The Epicurious Test Kitchen

Our best margarita recipe is refreshing, strong, and tart. The secret? Good tequila, the right orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and finding the ideal balance.

The Manhattan is a classic cocktail made with whiskey and sweet vermouth.

This is an especially refreshing take on the cosmopolitan cocktail. You can batch the cosmo mix up to 10 hours in advance to cut down on last-minute fuss at your next cocktail-worthy occasion. (If you’d like to mix it together earlier than that, add the lime juice at the last minute.) To retain maximum fizz, pour the chilled club soda and sparkling wine into each ice-filled glass first—then you don’t need to rigorously stir to mix the bubbles into the heavier cocktail base. This recipe makes eno.…

Use the best balsamic you can afford for this simple yet refined appetizer. 

In the Philippines, mais con yelo is a traditional dessert of crushed ice layered with corn kernels and sweetened milk. For this version, the milk and ice are combined with puréed corn to make a delicious granita.

This simple, large batch of seasoned black beans can be frozen, refrigerated, and repurposed in endless ways for easy, family-friendly meals.

Make anything taste like your favorite bagel with a sprinkle of this savory mix of poppy seeds, onion, garlic, sesame seeds, and salt.

This thick, savory sauce is inspired by Papa John's breadstick-dipping sauce. But this one is made with real butter, so it tastes even more delicious.

As any Disney Park fanatic can tell you, it’s not a visit to the Magic Kingdom without a helping of this tropical, dairy-free, soft-serve–like dessert. Now you can make magic at home.

Used for sandwiches, flatbreads, toast, or desserts, "Cloud Bread" is a simple, 3-ingredient recipe that offers a high-protein, low-carb, low-cal, gluten-free alternative to bread. Adding seasoning like herbs, spices, or honey helps boost flavor while keeping this "bread" health-focused.

Our upgrade on the slumber party classic gets earthy sweetness from maple syrup and a black-as-night look from a cocoa powder coating.

Want to make salted caramel ice cream without an ice cream maker and with only three ingredients? It doesn't get easier (or more delicious) than this.

Naturally sweet carrots are perfectly balanced by a nutty, fragrant brown butter. If you can't find carrots with tops, substitute 2 Tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh parsley.

Served warm or at room temperature, a frittata makes for an easy yet impressive dinner. If you are following our $68 Dinner Story, buy 1 bunch asparagus and use 3/4 bunch for the Fettuccine with Asparagus, Beet Green Pesto, and Poached Egg and the remaining 1/4 bunch here. This is the perfect opportunity to use up any leftover beet green pesto from the pasta dish as well.

Toasted walnuts add a rich nuttiness to earthy greens. If you are following our $68 Dinner Story, use the reserved beet and Swiss chard greens and remaining chard stems from the Roasted Beet Salad with Flash-Pickled Radishes and Chard .

Chicken thighs are an inexpensive and delicious alternative to chicken breasts. This one-pan dinner is perfect for a weeknight because it's so simple to put together and cleanup is a breeze.