Baking

Eugenia Cheng is on a mission to make math relatable — using dessert

New York-based baker Samantha Seneviratne grew up with cookies and brownies and sticky buns. But as a baker, she yearned to make things that are a little less sweet and cloying. She found the answer in her Sri Lankan heritage.

At this time of year, just about everybody is baking cookies (that is, if they’re not making latkes, but that’s another story). How many times have you stuck a batch of cookies in the oven only to have them emerge nothing like you imagined? Understanding the science behind the perfect cookie could help preserve your baking reputation.

Paul Lowe grew up in Oslo, Norway baking cakes with his grandmother and great aunt. Now, he lives in New York and is famous for his baked treats, like his almond bun recipe. In fact, he’s known online as “Sweet Paul.” Paul Lowe grew up in Oslo, Norway baking cakes with his grandmother and great aunt. Now, he lives in New York and is famous for his baked treats, like his almond bun recipe. In fact, he’s known online as “Sweet Paul.”

In Spain, a loaf of bread has typically cost a euro. But times are tough there, and one baker in the Valencia region decided to slash the price to just 20 euro cents. In so doing, he’s upended the system, and captured a whole bunch of new customers at the same time.