At one point in my life, I was working a full-time job in an immunology lab and running a licensed home baking business on the side. Orders for cakes and cupcakes baked in my own kitchen took over my nights and weekends ☀️🌙

And I was at a crossroads: either take it seriously and move toward a storefront… Or stop altogether.

Because the truth was, the joy of baking FOR people was gone 😞

What surprised me most was realizing I got far more joy showing people how to bake something themselves than handing them a finished cake 🎂

That decision, to NOT open a bakery, is what shapes every single recipe I write today.

I write through the lens of someone who might not know what they’re doing yet. No steps are assumed and nothing gets glossed over 🙂‍↔️

My goal is that while you’re going through one of my recipes, you don’t have questions. But if you do, I’m here, and those questions often turn into edits that make the recipe better for the next baker 🧑‍🍳

That’s precisely how I ended up hosting 650+ recipes on a website for everything from cakes to cupcakes to cookies, breads, and pies— all tested, explained, and written so you can succeed the first time.

And for what it’s worth…
❌ I didn’t bake my first cake from scratch until I was 25.
❌ I didn’t grow up baking.
❌ I didn’t go to pastry school.

I actually showed up to my first cake decorating class with a boxed cake… And couldn’t even get it out of the pan 😵‍💫

I studied biology in college. I liked microscopes and bugs. Baking clicked later in life for me because it felt science-y.

Eventually, it became a side hustle, I made important choices, and then Fresh April Flours was born in April 2014 🥰

Ok, so why does this matter? Because if you’re here, you’re probably a home baker, too.
🧁 You bake cupcakes for birthdays.
🍪 Cookies for get-togethers.
🥧 That one pie everyone expects you to bring.

This isn’t your job. You don’t need fancy. You just want unfussy ingredients and recipes that actually tell you what to do.

My friend… I am your girl 💁‍♀️

Follow @freshaprilflours for easy-to-follow, tested, trusted recipes you— and the people you bake for— will rely on for years. ...

When people say a cookie “doesn’t need milk,” they don’t mean milk isn’t welcome here, because it absolutely is. It is ALWAYS invited🥛🍪

What they mean is this: a really good chocolate chip cookie shouldn’t REQUIRE rescuing 🛟

If a cookie is dry, crumbly, or exhausting to eat, milk becomes a necessity. But when the edges are crisp, the center stays chewy, and the balance is right, milk becomes a choice, not a fix.

That’s why this recipe converts people.

It’s the one readers tell me is:�🍪 the only chocolate chip cookie recipe they use now�🍪 the most requested cookie by family and friends�🍪 the recipe they bookmarked after “the quest for the best”�🍪 the one that finally made them stop tweaking the Toll House version

And over and over, I hear the same things: easy directions, consistent results, and cookies that turn out perfectly every single time.

Crispy edges.�Soft, chewy centers.�A little flat (in the best way).

Milk is still invited, but it’s not doing damage control.

And yes: weigh your flour. Because that part matters a lot😉

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my famous chocolate chip cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/classic-chocolate-chip-cookies/

#chocolatechipcookies #chocolatechip #chocchip #chocochips ...

All the cool kids are doing it 😏

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my pizza dip directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/skillet-pizza-dip/

#pizza #pizzaislife #easydinner #easydinnerideas ...

The ones who get, get it 😏

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my homemade egg bites directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/instant-pot-egg-bites/

#eggbites #breakfast #boycottstarbucks ...

Raise your hand if January is tough for you, too 🤚

As someone who suffers from seasonal affective disorder, I’m always looking for ways to make January a little brighter ✨ and cookies are one way to do it! 😝

These soft and chewy red velvet cookies are slathered in a cream cheese frosting and create a wonderful “gourmet” cookie experience without the 💸

In fact, consider this 5-star review from Elena:

“I have made these cookies multiple times over the past year and every time they’re a hit! The cream cheese frosting is sooo much easier than I would have expected and tastes delicious every time! My family even requested for Thanksgiving this year!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these cookies right to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/red-velvet-cookies-cream-cheese-frosting/

#redvelvet #gourmetcookies #frostedcookies #cookies ...

