Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride

“Food in queer communities is more than just sustenance; it’s a way to forge relationships, create safe spaces... and collect our narratives,” writes Burke in the introduction to his appealing debut, which gathers 75 personally meaningful dessert recipes in celebration of queer potluck culture. Prefaced by anecdotes about family and friends who played a pivotal role in Burke’s journey toward acceptance and belonging, these recipes have a charmingly retro vibe. Chapters are organized by baking pan types: rectangular and square, sheet, loaf, casserole, and round. While many recipes rely on convenience foods or come from vintage back-of-the-box and magazine clippings, Burke updates each with new twists. The three-layered Shirley’s Cake, for example, comes together using box cake mix, instant pudding, and canned mandarin oranges to honor family friend Shirley with a “kickass cake for a kickass life.” Peanut and grape cheesecake squares “capture the soul of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Chocolate cherry soda cake features a maraschino cherry buttercream, while pistachio fluff “salad” offers a creamy mix of pineapple and marshmallows. Poke cakes, dump cakes, and self-saucing puddings abound. These tried-and-true, crowd-pleasing treats are ideal for any gathering. (June)