As counterintuitive as it may sound, sometimes the ingredient a dessert needs to truly sing is a bit of salt. I’m sure the notion of a salty sweet is something I would have turned my nose up at in my younger years, but I’ve come to appreciate how even a few flakes can elevate the flavor of your favorite baked goods.
In addition to flavoring otherwise bland ingredients commonly used in baking — such as flour, butter, eggs and cream — salt can bring other foods into focus. Chocolate is a primary example. A sprinkling of flaky salt provides contrasting crunch and a pleasant pop of briny flavor. It brings balance and wards against desserts that veer into cloying.
If you like those kinds of salty sweets, here are some great options from our archives.
Salted Oatmeal Cookies
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Pictured above. Pull out your nice flaky sea salt for these classic cookies that aren’t overly spiced. Get the recipe.