My mom remarried when I was in my 30s. Already on my path as a food professional, I decided to make her wedding cake. Or wedding cakes. I didn’t want to risk a tiered extravaganza caving in on itself ...

Carrot cake doesn’t usually ask for much. It’s a humble, nostalgic dessert—spiced and sweet, cozy under a thick blanket of cream cheese frosting. It shows up at Easter or maybe at a spring potluck, ...