Real Simple Cooking School

See all of what the Real Simple Cooking School can offer you with kitchen hacks to cooking tips and tricks. Visit us at realsimple.com for even more how-to cooking videos and food guides.
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1mo
two pieces of watermelon on a blue plate with seeds still attached to it
How to Pick a Cantaloupe—Plus How to Ripen, Cut, and Store One
Learn how to pick a cantaloupe to ensure your melon is always good. Then, get some tips on storing, ripening, and slicing it. #cantaloupe #fruit #storagetips #kitchenhacks
This may contain: a white cake with raspberries and pistachios on top is sitting on a table
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How to Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Birthday Cake From Our 25th Birthday Cover
Molly Yeh's rise to fame from blogger to TV star and cookbook author—including her latest, Sweet Farm!—has gifted her fans numerous sweet treats and centerpiece desserts. But this lemon poppy seed wonder might just take the cake (pun intended). The layers are tender as can be, thanks to the richness of egg yolks and Greek yogurt, while layers of flavor come from fresh lemon zest and almond extract. The pretty pink frosting is reminiscent of marshmallow fluff and boasts the fruity tartness of freeze-dried raspberries. Pulverizing freeze-dried berries in a food processor allows the powder to blend seamlessly into the frosting for natural color.
a white bowl filled with nuts on top of a table
Chickpeas vs. Garbanzo Beans—What's the Difference?
Are chickpeas and garbanzo beans the same thing? Learn whether chickpeas and garbanzo beans are different, and how to use them in tasty—and easy—recipes. #chickpeas #garbanzobeans #cookingtips #food
a square piece of yellow cake sitting on top of a white plate next to a whisk
Why You Should Always Use Salted Butter in Baking
Experts explain why unsalted is the standard, but why salted butter makes cookies, cakes, and other baked goods taste their very best. #butter #saltedbutter #bakingtips #bakinghacks
a square piece of cake sitting on top of a white and silver plate next to a pink background
Margarine vs. Butter: What's the Actual Difference?
If you're looking for something creamy to spread on toast or use in your baking, margarine, butter, and plant-based butter all fit the bill. But when you're deciding whether plant-based butter vs. margarine vs. butter is best for your needs, the answer isn't clear. Learn more about how butter and margarine are made, and how to choose the best one for you. #butter #margarine #plantbasedbutter #bakingtips #bakinghacks
an image of foil wrapped in aluminum foil with the rs 25 sign above it on a yellow background
Pro Tips for Using Aluminum Foil—In and Out of the Kitchen
Discover aluminum foil's hidden talents—from helping you spend less time at the ironing board to protecting surfaces while you paint—along with dos and don'ts of using it (no microwaves, please), and the answer to dull vs. shiny side, once and for all. #aluminumfoil #cookingtips #foodstorage #kitchentips
This may contain: a piece of cake with raspberries is being cut
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How to Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Birthday Cake From Our 25th Birthday Cover
Molly Yeh's rise to fame from blogger to TV star and cookbook author—including her latest, Sweet Farm!—has gifted her fans numerous sweet treats and centerpiece desserts. But this lemon poppy seed wonder might just take the cake (pun intended). The layers are tender as can be, thanks to the richness of egg yolks and Greek yogurt, while layers of flavor come from fresh lemon zest and almond extract. The pretty pink frosting is reminiscent of marshmallow fluff and boasts the fruity tartness of freeze-dried raspberries. Pulverizing freeze-dried berries in a food processor allows the powder to blend seamlessly into the frosting for natural color.
This may contain: a stack of books with the words real simple through the years
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Celebrating REAL SIMPLE’s 25th Birthday
Month after month, our easy dinners are some of the most beloved stories in the magazine. Because they’re easy (just 10-ish ingredients in each) and delicious! Here, the recipes that get made over and over again.
This may contain: a woman is smiling in front of a cake with the number twenty five on it
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Molly Yeh Shares the Inspiration Behind Our Birthday Cover Cake
We may be biased, but we think our birthday cake is the best, and it’s all thanks to the amazing Molly Yeh, host of Girl Meets Farm on Food Network, mom of two, owner of Bernie’s restaurant in East Grand Forks, Minn., and the author of the newly released cookbook Sweet Farm! Molly developed the recipe for the pretty pink Lemon Poppy Seed Birthday Cake that appears on the cover of our April 2025 issue. Our staff went crazy for it, and we think you will too. I chatted with Molly recently to get more insights into cake, her new book, and why she loves REAL SIMPLE.
two bowls with milk being poured into them
Half and Half vs. Heavy Cream: Differences and Substitutions
Is half and half the same as heavy cream? Spoiler: Not entirely. Use our informative guide to make the right choice for your next recipe. #bakinghacks #howtobake #howtocook #kitchentips #halfandhalf #heavycream
three muffins in a purple tray with coconut toppings on the top and bottom
Are Silicone Pans Better for Baking?
If you've ever wondered whether silicone pans are better for baking than metal ones, look no further—we asked cooking pros for the better option. #cooking #realsimple #howtocook #bakingtips
a woman is smiling next to a piece of cake with chocolate frosting on it
Ina Garten's Genius Tip for Decorating a Cake Ensures You'll Never Get Crumbs in Your Frosting Again
Wondering how to keep cake crumbs out of your icing while frosting a cake? The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, shares her helpful tips. #cake #desserts #cookingtips #howtobake #bakingtips
This may contain: a stack of books with the words real simple through the years
0:21
Celebrating REAL SIMPLE’s 25th Birthday
Month after month, our easy dinners are some of the most beloved stories in the magazine. Because they’re easy (just 10-ish ingredients in each) and delicious! Here, the recipes that get made over and over again.
This may contain: a woman is smiling in front of a cake with the number twenty five on it
0:38
How to Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Birthday Cake From Our 25th Birthday Cover
Molly Yeh's rise to fame from blogger to TV star and cookbook author—including her latest, Sweet Farm!—has gifted her fans numerous sweet treats and centerpiece desserts. But this lemon poppy seed wonder might just take the cake (pun intended). The layers are tender as can be, thanks to the richness of egg yolks and Greek yogurt, while layers of flavor come from fresh lemon zest and almond extract. The pretty pink frosting is reminiscent of marshmallow fluff and boasts the fruity tartness of freeze-dried raspberries. Pulverizing freeze-dried berries in a food processor allows the powder to blend seamlessly into the frosting for natural color.
This may contain: a woman is smiling in front of a cake with the number twenty five on it
0:38
How to Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Birthday Cake From Our 25th Birthday Cover
Molly Yeh's rise to fame from blogger to TV star and cookbook author—including her latest, Sweet Farm!—has gifted her fans numerous sweet treats and centerpiece desserts. But this lemon poppy seed wonder might just take the cake (pun intended). The layers are tender as can be, thanks to the richness of egg yolks and Greek yogurt, while layers of flavor come from fresh lemon zest and almond extract. The pretty pink frosting is reminiscent of marshmallow fluff and boasts the fruity tartness of freeze-dried raspberries. Pulverizing freeze-dried berries in a food processor allows the powder to blend seamlessly into the frosting for natural color.