Buttermilk

Cake flour gives these classic white cupcakes a very fine, tender crumb, and the high ratio of egg whites to yolks ensures a snowy hue. Get the recipe for vanilla cream cheese frosting here.

Non-Dutch-process cocoa powder is sometimes labeled “natural,” and since all of the chocolate flavor depends on what kind you use, quality matters for these devil's food cupcakes. Get the recipe for vanilla cream cheese frosting here.

Mature spinach has a stronger flavor than baby spinach and holds up better to this creamy dressing. 

The dough will seem fairly wet when shaping into rounds, but the high hydration is key to forming those trademark nooks and crannies. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Re-create Hot Pie’s iconic farewell gift to Arya in honor of your favorite show, Game of Thrones. Be sure to print out the wolf template on an 11x17" sheet and see other GoT-inspired recipes!

Sansa Stark made these desserts one of the most recognizable in Game of Thrones. She deserves a sweet treat after all she’s endured, and so do you. For a Dark Sansa version, pour syrup over the cake, then top with black sesame seeds. And be sure to check out our other GoT-inspired recipes!

These snaggable, snackable wedges have more in common with a bowl of party mix than any perfunctory salad.

The more you know!

There's nothing better than a killer biscuit. We think our version holds its own against the best out there.

Creamy, rich fat tames even the wildest fire—looking at you, raw onion—and makes any allium more tasty.

This dough will yield enough to make four large flatbreads or eight smaller ones.

This sandwich is engineered for maximum impact. Each element is awesome, but it’s the way they come together that puts it over the top. Mmmmm, yeah.

Think of this as a universal buttermilk ranch dressing that you could use to dunk your veggies or onion rings or drizzle onto your pizza.

The secret to our best onion rings is a batter made with beer and club soda; make sure both are very cold before stirring into the batter. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

If you're ever cornered by a bland bowl of vegetables or whole grains, throw a handful of herbs on it. They instantly make the meal more beautiful and flavorful—without adding any salt, fat, or sugar. 

Be sure to invert the cake after it's baked while it's still warm; if you wait too long, the oranges will stick to the pan.

Yes, we think it’s a great idea to eat giant chicken nuggets for breakfast. But this delicious, indulgent dish works for dinner (and lunch, too). If you prefer white-meat chicken, use skinless, boneless breasts that have been cut in half crosswise.

Biscuits and gravy meet loaded nachos.

No blood oranges? Use 4 navel oranges instead, and slice into 5 or 6 rounds, depending on their size.

This energy-sustaining bread makes beautiful toast.

You can prep your vegetables ahead of time (store them in a zip-top bag in the crisper drawer), but wait to assemble these at the last minute.

For the full effect, deliver a jar of the dry ingredients with a half dozen eggs, a quart of buttermilk, and a jug of syrup.

These sugared doughnuts are craggy and crunchy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Apple butter (not sauce!) is key to their texture and flavor; look for it alongside jams and jellies in the supermarket, or at farmers’ markets, or make your own.

Not obsessed with the earthy, nutty flavors of matcha tea yet? These doughnuts will do the trick.