The Chopping Block Cooking Blog

Kids Can Make Coconut Cupcakes with Pineapple Frosting and So Can You

To be honest, I find it fairly difficult to read coconut cupcakes with pineapple frosting without smiling. This recipe is packed with toasted coconut and juicy pineapple frosting that comes ...

Heritage Bundt Pan: Why Can’t I Quit You?

For the past six months, I’ve had a love affair with my new Bundt pan. I love baking Bundt cakes! It might be a form of baking laziness on my part, partly because the cake is made in a single ...

Apricot Upside Down Cake

My fiancé loves pineapple upside down cake. Don’t get me wrong, I like pineapple upside down cake, but it strikes me as a little outdated, and in need of a revamp! One of my favorite summer flavors ...

Keeping it Simple: Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I was recently invited to a lavish potluck. The host requested that guests bring our best decadent dish along with a card describing the dish. As I read the invitation, my mind started working. ...

My Bagel Experience

I woke up bright and early on a recent Monday morning inspired by our popular artisanal bread making class and ready to make homemade bagels. I also remembered when my sister came to visit me when I ...

Trust Us, You will Devour this Monster Cookie

Oatmeal M&M + chocolate chip + double chocolate chip cookie = a confectionary everyone becomes excited about. Three recipes, one cookie means there is something for everyone. The doughs are all ...

Baking and Building a Wedding Cake

I recently had the honor of making a wedding cake for a friend. I had creative control with the exception of the cake flavor, which had to be chocolate. I thumbed through my collection of recipes ...

Gluten-Free Scones that are actually Delicious

Delicious gluten-free scones? Can they exist? I often find it hard to describe gluten-free breads as delicious, but it's not for lack of trying. My mom has been gluten-free for years, and she ...

Take Your Happiness Into Your Own Hands: Make Your Own Bagels

I’m not going to say it's impossible to find a good bagel in Chicago. That would be irresponsible. But they are few and far between (Sorry, Chicago; I respect you too much to lie), which means that ...

Celebrate Carnival with King Cake Cupcakes

I love Mardi Gras season for many reasons: my birthday, parades with masked people and their "throws" (i.e. beads and trinkets), and King Cake. Being from Louisiana, I'm particularly picky about my ...