Angela Kinsey Shares Her New Family Cookbook and Morning Pumpkin Cookie Secret

Remember Angela Martin from The Office—the uptight, closed-off accountant who made us laugh for nine seasons? Well, actress Angela Kinsey couldn't be more different from her character, and she's proving it by inviting fans to try some of her family's most cherished recipes. She and husband Joshua Snyder just released their first cookbook, You Can Make This, featuring more than 100 family-favorite recipes that'll make your mouth water. (Scroll down for their incredible Pumpkin Snickerdoodles recipe!)

As Kinsey puts it: "It's like you get to come hang in our kitchen."

Woman's World sat down with Kinsey and Snyder to discuss the inspiration behind the cookbook, the role cooking has played in their relationship, and unforgettable food memories from Angela's time filming The Office.

How 'The Office' star Angela Kinsey found love through cooking

For Kinsey and Snyder (who married in 2016), baking and cooking have long been the heartbeat of their relationship. The pair shares that they were single parents with young children when they first started dating, so they didn't go out a lot. The kitchen became their hangout spot together, and cooking also became a language of love.

In fact, Kinsey was determined to impress him with a homemade dish.

"I found out he likes soup," she recalls. "And so I was like, ‘I'm gonna crush it in this soup for him.'"

Snyder remembers being quite impressed by the soup, but did eventually discover she was putting her best foot forward. "Little did I know there's pretty much not more than that that she makes," he says with a laugh.

Since then, the whole family has embraced the cooking experience together. The kids have grown up helping with everything from cracking eggs to whipping up treats, and now they're just as comfortable in the kitchen as the adults.

But even when they aren't helping prepare dinner, it's still the place for everyone to catch up in the evening.

"Sometimes there are after-school activities, but at 5:00, we all try to come in the kitchen, and we have the kids come in here and hang out with us," shares Kinsey. "Sometimes they help, or sometimes they just throw the ball back and forth at each other or play a guitar or just tell us about their day. We're getting dinner prep going, and that's really the time we reconnect as a family."

Angela Kinsey's favorite fall desserts (and the one cookie she can't resist)

The cookbook's autumn release couldn't be more perfect—the season holds special meaning for the couple. Snyder, in particular, has always been drawn to the warm spices that define fall favorites.

"When we were planning our wedding, he was like, ‘It has to be in the fall,'" shares Kinsey. "I was like, ‘What?' He was like, ‘It's my favorite time of year. It's my favorite dessert. It's my favorite seasoning.'"

That fondness for autumn comes through in many of the book's recipes, particularly the desserts.

"There's one recipe in the cookbook, peppernuts…when we make the peppernuts, I can't stop myself," says Snyder.

Another family favorite? An autumn twist on a beloved cookie.

"The kids and I love the pumpkin snickerdoodles," adds Kinsey. "That's such a great cookie."

(Find the recipe for these delicious treats at the end of the story.)

Hilarious food memories from The Office set

During the nine seasons of The Office, there were plenty of episodes where characters enjoyed everything from snacks to party food. But for the actors, the experience was usually anything but pleasant.

Kinsey still shudders remembering the ice cream cake scene during Meredith's birthday party in the Season One episode "The Alliance."

"At 7 a.m., imagine starting the day eating an ice cream cake, and then you eat it for like, four hours," she says. "It was so disgusting. I was still sort of a little green, and I didn't understand you fake taking that first big bite so you don't have to take one every time for continuity. I still struggle with ice cream cake to this day."

Yet another unpleasant food memory from the series still sticks in her mind, but it didn't involve any eating. In the Season 8 episode "Fundraiser," the characters spent most of their time at a banquet hall lined with tables full of food.

"It was like chicken and broccoli and peas and mashed potatoes, and they had sprayed them with this like spray," shares Kinsey. "So for 12 hours, that food sat in front of you and it looked the same. You just kind of pushed it around on the plate and it started to have a smell. I had to find ways to like lean back so I wasn't smelling that plate because it was so gross."

Thankfully, the dining experience off-camera was much more pleasant! Kinsey says the cast and crew were treated to a varying daily menu from craft services, with delicious options everyone loved. In fact, she still craves the hearty offerings that were provided on set.

"Every day at 10:30 in the morning, they put out hot snack," she says. "And to this day, at 10:30, I'm starving. It's like some kind of Pavlovian thing. ‘It's 10:30. It's time to have shrimp scampi.'"

Josh's cooking skills shine on 'Office Ladies' podcast

There's also plenty of food fun being had on Kinsey's podcast Office Ladies, which she hosts with best friend and former co-star Jenna Fischer. During the initial rewatch of the series, Snyder whipped up several recipes based on food and drink items showcased on the show. One in particular was quite the hit!

"I think it was [the episode] ‘Classy Christmas,' and Ryan has his ridiculous drink order because he thinks he's so slick, and he's been to New York," says Kinsey. "He's like, ‘I'll take the ‘F train to Brooklyn–extra bitters.' And I had Josh come up with his own version of that."

The creative cocktail (which had Fresca as the secret ingredient) went viral after the podcast episode dropped.

Even behind the scenes, Snyder is always treating everyone working on the podcast to some of his homemade creations. (Lasagna roll-ups were a recent hit!)

"They are my taste testers too," he adds. "For any new recipe I have, she'll bring the leftover extras to the office. They give me notes or say, ‘That was amazing.'"

From YouTube to cookbook: The heartwarming inspiration behind You Can Make This

In 2016, the couple launched a YouTube channel called Baking with Josh & Ange. Their "bake with me" style videos were quickly a hit, showing viewers how to make everything from apple fritter bread to oatmeal scotchies.

After the positive response from fans over the years, the pair decided it was time to finally create a cookbook together.

"These are the recipes our kids are growing up on," says Kinsey. "It's the stuff he makes all the time. It's our dinners and desserts and I'm just excited for them to have this tangible thing that is their childhood."

The name of the cookbook, You Can Make This, is not only meant to encourage others to dabble in the kitchen, but it's something that is personal to their family too.

"It's what he would always say to me and the kids, if we felt a little overwhelmed about a recipe," explains Kinsey. "He would say, ‘You can make this.' And he was so earnest. So we tried to really put together these recipes that are accessible and great to make with your family, and also delicious. We really put our hearts in it and we hope people like it."

Exclusive recipe: Make Angela and Josh's beloved Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

"It might be the perfect cookie," assures Kinsey. "And I'll tell you…I know you're probably not supposed to have a cookie for breakfast, but that cookie with a cup of tea in the morning is life-changing."

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:
For the cookies
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. cream of tartar
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk, room temperature
¼ cup pumpkin puree

For the topping
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and pumpkin puree, mixing for 1 to 2 minutes, until well combined. Gradually add half the flour mixture and mix on low until just incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix again until just combined. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

When you're ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop the dough into golf ball–size balls. Roll them through the spice mixture until well coated. Place them on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart.

Bake each batch, one baking sheet at a time, for 11 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the edges are a light golden brown. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Makes 18 cookies.

You Can Make This is available now wherever books are sold.