She's My Cherry Pie

Today’s guest is Rebecca Firkser—a Brooklyn-based recipe developer, writer, and food stylist. Rebecca’s debut cookbook, “Galette!: Sweet and Savory Recipes as Easy as Pie,” was just released and it’s an ode to the endlessly adaptable, always impressive pastry she calls the most “riffable” of all. 

Rebecca joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path through the food world, her first galette (a plum beauty), and the special role ...

Today’s guest is Melanie Johnson, a baker, photographer, and food writer based in London. She’s also a columnist at Country Life magazine and the author of “Bundt: From Everyday Bakes to Fabulous Celebration Cakes.” 

Melanie joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about her lifelong love of bundt cakes and why they’re the perfect baked good for beginner bakers. Then, the duo walk through Melanie’s Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Bundt with Mil...

Today, we welcome back award-winning pastry chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur Joanne Chang to the show! Joanne is the force behind the beloved Flour Bakery & Cafe, which now boasts 10 locations across the Boston/Cambridge area, and the co-owner of Myers + Chang, a celebrated Asian fusion restaurant in Boston’s South End.

Joanne joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path from a childhood with few sweets to becoming one of...

Today’s guest is Renato Poliafito, the creative force behind Ciao, Gloria, the beloved bakery and café in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and Pasta Night, its cozy pasta-slinging counterpart right across the street. A two-time James Beard Award nominee and co-author of multiple cookbooks, Renato released his first solo book, “Dolci!: American Baking with an Italian Accent,” last year as a tribute to his Italian American roots and his d...

Today’s guest is Susan Sarich, founder and CEO of SusieCakes, the nostalgic bakery known for its made-from-scratch Americana desserts. Since opening the first SusieCakes’ location in 2006, Susan has expanded the brand across the U.S. with over 30 locations in California, Texas, and Tennessee. 

Susan joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the heartfelt story of how her two grandmothers inspired her baking career and her business. Then, t...

Today’s guest is Bobbie Lloyd, the CEO and Chief Baking Officer of the legendary Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Bobbie is also a cookbook author, and her latest book, “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook Vol. 2: Icebox Desserts,” was released earlier this year.  

Bobbie joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the origin story of the bakery and how it became a global dessert empire, including how the show “Sex and the City” turned it from a l...

Today’s guest is entrepreneur and ice cream queen Pooja Bavishi of Malai Ice Cream, a Brooklyn-based brand redefining frozen desserts with bold South Asian flavors. She’s also the author of the new cookbook “Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian flavors.” 

Pooja joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her chai-inspired “hybrid identity,” her passion for experimenting with unconventional flavor pairings, and the ginger and s...

Today’s guest is Nicole Rucker, the award-winning pastry chef and owner of L.A.’s cult-favorite bakery Fat + Flour. Nicole is also the author of the new cookbook, “Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple Bake.” 

Nicole joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about falling out of love with baking during the pandemic and how her new book helped her rediscover the joy in it. She breaks down her revolutionary “cold butter method” for foolproof pie d...

Today’s guest is Apollonia Poilâne, the third-generation baker and CEO of the legendary Parisian boulangerie Poilâne. Apollonia joins host Jessie Sheehan to share her extraordinary journey—from taking over the family bakery at just 18 years old to honoring and evolving a legacy that dates back to 1932. 

The duo dive into her life growing up between French and American cultures, the creative influence of her parents, and the secrets ...

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with baker and cookbook author Benjamina Ebuehi. Benjamina was a finalist on “The Great British Bake Off,” where she stood out for her approachable and creative recipes. Since then, she’s written three baking books, including her latest, “I’ll Bring Dessert,” which celebrates shareable recipes and simple treats perfect for entertaining.

Benjamina tel...

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with cookbook author and blogger Abi Balingit of The Dusky Kitchen. Abi is known for her flavorful, fun desserts, inspired by her American upbringing and Filipino heritage. She channeled all of this in her debut cookbook, “Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed,” which won the James Beard Award for Emerging Voice. Abi was also featured on the co...

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with Paola Velez, pastry chef and co-founder of Bakers Against Racism, the global bake sale that raised over $2.5 million for social justice causes. She’s also the author of “Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store.”

Paola joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk all about her book, which she describes as a love letter to bot...

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—host Jessie Sheehan’s interview with self-taught pastry chef, community activist, and Cherry Bombe Magazine cover star Natasha Pickowicz. Natasha is known for her unique take on cake baking and decorating, and she’s built a cult following for her minimalist creations with maximum flavor. Natasha tells Jessie about her cake-making approach, which she outlines in her book, “More Tha...

Today’s guest is Stacey Mei Yan Fong, a home baker and the author of “50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie.” While Stacey moved from Asia to the U.S., she found comfort in baking and launched a heartfelt project to create a pie for every state.

Stacey joins host Jessie Sheehan to share how this endeavor provided a creative outlet, pivoted her career from fashion to food, and resulted in a c...

Today’s guest is Melissa Weller, the chemical engineer-turned-baker and author of “Very Good Bread.” Melissa is a James Beard-nominated baker and the former head baker at Per Se and Roberta’s in New York City. She returns to the show to share her expertise on this iconic French bread.

Melissa joins host Jessie Sheehan to explore what it means to be a baker versus a pastry chef, her love for Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking with Julia,” and...

Today’s guest is JR Ryall, the head pastry chef at Ballymaloe House Hotel, a renowned luxury property in County Cork, Ireland. He’s also the author of the 2022 cookbook “Ballymaloe Desserts: Iconic Recipes and Stories from Ireland” and is known for showcasing local, high-quality ingredients in his elegant desserts.

JR joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about his earliest memories of Ballymaloe House, the bread-baking class that ignit...

Today’s guest is Clarice Lam, award-winning pastry chef and author of “Breaking Bao: 88 Bakes and Snacks from Asia and Beyond,” which was a New York Times’ Best Cookbook of 2024. Clarice grew up between Los Angeles and Hong Kong in a snack-obsessed family and went from a career in modeling to mastering the art of pastry.

She joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her baking journey and how she blends French techniques with bold Asi...

Today’s guest is Ellen King, co-owner of Hewn Bread in Illinois and the author of the 2018 cookbook, “Heritage Baking.” Hewn is beloved for its dedication to heritage grains and traditional bread-making techniques. With locations in Evanston, Libertyville, and Winnetka, it’s become a community staple, and Ellen’s work has earned national recognition. 

Ellen joins host Jessie Sheehan to share her journey from discovering truly good b...

Today’s guest is Jessica Battilana, staff editor at King Arthur Baking Company and co-author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook “Big Book of Bread.” Jessica is an award-winning food writer and recipe developer who has authored several cookbooks. 

She takes host Jessie Sheehan on a deep dive into her recipe for Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread from “Big Book of Bread.” She also shares her philosophy on why you should eat dessert e...