MAK and Her Cheese

Fudgy Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake

This is the MOISTEST, SOFTEST, FUDGIEST chocolate cake, leveled up with warm notes of gingerbread, a crunchy cookie crust, rich chocolate ganache, sweet and nutty toffee bits, and creamy whipped browned butter cream cheese buttercream. It's the ultimate celebration cake for Christmas or any wintry occasion.Take my chocolatiest Dutch chocolate cake, mix in brown sugar, molasses, and a touch of warm spices, then layer it up with lots of crunchy, fudgy, buttery fillings, and cover it all in the dreamiest browned butter cream cheese buttercream. The result is this masterpiece I can't wait to share with you. To me, this is Christmas in cake form. It's rich and indulgent, warm and comforting, festive, crowd-pleasing, and features all the flavors of your favorite Christmas goodies--chocolate, gingerbread, buttery cookies, crunchy toffee, cream cheese, and more chocolate. The recipe does require a little extra time and care to get all the yummy layers in there, but I promise your efforts ...

The rich, savory, and sweet flavors of French onion soup meet hearty mac & cheese in this comforting, elevated side dish. Featuring earthy, sweet caramelized onions, white wine, aromatic thyme, roasted garlic, nutty gruyere and sharp aged white cheddar in a creamy, buttery sauce, and toasty sourdough. It doesn’t take much to explain why this…

Soft, buttery overnight brioche dough is rolled up with a rich and fudgy chocolate babka-inspired filling and honey toasted pecans. After baking, the warm, gooey rolls are topped with creamy browned butter mascarpone frosting. They are the most divine treat for a holiday morning. I can say with total confidence that these chocolate pecan brioche…

Extra moist pumpkin spice cake layers with a crunchy Biscoff cookie crust, dreamy browned butter cream cheese buttercream, and rich homemade salted butterscotch sauce. It’s the BEST cake for fall! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this new pumpkin crunch cake. The cake layers are sooooooo soft and moist and pillowy, and…

This juicy and satisfying Greek-inspired salad is loaded with roasted turkey, crispy bacon, briny artichokes, peppadew peppers, olives, and pickled onion, tangy feta, creamy avocado, crisp veggies, bright herbs, toasted sourdough, and a smooth tahini dressing with lemon and honey. This post comes to you as part of my juicy/satisfying salad campaign. It’s for those…

Hearty pasta smothered in a thick & creamy sweet potato sauce with roasted garlic, herbs, rich smoked gouda, gruyere, and aged white cheddar. Topped with candied bacon and baked until irresistibly crisp and melty. Perfect for a mouthwatering holiday side dish or cozy winter dinner. When it comes to holiday meals, for me it’s…

Nutty browned butter and brown sugar, bold apple cider, warm spices, rich maple and white chocolate, all baked into the most magical soft, chewy cookie and topped with a drizzle of maple cream. If you’ve been wondering whether you really need the apple cider sitting in the special cooler at the front of the market…

Griddled French toast made with buttery soft brioche infused with vanilla and warm spices. Topped with a heavenly citrus maple cream cheese glaze and maple toasted pecans. Deceptively quick and hassle-free with indulgent & nostalgic flavor and textures. Fun fact about me: My #1 favorite breakfast/brunch item is always French toast. Always. I usually don’t…

Tender vanilla cake layers filled with creamy vanilla bean whipped white chocolate ganache and crunchy Biscoff cookie butter, all covered in the silkiest, smoothest, dreamiest cookie butter Swiss meringue buttercream.When it comes to cake, chocolate is almost always the obvious answer for me. So when a dear friend requested vanilla cake for her birthday, I…

Roasted turkey, crispy bacon, fresh sweet corn and fennel, tangy pickled onion, avocado, toasty sourdough, bright herbs and crisp greens with a thick & creamy homemade garlic parmesan miso Caesar dressing. An elevated, outrageously flavorful, extra crunchy, super satisfying take on the classic.Another crunchy salad to add to the lineup. ASAP. Try it for a…

Fresh juicy strawberries, crisp greens, fennel and leeks, pickled red onion, ripe avocado, roast turkey and crispy bacon, creamy gorgonzola, sweet & spicy toasted walnuts, basil pesto, and homemade honey balsamic dressing. Aka the best of spring loaded up in the ultimate flavorful and satisfying salad. If you’ve been keeping up with Punxsutawney Phil and…

This light, creamy, and satisfying twist on classic potato leek soup features wholesome white beans and crispy bacon or pancetta. It’s blended to silky-smooth perfection and finished with creme fraiche, lemon, and bright herbs.By this point in February, most of us are completely over the whole winter thing and ready for a taste of spring….

