oh my lanta you guys - this week is making me crave routine more than I ever have. On Monday, a wall in my kitchen got torn out to deal with a stuart little situation I’ve been dealing with for the last month, it was supposed to be a one day, in and out ordeal. But then they found a crack in the water pipe in the wall and suddenly the pipe and ceiling were ripped out and it was 3 days of people in my apartment and dust everywhere. It was one of those where logically it was not a big deal at all and then mentally I was just kinda thrown BUT everything is patched up and now I’m in turbo birthday cake mode trying to figure out the September cake. It’s virgo season, my birthday is next week, I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting that is hard to put into words but I feel like this week was a needed pause. All that to say, I hope you have the best weekend!!

Weekend projects

September Birthday Cake

This month’s birthday cake is a bit delayed (icymi, my kitchen was temporarily under construction!), but in the meantime I wanted to reshare last year’s cake, which I’m still obsessed with 12 months later! With layers of chocolate sponge, chocolate pudding, coffee mascarpone whipped cream, blackberry raspberry jam, and cream cheese whipped cream, it’s truly dreamy.

Recipe!

Pain Suisse Babka

Brioche, pastry cream, and mini chocolate chips all make up this Pain Suisse Babka—think cinnamon raisin bread but better. It’s amazing on its own, but would also make the most unreal French toast.

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Plum Berry Crumb Cake

This cake is the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer. The yogurt in the batter helps keep it tender and soft, while the berries and plums bake into juicy pockets that pair so well with the buttery streusel and lemon glaze.

Recipe!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

I developed this recipe to have my ideal coffee cake texture: soft but slightly dense, with plenty of brown sugar cinnamon crumb throughout. The perfect bake to get you through the week!

Recipe!

have a great weekend!!

love,
audrey

I kept this month super chill and really leaned into savory which is a little CRAZY for me but lately I’ve been craving savory breakfasts and it is peak tomato season so it seemed only right.

The Menu!

Bread Basket - LEMON ZUCCHINI LOAF

In the same way that you might have appetizers or a bread basket at a restaurant, I always love to have a baked good ready for when my friends show up!! Since zucchini is at its peak right now, I prepped my Lemon Zucchini Loaf the day before and sliced it the morning of—it stays moist for days and is the perfect make-ahead bake.

For the Table - SPANAKOPITA QUICHE & TOMATO DANISHES

YOU GUYS! This might be my favorite thing ever, like I’m so upset I don’t have any leftovers. The spanakopita quiche was inspired by my recent trip to Greece and I genuinely could eat it every day. Of course we also needed to highlight tomatoes because they’re peaking right now, so I used my danish recipe and filled them with a ricotta cream cheese mixture. They were so yummy!

Dessert - GREEK YOGURT PANNA COTTA

In the summer I try to keep the dessert light, but I’ve always felt like breakfast (especially savory breakfast) deserves a sweet bite at the end. Also inspired by my trip to Greece—where you can order a block of Greek yogurt topped with honey and walnuts—I decided to do my own take on it and turn it into a barely sweetened Greek yogurt panna cotta, and it was so lovely!!

The Order of Operations

Notes for next time!

Every time I host, there are things I think I could have done better, so I thought I’d include and maybe you can learn from my shortcomings!

1. While I loved being able to prep the quiche all in one, it left the table feeling a little empty. I wish I had done a marinated tomato or zucchini salad on the side, one to freshen the menu and two to add a little more to the table.

2. Kind of following that, the vision for this breakfast was to keep the florals all sunflowers. HOWEVER, I only had one bouquet of sunflowers because the rest weren’t looking great lol and for some reason I thought that would be enough—it was not.

3. MENUS!! I used to always print menus before hosting and since being in my new apartment I haven’t done it, but I love the diner vibe it adds to the whole thing and I think it’s about time they make a reappearance.

I’m actually so excited for the September breakfast and feel like it is going to be the best one yet!

Love,

Audrey

hiiiiii what a freakin week, I feel like I really could have used an extra day this week but alas there isn’t and there must be a reason for that <3 have I been listening to Dolly all week since Tuesday? sure have. Did I have a much needed cathartic cry walking home from an event listening to her on Tuesday? Also yes. Between running, developing recipes, working on a very exciting project, trying to have a social life, start a new big project, and hosting breakfast this weekend this week was a bit of a blur. BUT in case you missed it, it is in fact Virgo season, and I do feel like things are starting to line up again which I’m feeling v excited and hopeful about. Oh also I went to a Liberty game last which is our WNBA team and it was so so much fun, highly recommend - also the double cheeseburger at Barclays is shockingly good with pickles and onions 10/10 would order again. Ok anyway that was a lot of rambling and kind of saying nothing, but I hope you had a wonderful week, and if not we’ve made it to Friday which is something to celebrate!!

Weekend projects

Chocolate Chip Brioche

This chocolate-studded brioche is light and fluffy as a down pillow. Make it on Saturday and use any leftovers for French toast on Sunday!

Recipe!

Banana Cream Cheese Brownies

Consider this your sign to take classic brownies up a notch by swirling the batter with caramelized bananas and vanilla cream cheese. These are easy to throw together and an ideal treat to share with friends this weekend.

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Black and White Cookies

These classic black and white cookies are surprisingly weeknight-friendly, made up of a cakey cookie base flavored with a touch of almond extract and nutmeg, plus that signature chocolate and vanilla icing.

Recipe!

Perfect with afternoon coffee

Cherry Raspberry Jam Bars

These bars are inspired by Danish Raspberry Slices (or Hindbærsitter), one of my all-time favorite treats. The homemade jam filling is easily adaptable for whatever fruits your heart desires!

Recipe!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

We’ve officially entered that time of year when we have more zucchini than we know what to do with. This moist, chocolate-packed quick bread is the perfect use for it if you’re sick of cooking it for dinner!

Recipe!

have a great weekend!!

love,
audrey

I can’t believe it’s already Friday?? My new smeg fridge came this week which I am SO EXCITED about, (one small fridge just wasn’t enough), she’s making some funky sounds so need to get that sorted but I love her so much. I finally tried Roman’s in Fort Greene, their stracciatella starter with mushrooms and corn was so so good and so was their mint chip ice cream!! it tasted like you were eating fresh mint leaves and it was insane. I feel like I tested a million and a half recipes and only one has turned out but I am kind of obsessed with it and it will be up later today!! OH also, I realized I don’t think I’ve updated you guys but I am running the nyc marathon this year, so Saturday mornings are reserved for long runs and apollo bagels - officially the best time of the year <3

Weekend projects

Lemon Blueberry Icebox Cake

This (new!) Lemon Blueberry Icebox Cake is the perfect easy no-bake dessert to make during these hot summer months! It’s perfectly light and creamy, with layers of cinnamon graham crackers, lemon yogurt mousse, and a homemade blueberry compote.

