Welcome to
Handle the Heat
I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the simple science of sweets to ensure everything you bake is a hit.
If the kitchen is your “happy place,” if you love to experiment and get creative, and if you love to watch the joy on someone’s face when they bite into your treats, then this is the right place for you. Simply put? Baking is nothing short of magical. Let’s make everyone’s life a little sweeter, one recipe at a time.
So happy to have you here, because bakers are the best kinds of people!
Meet Tessa
Sweet Treats with a Sprinkle of Science
Hey, I’m Tessa Arias. I help people who crave a more delicious life.
I show them how to bring more sweetness to their lives and impress their friends and family with the best homemade recipes. All while sprinkling in my favorite tips, tricks, and a little baking science to all but guarantee your success in the kitchen. If you’re looking for cake mix and Cool Whip recipes, or recipes aimed to cater to a Keto diet, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’ve got a culinary degree, over 15 years of food writing experience, and a published cookbook. When I’m not in the kitchen, I can be found playing with my dog, hiking the desert, or exploring new restaurants in Phoenix. If you’re dying to know more, here are the top 3 things you didn’t know about me:
- I eat chocolate every single day. That’s not an exaggeration.
- I believe food is one of the most powerful ways to express and receive love.
- With that being said… I hate pickles.
I hope you enjoy your time here on my blog and find a recipe (or a few) that become family favorites. If you have any questions, comments, recipe requests, or are interested in working with me please contact me.
My Cookbooks
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
Get ready to make cookies that rival your favorite bakery. The Ultimate Cookie Handbook shares the sweet SCIENCE of cookie baking in a fun, visual way allowing you to create & customize your own recipes.
Cookies & Cream: Hundreds of Ways to Make the Perfect Ice Cream Sandwich
Features 50 recipes for homemade ice cream sandwiches with fabulous flavors like Red Velvet Cheesecake, Boston Cream Pie, and Cookies and Cream. It’ll make you feel like a kid again!
The Squad
We’re a small team of foodies
Emily, Project Manager
Emily landed her dream job here in 2021. Organizing is her zone of genius, and she constantly works towards driving project progress and team balance.
Recipe testing, reading, road trips with her husband, and cozy movie nights with their two cats bring her joy.
Her all-time favorite dessert is Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies… or lemon bars or macarons (can’t pick just one!).
Kiersten, Editorial Assistant
Kiersten, joining our team in May 2022, optimizes content, assists in research and preps new posts. She tests recipes as well as answering blog comments and emails to ensure every question is answered.
She is very passionate about baking troubleshooting, but when not baking, Kiersten is busy traveling whenever possible.
Her favorite dessert is Ultimate Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
And, of course, Tessa
I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I’m a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!).
Find Tessa On
Join Handle the Heat’s Monthly Baking Challenge
One recipe every month. Bake it. Share it. Savor it. Melt Hearts and win Prizes.
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