Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook

`Martha Stewart's Cooking Handbook' is Martha Stewart Omnimedia's first book since Miss Martha has been out of the slammer, and it is her first big book in several years. That, combined with the fact that it's name promises to be a serious manual on baking techniques gives me high expectations for this new title. I am really happy to say the book meets or even exceeds my expectations on almost all points. Like the famous `Boy Scout Handbook' which is exclusively a `how to' book on all the basics, this volume covers virtually all the essential baking techniques, without going into any long explanations on why these are the best techniques. Thus, unlike Sherry Yard's excellent `The Secrets of Baking' or Shirley Corriher's `Cookwise' or Alton Brown's `I'm Just Here for More Food', this book spends no time dwelling on how biscuit baking is very similar to pie crust baking or that cheesecake is not really cake, but a custard pie. Instead, Martha and her very large and expert staff of magazine and book writers, editors, and photographers have assembled and excellent tutorial on most of the basic baking skills. There is another way in which this book is different from most conventional books on baking. It is in the tone I first detected in Martha Stewart's flagship classic, `Entertaining' where she takes the stance of an amateur with good taste and good learning skills, rather than the role of a professional who is showing us amateurs how it's done. This is not to say that we amateurs can't learn a lot from all the baking professionals out there like Peter Reinhart, Rose Levy Beranbaum, Nick Malgieri, and Gayle Ortiz. It's just that Miss Martha sees things from our side of the kitchen counter. This may not explain all the good qualities of this book, but it helps. I think this attitude and the great skill in both describing and picturing techniques means this book is a superb introduction for the beginner, and even for the teen and preteen bakers among us. Lots of books use photographs or drawings to illustrate techniques, but the presence of the pictures is not an automatic path to clarity of presentation. The technique illustrating pictures in this book are simply superb. They seem to leave nothing to the imagination, as when they provide simple pictures illustrating what packed brown sugar looks like, how to measure across the top of a baking pan, and how to prepare the bottom of baking pans with butter, parchment round, followed by more butter. All the photographic experience that has been acquired by doing a monthly magazine has been put to good use. While a purist may object to some elements of this book's organization, it is excellent for a beginner or even an intermediate amateur. Instead of giving us a chapter on quick breads, the book starts with a chapter entitled `Simple Baked Goods' which cover biscuits (five different methods), muffins (four recipes), popovers, scones (four recipes), quick breads (five recipes, including cornbread and Irish soda bread), and cakes (seven recipes). Rather than putting all the tutorial material on techniques in the front of the book, the photo tutorials begin each relevant chapter. So, the first chapter includes lessons on cutting butter into biscuit dough, making and cutting scones, cutting biscuits, and preparing muffin tins. Other specifics appear as sidebars to individual recipes. Thus, the correct method for filling popover pans is shown together with the one popover recipe. The next chapter is on `Cookies'. Just as with the `simple' recipes, the chapter begins with an introduction on good techniques for making cookies, a photo gallery of cookie making tools and tutorials on cookie techniques. Also like the first section, the selection of recipes is very well done. The forty-two recipes certainly don't cover all the ground you will find in a full book on cookies, but a lot of very popular recipes are here. I was particularly interested in the recipe for nut crescents and I was very pleased to find a good representation of exactly now to form the crescents before baking so that the cookies would bake evenly. My favorite subject, yeast breads, is in the next to last chapter on `Yeasted Baked Goods'. Here again, the choice of recipes is excellent, covering virtually all the major bases with at least one or two examples of each major type of European bread, except for naturally yeasted sourdoughs. All recipes use active dry yeast. A professional baker may prefer fresh yeast and some writers are particularly fond of instant yeast, but I first learned yeast baking with active dry yeast and both of the other types have their disadvantages for the amateur. One possible dissonance is the fact that pate brisee recipes (pies, tarts, galettes, etc) and other pastry recipes such as puff pastry and pate a choux are in two different chapters, separated by yeast breads. From a practical point of view, for a `handbook' of techniques, I consider this entirely unobjectionable. One thing I really like about the individual recipes is that in addition to the fact that they seem to leave no important detail out, they also do not introduce a lot of tricks and gimmicks. While I have seen pate brisee recipes with all sorts of different additives to make them work better, Martha Stewart gives us the simplest recipe possible made with flour, salt, butter, and water, period, plus a really nice pictorial tutorial on how to put it all together. Aside from the generally friendly tone and the homey introduction from Martha, there is none of the chatter in headnotes and sidebars you will find in many books. This is all business. I strongly recommend this as a first book on baking techniques and reference for lots of common baking recipes.

