About Tessa Arias
Baker – Author – Recipe Developer – Founder of Handle the Heat
Baking is your love language?
Mine too!
Hi! I’m Tessa Arias
professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and the creator behind Handle the Heat.
For more than 15 years, I’ve dedicated my work to helping home bakers achieve consistently amazing results through reliable recipes, smart techniques, and a deep love of all things sweet.
My passion is teaching the kind of baking that builds confidence: the kind where your cookies bake perfectly, your cakes rise evenly, and you understand why and how things work the way they do.
When not baking, I love to hike, explore new restaurants, read, and travel. I live in Phoenix, AZ (hence the brand name!) with my husband.
My Education
Associate in Applied Science Degree
Culinary Studies with Highest Distinction
Mesa Community College
Bachelor of Arts
Interdisciplinary Studies – Humanities
Northern Arizona University
As Seen In
Bake Better Cookies with My Cookbooks
2013
I published my first cookbook, Cookies & Cream: Hundreds of Ways to Make the Perfect Ice Cream Sandwich.
Cookies & Cream
Hundreds of ways to make the perfect Ice Cream Sandwich
Perfect for bakers and dessert lovers everywhere, ice cream sandwiches are delicious and fun to make. Although there are plenty of cookbooks about baking cookies and making ice cream, never before has there been a book that combines the two-until now!
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
Your guide to making perfect cookies every time
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook will help you master every type of cookie texture—soft, chewy, crispy, or gooey—just the way you like them. It’s not just about following directions‚ it’s about understanding what’s happening in your mixing bowl.
2020
I published my second cookbook, The Ultimate Cookie Handbook: Your Guide to Baking Perfect Cookies Every Time.
The entire first section of the book is a visual breakdown of the science of cookie baking.
The book also includes 50 of my favorite cookie recipes. It has sold out 4 times and was a winner of the 2020 Book Excellence Awards.
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.
Baking Science Mini-Course
From cookies that spread to undercooked brownies, this *FREE* 5-day Baking Science course helps you conquer common baking challenges and make bakery-worthy treats every time.
A Bit of My Backstory
2009
I started baking as a teenager and quickly learned that cooking intuitively is fun… but baking requires precision.
Once I began sharing recipes online in 2009, a small community turned into a global one as my passion for baking and kitchen science grew.
2013
In 2013, after completing my education, I quit my job at Sur la Table and pursued Handle the Heat as a full-time business.
Today
Today, Handle the Heat combines my love of creativity, education, and hospitality into a space that helps home bakers craft a beautiful life inside and out—through baking and beyond.
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