Learn. Bake. Repeat.

Everything you need to bake with more confidence, joy, and precision.

Pound Cake SOS: Ten Common Problems (and How to...

At Begin with Butter, we know that pound cake is the grand dame of...

Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Loaf Cake

About This Cake This is the kind of bake that turns heads even before it...

Macerated Peaches

Rules for My Daddy's Favorite Fruit This simple technique is rooted in reverence—for ripe fruit,...

Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract

I'm aware that it's July, BB. But it's time for us to start getting...

Strawberry Shortcake in a Charlotte Pan

That whipped cream isn’t just a topping-it’s the luxurious bridge back to the full...

Hi! I'm Shani!

Welcome to Begin with Butter! This is my slightly nerdy, beautifully nostalgic corner of the internet, where baking isn’t just about recipes…it’s about finding the rhythm in your hands, learning the skills to improve your baking confidence, finding connection through community and story, and perfecting the techniques that deepen your baking mastery.

At Begin with Butter, we break down the science of baking for the home kitchen, with thoughtful, professional techniques that are designed to make sense, combined with traditions we grew up with. Then we season it all with storytelling, because here, it's about more than technique. It’s about connecting your grandmother’s kitchen to your grandchild’s kitchen, one well-made cake at a time. Welcome!

Kitchen Orientation: This Way to the Good Stuff

Ingredient Science

Flour, sugar, leaveners, and flavor—understood, not just used.

Helpful Techniques

The hows and whys of great baking, that will help you achieve great bakes

Pound Cakes

Rich, reliable, and ready for company—these are the cakes that built this house.

Bake With Me

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When You Need a Lil' Something Sweet

Vanilla Pound Cake

How do I know that it can come together that quickly? Because that's...

Peach Hand Pies

Friends, my daughter has been waiting for this one since the top of 2023....

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Friends! It's time for Juneteenth and I...just love this holiday. I was...

Readers Currently Crave...

Brown Butter Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting

BBs, I was born in the 70s, grew up in the 80s, and came...

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Every year for the Twelve Days of Pound Cake, I want to shout out...

No-Churn Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Hey Y'all! How about a bonus day for the Twelve Days of Pound...

Easy Pizza Sauce (With Fresh Tomatoes!)

I recently published The Anytime Pizza Dough, which is a Friday staple in my...

Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

If the plummeting temperatures and "crisp" days are any indication, Fall has officially arrived!...

Apple Hand Pies (with Coconut Oil Crust!)

There are few things in life more delicious than apple pie. The filling...

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The Statement Collection

Creme Brûlée Pound Cake

Confession Time: When I go to a restaurant, the first section I look for...

Brown Butter Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting

BBs, I was born in the 70s, grew up in the 80s, and came...

Honey Apple Pound Cake

Friends, I'm admittedly a bit weepy as I type this last blog post. ...

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