I've owned this book for a bit over a year, and it has quickly become one of my favorite baking books (Believe me, I own quite a few). The recipes run the gamut from simple breakfast muffins to rustic cobblers to elegant napoleons. There is even a recipe for a three-tiered wedding cake! Some recipes are quick and easy, while others tend to be very complex and involved, offering options for both the novice and advanced home baker, and allowing the user to grow with the book, trying more difficult recipes as one's skills expand. However, even the most complex of the recipes are laid out and explained clearly. In addition, there are beautiful photos on nearly every page (and most pages have more than one!), showing both finished baked goods and illustrating techniques. I've made quite a few of the recipes in this book and thought I'd share a few of my favorites. There are four cupcake recipes in this book, of which I've tried three. The Maple-Walnut Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream (p. 164) are really excellent. Make more candied walnuts than cupcakes - you'll just want to grab a handful and munch on them while you're garnishing. The Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes (p. 166) were really light and fluffy, although they very mild and not all that carrot cake-y, so that may not be to everyone's taste. But the instructions for making marzipan carrots (with photos!) make them so easy. I've made the One-Bowl Chocolate Cake on p. 168 as both cupcakes and a layer cake, and it's a great go-to basic chocolate cake recipe. The Marble Cake with White Chocolate Glaze (p. 65) is super easy yet impressive - the perfect thing to have with coffee when a friend stops over. Martha's Classic Apple Pie recipe (p. 228) is simple and excellent, and her Pate Brisee (p. 224) is my go-to recipe for pie dough - it works every time. The Tarte Tatin (p. 265) is about as easy as a "company" dessert can get, looking both rustic and fancy at the same time (and it tastes amazing - like candied apples on pie crust; how could you go wrong?) I've made the Fruit Curd Tartlets (p. 258) with both lemon and lime curd (both on p. 390), and while the tartlet molds I used were really small (about 1" - don't do it to yourself!!!) and a huge pain in my [...], everyone loved them and they were gone in a flash. This book makes even difficult, pastry chef-caliber techniques like laminated doughs accessible. I made the from-scratch Puff Pastry on p. 359, and while it took the better part of a day and used a crapload of butter, the difference from frozen, pre-packaged puff pastry was so amazing that I don't ever want to buy it again. I also tried my hand at the Danish Dough (p. 334), and made the Prune Pinwheels and Apricot Bow Ties (p. 336 & 338, respectively). The absolute winner of the book, though, is the Chocolate Babka on p. 352. Coming from a Russian/Polish Jewish background, I've eaten a lot of babkas, but this one was PERFECT. Loaded with chocolate, covered in streusel.... you need to try it. Granted, the recipe calls for 2 rises and with several different components it takes a bit of time to complete, but it also makes three loaves and they freeze beautifully. Eat one, store the other two in the freezer, and you'll have something perfect to bring to a potluck or housewarming at a moment's notice.

Outstanding! That's about how to sum up Martha's lastest tome on the finer points of baking. As with all her other books, it is the attention to the details that makes her stand out among those who wish to emulate her. This latest addition to "kitchen education" is a real winner. I have never felt that being in the kitchen was a step back for women or anyone who enjoyed homemaking; there are those of us who relish the joy we bring to the table with the food that we gladly and lovingly prepare. You will absolutely love these recipes for cookies, cakes, breads, etc. Some are old-fashioned favorites and others have a new twist to them that will surprise you. I found several recipes from my childhood that I thought no one else would know, yet here they are in typical Martha-style with beautiful color and detail. It was such a wonderful surprise to find the sfogliatelle and pignoli nut cookie recipes that it made me think of the "old neighborhood" and that "blast from the past" alone was worth the price. You will be beyond happy when you see what is within these 415 pages of baking joy; I couldn't begin to count how many recipes are within these pages. But there are in all, six chapters of recipes, with the opening section giving you: A Letter from Martha General Baking Tips General Baking Equipment General Baking Techniques Each of these above sections come with crystal clear photos that accompany each instruction point made within that area so you know of which pan, spoon, utensil, etc. you need to accomplish which task. This is the trademark of what Martha represents in her desire to give you every detail both visually and in written description. Then begins the excitement of what chapter to choose from: One: Simple Baked Goods Two: Cookies Three: Cakes Four: Pies, Tarts, Cobblers, and Crisps Five: Yeasted Baked Goods Six: Pastries The last section is then completed by: Basic Recipes Sources Index Every single photo is so large, crisp, and so detailed, that you can actually see each delicate layer of puff pastry, when you are looking at the recipe for Chocolate Napoleans. All the breads and cookies and pies.........there is just no end to the spectacular content of this book. I feel that this is by far, one of her very best books, though this is exactly how she approached the creation of all her mediums. It is definitely "a good thing". Enjoy!

Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook is an extremely well produced cookbook for bakers. There is excellent advice on baking equipment as well as technique. My only complain about the introductory section with this general information is that it is too brief. From there, it's straight into recipes. They are loosely categorized in chapters for Simple Baked Good, Cookies, Cakes, Pies (including tarts, cobblers, and twists), Yeasted Baked Goods, and Pastries. There were some odd omissions including chocolate chip cookies and a classic chocolate cake. I realize that neither is difficult to find elsewhere but I would have expected to see both presented here. All of the recipes are very well written with clear concise language. The finished dishes are shown in photographs of the highest caliber. My biggest complaint is that this is more of a cookbook than a true handbook. While there are certainly tips and advice, it is not comprehensive and it is assumed that the reader knows many basic techniques already. Unfortunately for this beginner, that wasn't the case and I had to find another book to help me learn some of the building block skills that every baker must have. I would expect a true handbook to offer more in this regard. Having said that, this is an outstanding cookbook that includes some useful information and advice. I have no problem recommending the book to anyone who understands that this is not a comprehensive "how to" guide.

