They’re actually “bread flakes” rather than bread crumbs. Panko is made in small flakes, not ground into crumbs like traditional bread crumbs. The flakes provide a crisper, crunchier coating and an airier texture.

Use them to coat fried chicken, crab cakes, fried zucchini, mozzarella sticks and all of your favorites. You can even sprinkle them on ice cream for crunch.

You can find panko in the Asian products section of many supermarkets; at all Asian food markets; and online.

Boxes of panko also make creative stocking stuffers for people who love fried food. The panko from Sushi Chef, in a smart black, white and red box, is particularly giftworthy.

Panko-crusted pork. Photo by
Parkerman & Christie | Wikimedia.

The best dessert this year! Photo by
Katharine Pollak | THE NIBBLE.

That’s because the recipe and the visual presentation are simply divine.

Rectangular shells of butter pastry are lined with a perfect caramel, then topped to overflowing with the tastiest, fresh-roasted nuts.

There are nuts to suit every palate: almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios or walnuts. Or, have them all in the mixed nuts version shown in the photo.

Then drizzle a tiny bit more caramel over the nuts; bake and sell to grateful customers.

These elegant desserts will dazzle at a dinner party or tea party, make a memorable gift, or treat you to a sublime pastry experience. And for only $6 per nut box!

Each nut box could easily be shared by two people—but don’t even think of asking for half of ours.

• Sink your teeth into the full review.
• Find more of our favorite pastries.
• Discover new types of pastry in our beautiful Pastry Glossary.

Do the math, and you get 15,000 different combinations—a different cookie for every day for the next 41 years.

First, you start with a choice of an Original, Oatmeal or Peanut Butter cookie dough (what—no chocolate?) or muffin tops in Original or Bran muffin tops.

Then pick 2 or 3 mix-ins:

• Chips: dark chocolate chunks, semi-sweet chocolate chunks, milk chocolate chunks, white chocolate chunks, chocolate mint chips, peanut butter pieces and butterscotch chips, plus sprinkles

Cookies made to order in two minutes.
Photo courtesy Sweet Flour Bake Shop.

• Candy: M&Ms, mini pretzels, snickers, toffee pieces
• Dried Fruit: blueberries, cherries, cranberries, figs, raisins
• Nuts: almonds, macadamias, pecans, pistachios, walnutsIf you’ve in the mood for ganache, have a sandwich cookies in chocolate, peanut butter or shortbread with chocolate, maple, peanut butter, salted caramel or vanilla crème.

   

  OK, we’ll start with a chocolate sandwich cookie with salted caramel ganache; then move onto a bran muffin with dried cherries, figs and pistachio nuts. We’ll be back later for an Original cookie with M&Ms, toffee and snickers.

  How about you?

  And when is a Sweet Flour bakery opening near us?