Hello! I’m Moriah and I live in the east bay area near San Francisco. I don’t mind my day job as an office lady, but what brings me the most joy is engaging in creative crafts. Modifying and making up my own dessert recipes is by far my favorite, along with photographing them on my little old camera. After years of baking for events, gifts, and sheer fun, I found that I wanted to reach out further, share my sweet inventions, and connect with others — so I started my website: butter, sugar, flowers. You can read more about what’s behind my baking here, and find some kind words here.
I chose the name butter, sugar, flowers because my recipes tend to incorporate unexpected ingredients — from flowers to soy sauce to grated jicama. I can’t help but see the world through dessert lenses and find recipe potential in the unusual. And my site is also named after its first post, a recipe I’d originally published in my local neighborhood news. My dear friends Z & M had seen it, then generously bought me a URL as a gift, using my post’s title as the domain name. While I’d always thought about starting my own site, I hadn’t taken that first step. So if it wasn’t for those friends, I can’t say this site would be more than a daydream.
I feel that creativity is vital to my life. And creating sweets that are inventive, unusual, beautiful and delicious is my passion. I couldn’t do any of it without my #1 taste taster and the love of my life, Jacob. I feel incredibly grateful to have the luxury of doing these things I love — and especially to share my life with the one I love. Can it really get any better?
To contact me: You can reach me through DM on any of my social media accounts, by commenting on any of posts on this site, or by email here. Happy Baking!
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Two desserts are better than one!
butter, sugar, flowers 
Thannk you for being you
ButteryLicious.com is a domain name I have. Planning to bake things to sell. Interested?
Hello Moriah, I’ve been reading your blog and I love what I see. Everything you make looks so beautiful! 🙂 I can’t wait to try some of these recipes, especially the hazelnut cake.
I also like to experiment with unconventional ingredients for desserts. Have you ever made anything with tumeric? It’s surprisingly delicious, especially with brown butter.
Happy holidays!
P.S.
My dad is Jason Escalante; he says he knows you and your husband from the days he lived in Berkeley. 🙂He’s the one who told me about your blog.
Hi Miranda,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share these kind words! It’s so nice to know I have you as an adventurously-baking kindred spirit (and to have a connection through your dad).
The hazelnut cake is one of my favorites; please let me know how it goes if you make it!
I haven’t used turmeric for my own sweet recipes yet, but I’ve wanted to — and your pairing it with brown butter is brilliant and inspiring.
Thanks again, happy holidays, and happy baking!
Moriah
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Hi where can I get the pistachio paste for those great looking cookies.Thank you.Angelica
Hi Angelica,
Thanks for stopping by! I got my pistachio paste at Rockridge Market Hall in Oakland (markethallfoods.com) — it was Sicilfrutti brand “Latte Di Pistacchio” — but it appears they no longer carry it, and I’m only finding it on Italy-based web sites now! So sorry!
The pistachio paste was very similar to Odense Almond Paste (the log that comes in a 7 ounce box), which is easy to find and would make a fine substitute. The cookies could still be covered in pistachios — the two nuts are quite complementary, and in fact pistachio paste usually has an almondy flavor.
I haven’t tried the “pistachio nut paste” in the can that I have seen sometimes in stores and online; it seems to be runnier than what I used here. I’ll try to do some experimenting with it and get back to you.
Another option, depending how much DIY you are up for, is to try make your own pistachio paste — see http://bit.ly/1S77U3C.
With my best baking wishes,
Moriah
Thank you for your fabulous eggnog pie recipe. I was a bit afraid of the stovetop vigilance it required vs. other recipes of the pour-and-bake variety, but I’m glad I went with my gut and made yours. It was a smash and the perfect capper to Christmas dinner. Best to you in 2015!
Hi Gloria, Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for sharing your experience here. I’m so glad it was a hit! Cheers!
Oh my gosh, I just drooled over your slide show! So many yummy treats I want to eat! I love your site but I think you already know that 🙂 I just realized I hadn’t read your about- love your cute hair and glasses!
Aww, thanks so much!
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Hello, I’ve awarded you the One Lovely Blog Award! Check out this post for the details: http://wp.me/pXxCI-fU
Thank you so much, Avra-Sha! Your kind gesture is truly appreciated. Cheers!
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Your blog is amazing! I love it and you deserved the “one lovely blog award”. Check it out: http://tokoulouraki.wordpress.com/ ! Your last post with fresh cherry cupcakes is my favourite and I ‘ll make them as soon as possible!
Thank you so much, Κουλούρι! It’s an honor to receive this award from you, and if you make the cupcakes, I hope you enjoy every bite!
Hey BSF!