Recipe!

Brown Sugar Espresso Ice Cream Cake

Instant espresso powder and a no-churn ice cream base are the keys to making this Brown Sugar Espresso Ice Cream Cake without an espresso machine or an ice cream maker. This is a great project to spread out over the weekend and serve as a special Sunday treat.

Recipe!

For Sunday brunch

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Thick but still fluffy, these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes are full of soaked whole rolled oats, which make for the best texture and flavor. I love them with chocolate chips, but if you have some fresh blueberries on hand, these would be a great use for them!

Recipe!

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

These classic bakery-style muffins get an extra hit of blueberry in the form of a homemade compote layered under the coffee cake streusel. Perfect for a cozy weekend breakfast!

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my go-to all-time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, based on the ones my mom made growing up. These have three types of chocolate and two types of sugar for the best texture/flavor combo.

Recipe!

have a great weekend!!

love,
audrey

idk about you but august is FLYINGGGGG, like so fast and if I’m being honest I’m not upset about it. I love summer but I really love fall, not even in a pumpkin spice kinda way, just in a I can layer my outfits, not feel like I’m melting 24/7, and it does happen to be my birthday next month way. But before we get there I am actually trying to embrace August including running summer streets every weekend and making the most of the end of summer produce. Also ice cream, I feel like we should make one more ice cream cake I’m just tbd on what it should be so if you have any ideas let me know!! Anyway, below are some recipes that I think are perfect for this time of year <3

Weekend projects

Raspberries & Cream Cake

With two layers of cake, two layers of Bavarian cream, a layer of raspberry jam, and plenty of fresh raspberries, this Raspberries & Cream Cake is the perfect light and creamy summer dessert.

Recipe!

Chocolate Tahini Sesame Cookies

These Chocolate Tahini Sesame Cookies are arguably my all-time favorite cookies. You should ideally chill the dough overnight, so they’re the perfect treat to get started on today and bake off over the weekend.

Recipe!

For Sunday brunch

Danishes

These Danishes are a labor of love but so worth it, made up of flaky laminated brioche filled with a cream cheese pastry cream and your choice of raspberry jam or whole apricots.

Recipe!

Maple Tahini Chocolate Chunk Scones

A little bit nutty, a little bit sweet, and a little bit chocolatey, these maple tahini chocolate chunk scones are quick and easy to make. They’re a great option for an impromptu Sunday morning bake!

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Simple Jam Bars

These bars are made up of a simple dough and a tart blackberry and red currant jam. They only require 30 minutes of hands-on time, so they’re totally doable on a weeknight!

Recipe!

Zucchini Lemon Loaf

This Zucchini Lemon Loaf is moist and bright, with just enough ginger and cinnamon to add a bit of spice. It’s great for breakfast or with a cup of tea!

Recipe!

Have a great weekend!!

Love,
Audrey

Lily Swab - I recently found Lily on instagram and I am OBSESSED with her artwork. I’m currently saving up to commission her to make something for my apartment because I think investing in art is the best but you should check her out, esp if you like things a little whimsical, nostalgic, and southern.

Movie theaters! For the first time (maybe ever??) I went to see a movie in theaters by myself and it was glorious. Movie theaters now are amazing, they basically did the opposite of airplanes - bigger seats, recliners, giant sodas and any candy your heart could desire. I saw the new spiderman movie btw and it was great, highly recommend. I’ve been in a bit of a funk this summer so I’ve decided to prioritize doing something a little silly as often as possible (ideally everyday) and I feel like going to see a movie in the middle of a monday? just the right amount of silly.

Wallet!! - I’m pretty sure this one is gonna be incredibly niche but I kinda hate most women’s wallets. They’re either huge and might as well be a clutch and don’t fit in any bags or they’re the tiniest card holder ever with no spot for a little cash or punch card. For a while I was on the hunt for a men’s bifold wallet because I feel like they are the perfect size, I bought this one from Tecovas this spring and I love it!! ps if you buy it in store they’ll brand it for you with your initials!

Baking Pans!! - just my favorite grouping of pans! If you want to search by brand, I love USA Pans, Nordicware, and AllClad!

Current Uniform! - the perfect jeans, tshirt, watch and shoes (oh and bag) - basically what I’ve been wearing non stop when it’s not 90+ degrees. Ps I almost always trim the tshirts because I get them in a medium and they’re a little long but all you need are some good scissors to trim and then you don’t need to re-sew the bottom edge.

Crown Affair Microfiber Towel - as someone who has used a tshirt for the last 4+ years for her wavy/curly hair, I finally bought this microfiber towel. I’m gonna be honest I bought it because I was sick of having a tshirt just hanging rogue on my bathroom hook but now that I have it I absolutely love it. It’s the perfect size, easy to wrap or plop anyway that you want and has a little elastic strap to tuck the ends in when you’re wrapping!!

Coffee Beans! - If you’re new here, I need to tell you I LOVE coffee projects retro beans. However, I live incredibly inconveniently to their shops and I’m too stubborn to pay for shipping when I know I could get there. So enter my new found love for Sagebrush beans from Canyon Coffee - I love them!! Not too acidic, deep and soft and perfect for me.

Marinated Zucchini Salad!! - I’m not the biggest zucchini fan UNLESS it’s shaved into ribbons raw, or turned into zucchini cake. This marinated zucchini salad is inspired by a recipe my best friend was talking about but I’ve been putting it on my turkey sandwiches instead of lettuce and it’s so good and so simple. All you do is chop up half a shallot and some capers, use a veggie peeler to peel the zucchini into ribbons (you do omit the center seeds so I suppose this isn’t perfect but that’s the worst part imo). Add everything into a mixing bowl with lemon juice, olive oil, and a bit of salt. Eat immediately or cover and let it sit in the fridge overnight and it’s so delicious and refreshing and the perfect break from a lettuce salad.

the perfect yogurt bowl - If you’re in the US I am SO SORRY these are basically impossible to come by but when I was in Copenhagen I went to Hay house which is an interior design company. I picked up these shallow bowl/plates and I have been using them non stop so it seemed only right I tell you about them. & if you live in Europe you do need them.

summer thunderstorms - I’m well aware you can’t buy or control these but as I’m sitting here writing this, the skies opened up and the sound of rain is hitting the windows. It’s dark but not quite dark enough to turn the lights on and I know it won’t last forever but for the moment it feels magical.

Ok that’s all for this month!! Hope you have the best week!!

