Sweets

I’m not a huge dessert person, but I am outnumbered in my family, so when I do make sweets, it’s usually for them. That said, you don’t have to twist my arm too much to make the Zwetschgenkuchen, since I’ll confess that I have a fondness for a little slice of plum cake with my espresso. I keep the Angel Wings and biscotti around for the same reason—it really enhances the espresso experience to have a sweet bite alongside of it. (Though maybe take that with a grain of salt, since I tend to think most things go well with espresso, given that I drink it so regularly throughout the day.) Other desserts that stand out for me are the Whoopie Pies, which remind me of childhood visits to Maine, and chocolate soufflé, which I am powerless to resist if I see it on a menu. And then hands down my favorite dessert—maybe even my favorite recipe in this entire book—is the buttery, nutty hazelnut cake from L’Impero.