She's My Cherry Pie

Today’s guest is Carla Hall. Carla is a chef, cookbook author, TV personality, and all-around culinary force whose career has taken her from the runways of Paris to the sets of “Top Chef,” “The Chew,” and more. She’s the star and executive producer of the Emmy Award–winning series “Chasing Flavor,” a co-mentor on the new show, “Next Level Baker,” and the author of several books, including “Carla Hall’s Soul Food” and two children’s books, “Carla Hall and the Christmas Cornbread” and “Carla and the Tin Can Cake Party.” Carla joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her life and career—from her childhood memories of her grandmother’s five-flavor pound cake, to the years she spent in Paris as a model discovering her love for cooking, to the moment “Top Chef” changed everything. Then, Carla walks Jessie through her Gingerbread Cake With Snow Sugar, a deeply spiced, ultra-moist loaf that uses the reverse-creaming method for a very tender crumb. She explains why hot water is the secret ingredient, how to make “snow sugar” that won’t melt into the cake, and why “sawing” is the only proper way to slice a loaf cake. Click here for Carla’s Gingerbread Cake with Snow Sugar recipe. Thank you to Diamond Nuts, California Prunes, and King Arthur Baking for their support. Order The Cake Issue Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events. More on Carla: Instagram, website More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Lucie Franc de Ferriere, the self-taught baker and founder of From Lucie, the beloved East Village bakery known for its whimsical, flower-festooned cakes and other treats. Raised in the French countryside, Lucie grew up eating her mother’s homemade cakes, but it wasn’t until decades later, when she was living in New York working in the art world, that she discovered her love for baking. Today, her creations are always in demand, and she’s one of the cover stars of Cherry Bombe’s new Cake Issue. Lucie joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her journey from art history student to full-time baker, the pop-ups that helped launch her business, and the serendipitous beginnings of her signature decorating style. She shares memories from her childhood in France and discusses the creative process behind her upcoming debut cookbook, “Cake From Lucie.” Then, Lucie walks Jessie through one of the bakery’s bestsellers: Salted Dark Chocolate Espresso Cake. It’s her spin on the ultimate birthday cake, and it’s covered in a luscious buttercream, complete with mini chocolate chips tucked between the layers. Thank you to Diamond Nuts, California Prunes, and King Arthur Baking for their support. Order The Cake Issue Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events. More on Lucie: Instagram, pre-order “Cake From Lucie” cookbook More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

We’re dropping a special mid-week episode of She’s My Cherry Pie today with cookie connoisseur Vaughn Vreeland! Vaughn is a writer, recipe creator, and video host for New York Times Cooking. Vaughn also led the charge this year on NYT’s Cookie Week, the annual holiday event beloved by home bakers everywhere, which just dropped yesterday. Vaughn is also the co-author of “Cookies: The Best Recipes for the Perfect Anytime Treat,” a delicious collection of 100 time-tested recipes from the NYT Cooking team. Vaughn joins host Jessie Sheehan for a festive, cookie-packed conversation in honor of Cookie Week and his new book. He shares stories from his lifelong love of baking, including kitchen adventures with his grandmother; his early days making box-mix cakes as a kid; and the Food Network obsession that helped shape his creativity. Vaughn also talks about his path into food media, how he landed at the Times, and what it’s like spearheading Cookie Week this year (plus, he dishes on the recipe he developed, the Popcorn Bucket Cookie). Then, he walks Jessie through his Chewy Brownie Cookies recipe from “Cookies,” which took him months to perfect and achieve the ideal crackly top, fudgy middle, and chewy edge. Click here for Vaughn’s Chewy Brownie Cookies. Click here to join us for our Member Meeting with Vaughn today! Click here for more on NYT Cookie Week Thank you to Diamond Nuts for their support. Pre-order The Cake Issue Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events. More on Vaughn: Instagram, NYT Cooking, “Cookies” cookbook More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Helen Goh, a celebrated pastry chef, recipe developer, cookbook author, columnist, and longtime creative at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen. Born in Malaysia, raised in Australia, and now based in London, Helen truly brings a global perspective to her baking. She co-authored two bestselling books with Yotam Ottolenghi—“Sweet” and “Comfort”—and recently released her first solo cookbook, “Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes.” Helen joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her multicultural upbringing, her early years studying psychology, and how she ultimately found her way into the kitchen (including a stint as a cafe owner). She shares stories from her decade at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen, including behind-the-scenes insight into her collaborative “testing sessions” with Yotam, and the surprising bake sale that sparked her latest book. Then, Helen guides us through the Champagne and Black Currant Celebration Cake recipe from her new book—her spin on a Kir Royale, but in cake form. Click here for Helen’s Champagne and Black Currant Celebration Cake recipe. Thank you to Diamond Nuts, California Prunes, and King Arthur Baking for their support. Pre-order The Cake Issue Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events. More on Helen: Instagram, “Baking & the Meaning of Life” cookbook More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

We’re thrilled to have Erin Jeanne McDowell back on the show! Erin is a baker, teacher, video host, and cookbook author known for her joyful approach to baking and her unparalleled pie expertise. She’s the author of “The Fearless Baker,” “The Book On Pie,” and “Savory Baking,” and hosts the “Happy Baking” YouTube series. She also writes a Substack newsletter of the same name. Erin joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her lifelong love of pie—thanks to her grandmother’s kitchen—and some of the very first pies she ever baked. Then, they dive deep into Erin’s Black-Bottom Pecan Pie from “The Book On Pie.” Erin shares her expertise on everything from achieving your perfect butter-piece size (if you know, you know) to rolling, crimping, parbaking, and building that delicious black-bottom layer. Whether you’re prepping for Thanksgiving or simply love learning from one of the greats, this episode is the ultimate pie master class. So, grab your rolling pin—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Click here for Erin’s Black-Bottom Pecan Pie recipe. Thank you to Diamond Nuts & California Prunes for their support. Subscribe or pre-order The Cake Issue Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events. More on Erin: Instagram, Substack, YouTube, “The Book On Pie” cookbook More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook