Claire Saffitz

Born on September 16, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, Claire Saffitz pursued a comprehensive education that laid the groundwork for her culinary career. She graduated from Harvard University in 2009 with an AB in U.S. history and literature. Her passion for food then led her to Paris, France, where she studied French cuisine and pastry at École Grégoire-Ferrandi. Furthering her academic pursuits, she earned a Master’s degree in history from McGill University in 2013, focusing on French culinary history in the early modern era. This unique blend of academic rigor and practical culinary training equipped Saffitz with a distinctive perspective on food, particularly in the realm of pastry.

Saffitz began her professional journey at Bon Appétit magazine in 2013, starting as a recipe tester and progressing to the role of senior food editor. Her tenure at Bon Appétit became widely recognized through her appearances on their YouTube channel, most notably in the series “Gourmet Makes.” In this popular series, which debuted in July 2017, Saffitz was tasked with reverse-engineering and elevating popular snack foods into gourmet versions. Her methodical approach, culinary expertise, and relatable struggle with complex recipes garnered a significant following. She also featured in other Bon Appétit series such as “Bon Appétit’s Baking School” and “Making Perfect” starting in February 2019, showcasing her versatility in the kitchen.

In October 2020, Saffitz announced her departure from Bon Appétit, shifting her focus to independent endeavors. Her debut cookbook, “Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence,” published in October 2020, quickly became a New York Times Best Seller and earned an IACP Julia Child First Book Award. Following this success, she launched her own YouTube channel, “Claire Saffitz x Dessert Person” in December 2020, dedicated to demonstrating recipes from her cookbook and other culinary creations. She continued to expand her reach by contributing to NYT Cooking and releasing her second cookbook, “What’s for Dessert: Simple Recipes for Dessert People,” in November 2022, which also achieved New York Times Best Seller status. In April 2024, she launched “Claire Recreates” on her YouTube channel, a concept that serves as a spiritual successor to her popular “Gourmet Makes” series.