Sometimes baking gets a bad rap. It can seem fussy. There are lots of baking fails. People think that you need a lot of expensive, specialized equipment. If you’re not a baker and didn’t grow up around a baker, then it can seem like a foreign language. But it’s okay, because Heather Perine is here for you.
In her Beginner’s Baking Bible, Perine is your interpreter to the language of baking. She breaks it down into easy steps, telling you what equipment you need (it’s not that much to get started), what you need in your pantry, and how to accomplish the basic techniques you need to bake tasty and beautiful treats that will make you the favorite of family and friends.
The simple recipes will teach you to make a variety of baked goods, from pies to cakes to breads. Starting with cookies, the Beginner’s Baking Bible walks you through 19 different cookie recipes, including Easy Sugar Cookies, Soft Peanut Butter Cookies, Monster Cookies, Iced Lime Meltaways, Raspberry-Almond Thumbprints, and Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies. From there, it’s off to Brownies and Bars, like Pumpkin Bars, Banoffee Bars, Apple Pie Bars, S’mores Bars, and Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies.
As you grow in confidence, you can move on and try some of the recipes from Perfect Pies, Galettes, Tarts, and Quiches, like the Fresh Cherry Pie, Coconut Cream Pie, and Peach Blueberry Tart or even attempt some savory recipes like a Bacon and Swiss Quiche or the Caprese Galette (I’m going to have to try that one myself—what a great idea!).
From there, it’s on to quick breads and muffins, which includes recipes for Banana Bread, Cheesy Beer Bread, Honey Cornbread, and Irish Soda Bread. Then on to cupcakes and cakes, like the Snickerdoodle Cupcakes, Gingerbread Cake, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Chocolate Pudding Cake.
Then there are recipes for breads, biscuits, and crackers, which includes Homemade Cheddar Cheese Crackers, Buttermilk Biscuits, Basic French Bread, and Knotted Herb-Garlic Dinner Rolls. Finally, the last chapter offers all the frosting and glaze recipes you’ll need to finish off these beautiful baked goods, from Chocolate Ganache to Powdered Sugar Glaze, from Cream Cheese Frosting to Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
Personally I love to bake and have been dabbling at it since I was a kid, but I know that there are those who are afraid to try it, because it has a reputation for being difficult or time-consuming. But these recipes are simple and offer easy techniques to get you started. Where you go from there is up to you. And if you think the tips in this cookbook are only for beginners, I would disagree. I saw several recipes that I can’t wait to try, and I love the simplicity of these recipes for a busy weekend or a weeknight, when I wouldn’t normally attempt a baking project.
Anyone wanting to be a better baker can take the information in the Beginner’s Baking Bible and run with it, from those who barely know what an oven is to intermediate bakers looking for new ideas. It’s a great resource, and it would make the perfect gift for anyone who wants to create delicious treats to impress, nourish, and comfort.
A copy of Beginner’s Baking Bible was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.