First Monday of the month means a brand new Bake Along! 🧑‍🍳 #fafbakealong

Oh oh oh! And this recipe also serves as the first Bread of The Month for 2026 🍞 #fafbreadofthemonth

This month, our Bake Along is my brand new homemade cinnamon raisin bread, and if you’ve struggled with a swirl that falls apart the second you slice it, you’re not alone! 😩

The secret to a perfect cinnamon raisin loaf isn’t rolling tighter— it’s actually what you USE to make the cinnamon-sugar stick. As always, I worked hard on this recipe so you don’t have to make the same mistakes that I did 🤩

Now, onto the details of making this recipe in January…

What is the Bake Along?
1️⃣ bake the assigned recipe (or alternate)
2️⃣ snap a pic
3️⃣ include a video for one bonus entry
4️⃣ leave a review (as a mega favor 💙)
5️⃣ get entered to win $100 to YOUR CHOICE of merchant

It’s that simple 🙌

If you don’t want to make the bread, the alternate this month is cinnamon raisin peanut butter 🥜

Want in on the fun this month? Comment the words “bake along” below and I’ll send the link to the Bake Along page right to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/bake-along/ ...

That’s right— I said “never making them again” 😵‍💫

CONFESSION: I absolutely despise dipping/covering/decorating anything with chocolate. I also despise cut-out cookies. Not just decorating them. But. Like. Also rolling and cutting them.

There. I said it 😅

If you ever see one of these recipes on my site… Recognize how much I love you.

What common baking ⭐️ thing ⭐️ can’t you stand? Tell me below ⬇️

#baking #fortheloveofbaking #bakingfromscratch #loveofbaking #baker ...

Listen, I have no problem giving credit where credit is due. Toll House set us up with a solid foundation. Truly! 🥲

But the Fresh April Flours version that I’ve perfected over the last decade+ has gotten reviews like these ones that just came in over the last month:

🍪 “No joke… these are the BEST. I have faithfully stuck to a different variation of the tollhouse recipe up until now, but I will only be using this recipe going forward. Followed all of the steps to a tee and these are genuinely the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve had in my life!!”

🍪 “Hands down. These are truly the best chocolate chip cookies!!! Absolutely delicious every time.”

🍪 “I’ve baked a lot of chocolate chip cookies and love trying new recipes. Made these last night and they are the best chocolate chip cookie I think I’ve made.”

🍪 “The BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe I’ve found. I’ve been looking for years for a recipe that turns out like these – they are SO good. The recipe is easy and consistent, they turn out delicious every single time.”

What’s different, you ask? Melted butter instead of softened, one less egg white, more brown sugar, a little cornstarch, and my signature combo of milk + semi-sweet chocolate chips make for a cookie that will win you over in a heartbeat, I guarantee it! 🙌

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my famous chocolate chip cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/classic-chocolate-chip-cookies

#chocolatechip #chocolatechipcookie #cookies ...

With nearly a decade of social proof, hundreds of positive collective reviews, and readers who come back to the OG cake recipe again and again, THIS is the from-scratch strawberry cake you didn’t know you needed 👀

If you want real strawberry flavor (not gelatin vibes), this is where you need to start— one fresh-strawberry base that works as a layer cake, cupcakes, a sheet cake, and a Bundt 🎂🧁

I fold REAL strawberries into the batter so the flavor actually tastes like fruit 💕

Here are some reviews from all 4 forms of this cake:

⭐️ “I’ve spent years trying recipes from the internet and a lot of them are wrong in so many ways, but this is one I’ll be using for many years ahead.”

⭐️ “The most flavorful strawberry cupcakes I’ve ever tasted! So moist and fresh!”

⭐️ “The best scratch cake I have ever made.”

⭐️ “Absolutely fabulous cake! So moist and light that I could hardly believe it!”