Quality feta, olive oil, honey, herbs, pepper, and 15 minutes are all you need to make this sophisticated, comforting, crowd-pleasing, unbelievably delicious baked appetizer.This honey baked feta has been one of my go-to appetizers for years. The post is long overdue because the baked feta tends to be demolished before I can photograph it. I…

Crispy ham, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, melty sharp cheddar, mashed & seasoned avocado, sweet & spicy peppadew peppers, tangy pickled red onion, and an oozy fried egg sandwiched on a thin onion bagel and grilled until hot and toasty. Without sounding overly dramatic, this is the most savory, flavor-packed, comforting, satisfying, mouthwatering concoction that I…

A thick & hearty whole grain buttermilk waffle loaded with warm gingerbread spices, dark chocolate chips, and topped with a light & creamy vanilla bean maple mascarpone glaze.Before abandoning all the festive and comforting flavors of the holidays in exchange for the gloomier half of winter, you have to try my all-time favorite, most satisfying…

Soft and buttery homemade brioche dough is rolled with orange marmalade and spices, baked until fluffy, gooey, and golden, then topped with a beautiful sweet orange glaze. These orange rolls make the perfect bright, citrusy treat for Christmas morning. The dough can be prepped the night before so they are completely hands-free in the morning….

Smooth & luscious vanilla bean custard cheesecake filling layered with big slices of gooey, cidery spiced apples over a crunchy, caramelized Biscoff cookie crust. Topped with a toasty brown sugar cinnamon oat crumble and finished with a thick, glossy homemade apple cider caramel sauce. Obviously pie is a quintessential part of Thanksgiving. But when it…

Extra soft & moist dark chocolate cake layers, fluffy vanilla bean toasted marshmallow filling, rich & silky chocolate ganache, the creamiest malted milk chocolate buttercream, and glossy salted bourbon toffee sauce come together to make this decadent 3-layer s’mores-inspired cake. Before getting too immersed in Thanksgiving baking, we can’t forget about birthday cake season. It’s…

These thick, soft, and airy buttermilk pancakes are made with reduced apple cider, apple pie spices, melty butterscotch chips, and hunks of sautéed cinnamon apple. Topped with salted crunchy peanut butter and the most magical thick apple cider maple syrup.Nothing says fall like apple cider. While apple cider donuts are all the rage, there are…

Seasonal Favorites

Balsamic Mushroom and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza

Maple Roasted Carrots with Tahini Glaze

Baked Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

Citrus & Spice Brioche French Toast

Grilled Ham and Provolone with Quick Garlic Avocado Aioli

Browned Butter Chocolate Pecan Pie

Latest Posts

Fudgy Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake

French Onion Mac & Cheese

Chocolate Pecan Brioche Rolls

Pumpkin Biscoff Crunch Cake

Loaded Greek Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing

Baked Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

Browned Butter Apple Cider Cookies

Citrus & Spice Brioche French Toast

Vanilla Cream Biscoff Cake

The Best Crunchy Miso Caesar Salad

Strawberry Spring Crunch Salad

Creamy Potato, Leek, & White Bean Soup

Simply Perfect Honey Baked Feta

Fried Egg, Roasted Tomato, Crispy Ham & Cheddar Bagel Melt

Thick Whole Grain Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Waffle

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

Apple Crumble Cheesecake with Cider Caramel

S’mores Cake with Malted Milk Chocolate Buttercream & Salted Toffee Sauce

Apple Cider Butterscotch Pancakes with Peanut Butter & Cider Syrup

Find more of what you love

Turkey & Bacon Miso Caesar Wrap

Maple Pomegranate Roasted Salmon

Gingerbread Cake with Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting and Rum Butterscotch

Roasted Broccolini, Fennel, & White Bean Soup