Posts by PJ Hamel

PJ Hamel
The Author

About PJ Hamel

PJ Hamel grew up in New England, graduated from Brown University, and was a Maine journalist before joining King Arthur Flour in 1990. PJ bakes and writes from her home on Cape Cod, where she enjoys beach-walking, her husband, three dogs, and really good food!

Sourdough starter pouring from a crock

Yes, you can bake with sourdough starter straight from the fridge

Want to use cold, unfed starter to make bread? It's possible!

May 17, 2022
Basque-Style Cheesecake

The air fryer was made for baking, and this recipe proves it

Perfect Basque-style cheesecake from your fryer? Absolutely.

May 3, 2022

Things bakers know: You can reuse parchment more than you think

Put that parchment to use again and again and …

Apr 14, 2022
Homemade butter in a bowl

How to make butter at home — just one ingredient required

Homemade butter tastes better, and it's totally within your reach.

Apr 8, 2022
Loaves of sourdough Pan de Cristal cut open to show their interior

How to make Pan de Cristal with sourdough starter

Keep the gorgeous holes — amp up the flavor.

Apr 7, 2022
Cheesecake in a pie pan, crust separated from filling and broken into chunks

April fools in the kitchen: our favorite baking fails

Even professionals have those "special moments."

Apr 1, 2022
French onion grilled cheese sandwich cut in quarters, two pieces stacked on a plate

Take grilled cheese to the next level with these mouthwatering combos

It’s all about the cheese — AND the bread.

Mar 22, 2022
Maple Bacon Scones

Baking with bacon? Try candying it first

Sugar-baked bacon takes your favorite treats to a brand-new level.

Mar 16, 2022
Measuring flour into a bowl set on a digital scale.

The most important baking tool in your kitchen — and how to use it

Assure your success with this one practice: baking with a scale.

Feb 18, 2022
Vanilla pound cake

Do eggs used in baking really need to be at room temperature?

If the recipe says so, yes. And here’s why.

Jan 25, 2022
rolling mat

For easiest rolling and minimal cleanup, try this rolling mat

Silicone is the simple solution.

Jan 21, 2022
Merlin's Magic Sourdough Bread, sliced

The power of adding commercial yeast to your sourdough bread

A guaranteed rise in a set amount of time? Perfect.

Jan 13, 2022
Beautiful Burger Buns

Baking reveal: our top recipes from the past quarter century

The King Arthur recipe site celebrates its 25th birthday

Dec 23, 2021
Malted Brownie Biscotti

Biscotti, the most unassuming holiday cookies, may also be the best

Insider tips revealed!

Dec 14, 2021
Straining homemade vanilla into a measuring cup.

10 ingredients to make yourself this holiday season

Going homemade yields superior results — and delicious DIY gifts.

Dec 10, 2021
Graphic showing some of our favorite bread making tools

Gifts for your favorite bread novice

The essential tools and ingredients anyone needs for making great bread.

Dec 6, 2021
The Essential Cookie Companion book and unbaked drop cookies on a baking sheet.

5 surprising tips from our new Essential Cookie Companion

Expert advice for your holiday baking.

Nov 29, 2021
Kaiserschmarrn on a serving plate, fruit compote on the side.

Emperor’s Pancake: Holiday breakfast with a backstory

A surprising technique yields celebration-worthy results.

Nov 15, 2021
Fresh sourdough starter and King Arthur sourdough crocks.

You finally got a sourdough starter. Now what?

Find out how to feed and grow it and, most important, when it's ready for baking.

Nov 8, 2021
No-knead crusty white bread

The best breads for beginners

Want to bake yeast bread (but never tried)? Start with these recipes.

Oct 27, 2021
toasted nuts on French toast

5 practical ways to toast nuts

From quick-toasted to slow-roasted, choose the process that works for you.

Oct 20, 2021
loaf of sourdough bread

Here’s how I streamline my sourdough baking

Cut to the chase — and still get great results.

Oct 15, 2021
Shortbread baked with Baking Sugar Alternative

How to sub Baking Sugar Alternative for brown sugar or confectioners' sugar

Ditch the sugar — keep the sweetness.

Sep 27, 2021
Four chocolate chip cookies

Why I always bake a few test cookies first

Trying a new recipe? Don't risk a full-batch fail.

Sep 14, 2021