From cakes to pies, bakers of all levels can take their sweet tooth to new heights with these tried-and-true recipes.
“Baking: From My Home to Yours” by Dorie Greenspan offers 230 master recipes for cakes, tarts, and pastries. Her simple, straightforward instructions help novices and experienced bakers alike make the most of every batch.
“It is the most helpful book I have ever seen for the home baker,” says Lukas Volger, author of Snacks For Dinner and former editor at Cook’s Illustrated. In addition to offering a wide range of recipes (from the basics to the most complex), Volger explains the process of creating the perfect cake or pie, and includes tips for preparing and handling specific ingredients.
The book also includes a wealth of equipment information and tips on how to prepare each type of ingredient. Its clear step-by-step instructions, beautiful color photographs, and a wealth of professional techniques ensure the reader will be successful in their endeavor.
Looshis Creative Pie Cakes
This cookbook from the makers of the Brooklyn pie shop Odette is full of nostalgic-with-a-twist treats that make you think of your favorite childhood desserts. Sisters Emily and Melissa Elsen have put their love for fresh ingredients into 60 recipes that range from lemon chess to rhubarb custard. There’s even a recipe for the classic chocolate tres leches, if you prefer the flavor of sweetened condensed milk over the more traditional evaporated milk.
There’s a whole chapter on pie crust, too. With recipes for miracle flaky lard pie crust, cheddar cheese pie crust, vanilla, gingersnap, and chocolate, it’s easy to create your dream pie.
Almost all the recipes in this book use pastry cream, which can be difficult to find in the U.S. But the book’s clear instructions, precise explanatory photos, and useful tips make it easy to whip up a delicious and satisfying filling in no time.
The book also has a variety of savory recipes for baked goods, including kunafa and other Ramadan desserts. These traditional Middle Eastern sweets are served during this important Muslim holiday, and are a treat for all the family.
The newest iteration of the King Arthur Baking Company’s All-Purpose Baker’s Companion got an update in 2021 with more than 350 recipes and glossy photographs. More than half of the recipes have been revised, with new ones for quick breads, savory crackers and flatbreads, cakes, pies, and cookies. It also covers a new range of gluten-free ingredients, which is important for many bakers these days.
