Today, we welcome back award-winning pastry chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur Joanne Chang to the show! Joanne is the force behind the beloved Flour Bakery & Cafe, which now boasts 10 locations across the Boston/Cambridge area, and the co-owner of Myers + Chang, a celebrated Asian fusion restaurant in Boston’s South End.

Joanne joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path from a childhood with few sweets to becoming one of America’s most respected bakers, her evolving menu at Flour—including the new Milk & Honey Pound Cake and Embrace Chai Morning Bun—and the cookie-focused cookbook she’s currently working on, which will be out next year. 

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More on Joanne: Instagram, Flour Bakery & Cafe, Myers + Chang
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Renato Poliafito, the creative force behind Ciao, Gloria, the beloved bakery and café in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and Pasta Night, its cozy pasta-slinging counterpart right across the street. A two-time James Beard Award nominee and co-author of multiple cookbooks, Renato released his first solo book, “Dolci!: American Baking with an Italian Accent,” last year as a tribute to his Italian American roots and his deep affection for Italy.

Renato joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about his childhood trips to Italy, the flavors that shaped his palate, and the evolution of his dessert style. Then, the duo walk through his recipe for Spumoni Loaf from “Dolci!”

Click here for Renato’s Spumoni Loaf recipe.

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More on Renato: Instagram, Ciao, Gloria, “Dolci!” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Susan Sarich, founder and CEO of SusieCakes, the nostalgic bakery known for its made-from-scratch Americana desserts. Since opening the first SusieCakes’ location in 2006, Susan has expanded the brand across the U.S. with over 30 locations in California, Texas, and Tennessee. 

Susan joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the heartfelt story of how her two grandmothers inspired her baking career and her business. Then, the duo dives into SusieCakes’ signature Vanilla Celebration Cake recipe, a four-layer confetti-filled vanilla cake topped with the bakery’s signature retro-blue buttercream, which was inspired by Susan’s grandmother’s vintage Pyrex mixing bowl.

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More on Susan: Instagram, SusieCakes
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Bobbie Lloyd, the CEO and Chief Baking Officer of the legendary Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Bobbie is also a cookbook author, and her latest book, “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook Vol. 2: Icebox Desserts,” was released earlier this year.  

Bobbie joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the origin story of the bakery and how it became a global dessert empire, including how the show “Sex and the City” turned it from a local cupcake shop to an international sensation. Bobbie also walks us through the recipe for Magnolia’s famous banana pudding—yes!—the recipe everyone can’t get enough of. 

Click here for the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding recipe.

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More on Bobbie: Instagram, Magnolia Bakery, ”The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is entrepreneur and ice cream queen Pooja Bavishi of Malai Ice Cream, a Brooklyn-based brand redefining frozen desserts with bold South Asian flavors. She’s also the author of the new cookbook “Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian flavors.” 

Pooja joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her chai-inspired “hybrid identity,” her passion for experimenting with unconventional flavor pairings, and the ginger and star anise ice creams that sparked the inspiration to create Malai. Then, the duo dive into her recipe for Malai Drumsticks from her book, which incorporates Spiced Peanut Crunch Ice Cream, Jaggery Cones, homemade Magic Shell, and Peanut Chikki. 

Click here for Pooja’s Malai Drumsticks recipe.

Thank you to Ladurée for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. 

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More on Pooja: Instagram, Malai, “Malai” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Nicole Rucker, the award-winning pastry chef and owner of L.A.’s cult-favorite bakery Fat + Flour. Nicole is also the author of the new cookbook, “Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple Bake.” 

Nicole joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about falling out of love with baking during the pandemic and how her new book helped her rediscover the joy in it. She breaks down her revolutionary “cold butter method” for foolproof pie dough and walks Jessie through her Blueberry with Lavender and Cream Cheese Crumble Pie recipe from “Fat + Flour.”

Click here for Nicole’s Blueberry with Lavender and Cream Cheese Crumble Pie recipe. 

Thank you to Ladurée for supporting She’s My Cherry Pie. 

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More on Nicole: Instagram, Fat + Flour L.A., "Fat + Flour" cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes cookbook

Today’s guest is Apollonia Poilâne, the third-generation baker and CEO of the legendary Parisian boulangerie Poilâne. Apollonia joins host Jessie Sheehan to share her extraordinary journey—from taking over the family bakery at just 18 years old to honoring and evolving a legacy that dates back to 1932. 

The duo dive into her life growing up between French and American cultures, the creative influence of her parents, and the secrets behind Poilâne’s world-famous miche and sablés. Plus, they talk about her cookbook, her love for art, and how she’s bringing timeless tradition into the future.

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More on Apollonia: Instagram, Poilâne, "Poilâne" book
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes cookbook

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with baker and cookbook author Benjamina Ebuehi. Benjamina was a finalist on “The Great British Bake Off,” where she stood out for her approachable and creative recipes. Since then, she’s written three baking books, including her latest, “I’ll Bring Dessert,” which celebrates shareable recipes and simple treats perfect for entertaining.

Benjamina tells Jessie about her time on the beloved British baking show, her tips for make-ahead desserts, and the distinction between a cobbler and a crisp. Plus, they take a deep dive into Benjamina’s recipe for Tarragon Plum Cobbler from “I’ll Bring Dessert.” 

Click here for Benjamina’s Tarragon Plum Cobbler recipe. 

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More on Benjamina: Instagram, website, “I’ll Bring Dessert” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes cookbook

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with cookbook author and blogger Abi Balingit of The Dusky Kitchen. Abi is known for her flavorful, fun desserts, inspired by her American upbringing and Filipino heritage. She channeled all of this in her debut cookbook, “Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed,” which won the James Beard Award for Emerging Voice. Abi was also featured on the cover of Cherry Bombe’s Creative Class Issue. 

Abi joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her horchata bibingka from the book, including how she came up with her unique twist on the traditional savory Filipino dessert. The duo also chat about Abi’s career path, the pasalubong treat boxes that she started baking in 2020, and how she landed a book deal through social media.

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More on Abi: Instagram, “Mayumu” cookbook, website
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes cookbook

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with Paola Velez, pastry chef and co-founder of Bakers Against Racism, the global bake sale that raised over $2.5 million for social justice causes. She’s also the author of “Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store.”

Paola joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk all about her book, which she describes as a love letter to both her Dominican heritage and her New York City roots. She shares stories about her childhood growing up in the Bronx, visiting her local bodega and the Stella D’oro factory, and how her mom’s love for Guy Fieri inspired her plantain sticky buns. Then, the duo walk through Paola’s recipe for the buns, which she has become quite known for. 

Click here for Paola’s Plantain Sticky Buns recipe.

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More on Paola: Instagram, Bakers Against Racism, website, “Bodega Bakes” cookbook
More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes" cookbook