Winter Cooking: Caker Jordan Rondel’s Guide to Winter Desserts

If the weather over the past few days is anything to go by, winter is well and truly here in Aotearoa. While denim shorts have been relegated to the back of the closet and Frosé is sadly out of season, mulled wine, apple crumbles, cozy evenings and chunky knits are making a welcome comeback.

There’s also no better time than the turn of the season to get creative in the kitchen with fresh, seasonal produce. Apples, tangerines, lemons, navel oranges, pears, rhubarb, and zesty and tangy tamarillos are some of the delicious fruits currently available, all of which pair beautifully with the rich, warm flavors of winter – think with spices, brown sugar, dark chocolate and butterscotch.

There’s something truly poetic about whipping up a delicious dessert in a cozy kitchen by candlelight while the rain is beating down on the windows – of course, in my house, poetry would be interspersed with several profanities and batter splattered all over the floor.

But if anyone knows a bit about baking, it’s Jordan Rondel, the connoisseur behind Auckland’s cult bakery, The Caker. She gave Newshub a look into the world of winter baking, including some of her favorite seasonal treats and what’s trending on #FoodTok right now. She’s also shared a handful of her own recipes with Newshub if you need some inspiration – so let’s satisfy that sweet tooth.