Save this for a rainy day, share it with someone who wants to become a better baker in 2026, and follow along for from-scratch baking that actually works 🧑‍🍳

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my strawberry cake post which has links to the sheet cake, Bundt cake, and cupcakes you see here, too! They’re at the very top of the post 🍓 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/fresh-strawberry-cake-with-strawberry-buttercream/

#strawberry #cake #strawberries #baking ...

Welcome to the side of Instagram where we use coffee as an ingredient OFTEN ☕️

And to all of my fellow coffee lovers— this one is for us 🤗

This decadent and creamy cheesecake is infused with bold espresso and topped with a chocolate espresso ganache and coffee whipped cream. MUST MAKE.

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to this cheesecake directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/coffee-cheesecake/

#coffee #cheesecake #coffeeislife #coffeevibes ...

If you’re new here: hi, I mostly make cookies and cakes 😝

But I’m also a baker who knows when the vibes call for ✨pizza bread✨ instead of another decision to make.

This pull-apart pizza bread is what I make when cookies feel wrong but cooking feels worse 😵‍💫

Come for the cookies. Stay for the emergency snacks that pass as dinner 🥘

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to this bread directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/pizza-pull-apart-bread/

#pizzabread #pullapart #pullapartbread ...

Once you reverse cream once, you might never go back…

Ok, but real talk, reverse creaming is NOT something you should just do willy nilly. It’s not appropriate for every cake batter, but if you struggle with layer cakes, I encourage you to start here.

⭐️ Reverse creaming is the method you didn’t know you needed:
➡️ Instead of the usual butter-sugar creaming routine, reverse creaming has you mix your dry ingredients (yes, even the sugar!) with softened butter first, then bring in the wet ingredients (eggs, milk, extract) later. The result? A cake that’s tender, velvety, and— MY FAV— nice and level.

⭐️ But… Why bother?
1️⃣ A tender cake: the butter coats the flour before liquids come into play, which means less gluten development (read: softer cake).
2️⃣ Flatter layers: say goodbye to cake domes that need to be leveled! Reverse creaming keeps things nice and even, which means your layers are already perfect for stacking and frosting.
3️⃣ Moist and velvety texture: since fat is evenly distributed, you end up with a cake that’s soft and rich without being dry.

⭐️ When you’ll see it used most often:
➡️ This method shines in cakes where texture really matters. Think layer cakes, pound cakes, and cupcakes that need a delicate, even crumb. If you’re after bakery-level softness without bakery-level effort, reverse creaming is your new best friend.

This is the method I use in my basic white cake (what you see here) which is the cake base I use for more than a dozen cake recipes on my site. It’s reliable, delicious, and I’m never NOT using it to create new cake recipes for you 🫶

In fact, here’s a 5-star review from reader Katja:
“Love this white cake recipe. I’ve made some before with mediocre results and this one was just so wonderfully moist and yummy. The reverse creaming method was so simple and made quick work of making the batter! It was ideal for coloring cake layers with gel food coloring and I’ll definitely use this recipe again.”

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my white layer cake right to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/white-layer-cake-with-whipped-cream-buttercream/

#cake #cakes #cakesofinsta ...

This may be my new favorite twist on a classic 🥰

And here’s the thing every cinnamon roll girlie needs to know— not every batch of cinnamon rolls needs to yield 12.

In fact, just about ALL of the cinnamon roll recipes on my site are small batch, which yields just 6. And doubling it If needed? Super simple math, and I have information in each post about what that looks like ☺️

Seriously, once you taste that chai-spiced cream cheese frosting, you’ll never go back to plain cinnamon again 🫖

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these chai cinnamon rolls right to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/chai-cinnamon-rolls/

#chai #chaispice #chaiislove #cinnamonrolls ...

THIS is the chocolate chip cookie recipe you didn’t know you needed 👀

If you want a chocolate chip cookie that WOWs, you need to step away from the recipe on the back of the bag.