Love,

audrey <3

helloooo I hope you guys have had a wonderful week! I feel like it’s been one of those weeks that has simultaneously dragged and flown by but last night ended on a high note so things are looking good for the weekend! I recently saw something that said let August be August and that’s the vibe I’m taking through this month that I usually try to rush through. Below are some of my favorites for the month of august, I hope you enjoy and have a great weekend! Also some fun updates coming next week that I can’t wait to share with you guys <3

Weekend projects

Blackberry Blueberry Biscuit Cake

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate an August birthday than with a buttery biscuit cake laden with blackberries and blueberries. Pile it high with vanilla ice cream and honey butter sauce for a true showstopper!

Recipe!

Coffee Oreo Fudge Ice Cream

This Caffè Panna-inspired ice cream features a creamy coffee base and an Oreo and fudge sauce swirl. It’s the perfect treat to make this weekend and stash in your freezer for the month to come!

Recipe!

For Sunday brunch

Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

These light and fluffy Lemon Blueberry Pancakes are exactly what I want to eat for weekend brunch. They’re filled with fresh blueberries and topped with a lemon blueberry compote, vanilla maple sweet cream, and salty whipped butter. I’m obsessed (and know you will be too)!

Recipe!

Plum Coffee Cake

Soft sour cream cake, plum butter, sliced plums, and a brown sugar streusel make for the perfect end-of-summer breakfast cake.

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Plum & Berry Crumble

This small-batch crumble is the perfect thing to make as a weeknight sweet treat. If you’re feeding more than two people, I’ve got tips for how to scale it up too!

Recipe!

have a great weekend!!

love,
audrey

August is the month of dark jammy fruits, think blackberries, cherries, and blueberries. A few sour cherries and peaches still sneak through but it’s the season I find the hardest to be present in, it feels like summer is ending and suddenly all I want is for it to be cool enough to wear a sweatshirt. But that’s where baking comes in, it forces me to let August be August and celebrate what we have in the moment. Here are some of my favorite fruits to bake with right now, plus a rundown of their different varietals:

Blueberries:

There are many types of blueberries out there, and which you find at your local farmers market will depend on where in the country you live. They generally fall into one of four categories: northern highbush, southern highbush, lowbush, and rabbiteye. Highbush blueberries are what you’re probably most familiar with, whereas lowbush are what you think of as “Maine” or “wild” blueberries—they’re small, intense in flavor, and great for baking with or freezing.

• Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

• Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake

• Blueberry Cinnamon Sugar Coffee Cake

• Blueberry Waffles

Blackberries:

Blackberries are abundant in August, and depending where you are, you might be able to find any number of types. Typically, you’ll find thornless varieties like Triple Crown, Navaho, and Ouachita, which are versatile and equally great for eating as they are for baking.

• Blackberry Blueberry Biscuit Cake

• Apple Blackberry Toaster Strudels

• Blackberry Almond Cream Cake

• Lemon Blackberry Cake

Cherries:

Sour cherry season technically peaks in July, but if you hurry you might just be able to scoop some up before they’re gone. Unlike their sweet counterparts, these are small, soft, and bright red, with flesh that’s too tart to eat raw but delicious when cooked or baked with sugar. Sweet Cherries are a bit easier to find and still all around at the markets!

• Cherry Raspberry Jam Bars

• Black Forest Tiramisu

• Sour Cherry Pie

• Sour Cherry Streusel Pastries

• Black Forest Brownies

Peaches:

You’ll find both white and yellow peaches in markets right now. White peaches have softer, sweeter flesh and lower acidity, making them great for eating out of hand or grilling. Yellow peaches are more acidic and firm enough to hold up in baked goods.

• Peach Cake with Oat Streusel

• Apricot Sour Cream Coffee Cake (ps you can swap the apricots for peaches!)

How I pit cherries

Depending on how many cherries I need to pit, I’ll either use a paring knife (for small amounts) or a cherry pitter if I’m tackling a pie’s worth of fruit. These are my go-to tools, plus my favorite pie pan: Tools!

The easiest way to preserve the season

If canning isn’t your thing, there’s two WAYYYY easier ways to preserve your summer produce so you have something to look forward to this winter.

1. just freeze it! I like to wash the produce, dry it, lay it out on a parchment lined baking sheet, and stick it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, I’ll pile it into a Ziploc bag. That way it doesn’t all get stuck together!

2. If you want to cook it down into jam or compote but sterilizing jars and canning feels like a full day project that you don’t want to take on, you can pour the cooled jam or compote into a zip lock bag, squeeze the excess air out and freeze it!

Depending on the recipe you can either bake with the fruit straight from frozen or let it defrost in the fridge overnight!

hope you have the best week!!

Love,

Audrey <3

hiii, you guys this week was gloomy as heckinbop but I kinda love a gloomy summer week. I’ve been working on the August birthday cake and I think I’m close but as per usual I’m second guessing if it’s enough so I’ve also been working on an espresso fudge, oreo ice cream and attempting to love corn in any form other than grilled on the cob with salty butter. I just don’t know that I’ve ever like something MORE because it has corn but I want to so badly so we persevere.

I feel like late July is chocolate, dark jammy fruits, and whole lotta coffee. Here’s a little list of some of my favorites <3

Weekend projects

Raspberries & Cream Cake

This two-layer cake features a fluffy Bavarian cream, a layer of raspberry jam, and plenty of fresh raspberries. The perfect way to end your next summer dinner party!

Recipe!

Plum & Cream Pastry Cake

Alternating layers of vanilla cake, puff pastry, pastry cream, and plum butter make up this Plum & Cream Pastry Cake, which was last year’s August birthday cake.

Recipe!

Custard Cream and Jam Doughnuts

These fluffy, sugar-rolled doughnuts filled with a custard pastry cream and blackberry red currant jam make for a luxe weekend breakfast. If you’ve never fried your own doughnuts before, don’t worry—this post has lots of tips!

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

If you, like me, think the ideal coffee cake is a little dense while still being soft, you’ll love this version. The brown sugar cinnamon crumb is layered both in the middle and on top, so you’ll get plenty of it in each bite.

Recipe!

If you’re craving chocolate

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

This is a chocolate lover’s dream take on banana bread, with cocoa in the banana bread base, chocolate chips throughout, and an (optional) chocolate ganache over top.

Recipe!

Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfectly chewy and crisp at the edges, with a bit of nuttiness from the addition of rye flour. A twist on a classic!

Recipe!

Have a great weekend!!

Love,

Audrey

Breakfast Counter is officially back!! I took a little break from hosting because it wasn’t feeling fun anymore. I feel like it’s so easy to get wrapped up in this idea that to be a good host, you need to always do more. And some people are truly incredible at hosting elaborate parties and for a while I thought there was something wrong with me that I’ve been hosting once a month for over a year and still felt like I hadn’t cracked the code. So I took a break and did a little reflecting on why I was actually hosting and what code was I trying to crack.