Just thought I’d let you know I’ve nominated you for a Liebster award (a nice little virtual award from one blogger to another, telling the world that your blog is worth a visit)
Keep it up!
Awesome! Thanks so much, LKT! 🙂
Hi, I would like to nomimate you for the Supersweet Blogging Award. Hope you enjoy participating, find out what it’s all about here: http://lovelybuns.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/super-sweet-blogging-award-twice/
Candy, Thank you so very much! This is an honor, and it means a lot to me coming from such a super-sweet blogger like you. Many, many thanks!
* Very Inspiring Blogger Award 🙂
Many, many thanks! You are very inspiring to me, as well!
That’s lovely! Thank you!
Hi! Just stopping by to say I really enjoyed following you in 2012 and have nominated you for a Reality Blog Award. If you’re interested in accepting, pop by http://missmarzipan.com/2012/12/31/100th-post-today-with-belated-yet-grateful-responses-to-18-award-nominations/ for more details. If not, no worries :)- I gave you a nice shout-out in any case… and I wish you a very happy 2013!
Thank you so much, Miss M! I am very touched and grateful for your kindness! (And I love your blog and wish you a happy new year, too!)
What a lovely blog! Happy to follow! 🙂
Thank you, mmm! Likewise, I love both the name of your blog and all the creativity behind it! I’m very glad to connect with you here.
Likewise! I was thinking exactly the same thing about your blog! The name grabbed me straight away! And then the posts… well, they look fabulous 🙂
I just started reading your blog, as I NEVER knew you had a blog! No surprise to your uncle and I, as the rest of the world should eagerly anticipate what recipe you will do next as much as we eagerly await your amazing , creative and decadent box of cookies every year at Christmas. Oh how I wish I were closer so that I was available to give poor Jacob a break in the taste testing department.
How ideal that I would start reading on a day when your brilliant Lemon Merengue creation was the first thing I saw. Since anything made with Lemon becomes my favorite food, there were a lot of “OMG’s” being thrown around this morning. I have often thought I would one day have a cookbook titled “When life gives you Lemons”, as we too, possess one of those “prolific” Meyer Lemon trees in our backyard. Why not a cookbook with EVERYTHING LEMON? Well after reading your blog, I now know why not…because who can compete with you? You are amazing and we are so blessed to not only have a beautiful niece, but a beautiful niece that can bake!
We are hoping at some point you and Jodie will come together and open a bakery…we have a name for it already, but you’ll have to call us for that. Don’t want to give it away .
I will call next time I think about Moriahs Special Hot Chocolate to find out whats cookin 🙂
Brookie
Auntie Brookie!
Thank you so much for finding me and taking the time to comment here! After reading this, I’m pretty certain this year’s Christmas cookies are going to have to include something lemony. Yes, I would be thrilled if we were closer for taste-testing sessions and just having more time together. Thanks so much for cheering me on and making me feel loved!
Hi there, I have nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger award – I just love your posts 🙂
Amy, thank you so much! I love your posts, too — and your gorgeous photos and writing. It’s an honor to be picked by you for this award. Many thanks!
You’ve been nominated for the One Lovely Blog award!
Here are the steps for the award:
Name the blogger who awarded you this fantastic award
List 7 random facts about yourself
Award 15 other bloggers this award
Enjoy!
Thank you so much, Lilly Sue! It’s an honor to receive this award from such a wonderful blogger! I look forward to passing it on in the near future!
Well thank you so much for your kind words!! Have fun!
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I adore the name of your blog 🙂
Megan, thank you so much! The name just popped into my head when I first made those nasturtium flower cookies and was looking at the ingredients.
I, too, love the name of *your* blog — and especially the meaning behind it!
Here’s to our culinary adventures!
Dear Buttersugarflowers,
Your Blog is one of my favorites, and I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. Congratulations! http://bringingeuropehome.com/2012/04/09/playing-favoritesbeing-versatile/
Oh, Robin! Thank you so very much! The awards you have received are well-deserved, and I feel very grateful to have been given one from you.
By the way, I thought of you this weekend when I found some little pieces of Polish pottery at an estate sale. 🙂 They are small but adorable; I’ll let you know if I post photos. Thank you again!
Buttersugarflowers, I loved your site and I love your drive. Congratulations on your success. The jewelry is beautiful and the baking column is awesome. You are doing what I am aiming to do with my cookies and writings. Being an office lady also, it’s good to see that it can be done. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much. Your poetry is beautiful and your cookie business is something I’ve dreamed about! Creativity is so important, so vital to life — and it’s incredibly impressive and inspirational to see you stay so connected with it! (I am just an aunt, but I know from my sister that being a mom is 1,000 times more full time than any office job!)
I am living and learning every day, and I find myself inspired by your site also. I’m glad I happened upon it.