Instant Ice Cream

Daniel Kohler · August 1, 2017

Ice cream is everyone's favorite treat in the summer, but it takes so much planning to make at home! But, with a few scientific tricks you can make it in just a few minutes. Check out this cool contraption made out of marble and dry ice!

Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free

Angel Food Cake

Daniel Kohler · April 26, 2017

Though it takes some time to accumulate the necessary egg whites in my freezer, once I've got a good reserve I always turn to angel food cake. This cake can be made a few days in advance of your next party, and it freezes extraordinarily well, so you've really got no excuse for not making one post-haste.

Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Dessert

Cake Formula

Daniel Kohler · March 23, 2017

Though I doubted their usefulness in my high school physics class, formulas turned out to be eminently useful in the kitchen. Here's my cake formula, it's something I've used without fail for years now. I love how customizable it is, any flavor you dream can fit into its confines. Enjoy!

Dessert, Home & Family, Video

Molecular Mousse

Daniel Kohler · March 17, 2017

Chocolate mousse can be vexing: separate the eggs, beat the whites, fold in the chocolate sauce carefully. There are a lot of ways it can go wrong! Fortunately, we've got a quick solution. This is what I like to call a "get out of jail free" dessert.

Dessert, Dairy Free, Gluten Free

Amaretti

Daniel Kohler · February 6, 2017

When looking for a last minute dessert, these amaretti routinely top my list. I always have some extra egg whites in the freezer, and whipping up a batch of these couldn't be easier.

Dessert, Home & Family, Video

Turkish Delight

Daniel Kohler · January 3, 2017

The fantasy imagined by dear Edmund in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" can be a reality in your kitchen today! Making Turkish Delight is rather simple, all it takes is some sugar and arm power!

Dessert, Home & Family, Video

Soufflé Science

Daniel Kohler · September 26, 2016

Are soufflés really as tricky as you've been led to believe? Trust me, when you look at them scientifically, it's pretty easy to make them perfectly every time.

Dairy Free, Dessert, Home & Family, Video, Summer

Boozy Sorbet

Daniel Kohler · September 12, 2016

Want to salute the end of summer with something extra special? Try making some sorbet with fresh fruit from the farmer's market and spike it with a little wine!

Dessert, Video, Home & Family

Brownie Bake Off

Daniel Kohler · August 25, 2016

Ever wonder what makes a brownie fudgy or cakey? Time to break down the science of this delectable treat!

Dessert, Read, Winter

Gingerbread Architecture

Daniel Kohler · December 14, 2015

Gingerbread houses can be the cause of much frustration. After spending hours planning, baking, and then constructing, it can all fall apart due to simple mechanical issues. The prime culprit in any gingerbread house disaster is the cement used to hold everything together. Do you know what kind of icing you’re using?

Dessert, Dairy Free, Read

Candy Cane Canticle

Daniel Kohler · December 7, 2015

At the end of the year when snow is glittering on pine needles, the flavor my brain calls out for is reflective of that sentimental weather: cool, crisp, fresh, and bright. Peppermint candy canes have stolen my heart.

Dessert, Dairy Free, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Snack, Side, Winter

Caramel Corn

Daniel Kohler · November 3, 2015

Though I am a popcorn fanatic, caramel corn was not in my rotation until last year. Salty, sweet, and crunchy, this snack satisfies me in a dangerous way. I have to remove the bowl from my side after a few handfuls, otherwise I risk falling into the abyss of total consumption. And trust me, though it seems wise at the time, finishing the entire batch of caramel corn in one sitting is not pretty.

Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Snack, Spring, Summer, Video, Winter

Home & Family: Bubble Gum History

Daniel Kohler · October 30, 2015

Bubble gum is practically a national treasure by now, it is so closely associated with American culture that we cannot think of high school without images of bubble-popping teens flanking the hallways. But, as with many treats, chewing gum has international roots. Check out the lesson!

Dessert, Dinner Party Theater, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Read, Snack

Bubble Gum Breakdown

Daniel Kohler · October 21, 2015

Is there any other food so closely associated with teenage rebelliousness? Imagine a hallway full of gum-smacking adolescents, three or four walking toward you unaware of your presence. You quake in your oxford loafers while they pass. But while gum may be culturally connoted with the under-18 crowd, it has a long history of supplying adults with something sweet to keep their mouths occupied during long work days.

Breakfast, Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Snack, Video, Winter

Home & Family: Maple Syrup

Daniel Kohler · October 20, 2015

As the weather takes a turn into cooler temperatures I find myself longing for maple syrup. I want to imbue its flavor into everything I bake, be it savory or sweet. Well, if you're wondering where that sweet sap comes from and how we get it, look no further!

Breakfast, Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Snack

Maple Butter

Daniel Kohler · October 15, 2015

Looking for a new treat to spread on your morning toast? Want a wicked spoonful to stir into your cup of coffee? What if I told you there was a way to make maple syrup so thick that it wouldn't run off your waffles and pancakes? Well friends, the wait is over. With little more than some basic chemistry knowledge you'll be able to work magic in the kitchen with a bottle of maple syrup. Get ready, because this is your new addiction.

Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Snack, Spring, Summer, Video

Home & Family: Dry Ice Soft Serve

Daniel Kohler · September 19, 2015

Though you may think of soft serve as something purely to be purchased at a carnival or ballpark, think again! Using dry ice in the kitchen really pays off here, a little science goes a long way when it comes to ice cream.

Dessert, Dairy Free, Home & Family, Fall, Spring, Summer, Video, Winter

Home & Family: Rock Candy

Daniel Kohler · September 17, 2015

Looking for a fun experiment in the kitchen for your family this weekend? Learn how to make rock candy, an exciting exploration of geometry, crystallization, and super-saturation!

Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Snack, Spring, Summer

Chocolate Coconut Soft Serve

Daniel Kohler · September 16, 2015

Want the secret to a killer party trick? Buy a pound of dry ice and make your guests instant soft serve ice cream after dinner, then toss your hair over your shoulder and say, "Oh, this? It's nothing." Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and reaches dangerously low temperatures (-109 degrees!), which is perfect for making icy desserts.

Dairy Free, Dessert, Fall, Gluten Free, Home & Family, Side, Snack, Spring, Summer, Winter

Rock Candy

Daniel Kohler · September 11, 2015

I'm a sucker for candy, particularly candy of the sucking variety. Though to be honest, when I'm presented with a stick of rock candy I am much more likely to crunch its crystals to smithereens than delicately decay them with saliva. There is something so terribly pleasing about the obliteration of sugar between teeth.