Truth be told I want another word/ phrase for this because it feels a bit cliche but at the end of the day I want hosting to be a way to build community. I’m someone who tends to make friends in all different areas of life rather than having that classic movie style big friend group. So for me, hosting is a way to bring all of my people together and have them connect with one another. No expectations or goals, just one day a month where my home is filled with my favorite people giggling and connecting over life. The food, the florals, the decor, while all important are really just the supporting characters. So here’s my blue print for hosting breakfast when you want to actually be a part of the party.

The Menu

I like to be inspired by what’s in season so the weekend before I go to the farmers market and scope out what’s available. I was seeing apricots, sour cherries, peaches, raspberries, blueberries and the remnants of currants from the weeks before. I was also just in Copenhagen (recap of that trip is here!) where I had yogurt bowls with white peach compote and granola, sourdough buns with whipped butter and comte, and the most beautiful danishes. Even if you don’t fully lean into a theme, picking a general direction can be so helpful with making decisions. Here is the full menu breakdown:

• Apricot danishes - laminated dough I prepped the night before, apricot compote and pastry cream I prepped in advance, so the only thing left to do was assemble and bake!

• Yogurt bowls - I like to mix half fage 2% and half Siggis vanilla for the best yogurt base and then I topped these with a white peach compote (just ripe white peaches and water cooked down) and a sour cherry compote based on my sour cherry pie filling but with half the starch to keep it a little looser. Lastly I topped the bowls with a Cocoa Maple Almond granola it has a hint of chocolate from the cocoa powder mixed with the dry ingredients without tasting like dessert with too much chocolate. Recipe for this will be up soon!

• Sourdough Buns with whipped butter, cheese and jam - I feel like good sourdough buns have been evading me since the last time I went to Copenhagen but I tested them four times this week and I think we’re about 90% of the way there so I will keep you posted. Sourdough is great for hosting if you’re feeling pretty confident in your starter’s strength and your own abilities because most of the work can happen the day before and then you can just bake it in the morning. The black currant blueberry jam is probably my favorite jam to ever exist, it’s the same as the base from this Currant Panna Cotta Tart. If you’re going classic Danish breakfast, all you need is a good piece of Comté. I however, find that three cheeses will always be better than one so I got a triple cream brie (one of my favorites because it comes out of the fridge already soft), an emmentaler, and a comté. Whipping butter is as easy as it sounds, just add blocks of soft but not melty salted butter to a mixing bowl and whip until light and fluffy. Some people like to add a bit of buttermilk or heavy cream which is wonderful but I’ve noticed that adding buttermilk can sometimes do something funky if you have leftovers.

• Soft Boiled Eggs - you can totally prep these the day before but I find it a pretty low lift to make day of. Just boil the eggs for 6 minutes and then transfer to an ice bath to stop their cooking.

• Macerated Red Currants & Vanille Soße - a childhood classic, I tossed red currants with a bit of sugar the day before, covered the bowl and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours before moving them to the fridge overnight. I topped them with my classic Vanille Soße which is a vanilla custard sauce. This was the perfect summer dessert because it was small and not too heavy plus it was easy to assemble as everyone was finishing up.

The Order of Operations

The Day before:

• Pick up flowers - I get mine from the flower market in nyc which is on 28th street between 6th and 7th ave. Note it’s open early so be sure to get there by 8 am at the latest. Of course any flowers will work; trader joes, your local bodega, or your backyard if you’re so lucky are all great options.

• Get any remaining groceries - either pick them up or order for delivery. The worst thing when prepping is being near the end of your prep and realizing you need to go back to the store.

• Start your sourdough

• Prep fruit compotes and jam

• Make granola

• Pre-mix yogurts and store in a covered bowl in the fridge

• Toss red currants with sugar

• Cook and cool the vanilla custard sauce

• Organize and clean your apartment

• Arrange florals and set up decor

• Laminate pastry dough a few hours before bed

The Day of:

• Prep tea or coffee - either fill your machine with beans and water, or prep a drip coffee pot, set out tea bags and add water to your kettle

• Bake sourdough

• Assemble, proof and bake pastries

• Set your table

• Soft boil eggs & Whip butter

• Plate cheeses on a wooden cutting board or cheese board

• Change if needed

• Set out pastries and water for guests as they arrive

• Make coffees

• Plate yogurt bowls - these should be the last thing to hit the table

• When the time feels right, assemble the macerated red currants and vanille soße in small glasses

What I did differently this time

There was really only one change this time but it truly made a world of difference. I served all of the mains at the same time. I had the buns, butter, cheese, jam and soft boiled eggs all around the table and then plated individual yogurt bowls just before we sat. Doing this allowed the full breakfast to feel more casual rather than there being a stop and start with each course. It also meant that once the meal was served there was really no reason for me to get up and leave the conversation until the 5 minutes it took me to serve up dessert.

My favorite tableware

Here I’ve linked some of my favorite tableware I used for this breakfast!

I’m so excited to start hosting again and can’t wait to share everything with you! Let me know if you have any questions or what information you want to know next time around.

Love,

Audrey

For years I’ve been saying I want to make a cherry pie, because simply put it is hands down my favorite pie ever, and this year I finally did it. I love this recipe because the pie crust is so easy to work with (aka it doesn’t crack and break when you’re trying to lattice it) and yet it’s the flakiest thing to ever exist. Also, the sour cherry filling is just the right amount of set without being gloopy.

I’m in the middle of testing more stone fruit recipes that I can’t wait to share in the next couple weeks, but in the meantime here are a few more that I’ve been craving lately!

p.s. Audrey’s breakfast counter is making a comeback this weekend and I can’t wait to share with you! Full recap will come on Monday!

Weekend projects

Sour Cherry Pie

This Sour Cherry Pie is simple in the best way. With classic, flaky pastry and a lattice top, it’s the perfect summer pie!

Recipe!

Blackberry Almond Cream Cake

For a centerpiece-worthy dessert, try this Blackberry Almond Cream Cake. It’s light and fluffy and not too sweet, with a soft almond sponge, a vanilla yogurt cream, and a blackberry red currant compote.

Recipe!

Lemon Meringue Pie

It’s not traditional, but this Lemon Meringue pie is exactly how I wish they all were: graham cracker crust, a thick lemon filling, and soft marshmallowy meringue.

Recipe!

Weeknight-worthy

Zucchini Lemon Loaf

This Zucchini Lemon Loaf comes together in one bowl, making it perfect for a weeknight, especially during zucchini season. It’s moist and bright with a little warmth and spice from the ginger and cinnamon, equally great for breakfast or an afternoon snack with some tea!

Recipe!

