WineLovers Discussion Group

Does anyone here buy/read baking cookbooks?

I'm looking for a birthday gift for my cousin and she likes to bake so I thought this might be a good idea. She's a pretty competent baker and is probably advanced compared to the general population although far from obsessed like most of us around here.

So she doesn't need one of those comprehensive basic books, but I thought it might be fun to get her something with a unique focus. Any ideas?

Rahsaan wrote:Does anyone here buy/read baking cookbooks?

I'm looking for a birthday gift for my cousin and she likes to bake so I thought this might be a good idea. She's a pretty competent baker and is probably advanced compared to the general population although far from obsessed like most of us around here.

So she doesn't need one of those comprehensive basic books, but I thought it might be fun to get her something with a unique focus. Any ideas?

If she's into bread making (or if you'd like her to be), how about Jeffrey Hamelman's Bread? If you're looking more for patisserie-type baking, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Mark Lipton

A World of Breads, Dolores Casella

The Complete Book of Breads, Bernard Clayton Jr.

Complete Book of Pastry (Sweet & Savory), Clayton

The Art of Fine Baking, Paula Peck

Favorite Breads from Rose Lane Farm, Ada Lou Roberts

Breads and Coffee Cakes (With Homemade Starters), Roberts

Simca’s Cuisine, Simone Beck

All are available online.

If she really wants to geek out on Euro-style breads, the Peter Reinhart books are a cut above the rest: The Bread Baker's Apprentice and Artisan Breads Every Day.

Does no one have a book of viennoiserie?

For non-bread books, my wife, who is both an accomplished baker and a cookbook collector, recommended the following:

For general baking:
- Anything by Nick Malghieri
- "Baking For All Occasions" or "The Simple Art of Baking", by Flo Braker

For a French take on it: "Paris Sweets", by Dorie Greenspan

For some really creative stuff that is a little more difficult but will get the creative juices flowing:

- "The Sweet Spot", by Pichet Ong
- "The Last Course", by Claudia Fleming

I had to stop her at this point and pull her away from the cookbook stacks...

Thanks. Lots of good options here!

You say she's fairly advanced, so I'm thinking she might love SPICED, an Anthony Bourdain-like book about the real life of a pastry chef. I haven't read it yet myself but after reading a review of it a few years ago I bought it. (The reading queue isn't going down as fast as it used to.)

http://www.amazon.com/Spiced-Pastry-Stories-After-HoursExploits-Kitchen/dp/B0042P59VO/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Rahsaan: Here's a brand-spanking new release for you to consider, Baking Out Loud.

http://eater.com/archives/2012/09/20/first-look-hedy-goldsmiths-cookbook-baking-out-loud.php

Jenise wrote:Rahsaan: Here's a brand-spanking new release for you to consider, Baking Out Loud.

http://eater.com/archives/2012/09/20/first-look-hedy-goldsmiths-cookbook-baking-out-loud.php

Thanks. That actually could have been a good choice, but I already sent the "Paris Sweets" mentioned above because it connects to France and my cousin - like most people - has such fond memories of all her trips to Paris.

Thanks again to everyone. Such great help!