Chef Molly Yeh On Black Sesame Babka and Her New Cookbook, ‘Sweet Farm’

Molly Yeh is a New York Times bestselling author, the host of Food Network’s Girl Meets Farm, and now, the genius behind Sweet Farm—her latest cookbook dedicated to deliciously sweet things. Yeh is the kind of person you want to be friends with. She’s talented, charming, and can make you crave babka at 9 a.m. (Don’t fight it, just go with it.)

Yeh recently sat down with Katie Lee Biegel on All On The Table, and if you weren’t already a fan, this episode will have you sprinting to preheat your oven. From her culinary upbringing, her transition from Juilliard-trained percussionist to cookbook queen, and the most relatable mom-life moments, Yeh shares all—with a side of black sesame babka.

From Percussion to Pastry

Before she whipped up swoon-worthy cakes and cookies, Yeh was hitting drums and triangles at Juilliard. But, as she shared with Biegel, food was always her first love. “Even though I was surrounded by music, I was also very into food,” she said. “When I moved to New York, I found the food, and I wanted to try everything I could.”

Like many of us, she spent her college years discovering the magic of late-night eats and food truck adventures. And while she was supposed to be thinking about music, she admitted, “In those rest times, I would just be daydreaming about what restaurant I wanted to eat at next.” 

Eventually, her passion for food and writing took over, and she started a blog. That blog became a full-fledged career, leading her to North Dakota, where she now lives on a sugar beet farm with her husband and kids. (Yes, she really does the whole farm life thing, and no, it’s not just a TikTok aesthetic.)

Sweet Farm: A Love Letter to Baking

Yeh’s new cookbook, Sweet Farm, is an ode to all things baked, frosted, and sprinkled with joy. “This was a book that I always knew I wanted to write,” she told Biegel. “Baking is my number one form of creative expression.” The book is filled with over 100 recipes that reflect her Chinese and Jewish heritage, Midwestern roots, and deep love for nostalgia.

Expect classics with a twist, like black sesame babka, matcha-infused sweets, and even a bagel chip strawberry pretzel salad that sounds absolutely unhinged but also totally genius. “I love a sweet-salty combination,” Yeh said, and honestly, who doesn’t?

She also brings in some serious Minnesota potluck energy with recipes like cookie salad—yes, that’s a real thing, and yes, you need it in your life. “It’s one of those community cookbook staples,” she explained. “It’s made with Keebler Fudge Stripes, Jell-O instant pudding, canned mandarin oranges, and Cool Whip.”

Before you judge, remember: The Midwest does comfort food like no other. And Yeh makes sure her recipes are approachable, meaning whether you’re a baking newbie or a seasoned pro, you’ll find something in Sweet Farm that speaks to your soul.

How to Bring Sweet Farm (and Babka!) Into Your Kitchen

Let’s be real—Molly’s life sounds dreamy, but we’re not all about to pack up and move to a farm. The good news? You don’t have to. Sweet Farm is designed for home bakers who want to bring a little more magic into their kitchens, no matter where they live.

If you’re a brunch queen, start with her whole wheat chocolate chunk cake. “It’s like if a fluffy cake and a cookie had a baby,” Yeh described. It’s made with fresh whole wheat flour (which, she swears, makes a difference), a yogurt glaze, and just a sprinkle of sea salt for that extra oomph.

The black sesame babka is a must for those who love a good kitchen project. “Babka, who doesn’t love a babka?” she asked. (No one. No one doesn’t love babka.) Inspired by her Chinatown upbringing, this swirled beauty is as beautiful as it is delicious. But if baking isn’t your thing, you can try Yeh’s collaboration with Breads Bakery in NYC, where her black sesame babka is available. (Go ahead, treat yourself. It’ll change your life.)

And if you’re all about ease, Yeh’s deconstructed salad hack is your new best friend. “Grain bowls are great,” she said, “but for the kids, I just separate everything out—rice in one section, broccoli in another, salmon over here.” Translation? One meal, no complaints, everyone wins.

The Mom Life Moments

While Yeh is a culinary powerhouse, she keeps it real about motherhood, sleep struggles, and the daily chaos of raising two little ones. “My kids could live on dumplings,” she admitted, which is a fantastic way to live.

And when it comes to sleep, she and Biegel got into a hilariously relatable convo about kids taking over the bed. “I gave up,” Biegel admitted. “She was waking me up at 3 a.m., so now she just sleeps with me.” Yeh’s response? “Is this what I need to do?”

Where to Find Sweet Farm

If this chat has you craving cake (same), you can grab Sweet Farm wherever books are sold—ideally not Amazon but at your favorite indie bookstore. And if you’re lucky enough to be near a Breads Bakery, don’t sleep on the black sesame babka collab. It’s the treat that’ll make you believe in love again.