Lemon Blueberry Toaster Strudels

These Lemon Blueberry Toaster Strudels are a fun project, filled with lemon blueberry compote and topped with a lemon glaze. They use a homemade rough puff pastry, but you can definitely use store-bought puff pastry to make them more weeknight-friendly!

Recipe!

Frozen treats

Chocolate Cream Pie Ice Cream

The base for this ice cream is almost identical to chocolate cream pie filling—rich, velvety, and deeply chocolatey. Folding in crushed Oreos at the end takes it over the top!

Recipe!

Coffee Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches

These homemade ice cream sandwiches are filled with swirled vanilla and coffee no-churn ice cream, sandwiched between two layers of chocolate chunk cookies and dipped in a chocolate magic shell. The best thing to stash in your freezer!

Recipe!

Hope you have the best weekend!!

Love,

Audrey

Day 1: Red Currant Brioche Buns

Fluffy, sugar rolled brioche, filled with vanilla cream cheese, tart red currants, and optionally topped with buttery streusel, these Red Currant Brioche Buns are one of my favorite pastries.

recipe!!

Day 2: Currant Panna Cotta Tart

Graham cracker crust, black currant blueberry jam, and a vanilla bean panna cotta – this Currant Panna Cotta Tart is simple and beautiful. It’s also the perfect recipe to get creative with!

recipe!!

Day 3: Red Currant Crisp Ice Cream

Vanilla mascarpone no churn ice cream with a red currant swirl and oat crumble, this Red Currant Crisp Ice Cream is perfect for summer.

recipe!!

Day 4: Red Currant Clafoutis

A silky set custard base, flavored with lemon, and studded with bright red currants – this Red Currant Clafoutis is perfect for breakfast or dessert.

recipe!!

That’s all for 2026!! Let me know if you have any special requests for 2027 <3

For the weekend

Breakfast bakes

Lemon Blueberry Dutch Baby

Never heard of a Dutch baby? Think popover meets pancake. This one is crisp on the edges and custardy in the middle, loaded with lemon zest and fresh blueberries. Perfect for brunch!

Recipe

Raspberry Apricot Coffee Cake

Raspberries and apricots are both in season right now, so why not layer them into a coffee cake? The tart fruit works so well with the sweet, buttery streusel topping. Make it this weekend and eat any leftovers for breakfast throughout the week (if you have leftovers, that is!).

Recipe

Projects

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Pie

Think of this as Basque cheesecake meets blueberry pie, all wrapped in the flakiest pie crust you can imagine. And don’t worry if you’re a pie dough newbie—this post walks you through all of the steps!

Recipe

July birthday cake

Flourless Chocolate Cherry Cake

A crackly, fudgy flourless chocolate cake, topped with a mascarpone yogurt whip, apricot compote, and saucy cherries; this Flourless Chocolate Cherry Cake is what I would make if my birthday was in July.

Recipe

Sweet and simple

Yogurt Plum Cake

This simple cake is incredibly moist thanks to the added yogurt. Topped with juicy plums and crunchy turbinado sugar, it’s perfect for breakfast or with an afternoon coffee… and if you start now, it can be out of the oven and into your mouth in just 90 minutes!

Recipe

Weeknight-worthy

Cherry Raspberry Jam Bars

These jam-filled bars are similar to one of my favorite sweet treats, the Danish raspberry slices known as Hindbærsnitter. They’re a fun weeknight project and hold up well at room temperature, so you can keep them on your counter and snack on them throughout the week.

Recipe

Happy baking and have a great weekend! <3

Audrey

A couple years ago I went back to Munich for the first time solo and as one of the most sentimental people you’ve ever met, I was hit with a wave of emotions of suddenly being in this place that I felt so at home in but without all the people that made it feel like home. This was also right at the time where Copenhagen was hitting it’s stride on social media and I was curious. So I had booked a flight from NYC to Munich but with an 8 hour layover in Copenhagen. I did that twice in 2024 for two separate trips and honestly loved it. It is obviously very different from Germany but there are a lot of factors that feel so similar. It gave me that sense of comfort that I found going to Germany without being attached to all the memories that are sometimes too much to experience alone. I don’t know how often I’ll keep going to Copenhagen but I do know that it has become one of my comfort cities where I feel like I can just be. So long story long, that’s why I keep going back.

Before I start with all my favorites I feel like it’s important to note that there is so much to explore and my time has been limited so in no way would I consider this a guide on everything to do - it is simply a diary of what I have done and like to do! Also here is Part 1 from last year with more recs!

Where to stay

Both times I have stayed in Copenhagen I’ve booked Airbnb’s in Nørrebro close to Poulette and it’s honestly one of my favorite areas to stay in. You can walk to almost any neighborhood in 45 minutes or less, it’s not touristy but still full of restaurants and things to do! It’s also so close to these beautiful lakes in the center of Copenhagen which are one of my favorite places to run or walk. This is the Airbnb I stayed in this time around and it was wonderful - it is on the ground level so you do here the trash pickup/people walking around from the bedroom but I didn’t mind and would stay there again! This was the Airbnb I stayed in the first time and it was my favorite, it just wasn’t available this time around but I LOVED this one!

Bakeries

• Andersen & Maillard - If you choose to stay in Nørrebro I cannot recommend Andersen & Maillard enough. Their bmo (which is the bun with butter and cheese) is easily one of my favorites and you must ask for it with jam because they make one of my favorite jams!! Also this trip I discovered their breakfast plate which has a yogurt bowl with fruit compote, granola, sourdough with whipped butter and cheese, and a soft boiled egg and it’s perfect.

• Juno - I almost didn’t go to Juno this time around not because I don’t love it but because I’ve been every single time I’ve been to Copenhagen and it’s a tiny bit out of the way of the other things I’m usually up to. But I am SO GLAD I didn’t skip - truly my favorite pastries across the board in Copenhagen.

• Sinne Gas Bageri - this is a super under the radar local bakery that makes a wonderful bmo and it truly is delicious! I also LOVED their cardamom bun. Just note there’s no seating but I recommend going on a beautiful day and then walking down to Peblinge or Sortedams Sø which are gorgeous lakes about a 5 min walk away.

• Kani - I ended up at Kani because one of my friends sent me their instagram story about them hosting a run club and I kinda figured why not? I’m truly so glad I went - one it was a wonderful way to meet new people, two theirs nothing better to me than an early run ending at a bakery, and three I don’t know that I would have ended up over there without this. Once again I had a bmo and let me tell ya, these Copenhagen bakeries have the bmos down pat but Kani is also pushing the boundaries on the more classic Danish pastries which is always fun to try!

