Hetal Vasavada

San Francisco, CA

School: University of the Sciences and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Expertise: Baking; Recipe Development; Vegan/Vegetarian; Gardening; Travel

Hetal Vasavada

12 years of experience as a recipe developer
Recipes have appeared in Food & Wine, the New York Times, Bon Appetit, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post
Creator of Milk & Cardamom, a baking blog with over 125K followers on Instagram

Experience

Hetal is a cookbook author, recipe developer and food influencer. She has written two cookbooks, Milk & Cardamom and Desi Bakes, both of which highlight Indian-inspired desserts that blend traditional South Asian flavors with modern baking techniques. She is a former contestant on MasterChef USA and has worked extensively in the food media space, contributing recipes and culinary content to brands like Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and The Kitchn.

With a background in recipe development and a passion for storytelling, Hetal creates approachable yet innovative recipes.

Education

University of the Sciences (now Saint Joseph's University), bachelor's in biochemistry

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, master's in biomedical sciences

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Articles & Recipes

Hetal Vasavada’s Leftover Halloween Fudge

Is there ever such a thing as too much Halloween candy? Maybe not. But if you have plenty of extras, turn your candy bars into this rich, chocolaty fudge that feels equal parts indulgent and resourceful. This is perfect to give out during the holidays or bring into the office to share. —Hetal Vasavada, San Francisco, California

Hetal Vasavada’s Pecan Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

If you’re into fall baking, these are the perfect cookies for you! They hit that sweet spot between cozy and indulgent. A soft, chocolate thumbprint base holds a rich salted caramel filling loaded with toasted pecans for the perfect crunch. For the best flavor, toast your pecans until they’re just fragrant. This is a key step, so don’t skip it! —Hetal Vasavada, San Francisco, California

Hetal Vasavada’s Spiced Chai Apple Pie Tart

Apple pie, but make it chai. This puff pastry tart has all the cozy vibes—flaky, buttery layers loaded with spiced apples and a cloud of cardamom whipped cream on top. Honestly? It's giving fall main character energy. —Hetal Vasavada, San Francisco, California