Bodega Bakes is a love letter to pastry chef and activist Paola Velez’s Dominican heritage and NYC roots. This book contains more than 100 recipes for tortas, cookies, brownies, frozen treats, and other baked goods that burst with the flavors of her life.

The recipes in this book feature Paola’s renditions of traditional Dominican desserts such as Guava & Cheese Pastelitos and Tres Leches Cake, as well as unique twists on classic American treats such as Plantain Sticky Buns, “Everything on the Bodega Shelf” Brownies, and Paola’s viral “Thick’ems,” which combine the best of a crispy cookie and the delicious gooey parts of a soft cookie. Designed to be accessible to bakers of all levels (and those who shop at their corner store), the book also includes a “Trip to the Bodega” pantry section, along with Paola’s pro tips for success even with even the most modest equipment.

Each recipe is a testament to Paola’s passion, skill, and connection to her background, inviting the reader to recreate the magic of bodega treasures in their homes. The photography and design is bright, playful, joyous, bursting with color—a reflection of Paola's own uniquely vibrant personality.

A baking book bursting with joy that will have you hightailing it to the oven—and planning a trip to your local corner store.

Growing up in the Bronx, Paola Velez’s happy place was the bodega, a unique world full of color and flavor where the shelves were stocked with everything from M&M’s to Muenster cheese to majarete (Caribbean corn pudding)—and, of course, its own cat (IYKYK). Before she was a James Beard–nominated chef, Cherry Bombe cover girl, social media darling, and cofounder of the grassroots social action network Bakers Against Racism, Paola was a bodega kid with a taste for Warheads, Hostess cupcakes, ice pops, and Malta soda.