• La Glace - Unlike the others, this one is more of a Konditori which means they have fancy, elegant cakes and tortes. It’s one of the oldest in Copenhagen and if you’re in the mood for an afternoon coffee & cake, highly recommend! It’s also perfect for a rainy day because the inside is beautiful!

• Lille - Ok last for this trip but ABSOLUTELY NOT LEAST I love Lille bakery. It’s a bit out of the way but really everything in Copenhagen is within an hour walk and as someone who loves to walk nothing is really out of the way. I think lille does amazing sweets but their savory is also next level. They start serving their savory items and lunch items after 12 so I recommend going out for a lunch and getting the sweets as your sweet treat for after. It’s beautiful on a sunny day and you can sit outside but it’s also perfect for a gloomy day, sitting on their loft level looking out the window.

Lunch/Dinner - truthfully I often don’t go to super nice dinners when I’m in Copenhagen because I’m often solo and as much as I love food, I love sharing meals with other people and I feel like that is such a big part of the experience that I usually focus my money on bakeries, where I’m staying, and shopping (also because food is generally pricey in Copenhagen anyway!)

• Bar Vitrine - So good I went twice. Whether you’re going just for wine - because it’s an amazing wine bar - or for full dinner, make sure you order at least one thing from the menu. The food here is so delicious and full of flavor. It’s ideal on a non rainy day, you can sit outside and people watch and it’s just the best.

• Bæst - This pizza spot was recommended to me so many times and it was also a 5 minute walk from my airbnb and it was wonderful!! They make so many of the ingredients in house and the vibes are a 10/10

• Poulette - Made famous thanks to the queen that is Dua Lipa - Poulette makes a delicious chicken sandwich. In the evening you can order it and take it next door to the wine bar Pompette. I love to go for lunch and bring it over to Assistens Kirkegård which is a cemetery but also the most beautiful park with many pathways and people having picnics, reading books, and taking naps.

• Communal Dining - Ok so this is something new to me but when I was coming back to Copenhagen a bunch of locals recommended I go to Absalon which is a communal dining space that also hosts other events including yoga, pottery, etc! I wasn’t able to go to absalon because of scheduling but I ended up attending a social dining dinner at Kanalhuset which was amazing! The price point is super reasonable and they create the seating chart so there’s no stress around trying to decide where to sit which I love. This was another amazing way to meet locals as well as people visiting.

• La Banchina - this one falls in the category of food and activity. Think wine bar with a few beautiful menu items but your sat in the most beautiful outdoor spot where most people are also swimming or sunbathing. I recommend going and watching the sunset with wine and a few snacks. I did this solo and it was lovely but would also be so fun with friends!

Shopping - as a tall girl with a degree in fashion design and an obsession with well made clothes, I LOVE shopping in Copenhagen.

• Vintage Shopping - there are SO many vintage stores in Copenhagen. Nørrebrogade is a street in Nørrebro with vintage store after vintage store but they can get a little overwhelming sometimes! Jægersborggade also has a bunch of cute little boutiques and vintage stores which I found on my last day (put in Habiba salon into your google maps and you’ll find the street).

• Magnolia - A beautiful vintage store in the heart of Copenhagen, if you’re not looking for it, you’d probably miss it but this is more high end vintage think Cecilie Bahnsen, Dior, etc.

• Skall Studios - I love shopping brands I can’t get in the US when I’m in Copenhagen. Skall is a bit pricier but I do love it so much. This trip I also found quite a few of their pieces at vintage stores so it’s worth looking there too!

• Boii - Boii studios is the perfect spot for like basic Danish girl style - basically anything you see everyone wearing, you’ll be able to find here and I always go at least once!

• Lubarol - Lubarol is a little boutique with some really cute pieces close to Skall and I tend to do a bit of damage if I go to both in one day.

• Studio Arhoj & Tybo Art & Craft - these are my two go to shops when it comes to ceramics. Studio Arhoj is a little more fun and whimsical, Tybo is a little more neutral but still incredibly beautiful and artistic!

• Hay - I simply can’t go to Copenhagen and not go to Hay house; it’s a two story home design store. Most of the time I don’t buy anything but its so fun to just walk around and get inspired.

• A.K. Jærbede - Ok I stumbled into here on my last day and this is where to go if you want to have a bit of fun with sunglasses. They have so many different styles at incredibly reasonable price points. I left with three which is so unusual for me but I’m obsessed. I can’t 100% speak to the quality because I’ve only had them for a couple weeks now but I’ve already worn them many times and so far so good!

Things to do that aren’t eating/shopping

• The Louisiana - This was the only museum I went to this trip and it was magical. You need to take a train about 45 minutes outside of the central city but it’s a beautiful ride and you can use the Rejsekort app that you use for the normal metro and bus for it too! This is one of those museums where the building and grounds are just as much of the artwork as the actual body of art. If you can I recommend going on a good weather day - there’s a spot to swim and beautiful lawns for having lunch or a gorgeous restaurant with beautiful views!

• Swimming! There are so many spots to swim in Copenhagen - I didn’t swim last summer, I think I just felt intimidated but it’s actually the best. I only went once this time and I just went over by Papirøen and the Broens Street food market and it was perfect. Just bring a towel with you and you can sit for hours! There’s a ton of restaurants around but I love just grabbing something casual at the Broens Market which has a bunch of different stands.

Of course there are SO MANY more things to do in Copenhagen but this is just what I did and loved this time around!

Favorites!

Jewelry

I’ve always loved jewelry and I feel like it’s so fun to play around with. It’s also something that really changes with fashion trends and lately I’ve been seeing chunkier gold and silver jewelry which I love. I recently discovered Kinn and now I’m hooked - the pieces aren’t inexpensive but they’re also meant to last multiple generations. This month I bought myself the ring stack below from Kinn (it’s a half size too big so I have to exchange it but it’s absolutely stunning in person) and these earrings from Jenny bird which make a statement without being massive.

• Kinn ring

• Jenny bird earrings

Books!

I have a confession to make, I’ve never been much of a reader. Maybe once a year I find a book that really get’s me hooked but that’s about it and otherwise I have a hard time prioritizing it. That was until this month, a friend mentioned that she’s been reading on the subway and to be honest I never really considered it because I don’t usually carry a book with me and I didn’t think I’d be able to focus. Turns out I was wrong, it’s quickly become my favorite part of a long subway ride! I’ve been reading Just Kids by Patti Smith since last year but since starting to read on the subway, I’ve read more than half of it and it’s wonderful!

