About Handle the Heat
At Handle the Heat, we believe baking has the power to transform an ordinary day into something delightful. For over 15 years, we’ve helped millions of home bakers understand the science of baking to make bakery-quality treats right from home.
Here, you’ll find step-by-step recipes developed by a professionally trained chef, triple-tested in home kitchens across the U.S., and shared with the how’s and why’s so you can be a confident, creative, get-all-the-compliments baker.
our values & perspective
At Handle the Heat, We Believe…
Dessert is meant to be a special treat, with real butter, sugar, and flour for full satisfaction and joy.
Baking is a science! Small changes can have big impacts, so following the recipe exactly is key.
That’s why, while we respect and appreciate those with sensitivities, allergies, and food restrictions, you won’t find many (if any!) vegan, keto, low-carb, sugar-free, etc. recipes.
Why Do Thousands of Home Bakers Trust Handle the Heat Recipes?
“I tend to find myself using more HTH recipes because I know they are reliable!!
— Lauren Fabrizio
“I have learned so much from Handle the Heat, including how to create new recipes, how to finesse recipes to fit my style as well as the ingredients I have on hand. The Handle the Heat team provides so many tips and tricks for each recipe that they are just absolutely foolproof.”
— David Burnett
“It may sound cliché, but I honestly wouldn’t be the baker I am today if it weren’t for Handle the Heat helping me learn more and bake more than I would have ever done on my own.”
— Alyssa Williams
Bakers like Lauren, David, Alyssa, and thousands of others trust our recipes because they know they’ll get perfect, consistent results every time.
Handle the Heat
Our Recipe Development Process
Handle the Heat
Our Recipe Development Process
1. Ideation and round 1 testing
Tessa conceptualizes and drafts the recipe, then tests it in the kitchen over and over until the desired taste, texture, and appearance are achieved.
2. Testing with team HTH
Tessa passes the recipe to Emily on the HTH team to test in her home kitchen in Michigan.
3. Recipe testing report
She fills out our Recipe Testing Report to confirm whether or not the recipe was a success.
4. Retesting (optional)
If there were issues, we both retest until it’s just right. That might mean trying a few small tweaks or comparing side-by-side batches.
5. Alumni round
Occasionally, we ask HTH Alumni (bakers who have joined past baking courses) to test recipes when we’re uncertain of regional or climate differences or need more feedback.
6. Testing for finer details
We also test alternative pan sizes, brands of ingredients, or substitutions for harder-to-find ingredients during this process to accurately answer community questions.
7. Finalize, final bake, and photoshoot
Once the recipe is finalized, only then do we take it to our photographer’s studio and make it once again for its final glamour shots!
Meet the Team
founder & creative force
Tessa is a professionally trained baker, recipe developer, and author who leads our culinary vision and creative direction.
Learn more Tessa Arias.
Emily Fink
Operations Specialist
Emily keeps Team HTH running smoothly by managing the behind-the-scenes details. Testing recipes and learning new baking techniques is a favorite part of her job!
Ready to Bake with Handle the Heat? Get Started!
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