Claire Saffitz

Claire Saffitz(born 16 September 1986) is an American food writer, chef, andYouTube personality. Until mid-2020, she was a contributing editor atBon Appétitmagazine and starred in several series on theBon AppétitYouTubechannel, includingGourmet Makes, in which she createdgourmetversions of popular snack foods byreverse engineeringthem. Since leaving the company, she has published two cookbooks,Dessert PersonandWhat's for Dessert, which both becameNew York TimesBest Sellers. She has continued work as a video host on her own YouTube channel and as a freelance recipe developer, including forNew York TimesCooking.
Saffitz was born inSt. Louis,Missourito anAshkenaziJewish family.In the early 1900s, her great-grandfather emigrated to the United States from what was thenRussiabut is nowUkraine; before emigrating, he worked as a baker.
She attended Captain Elementary and graduated fromClayton High Schoolin 2005.She went on to attendHarvard University, graduating in 2009 with an AB in U.S. history and literature, then studied French cuisine and pastry atÉcole Grégoire-FerrandiinParis, France. After a four-monthexternshipatSpring Restaurant, Saffitz moved toMontreal, Québec, where she received amaster'sdegree in history atMcGill Universityin 2013, with a focus on French culinary history in the early modern era.
Saffitz joinedBon Appétitin 2013, starting as a recipe tester and working her way up to being a senior food editor, where she remained until August 2018, when she left her full-time position at the magazine.She returned in November 2018 as a freelance recipe developer and video host.
In July 2017,Gourmet Makesdebuted, in which Saffitz attempted to recreate or elevate popular snack foods such asDoritos,Twinkies, andGushers.Gourmet Makesconsistently trended on YouTube and developed acult followingon social media.Saffitz's work has been described as taking "junk food staples and...elevating them from their humble processed beginnings into wonders ofgastronomy."
In February 2019,Bon Appétitlaunched two new series that featured Saffitz:Bon Appétit’s Baking SchoolandMaking Perfect.
On January 22, 2020, Saffitz appeared on a cooking segment onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
On June 8, 2020,Adam Rapoportresigned as editor-in-chief ofBon Appétitafter a photo of him inbrownfaceresurfaced online and sparked widespread criticism.The company as a whole also received criticism after food editorSohla El-Wayllyaccused the magazine andCondé Nast Entertainment, which produces the videos on theBon AppétitYouTube channel, of discriminating against employeesof color, claiming they were subject to lesser pay than their non-minority counterparts.Amidst these circumstances, Saffitz announced she had not been under contract with the company since May 2020 and that she would be reevaluating her relationship withBon Appétit. In October 2020, she formally announced she would not be renewing her contract.
Saffitz's debutcookbook,Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence, was published byClarkson Potter, animprintofPenguin Random House, on October 20, 2020.The book became aNew York TimesBest Seller, debuting at No. 2 on the "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous" list for the week of November 8, 2020.In June 2021, theDessert Personcookbook was nominated by theInternational Association of Culinary Professionalsas a finalist in the annualIACP Cookbook Awardsin the "Baking Sweet & Savory, Confections & Desserts" category and a nominee for the IACPJulia ChildFirst Book Award, winning the latter in October 2021.
In December 2020, Saffitz launched her own YouTube channel, beginning with a focus on demonstrating recipes from her book,Dessert Person. The channel is produced byVincent Cross, formerly ofBon Appétit, who also worked on theBinging with BabishYouTube channel.
In January 2021, Saffitz started contributing toNYT Cooking, including being featured on their YouTube channel.In May 2021, Saffitz made another appearance onThe Tonight Show.
Claire's second cookbook, titledWhat's for Dessert: Simple Recipes for Dessert Peoplewas released on November 8, 2022. It also became aNew York TimesBest Seller.
In April 2024, Claire launched a new series on her YouTube channel titledClaire Recreates, which serves as a conceptual successor toGourmet Makes.
As of March 2020, Saffitz lived with her husband,Cornell Hotel Schoolalum and fellow chef Harris Mayer-Selinger, in theUpper West Sideneighborhood ofNew York City.The couple also own a home inupstate New York, which they purchased in late 2020.In December 2024, she announced that she is pregnant with their first child together.