Hi! I’m Beth Baumgartner, a home baker turned dessert blogger with a serious love for classic treats and a mission to help you gain confidence in the kitchen.
Fun fact: neither of my parents were bakers—or cooks, really. So when I got married, I decided I’d teach myself. What started as a beginner’s journey quickly turned into a full-blown passion for desserts.
Over the years, I’ve gone from figuring out how to bake my first pie to developing and testing hundreds of recipes that now live on this site—and in the kitchens of home bakers around the world.
Here on the blog, you’ll find trustworthy recipes for classic desserts—from muffins and cakes to cookies and nostalgic sweets. Every recipe I share has been tested multiple times (with behind-the-scenes peeks on Instagram) to make sure it works for real home bakers, in real kitchens. I pay close attention to details like texture, flavor balance, and baking time, and I include the why behind every tip so you can learn with me.
I’ve built a loyal community of bakers, and I’m incredibly honored that thousands of people have purchased my cookbooks. My most popular recipes? Definitely my muffins—I’m known around here as the Muffin Expert.
Whether you’re brand new to baking or looking to master the classics, I’m here to cheer you on, share what I’ve learned, and remind you that yes—you can make amazing desserts from scratch.
Let’s bake something sweet together!
Where are you from?
My husband and I both grew up in Minnesota—we’re high school sweethearts! In August 2013, we moved to Illinois so Ryan could work on his Ph.D. After he graduated in 2017, we moved to Michigan, where we live now. It’s been such a sweet journey together, with lots of life (and baking!) packed into each move.
Why is your blog called ‘The First Year’?
I started this blog in August 2013—just two months after we got married. At the time, I wanted to document and share our first year of marriage, so the name felt perfect. But even after that first anniversary came and went, I realized something: life is full of firsts.
Our first home. Our first baby. Our first “real” jobs. And now, my first business. There’s always something new to navigate and celebrate, and I’ve been incredibly blessed to experience those moments with my best friend by my side.
The First Year also became something deeply personal for me. In a season where I really needed a creative outlet, God gave me the gift of this blog. What started as a place to share our life has grown into a space where I now get to share the joy of baking with others—and it’s become my full-time job, which still blows me away.
So while the name started with a single year, it continues to represent all the new beginnings and sweet milestones we keep living—and baking—through.
What kind of equipment do you use?
I shoot with a Nikon D810 and use a 105mm macro lens and a 50mm lens.
Fun Facts About Beth
- I am more of a morning person than I am a night person.
- I have a gluten allergy, but I don’t let that hold me back from making fun and delicious things! That’s actually why I love baking at home so much, almost anything can be made gluten free with a high quality gluten free flour. My favorite is King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.
- I like weight lifting.
- I have 2 daughters, Remi and Colette.
- My favorite platform is Instagram, where I share behind the scenes content!
