Recipes Books

Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My C…


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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. With renditions of traditional Caribbean desserts like Pineapple Empanadillas and Golden Rum Cake alongside twists on classic American treats like sticky buns and brownies, Paola’s unique recipes and infectious positive spirit will help you recreate the magic of the bodega at home—BYO cat.

Perfect for anyone who wants to create colorful, Instagram-worthy desserts in their own kitchens, Bodega Bakes transforms cherished Dominican snacks and New York bodega finds into irresistible baking recipes for home cooks of all skill levels. This quintessential New York book brings the flavors of the Bronx to kitchens everywhere, allowing readers to experience the city’s multicultural heritage through more than 100 innovative, joy-filled recipes.


From the Publisher

purple book cover showing a slice of cake topped with grapes on a pink checkered tableclothpurple book cover showing a slice of cake topped with grapes on a pink checkered tablecloth

More than 100 innovative recipes made with ingredients available at corner stores and bodegas everywhere:

two pastries that look like hostess cupcakes except they are orange sit on a pink plattertwo pastries that look like hostess cupcakes except they are orange sit on a pink platter

Tasty Orange Donas

several pink and yellow rainbow cookie squares sitting among tiny flowersseveral pink and yellow rainbow cookie squares sitting among tiny flowers

Sunflower Rainbow Cookies

a square of tres leches cake on a pink plate topped with edible flowersa square of tres leches cake on a pink plate topped with edible flowers

Maria Tres Leches

a platter of chocolate frosted whoopie pies topped with sprinkles like cosmic browniesa platter of chocolate frosted whoopie pies topped with sprinkles like cosmic brownies

Bodega Brownie Whoopie Pies

a cake platter holding a large flan topped with pepitas / pumpkin seeds on a striped tableclotha cake platter holding a large flan topped with pepitas / pumpkin seeds on a striped tablecloth

Flan de Calabaza

plate of flakey pastry turnovers, one being torn apart to show filling of jam and cream cheeseplate of flakey pastry turnovers, one being torn apart to show filling of jam and cream cheese

Guava & Cheese Turnovers

a tiered cupcake tray holding several white jam-filled cupcakes topped with torched meringuea tiered cupcake tray holding several white jam-filled cupcakes topped with torched meringue

Nutcracker Cupcakes

a cake platter holding a layer cake thickly frosted with a white and pink frostinga cake platter holding a layer cake thickly frosted with a white and pink frosting

Dominican Cake

a cookie with chocolate chips and condensed milk sitting on a purple platea cookie with chocolate chips and condensed milk sitting on a purple plate

Tres Leches Thick’ems

"there's so much happiness packed between these covers!" - Dorie Greenspan, photo of doughnuts"there's so much happiness packed between these covers!" - Dorie Greenspan, photo of doughnuts

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square & Co. (October 1, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1454952377
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1454952374
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.64 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.1 x 1 x 10.1 inches

Customers say

Customers find the cookbook’s recipes easy to understand and beautifully written. The book features tropical flavors, with one customer highlighting the tamarind pecan pie, and customers appreciate the vibrant pictures throughout. Customers describe the cookbook as fun to read, with one noting it’s essential for anyone who bakes.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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