Baking Resource Roundup

It may surprise you that I only own seven cookbooks – one is for cooking (but mostly cooking science reference rather than recipes), two are under a trial period and possibly/likely being (re)donated, and the last four are baking books. It will not, however, surprise you that my #1 go-to source for cookbooks is the library, of course! Cookbooks are wildly expensive and I can’t justify the price and space for something out of which I will likely only want a few recipes. My system is to check out the books, browse & tag any recipes of interest using post-it page markers, make photocopies, and start baking! Any recipes we really love get saved in my 🌟Baking Binder🌟 and the books go back to the library. (This is also handy for making lots of notes on the recipes.) I also love to browse at bookstores and gift shops, take photos of new & interesting cookbooks, then request them from the library.

That being said, I do have a number of fantastic resources that almost never let me down. They’ve earned their place in our home either through fantastic recipes, exceptional use as a resource, or more likely, both. So, without further ado:

• top left: This Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book is the older edition so I can’t speak to the newer print, but this one is fantastic! America’s Test Kitchen is renowned for their clear, scientific approach and this one is no exception. The recipe notes for how & why things are done certain ways is invaluable for someone who wants excellent recipes but also to understand the “why.”
• bottom left: The Cook’s Illustrated Desserts Illustrated – same fantastic, in-depth style, but a newer release that covers all kinds of desserts, not just bakes. Definitely a powerhouse duo.
• middle top: The King Arthur Baking Baker’s Companion is another brilliant all-around baking text. Lots of good notes, but less intense on the science side than the CI books. Recipes are always delicious, but most are also available online for free. (This one makes a wonderful wedding or housewarming gift.)
• middle bottom: Below it is King Arthur’s newest release Baking School. This one is for bakers who want to get more into the science and especially to develop professional level techniques for a variety of bakes. The layout is tiered and is basically like taking a quality baking class if you work through it.
• far right: I’m including the last two because after trying a lot of recipes via the library, both of these are now on my wish list. Claire’s recipes are always stellar and her YouTube channel is one of the only ones I subscribe to. I haven’t followed Edd since his GBBO win, but I stumbled across this book and every bake has been brilliant. Since then, I’ve started keeping an eye out for more of his work.

Okay, so that’s cookbooks! Naturally, there are a bunch more that I’ve enjoyed, but these are the ones I consider worth owning and come back to weekly.

As for other resources, either for recipes or instruction, here are a few more names/books/websites that have earned my trust for quality and reliability:

• Dorie Greenspan: huge variety of cookbooks, all good and lots of fantastic recipes
• Handle the Heat (Tessa): you know her Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookies are our absolute fav, but I’ve rarely been disappointed by any of the recipes on her site. Loads of helpful science too!
• Snacking Bakes & Snacking Cakes by Yossi Arefi: I don’t own either, but I have too many saved in my binder to not mention them – super approachable, delicious bakes.
• Butternut Bakery
• Beyond the Butter
• Sally’s Baking
• Zoë François

So there you have it! Of course, there are hundreds more fantastic resources online, but hopefully you take away something new from this. I’d love to hear about your favorites too!