JessicaBakes

We like cooks that make us giggle – not just with their words, but with their recipes, too. This is why we love JessicaBakes. She’s allergic to gluten, but loves to bake (as she says, “Whoops!”). No matter: her recipes will simultaneously confuse you, challenge you, and delight you. Somehow, she will convince you to bake something that seems outlandish, crazy, almost sinful – and when it emerges from the oven, you’ll understand. And then you will eat half of the tray as you lean against your kitchen counter, thanking her for being so fearlessly creative.

Her Fruitcake-Inspired Brownies (pictured above) converted us; fruitcake and brownies? Turned out to be genius. We are just as incredulous (and delighted!) with her Saffron-Vanilla Crabby Creamy Corn, her Peppery Bourbon Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Glaze, her Slightly-Spicy Chocolate-Dipped Candied Grapefruit. How could you not smile at those combinations, and then run off to the kitchen to give them a try? We can’t resist. Off to make some Egg-Topped Spicy Cornbread Pudding!

Read our profile Q&A with JessicaBakes below.

• What do you cook when home alone?
  One of my dog's treat s...I wanted to make sure he was eating well...
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• What do you cook when home alone?
  Elaborate cakes or comforting bean dishes
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• Your most treasured kitchen possession:
  Kitchen torch. I use that thing whenever I can
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• The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
  6. I really dislike multiple conversations happening at once.