Flour

Yes, you could serve these crepes before they’ve been caramelized in sugar, but why deprive yourself?

Store-bought almond flour can be expensive—luckily, it's easy to make the flavorful, gluten-free stuff at home. Here's how

Cook the chickpea mixture until it resembles wet concrete; it won’t set up if it’s undercooked.

Had kasha or soba? You’ve tasted buckwheat. The flour has an earthy, mineral flavor that pairs especially well with tart fruits, like these cherries.

For a moist cake, be sure to use finely ground polenta labeled “quick-cooking” or “instant”; cooking times listed on the package will be five minutes or less.

A simple, straightforward cornbread that we’d happily serve alongside a bowl of chili on any other day of the year.

We recommend using a finely ground cornmeal for these; it will give them the ideal texture.

If you don’t have (or can’t spare) a cast-iron skillet, this can also be finished off in an 8x8” glass dish for baking.

Forget the boxed version you grew up with. This yellow cake recipe gets a rich dark-chocolate frosting with a touch of tang thanks to sour cream. For the best presentation, it’s important to cut the cake layers evenly. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

(in the spirit of Pollo Campero)

Using frozen berries in desserts is a clever way to add flavor and vibrant color in colder months. Choose a mild honey, such as clover or orange blossom, to let the fruits shine.

Paper-thin crepes aren’t so fussy. “They’re almost simpler than pancakes,” says pastry chef Megan Garrelts of Rye in Leawood, Kansas.

Rice flour gives these cookies a very fine texture, an also results in a gluten-free dessert. Letting the dough rest allows the flour to absorb moisture, making it less crumbly and easier to handle.

Fast-track this pancakes or griddle cakes recipe by tripling the dry ingredients and storing them in a jar. At breakfast time, scoop out 2 1/4 cups. All the other measurements stay the same.

Briefly baking the cornbread before adding the jam prevents the preserves from sinking to the bottom of the batter.

Adding whole wheat flour ups the nutritional value of the oatmeal raisin cookies and adds a nice nutty flavor to the recipe.

Remember the color of the stalks, which can range from pale pink to deep red, will affect the color of the filling. Choose dark-red stalks for a vibrant hue.

This chocolate cake has no outer frosting, but the filling is so rich you won't miss it. Chopping the pecans finely helps keep the layers even when frosted.

This dense quickbread is traditionally baked in empty coffee cans.

Serve this cake at brunch, or for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.