celebrate all year long with deliciousness

In 1992, a group of bakers opened Zingerman’s Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Then almost 20 years later, a virus nearly shut it down. During the pandemic, the bakers of Zingerman had to temporarily shut their doors and then try to figure out how to keep baking for their customers, even when they could only allow 6 in the bakery at a time. But it was also a time when we all craved community. We needed reasons to connect and celebrate, and delicious food can always help with that.

To keep serving their customers, the leaders of the Bakehouse came together and created recipe booklets, to help home chefs create some of their favorite dishes. And because that went over so well, they turned those booklets into an entire new cookbook filled with ways to celebrate throughout the year. It’s about the times we come together to eat and enjoy each other, from holidays and birthdays to tailgating and snow days and going to the farmer’s market for the freshest of produce. Each season has its own reasons to celebrate, and these bakers want to make the most of each day.

For Spring, you can celebrate the first day of spring with Key Lime Pie or Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars. For Earth Day there is Oh So A-Peel-ing Banana Bread, and there is a Run for the Roses Pie (with bourbon) for the Kentucky Derby Day. For Easter, there are Hot Cross Buns and Raspberry Marshmallow Bunny Tails, and for graduations you can bring out the Goat Cheese and Tomato Galettes and Buttermilk Celebration Cake.

Summer brings a Blueberry Buckle for Memorial Day, Cosmic Cakes for the last day of school, and a Fresh Fruit Tart to celebrate all the bright and delicious fruits of summer. There is a Summer Fling Coconut and Lime Coffee Cake, Cheery Cherry Pie, and Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting for weddings, anniversaries, or any other celebration you want. The have include a Maize and Blue Cobbler in the local University of Michigan colors for those first football games and Raspberry Patti Pockets for the first day of school (they’re a homemade version of a popular breakfast toaster pastry).

When the weather turns colder, Fall brings Rosy Red Apple Pie, Sugar Crisp Muffins, and Michigan Double Chocolate Cookies. For Rosh Hashanah, you can make the Halvah Swirl Cheesecake or Not-Just-Chocolate Babka. For Yom Kippur, there is a Bumble Rye Cake and Bialys. And when it’s time to break out the beer for Oktoberfest, there are Bavarian Soft Pretzels and the 5 O’Clock Cheddar Ale Soup. For Halloween, there are Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, and ideas for both Thanksgiving and friendsgiving, like a Pumpkin Cheesecake or a Chocolate Chess Pie.

And then winter brings a bounty of delicious ideas, like Chocolate Coins and Durum Olive Oil Cake for Hanukkah, Gingerbread Coffee Cake and a Breakfast Italian Sausage and Pepper Strata. for Christmas. For New Year’s there are Chocolate-Dipped Espresso Stars, Creamy Cremini Turnovers, and Cheddar Herb Scones. There is a French King Cake for Epiphany and a New Orleans King Cake for Mardi Gras. You can make the OMG Chocolate Cupcakes for your Valentine, and make Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza and Hot Cocoa Crispy Rise Treats for a snowy day. For the middle of March’s Pi Day (3.14), there is a Banana Cream Pie, and St. Patrick’s Day offerings include Beef and Guinness Stew and an Irish Brown Soda Bread.

These recipes are infused with a spirit of playfulness and whimsy, and the photographs of these dishes make them look so inviting. I think Zingerman’s Bakehouse Celebrate Every Day is exactly what the name says—reasons and ways to celebrate the big and small miracles of life, and it’s a sweet reminder to come together with friends old and new to create new memories and new traditions. There is something in this cookbook for everyone, for every celebration, and for every day.

Egalleys for Zingerman’s Bakehouse Celebrate Every Day were provided by Chronicle Books through Edelweiss, with many thanks.