Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store by Paola Velez instant download

Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store by Paola Velez instant download

ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Los Angeles Times, EATER, Delish, Latina Magazine, Tasting Table, Robb Report, The Local Palate, Library Journal, Carla Hall 

• A FOOD NETWORK BEST BAKING BOOK OF THE YEAR 

• ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS TO GIFT: The Strategist, Forbes, Domino, Chowhound, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe

A baking book bursting with joy that will have you hightailing it to the oven—and planning a trip to your local corner store.

Growing up in the Bronx, Paola Velez’s happy place was the bodega, a unique world full of color and flavor where the shelves were stocked with everything from M&M’s to Muenster cheese to majarete (Caribbean corn pudding)—and, of course, its own cat (IYKYK). Before she was a James Beard–nominated chef, Cherry Bombe cover girl, social media darling, and cofounder of the grassroots social action network Bakers Against Racism, Paola was a bodega kid with a taste for Warheads, Hostess cupcakes, ice pops, and Malta soda.  

Paola’s debut cookbook, inspired by these treasures and other ingredients available at corner stores everywhere, is a love letter to both her Dominican heritage and her New York City roots; its more than 100 recipes burst with distinctive flavors, inviting you to enjoy new takes on her childhood favorites and yours. Paola’s combination of classical training and self-taught pastry skills means her recipes are accessible no matter your skill level. She’ll be your hype girl through more ambitious projects (you can make a turnover—and a Guava and Cheese one at that), as well as more “set it and forget it” treats, like her Maria Cookie Icebox Cake. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on her signature Thick’ems—giant cookies that are somehow crunchy and gooey—the most requested recipe in Paola’s repertoire and the recipe that made her internet famous, which she shares here for the very first time.