Boxed cake mix is a pantry classic for a reason: It delivers a crowd-pleasing cake with almost no effort. The basics haven’t changed much since John D. Duff of P. Duff and Sons, a now-shuttered ...

As a professional recipe developer focused on baking, I am more aware of the cost of eggs than most folks. Try making a custard tart that calls for eight egg yolks, then testing it three more times.

We bet you can't name a more enticing scent than a homemade cake baking up to springy, golden brown perfection in your oven. (Go ahead, we'll wait.) The truth is, nothing beats it—except, of course, ...