We’re joined by baker Claire Ptak, whose desserts are a winning combination of California flavor and London style—and even royalty agrees. She shares her favorite recipes and reveals the behind-the-scenes details of being chosen to bake the cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Plus, Rowan Jacobsen crash-lands into the Amazon for an up-close look at wild cacao harvesting; Adam Gopnik revisits his mother’s sourdough bread; Cheryl Day answers your toughest baking questions; and we make a Hot Milk Sponge Cake just in time for spring.

Questions in this episode:

"I’m attempting to bake my grandmother’s blackberry jam cake, but it keeps coming out dry. Can you help me?"

"I’m trying to venture into French baking. Do you have suggestions for baking cannelés de Bordeaux?"