Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking

by Cathy Burgett

Book Overview

Like its cousin, Essentials of Grilling, Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking is the ultimate sourcebook for the modern home baker.Whether creating easy muffins and quickbreads, artisan-style yeast... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0848727797
• ISBN13: 9780848727796
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Oxmoor House
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 3.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 9.4" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

Delicious recipes with clear instructions

I collect cookbooks and can never resist buying another one that sounds promising. This cookbook is a keeper. I have tried 12 of the recipes so far with perfect results and compliments from the eaters! I like a well-illustrated book with easy-to-read print and clear but not pretentiously over-explained directions. This cookbook meets all my criteria. I am very impressed. The Apple Cake with optional Maple Icing got rave reviews at a recent bake sale, and my grandchildren love it as a snack without the icing. The Vanilla Wafers are tender and delicious. The Lemon Chiffon Cake turned out looking exactly as illustrated. The recipes are all interesting but do not require one to be a professional chef to achieve professional results. Highly recommended.

JUST WONDERFUL

From all the Williams and Sonoma books I have, this one is my favourite. Well explained, wonderful pictures and great recipes. The best book I bought last time I was in USA.

professional baker pleased

as a professional baker i would HIGHLY recommend this book for the amatuer and novice baker. the recipes are fanatastic! it is one of the best baking books i own!

Good product that covers the basics

To put this review into perspective for you, it is written by a serious student of cooking that has been actively studying food on their own for 25 years. I have been focusing on Italian food for the last 10 years. My favorite cookbook is "The Professional Chef" by the Culinary Institute of America. If you are a frustrated baker who can't make your bread turn out right this is an excellent starting point for that purpose. The book contains all the bakery standards that you would expect and some that might be a new experience for you. The Lavender-Polenta Coffee Cake is a very nice recipe. The Carrot Cake Recipe is also very good. Try adding a little maple syrup to the cream cheese frosting on the carrot cake. To quote my husband, Yum Yum. The book does a nice job of outlining the various stages of the baking process in good detail with pictures. I think it would be very easy for a beginner to follow and make a nice loaf of bread the first time out. I have shared the French Baquette recipe with a few novice bakers and they claim to have had good results. If you are looking for a decent baking primer this is a good place to begin. The directions and the pictures are well done for those that need the guidance.

LOVE IT!

I love this book! I'm trying to find more books as fab as this book. It goes into detail about the differences between all the ingredients. It even tells you what you might have done wrong if you didn't get ideal results. The book has great pictures and lots of step by step instructions. Also it is great because it tells you how to make each receipie with a variety of tools like by hand, or a mixer, or a food processor. I found the book to be very empowering for a new baker and super helpful. Also all the recepies have been a huge hit with those I have served. If you are a beginner who wants to learn and understand the art of baking and pasteries this is the book for you!