• Just Kids by Patti Smith

TV/Movies

So you know how I said I was never much of a reader? On the other hand I love tv and movies. When I’m baking, recipe testing, cleaning, cooking, I’m always either listening to music on full volume or watching something. Last year when I was in Copenhagen, they had the show Yellowstone on the Danish netflix so my best friend and I started watching and I became absolutely hooked. But back in the US I had to pay for the remaining seasons and because season 5 was the newest it was over $20 which honestly just felt so frivolous so I kind of forgot about it until this month. I signed up for Peacock so I could watch the winter olympics (best decision ever btw) and I saw I could also watch Yellowstone. I know I’m so behind on it but if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend. ALSO!!! HEATED RIVALRY!! It’s been out for a hot minute but I loved it and can’t wait for the next season.

• Yellowstone

• Winter Olympics

• Heated rivalry

Ps the new season of Drive to Survive just dropped on Netflix and I’m watching it while writing this <3

Music

Whether I’m walking down the sidewalk, at the gym, on a run, in the shower, or baking, odds are high that I’m listening to music. Before I leave the house I ALWAYS put in headphones and nothing makes me happier than finding a new song to play on repeat until I inevitably get sick of it. On Friday, picky choosy by Chelsea Jordan came out and I’m obsessed with it. I haven’t stopped listening to it (also Toronto and BETTER WHEN I’M LONELY are so so good)

• picky choosy - Chelsea Jordan

Closet!

Because it’s still cold and layers are necessary I feel like I’m still in the world of basics and then when it warms up I play a bit more with colors and fun pieces. Last fall I found these 90s low rise jeans from gap and ordered them in tall in medium indigo and they have become my go to jeans so when I needed a new pair of black jeans it seemed only right I order them in black too. The only thing I will say is they are BLACK and I would love a more washed wash of the black but the fit is so comfy and flattering that I still love them and will just keep an eye out for a different pair of black jeans, in a more washed finish. Cold weather is the season of layering which means 9 times out of 10 I have simple white tee under my sweaters and sweatshirts. I feel like white tshirts are the chocolate chip cookies of clothes; everyone has a different preference and favorite but these are mine. I usually end up ordering a 2 pack and leaving one a bit longer and cutting one to hit just around the waist band of my low rise jeans. I recently ordered the long sleeve version too in large and it’s the comfiest shirt I’ve ever put on my body. Last but not least, and this one is very much giving, I can’t wait for spring but I ordered this white eyelet bra from free people and it is so flattering and comfortable and I feel like it’s going to be so cute when it warms up to let it peak out from under overalls or with a big button down over top!

• 90s low rise jeans from gap

• Perfect white t

• Eyelet bra free people

Bakeries/Restaurants

One of my new year’s goals is to try more restaurants and bakeries because nyc is full of such an incredible food scene and I feel like I’ve been missing out. So I figured every month I’ll try to have at least one or two new ones to share with y’all! I think my new favorite breakfast is Smør. It’s a Scandinavian spot with sweet and savory breakfast items, beautiful pastries, and delicious coffee. It’s the kind of breakfast that doesn’t make you feel like you need to take a nap after but it’s still so delicious and satiating aka the perfect combo to me also it’s super reasonably priced! Elbow bakery has been around for a minute but I just hadn’t made it over - it did not disappoint. Everything I tried was amazing but the standouts to me were the turkey sandwich and the clementine danish!! Ok last but not least is Bordertown in Greenpoint. Being from Texas I feel like I grew up with some very good mexican food so I do feel like my bar is quite high. The food was very tasty and if I lived in the neighborhood I do think it would be a fun place to go frequently but for me all I really need are their fresh hand rolled flour tortillas (which honestly are worth the trek on their own) and their refried beans. Also if you like a simple but bright guac, their’s is delicious!

• Elbow bakery

• Smør

• Bordertown

Makeup/nails

I get a regular gel Russian manicure at OneL once a month and it’s probably my favorite way to treat myself. I absolutely love having my nails done and I find that (with the exception of a full chrome) they last me a full four weeks without chipping! That being said last November I got silver chrome for the first time and I’ve never been so giddy leaving the nail salon, but my nail tech warned me that it tends to chip and sure enough it did. Two weeks ago I got it again but this time we did two layers of chrome over a milky clear and while the tips have definitely begun to chip, it’s only really the top layer so you still see silver underneath and can only see the chips if you really look closely. I fear I do have an appointment on Wednesday and I might need to get them again because I love them so much. When it comes to makeup I’ve always been a less is more girl but I actually think it’s so fun and kind of feel like I stopped because I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. So this year I’ve decided we’re gonna start playing again. I recently started wearing the cream blush from rhode and I love it!!

• Silver chrome nails

• Rhode Cream Blush

Raspberry Semla Cake

Inspired by a traditional Swedish cream bun, this Raspberry Semla Cake is essentially a giant semla filled with raspberry jam and vanilla pastry cream, and it is the perfect non-traditional February birthday cake.

Recipe!

12 Layer Chocolate Cake

6 layers of chocolate cake, 6 layers of chocolate cream, all topped with a thin layer of chocolate ganache, this 12 Layer Chocolate Cake is a chocolate lover’s dream!

Recipe!

Lemon Poppyseed Crepes with Raspberries

Filled with lemon curd, yogurt whipped cream and raspberry jam, these Lemon Poppyseed Crepes with Raspberries are perfect for any breakfast table!

Recipe!

Custard Cream & Jam Doughnuts

Fluffy, sugar rolled, doughnuts filled with a custard pastry cream and blackberry red currant jam – these Custard Cream and Jam Doughnuts are everything you want and need.

Recipe!

Lemon Brioche Buns

Fluffy lemon brioche dough, a simple lemon cream cheese filling, topped with a lemon glaze, these Lemon Brioche Buns are fluffy, springy and perfect for breakfast.

Recipe!

Chocolate Tahini Sesame Cookies

These Chocolate Tahini Sesame Cookies are chewy and arguably my all time favorite cookie. Think classic chocolate chunk cookie but the chocolate and tahini are swirled into the cookies and then rolled in sesame seeds.

Recipe!

Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

Light and fluffy Lemon Blueberry Pancakes, filled with fresh blueberries and topped with a lemon blueberry compote, vanilla maple sweet cream, and salty whipped butter. Y’all I’m obsessed with these!

Recipe!

Pink Sprinkle Donuts

Classic, fluffy and flavored with orange, these pink sprinkle donuts are topped with a pink glaze made from hibiscus orange tea and colorful sprinkles.

Recipe!

Banana Walnut Buttermilk Pancakes

Fluffy and soft but not too airy, these Banana Walnut Buttermilk Pancakes are the perfect breakfast on a weekday or weekend. If you feel like it, swap out the bananas and walnuts for your favorite add-ins!

Recipe!

Classic Crinkle Top Brownies

Sometimes the classics are the classics for a reason and these Classic Crinkle Top Brownies are exactly that. Crinkle top, gooey, fudgy and perfectly chocolatey, you and customize these anyway you want but I love them as is.