Is mine a WHOLE lot different? No. Of course not. They’re chocolate chip cookies 😂

But check out some of the reviews that came in just this baking season if you don’t believe just a few simple swaps can make a gigantic difference…

🍪 “I’ve baked a lot of chocolate chip cookies and love trying new recipes. Made these last night and they are the best chocolate chip cookie I think I’ve made.” —Jay

🍪 “Hands down. These are truly the best chocolate chip cookies!!! Absolutely delicious every time.” —Sheila

🍪 “I am by no means a baker baking is actually super scary to me having to be so perfect with measuring. I made these with my daughters the other day and can I just say these are by far the best cookies! They’re almost gone, and this is only day two.” —Dianna

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/classic-chocolate-chip-cookies

#chocolatechipcookies #chocolatechip #cookies ...

Some years don’t ask permission before they change you 😮‍💨

This one held a lot of grief for me. But also a lot of joy. Aaaaaand some very strange, very human moments in between 🤪

If today feels heavy for you, I want you to know that’s allowed. You don’t have to be grateful through it. You don’t have to wrap it in a bow just because it’s Christmas🎄

I share baked goods here for a living, but I’m a real person behind the camera 📸

I really miss my dad. I still cry in grocery stores or in the middle of workouts because that’s when my mind is still and the grief pops in to remind me it’s still there and very fresh.

I also laugh a lot, fuel my body with things that make it feel good, and think about that ravioli more than is reasonable 😍😍😍

You’re welcome here whether you’re baking to celebrate a promotion, distract yourself from postpartum anxiety, mark a milestone, or get through a day where missing someone feels louder than everything else.

Sometimes making something with your hands is the closest thing to breathing you can manage… And that counts 🫶

I’m not going anywhere. In 2026, I’ll still be here sharing real recipes from my kitchen to yours, in a very real world that keeps trying to bury real people under noise. If you’re still standing, still trying, still showing up… There’s a seat for you in my corner of the internet 🤍

All that said, I wish you a gentle Christmas, a soft New Year, and permission to release yourself from guilt if the close of this year feels messy, unfinished, or heavy.

You’re not behind— you’re human 💕

#grief #christmas #freshaprilflours ...

You only need 5 basic ingredients to make these soft and chewy flourless peanut butter cookies. Even with no butter and no flour, they are still one of my favorite peanut butter cookies I’ve ever made 🤩

⭐️ Bonus points: this is a no chill cookie dough recipe, so they’re ready in no time! ⭐️

P.S. You can also find this recipe on page 47 of my cookbook.

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/flourless-crunchy-peanut-butter-cookies/

#peanutbutter #peanutbuttercookies #pbcookies ...

They’re my viral chocolate chip cookies all jazzed up with fall spices (which are pretty on point with winter ones, too!)— cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves! 🥰

And that spiced drizzle on top? It’s optional, buuuuuut I think you should consider it mandatory 😏

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/fall-spiced-chocolate-chip-cookies/

#spiced #cookies #chocolatechip #chocolatechipcookies ...

With only three ingredients and a quick microwave melt, this shortcut chocolate fudge offers a smoother, softer bite when compared to cooked fudge 🍫

This recipe is written to accommodate the option to stir in walnuts or leave it plain, so YOU. HAVE. OPTIONS! (love when that happens 🤩)

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to my easy microwave fudge directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/microwave-fudge/

#fudge #microwavefudge #christmascandy ...

It’s really a whole vibe 😎

My friends, these frosted brown sugar Pop Tart cookies are stupid good 🤪 And while they take a little more elbow grease than most cookies on my site, they are well worth it!

You have my word that the process itself is really easy, and I have all the photos and a video to help you succeed ✅

Comment the word “recipe” below and I’ll send the link to these frosted brown sugar Pop Tart cookies directly to your DMs! 💌 #freshaprilflours • https://freshaprilflours.com/frosted-brown-sugar-pop-tart-cookies/

#poptart #poptarts #stuffedcookie ...