Product Description

This complete guide to the baking arts contains over 1500 recipes; in it, you'll learn how to make a wide variety of yeast breads, sweet breads, pastries, and desserts--and even pastas and sourdough breads. The book includes many "primer" sections of technical information on ingredients, utensils, and nutrition. The author's aim is to give you an intuitive understanding of the baking process, such as your mother or grandmother may have had. A fun section devoted to other things you can do with flour--and great for kids--includes recipes for modeling dough, dog biscuits, and a winter pudding for birds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34835 in Books
• Published on: 1992-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 616 pages

Review
A baker's bible . . . with terrific recipes. -- Lise Stern, The Boston Globe

A marvelous, straightforward baking manual. Destined to become a classic. -- USA Today

Jam-packed with recipes and information, this book will become a much-used baking reference in any kitchen. Grade A+. -- The Cookbook Review

One of the best books in the general-interest baking field. -- Anne Mendelson, Gourmet

About the Author
Brinna B. Sands is a member of the Culinary Historians of Boston, the American Institute of Wine and Food, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She and her husband, Frank, are the fifth generation of his family to be at the helm of the historic King Arthur Flour Company, based in Norwich, Vermont.

Customer Reviews

A Bible for the Shelf
I consider myself to be very picky regarding what cookbooks I own - I'll read any cookbook but I won't buy them for my reference shelf. This cookbook is a keeper! Sands deftly tells you not only the "how" of each recipe but the "why". I've read plenty of the "chemistry of baking" and other such books, but this is the first that truly explained certain principles of baking to me (like why yeast doughs rise faster on humid days). There are even, in addition to the hundreds of recipes for baked goods, instructions on making your own play dough and paper-mache using King Arthur Flour! Don't be fooled into thinking this is a coffee table cookbook though - everything is black and white with no pictures (only a few line illustrations for things like the different bread braiding techniques) - but you are bound to come back to this cookbook again and again (in fact, it might be a good idea to buy a cookbook cover as the pages are sure to get smudged with all your efforts).

Excellent technical info, disappointing recipes
An avid & experienced baker, I was thrilled to receive this book as a gift. I learned a great deal about different doughs, and how they relate to each other. I have not been pleased with the quality of the recipes I have prepared from the book, however. They are, at best, average. To date, I have prepared over 50 of the recipes in the book, and usually have a superior version of the same or similar recipe in another book or my collection. For the money, I find the baking recipes in the 1950 Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook (recently re-released) to be the best that can be prepared in a home oven. (Incidentally, I live only minutes from King Arthur Flour and buy all of my flour directly from their store) If you are interested in learning the fundamentals of baking (and many advanced tips and ideas as well), by all means purchase the book. My baking knowledge and skills increased dramatically after applying the ideas and principles in this book. Don't expect stellar results from the actual recipes, though.

Best Blueberry Muffins Ever
King Arthur Flour Bakery is right up the road from me. The flour has been a staple in my home for years, and it is suggested for use by all the best cooks and chefs. The King Arthur Flour cookbook has all of the recipes you would ever need for breads-yeast and easy breads, muffins, desserts of all types- directions for baking the best products and an area that directs you to buying best products. My favorite recipe is the blueberry muffins, and by all accounts from everyone who has ever tasted them, this is the best recipe ever created- look no further you have found it. I would imagine any recipe that you might try from this cookbook will fulfill your dreams- buy it and start baking right away- your family and friends will love the results.prisrob