Recipe!

Ok happy love day & weekend, I love you all <3

Audrey

One of my 2025 goals was to host more, so at the start of the year I set out to host breakfast once a month and I succeeded! Well 10 out of 12 of the months but I count that as a win. I love a dinner party but I love breakfast more so it seemed only right.

After a full year of hosting, I decided to do a little reflecting on the things I’ve learned that made it easier & more fun.

• Work smarter not harder - this one probably seems obvious but I’m the kind of person that usually thinks I can do it all. And maybe I can but maybe it’s also more fun if I don’t. Not everything needs to be made from scratch, mmk? Sometimes making a pot of coffee rather than individual lattes is easier. Make things you already know work, and if you want to try something new, make sure not everything is new.

• Prep, prep, prep - hosting breakfast especially means you don’t have a ton of time in the morning so the more you can get done the day before, the better. Boil your eggs in advance, rinse/cut/prep your fruits and veg, Make any doughs the day before and store them in the fridge so you can bake in the morning.

• Platters vs. plates - this one was hard for me because I’m stubborn and had a vision to serve individual plates like you would get at a restaurant. But plating individual plates takes longer, it’s harder to get the timing right, and if you live somewhere where space is tight, it can be hard to lay out 8-10 plates all at once. Enter the platter aka all the pancakes on one plate, all the eggs on one, etc.

• Make a schedule - the night before, make a schedule so you know exactly how your timing should go and give yourself a 30 min buffer for overtime which you will inevitably need. And if you don’t you’ll have an extra few minutes to take some deep breaths <3

ok now for the first breakfast of 2026…

January 2026 breakfast club

Sometimes I have a theme and sometimes I just go on vibes, January was a menu of vibes…

The Menu

Growing up there was a restaurant we used to go to for breakfast and they always bring out a bread basket, but breakfast edition - aka it’s filled with banana bread, orange sticky buns, and more. So rather than appetizers, I like to have “bakery” items for my friends to snack on with their first coffees while I finish prepping the mains. I’ve been dying to making croissant cinnamon rolls aka cinnamon rolls made with a laminated brioche instead of a standard brioche so they’re flaky and buttery and just delicious. These were a first attempt but I feel like I was 90% there so I’m going to do a couple more tests and then I’ll write a full recipe and video for them! I also made my morning glory loaf cake which is kinda like a carrot cake but with apple too and its one of my favorites for the colder months.

I like to have a little sweet and savory, so I made my overnight muesli and added in a little grated apple - this was easy to scoop morning of and serve in my vintage metal coupe glasses. Going along with my platters over plates method, I served lox from Russ & Daughters which I love because they do such a wonderful job slicing it thinly. Soft boiling eggs ahead of time was a huge time savor and I served them over a plate of labneh, topped them micro greens, salt and pepper, and then had a side plate of avocado with a little lemon juice. I made a scallion & caper whipped cream cheese which may seem obvious to some of you but adding chopped capers into the whipped cream means no more rolly polly capers and adds extra flavor to an otherwise standard cream cheese. I also added a little labneh into the cream cheese also helps soften it and add a little tang to cut the richness. Bread is a non negotiable to me so we had whole wheat sourdough and a dense rye bread.

I used to always serve dessert after because I feel like every meal deserves dessert but I feel like it needs to be something light like a mousse or ice cream. If you look closely at the menu you’ll see I planned to serve black and white cookies but tbh I hadn’t tested them which was bad planning on my part so I didn’t serve them. That being said, nobody missed them and I have been working on the recipe so they’ll be up next week!!

The Decor

I love to decorate with fresh flowers so I went the day before to the flower district in nyc on 28th between 7th & 8th ave. Do note that they aren’t budget flowers but I feel like a few can really add so much to a space especially in the gloomy months! Citrus is also a great and inexpensive way to add a pop of color and depth to your tables capes.

The Activity

One thing I want to add into this year’s breakfasts is an activity, yes it’s another thing to plan but I feel like it adds so much to the morning. For January I asked everyone to bring two magazines and I supplied white boards, scissors and doubled sided tape. After breakfast we spent a couple hours ripping magazine pages and made vision boards for 2026, it was so cathartic and so much fun to be creative without any pressure.

Let me know what else y’all want to know and I’ll be sure to share it along with the February breakfast!

Love you!

-Audrey

• Allow the fruits to sit in the sugar to really draw out the moisture, breakdown the fruit, and allow it to get nice and syrupy. This is important because we’re trying to keep the fresh flavor of the fruit rather than cooking it down.

• You can make a panna cotta in almost any bowl or pan. Individual servings can be made in ramekins. The easiest pan to use is a silicone mold but if you don’t have one don’t stress, you’ll just need a little more patience to get it out.

• When heating the heavy cream it only needs to be hot and steamy to melt the gelatin, you don’t want to boil it.

• Any yogurt should work, I prefer to use a full fat unsweetened greek yogurt which makes the panna cotta extra creamy while still providing a bit of tang.

• I recommend making this a day or two before you plan to serve it. Just make sure the surface has plastic wrap draped over the top so it doesn’t dry out and crack.

• This recipe is naturally gluten free but still feels substantial and not like you’re missing out on anything!

Recipe!

Let me know if you end up giving it a go!

Love, Audrey

July - Blackberry Almond Cream Cake

A soft almond sponge, a vanilla yogurt cream, and a blackberry red currant compote, this Blackberry Almond Cream Cake is light and fluffy and not too sweet.

Recipe

August - Plum & Cream Pastry Cake

Alternating layers of vanilla cake, puff pastry, pastry cream, and plum butter make up this Plum & Cream Pastry Cake perfect for an August birthday.

Recipe

September - My Birthday Cake!

Chocolate sponge, chocolate pudding, coffee mascarpone whipped cream, blackberry raspberry jam, and cream cheese whipped cream, this is my dream September birthday cake.

Recipe

October - Dirty Chai Tiramisu Chocolate Cake

The cake I would make if my birthday was in October, this Dirty Chai Tiramisu Chocolate Cake is full of flavor, fluffy, and not too sweet.

Recipe

November - Chocolate Pear & Hazelnut Cake

Soft chocolate cake layers, dark chocolate pastry cream, baked pears, and a hazelnut praline crunch, this Chocolate, Pear, & Hazelnut Cake is perfect for a November Birthday!

Recipe

December - Hot Chocolate Meringue Cake

Thick chocolate cake, soaked with hot chocolate, topped with a rich chocolate ganache and finished with a pile of toasted meringue, this Hot Chocolate Meringue cake is perfect for the winter!

Recipe

Ps the January birthday cake just went up! Thank you all so much for being here and supporting me, love you!