Apple Pie With Melissa Elsen Of Four & Twenty Blackbirds

We’re kicking off a special miniseries today called She’s My Apple Pie, presented in partnership with Yes! Apples, where host Jessie Sheehan hangs out with some of the sweetest bakers around to talk signature bakes, fall baking, and seasonal treats. In this episode, Jessie is joined by Melissa Elsen, founder of Four & Twenty Blackbirds, the beloved Brooklyn pie shop known for its flavor-packed creations and impeccable crusts. She’s also the co-author of “The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book.”Melissa shares stories about her South Dakota childhood, including memories of baking with her grandmother, why she wanted to open a pie shop in New York City, and tips and tricks for pie-making success at home. She also guides Jessie through her New York Orchard Apple Pie, a special seasonal pie that’s available at the bakery now through the end of October.Click here for Melissa’s New York Orchard Apple Pie recipe.Thank you to Yes! Apples for supporting our show. Click here for Four & Twenty Blackbirds x Yes! Apples NY Orchard Pie BoxJubilee NYC 2026 tickets hereVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Melissa: Four & Twenty Blackbirds, website, “The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book”More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Aran Goyoaga is back on the pod! Aran is a celebrated baker, stylist, photographer, and one of the leading experts in gluten-free baking. You probably know her from her blog, Cannelle et Vanille, her bestselling cookbooks, and her beautiful, light-filled photography. She joins host Jessie Sheehan to chat about her brand new book, “The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: Groundbreaking Recipes for Artisanal Breads and Pastries.”Aran shares about her childhood growing up in the Basque region in Spain and her grandparents’ bakery, the beloved brioche buns filled with cream that sparked her love of baking, and her introduction to breadmaking in culinary school. The duo also dive into the challenges of developing gluten-free breads versus pastries, and Aran walks Jessie through her Gluten-Free Rosemary Focaccia recipe from her new book. Click here for Aran’s Gluten-Free Rosemary Focaccia recipe.Thank you to Diamond Nuts & California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets hereVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Aran: Instagram, website, “The Art of Gluten-Free Bread” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Beloved baker David Lebovitz is back on the pod! David is a pastry chef, cookbook author, and one of the OG food bloggers whose recipes and tales of Parisian life have inspired home bakers around the world. The newly revised edition of his bestselling book, “Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes,” features more than 170 irresistible cakes, cookies, and pastries recipes, and he joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about it. David also shares about the first chocolate soufflé he ever baked (in his mom’s Pyrex measuring cup), and he weighs in on the age-old debate of lemon versus chocolate dessert people. David also walks Jessie through his playful PB&J spin on a classic Linzertorte.Click here for David’s Peanut Butter & Jelly Linzertorte recipe. Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on David: Instagram, newsletter, website, "Ready For Dessert" cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Aleksandra Crapanzano—journalist, cookbook author, and screenwriter. Aleksandra grew up between New York and Paris, experiences that shaped her lifelong love of French food. She’s the author of several books, including her forthcoming, “Chocolat: Parisian Desserts and Other Delights.”Aleksandra joins host Jessie Sheehan to share memories of her Parisian childhood (and the beloved crêperie she and her dog frequented after school), her serendipitous path into food writing, and what sets French and American home baking apart (such as using sugar as a seasoning to the rare use of vanilla). Plus, the duo walk through the Chocolate Madeleines recipe from her new book.Click here for Aleksandra’s Chocolate Madeleines recipe. Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Join the Jubilee L.A. waitlist hereVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Aleksandra: Instagram, website, “Chocolat” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Beloved baker and blogger Sally McKenney of Sally’s Baking Addiction is back on the pod! Since launching her site over a decade ago, Sally has become one of the most trusted voices in home baking, with over 1,200 recipes, step-by-step tutorials, and expert tips that help bakers of all levels succeed in the kitchen. She’s also the author of four cookbooks, including her newest, “Sally’s Baking 101: Foolproof Recipes From Easy to Advanced.”Sally joins host Jessie Sheehan to share the secrets behind her Classic Cheesecake recipe from the new book and offers some of her best pro tips, from shaping the perfect chocolate chip cookie to achieving those irresistible crinkly-topped brownies. Click here for Sally’s Classic Cheesecake recipe. Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Join the Jubilee L.A. waitlist hereVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Sally: Instagram, website, “Sally’s Baking 101” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Kelly Mencin, the culinary director and co-owner of Radio Bakery, one of New York City’s buzziest places. The Cleveland native is a veteran of Bouchon Bakery, Gramercy Tavern, and Rolo’s, and she opened the Brooklyn bakery with the Rolo’s team in 2023. It quickly drew lines down the block for its savory croissants and other laminated baked goods. Kelly joins host Jessie Sheehan to discuss her journey from culinary school to fine dining to bakery success. She talks about her love for dessert, the fine line between nostalgia and innovation, and what it’s like to go viral on social media. Plus, Kelly walks us through her Cheesy Pretzel Bearclaw—a laminated dough filled with a grainy mustard béchamel and cheddar cheese that’s dipped in a lye solution to be “pretzelized” before baking.Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Join the Jubilee L.A. waitlist hereVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Kelly: Instagram, Radio BakeryMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Anne Byrn, a trusted voice in American and Southern baking. Best known for her bestselling “Cake Mix Doctor” cookbook series, Anne’s career spans from her early days working at the school newspaper to studying at La Varenne Culinary School in Paris to becoming an accomplished journalist and bestselling author. Her latest book, “Baking in the American South,” weaves together 200 recipes with the cultural history that shaped them. Anne joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her path as a writer and baker, the time Julia Child cooked for her (hint: it was a roast chicken), and the evolution of the cake she’s been perfecting for more than three decades—coconut cake.Click here for Anne’s Coconut Cake recipe. Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Get The Italy Issue here!Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale nowVisit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Anne: Instagram, website, “Baking in the American South” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Erika Council, biscuit-maker extraordinaire and owner of Bomb Biscuit Co. in Atlanta. Erika’s fluffy, buttery biscuits have earned her fans far and wide, and she’s also the author of the cookbook “Still We Rise: A Love Letter to the Southern Biscuit with over 70 Sweet and Savory Recipes,” which is a tribute to her family’s deep roots in the South and her culinary heritage.Erika joins host Jessie Sheehan to discuss her journey from pop-up baker to brick-and-mortar success, the influence of her two grandmothers, and how bacon grease can be the mark of a true Southern cook. Erika also walks Jessie through The Bomb Buttermilk Biscuit recipe from her book.Click here for Erika’s Bomb Buttermilk Biscuit recipe.Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale now!Subscribe here to get The Italy Issue, out this September.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Erika: Instagram, Bomb Biscuit Co., “Still We Rise” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Shilpa Uskokovic, senior food editor at Bon Appétit and co-owner of Hani’s Bakery in New York City. Shilpa is a Chennai-born CIA grad who worked in fine dining restaurants before transitioning to the test kitchen. She and her husband, Miro, own and operate Hani’s, a bakery in the East Village with nostalgic and seasonal treats.Shilpa joins host Jessie Sheehan to talk about her first bake (a Victoria sponge cake), the magic of Chennai tea stalls, Bon Appétit’s Bake Club, and why Hani’s location means so much to her. Then, the duo dive into her Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats With Brown Butter (with two secret ingredients!) and the story behind Hani’s pistachio halvah version.Click here for Shilpa’s Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats With Brown Butter recipe on Bon Appétit.Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale now!Subscribe here to get The Italy Issue, out this September.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Shilpa: Instagram, Hani’s Bakery, Bon Appétit recipesMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

Today’s guest is Yewande Komolafe—recipe developer, New York Times columnist, and author of “My Everyday Lagos,” a James Beard-nominated cookbook. In this episode, Yewande tells host Jessie Sheehan about her remarkable journey from growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, to building a life and establishing a career in food in the U.S.Yewande shares how her mother, who was a food scientist, inspired her love for flavor and about her transition from working in restaurants to food media. She also dishes on her love for mangos and walks Jessie through her Mango Shortcakes With Lime-Coconut Cream recipe from the Times. Click here for Yewande’s Mango Shortcakes With Lime Coconut-Cream recipe on NYT Cooking.Thank you to California Prunes for their support. Jubilee L.A. tickets are on sale now!Subscribe here to get The Italy Issue, out this September.Visit cherrybombe.com for subscriptions, show transcripts, and tickets to upcoming events.More on Yewande: Instagram, NYT articles, “My Everyday Lagos” cookbookMore on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook