Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store

Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store by Paola Velez, award-winning pastry chef and cofounder of Bakers Against Racism, is a vibrant celebration of Dominican heritage, New York City bodega culture, and inventive contemporary baking. Featuring a foreword by Christina Tosi, Velez’s debut cookbook draws inspiration from her childhood in the Bronx, where neighborhood corner stores introduced her to a colorful mix of Caribbean sweets, American snack foods, and nostalgic treats. Published in 2024, the book features more than 100 recipes that transform these familiar flavors into playful, imaginative desserts.

Combining classical pastry training with her love of childhood favorites, Velez offers recipes ranging from Guava and Cheese Turnovers, Maria Cookie Icebox Cake, Pineapple Empanadillas, and Golden Rum Cake to brownies, sticky buns, and her signature Thick’ems cookies—oversized cookies celebrated for their crisp edges and gooey centers. Throughout the collection, she balances traditional Afro-Caribbean flavors with creative interpretations of American desserts, providing approachable instructions that encourage both beginning and experienced bakers to experiment with unexpected ingredients and combinations.

Winner of the 2025 James Beard Award for Emerging Voice in Books and named one of the best cookbooks of 2024 by The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine, Bodega Bakes is especially appealing for home bakers, Dominican and Afro-Caribbean food enthusiasts, Black and Latin American foodways collectors, and readers who love colorful, nostalgic desserts rooted in cultural heritage and personal storytelling.