl, measuring cup and a whisk, along with ingredients you probably already have on hand. These moist cupcakes make a fabulous base for frosting. But between us, I’ve been known to pass them off as breakfast muffins when time is tight.