Published: 01/24/2025
As a published baking cookbook author, I’ve made my fair share of baked treats. And every year, I pull together a list of new baking recipes to try and I call it my “baking bucket list.” The list is basically filled with my baking-related goals—recipes or techniques that I’ve been too intimidated to try, or some failures I want to revisit. This year, I want to tackle mille-feuille (accomplished!). I’d also love to whip up cheese soufflé, a beautifully delicious homemade challah, and a meringue or pavlova roulade/roll of sorts.
Anyway, I thought readers might enjoy browsing some dessert recipes and non-desserts that have been on my baking bucket list over the years. These recipes can definitely be more challenging, but so rewarding to complete!
Do you have any baking recipes that you want to work on? Perhaps some recipes that have intimidated you in the past, and now you’re ready for a challenge? Find inspiration below! Work at your own pace, or set a goal to try 2 new recipes a month to make your way through the list by the end of the year. However you decide to tackle it, just have FUN!
Baking Bucket List Recipes
Crème Brûlée
Many beginner bakers are SHOCKED at how easy crème brûlée is! Only 6 ingredients required, and if you follow my success tips, you’ll be gifted with the smoothest, creamiest dessert ever.
Homemade Madeleines
These airy teacakes aren’t difficult, but they do require your attention, patience, and precision. This very detailed recipe will guide you!
Beautiful Pastry Braid
This dough comes together using a “rough puff” method to create countless flaky layers. One reader says: “This recipe is delicious! I was intimidated by the pastry dough & braid but the detailed instructions were very helpful and it turned out delish. ★★★★★“
Homemade Croissants
Golden, extra flaky croissants require time, patience, and plenty of rolling. My very thorough post and recipe will help guide you—you can absolutely handle this project! One reader says: “Absolutely the best! Croissants were flaky and delicious. Step-by-step guide and video were so helpful. First time ever making them and I’m totally sold! ★★★★★“
Lemon Pudding Cakes
With fluffy lemon cake on top and rich lemon pudding on the bottom, these unique lemon pudding cakes are a tangy texture dream.
French Macarons
This is an in-depth beginner’s guide to homemade French macarons. I include my kitchen-tested recipe, plus plenty of success tips, descriptions, overview of techniques, list of tools… basically everything you need to get started AND to succeed!
Vertical Cake
What? Where? When? How? This is a vertical layer cake. Assembled with vanilla sponge cake, lemon blueberry swirl whipped cream, and lemon cream cheese buttercream, this vertical cake is a beautiful masterpiece. It’s soft and light with an impressive aesthetic!
Homemade Glazed Doughnuts
Fried, old-fashioned, and comforting. It’s so much fun to make homemade doughnuts from scratch without leaving the comfort of home.
Chocolate Soufflé
One of the most luxurious desserts requires just 7 ingredients. It’s all about the technique! One reader says: “We were nervous making a soufflé for the first time. We followed the instructions to a T, watched the video, and they turned out AMAZING!!! The texture was perfect, the rise was so high… we will definitely make this again. ★★★★★“
Checkerboard Cake
This is a 4-layer vanilla cake twisted up into 1 seriously mesmerizing checkerboard design. So much fun to cut into because the real party is INSIDE the cake!
Cream Puffs With Homemade Choux Pastry
Choux pastry has the reputation for being difficult, but it’s surprisingly simple and prep time is only about 15 minutes. Try it once and you can make an array of pastries: cream puffs, profiteroles, eclairs, and more! One reader says: “I have never made choux before and found so many recipes that were very complicated—yours was perfect! Just made a batch and beaming with pride! ★★★★★”
Brownie Baked Alaska
What a showstopper! This brownie baked Alaska combines a homemade brownie base with your favorite ice cream flavor (like mint chocolate chip); then you’ll smother it with toasted marshmallow meringue. A truly memorable and impressive treat!
Homemade Bagels
This easy recipe proves that you can make deliciously chewy bagels in your own kitchen with only a few basic ingredients and baking tools. You’ll be rewarded with fresher-than-ever bagels, plus the bragging rights for from-scratch baking.
Mille-Feuille (Napoleon Pastry)
From the countless flaky layers of delicate puff pastry, to the clouds of vanilla pastry cream, to the marbled icing, mille-feuille is an impressive dessert. Learn how to make this classic European pastry in your own kitchen—no complicated ingredients or pastry school diploma needed.
Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This simple recipe for nostalgic homemade cinnamon swirl bread is a family favorite. It’s soft, tender, and requires just a handful of basic ingredients. Just look at that gooey cinnamon swirl!
Homemade Banana Cream Pie
Creamy and smooth from-scratch custard, bananas, and whipped cream sit inside my signature flaky pie crust for one epic banana cream pie. It’s a classic yet show-stopping dessert that’s best made ahead of time, making it a perfect choice for dinner parties, holidays, or other special get-togethers.
No-Knead Seeded Oat Bread
Homemade bread has never been easier with the no-knead method used to make this seeded oat bread. It’s crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and full of crunchy seeds in every bite. One reader says: “I have made this bread several times and everyone who tries it absolutely loves it. Thanks for the recipe. ★★★★★”
Homemade Puff Pastry
My puff pastry recipe uses the “rough puff” method of carefully working the butter into the dry ingredients, then folding and flattening many times to create all those lovely flaky layers. I use this versatile dough for a variety of recipes, including berry turnovers (pictured), savory puff pastry tarts, and palmier cookies.
Pavlova (Gluten Free)
Pavlova is crisp on the edges, chewy on top, and marshmallow soft and creamy in the center—that’s 3 different textures in each bite! Finish it off with lemon curd, whipped cream, and fresh fruit for a one-of-a-kind dessert that is sure to impress.
Homemade English Muffins
These honey wheat English muffins are completely homemade from a simple 8-ingredient, no-knead dough. You’ll start by baking them on the stove and finishing them up in the oven, creating a super soft English muffin filled with tons of signature “nooks & crannies.”
Homemade Bread Bowls
Everyone’s favorite way to enjoy soup! Using a basic yet versatile bread dough, these bread bowls are crisp on the exterior and soft on the inside—and they pair perfectly with virtually any soup or chili recipe. One reader says: “Thank you for this recipe. They were perfectly delicious and complemented my soup impeccably well. ★★★★★“
Black Forest Cake
Moist chocolate cake, homemade whipped cream, rich chocolate ganache, and sweet spiked cherries give us lots of layers to love in this towering treat. If you’ve been itching to try a layer cake, you won’t regret making this deliciously decadent black forest cake.
Eclairs With Homemade Choux Pastry
Once you’ve tackled my homemade choux pastry recipe, you can pipe the dough into logs to make delicious eclairs. Fill with peanut butter mousse, generously dip in chocolate ganache, and enjoy!
Which of these recipes have you tried? I have some more inspiration in my advanced baking recipes section.
Or if quick recipes are your jam, here is my collection of quick dessert recipes.
Have fun!
