Ellie Alexander's Blog

Ashland Mystery Fest 2025!

The third annual Ashland Mystery Fest is almost upon us, and we’ve been prepping for the most joy-filled and bookish weekend since last year. It truly has taken a village to pull off the four-day mystery extravaganza, and I cannot wait to welcome you to Ashland.

The main package includes:Opening Reception: A kickoff gathering with delicious bites & drink where you’ll meet all the authors and mingle with fellow cozy mystery readersAll the flagship panels at the Historic Armory...

Savor the Flavor of Costa Rica with Andy’s Pura Vida Latte

Laying Down the Latte, the 21st book in the Bakeshop Mystery Series, is finally here! This story is steeped in the vibrant flavors of Costa Rica—and I mean that literally. While researching for the book, the Tech Guy and I spent time on the ground in Costa Rica, trekking through lush coffee fields and savoring the country’s rich coffee culture. It was an unforgettable experience that I hope helped bring depth and authenticity to this book.

To celebrate its release, I’m sharing a simple, cozy ...

Gam’s Cinnamon Cookies Recipe: A Comforting Classic from the Meg Reed Mysteries

As I’ve been revisiting the Meg Reed Investigates series (formerly Pacific Northwest Mysteries) in preparation for its rerelease, one character has been especially present in my mind—Gam. Meg’s grandmother is a Reiki healer, intuitive listener, and, perhaps most memorably, a master cookie baker. She’s the heart of the Reed family, always ready with a comforting word and a fresh batch of cookies when Meg finds herself tangled up in mysteries and the chaos of early adulthood.

It felt only fitti...

Reality Writes: Plotting a Cozy Murder, Real-Life Crime Scenes, and Author Etiquette—It’s All Happening at Ashland Mystery Fest

What happens when you hand a group of mystery writers a cozy town, a stage, and a fake murder to solve? That’s what this week’s Reality Writes episode is all about.

I’m joined by my friend and fellow author, Emmeline Duncan—creator of the Ground Rules and Halloween Bookshop mystery series. If you haven’t read her yet, start with Fresh Brewed Murder or Chaos at Lazy Bones Bookshop. You’ll thank me later.

We dig into:

• How Emmeline’s fictional Halloween town is loosely inspired by real-l...

Chocolate Malt Cake

There’s something deeply comforting about the flavors of childhood. Maybe it’s the swirl of cocoa in a mug of hot, foamy milk, or the way a slice of homemade cake can instantly transport you back in time. While recipe testing for The Whisking Hour—book 22 in my Bakeshop Mystery Series—I knew Jules needed to create something that tasted like a memory. That’s how this chocolate malt cake was born.

A Taste of Nostalgia from the Torte Kitchen

It’s rich and chocolatey with a nostalgic twist, th...

Chocolate Coffee Cake with Coffee Drizzle

If there’s one thing I love as much as writing mysteries, it’s baking. While working on Laying Down the Latte, the 21st book in the Bakeshop Mysteries, I had the chance to immerse myself in the flavors of Costa Rica. Jules, Carlos, and Andy take a coffee-fueled adventure in this book, and my research trip to Costa Rica last year was full of delicious inspiration. There were so many recipes I wanted to include in the book, but I simply ran out of space.

Lucky for you, I’m sharing one of those ...

Jules’s Signature Chocolate Soufflé

Today is the day! Killing Me Soufflé is on bookshelves, and I can’t wait to share the 20th book in the Bakeshop Mysteries with you.

To celebrate, I’m sharing Jules’s signature chocolate soufflé recipe. If you’ve never tried this decadent treat, now is the time.

Happy baking and reading!

Pin ...

Red Velvet Cake

One of my core early baking memories is of this red velvet cake. I can’t remember if the recipe came from my grandmother or my cousin, who would request it every year for her birthday, but it’s a family favorite and a Valentine’s tradition in our house. The ermine (also known as flour frosting) is an absolute must for this cake. It’s the perfect balance for the subtle chocolate notes, not overly sweet with touches of vanilla. Pro tip: slice each cake in half for four thin layers—this ensures tha...

Bethany’s Unbeatable Brownies

If you can believe it, book 20 of the Bakeshop Mysteries releases next month! Killing Me Soufflé (shockingly) includes a recipe for soufflé along with a bevy of delectable sweet and savory items that Sterling, Steph, Carlos, and Jules are whipping up on the Southern Oregon Coast. I thought it would be fun to share a recipe that didn’t make the cut—Bethany’s Unbeatable Brownies. Bethany is known for her brownies and of course she made a delicious batch in this book, but sadly there wasn’t space t...

Sugar Cookie Cut-outs

December brought a baking frenzy to my house while I was growing up. My mom would start holiday baking right after Thanksgiving and freeze batches of cookies to share with friends and neighbors later in the month. I’ve kept the tradition, especially because the Tech Guy loves a frozen cookie even more than one hot out of the oven. This is my fail-proof sugar cookie cutout recipe. You can decorate them with colorful sugar and sprinkles or frost them with your favorite buttercream or royal icing.

...