Great condition like new. The book is what I’d expect, clear instructions, pictures to show the steps and very detailed.

If you’re not a Martha Stewart fan you will be after this book. It is of the highest quality and excellent content on every page of this book. The color photography and imagery throughout this book is impressive. Her instructions for detail is amazing and easy to use and follow each recipe. If you ever wanted to try something new and delicious for your family or friends, get this book and they will think you just graduated from culinary school.

Knowing how great Martha's recipes are I purchased this book only after seeing its cover on amazon.com. It's not about what it was about but because I knew I can depend on her for precise, great and imaginative yet edible ideas. Upon opening this bible like manual for the precise art of baking, one notices how easy and creative the teaching approach of the book is. It's not a hard to comprehend manual with little words, yet it's not a dummy book that teaches you like a child . I love how creative her ideas are, the cakes, cookies, tarts, popovers, pizzas, breads and pies. The pages look like something out of a food version of a Vogue magazine. Each recipe has a gorgeous picture. I cannot stop panting and gushing about how great this book looks. It will defiantly get in you in the kitchen baking every weekend but it will excite you about this art. This book is a great fool proof guide and after baking a pumpkin pie last night from it, and having it turned out million items than my favorite recipe I am a believer. This book covers sweet and savory beaks, but mostly on sweets and breads. This is a baking manual that is understandable yet gorgeous. Great quality and informative publishing from Stewart. Great job, I AM impressed.

Ok, here's a cute story: I had an itch to go to pastry school. I bought this book, made several recipes (which I loooved) and I enrolled in culinary school about six months after I got it. True story. The edition itself is gorgeous. It's hard cover, printed on very fancy feeling paper. There's pictures for everything, which I truly appreciate in a cooking book. The procedures are easy to follow, the recipes are simple enough so you don't have to go crazy finding weird ingredients (although you can find anything on amazon, right?!). It is also a very educational book in the sense that it talks about why these ingredients work, or how these ingredients react with each other, or why you should use a specific tool in order to achieve a great looking final product. If you read the book front cover to back, you will end up being a more knowledgeable baker, for sure. The book covers the basics (and a bit more): from sponge cake, to cut out cookies, to croissants, to pies, tarts, brownies, danish, cupcakes, fillings and frostings, you name it. Sometimes I wish the recipes were a liiiittle bit more interesting, but I can honestly say that if you master the recipes in this book, you can go and make pretty much anything else. -Ceci

Martha Stewart is a gifted cook Very nice book. Well worth the money. Wish I could be her sampler. Love watching her baking classes on TV.

If ever there was an American cookbook you should own, I think this should be the one. I have decided to purchase Martha Stewart baking handbook after visiting her website, looking for birthday cakes ideas. Of course, to be honest, being an admirer of just about everything she makes for many years, the choice wasn't very difficult for me to make. However, now that I have looked through, studied and tried a few recipes myself, I can say in all objectivity that you really don't need to be a fan of Martha's to appreciate the content of her baking handbook. Since January, I have tried about half a dozen recipes so far (and some of them several times already) and every time it has been a big hit. Whether preparing birthday parties, Valentine's Day treats, cupcakes for all occasions or breakfast muffins... I haven't been disappointed. I just love the way things are presented & explained and also that some recipes are very versatile. I also noticed that, so far the ingredients aren't very difficult to find here, in France. It is a beautiful book altogether and when someone in my home sees me taking it of the shelf, they know that "good things" are about to happen in the kitchen. This book makes me want to experiment new things. Now, I am looking forward to trying more new recipes, especially the ones that call for fresh summer fruits. Needless to say, I am very satisfied with this purchase. (Many thanks to you, Lady Martha and your excellent team !)

I describe myself as an avid baker. I'm not a novice but by no stretch do I consider myself an expert. When I get a new cookbook ( yes, I have too many!) there are three things that mean it makes it as far as the bookshelf. The first, is the number of recipes that I like the look of; I hate it when i get get new cookbook and only want to make 1 or 2 recipes from it. The second is the clarity and detail of the recipes - nothing is more infuriating than to be told to put something in a baking tin and bake it; surely the size of the tin makes a difference? The third, and usually the acid test, is how good the end product tastes! This book scores extremely highly on all these, hence a review! The Search facility above will let you browse the contents and a number of the recipes, so I won't re-iterate. I have made at least one item from each chapter to rave reviews. Martha's instruction are second to none; this will be handy for beginners who may not have the experience to know when the right stage is reached. For example, the recipe will ask you to whisk until well combined and also say "approx 3 min" so you know that you are doing it right. There are plenty of handy baking tips to ensure success - even how to measure your ingredients which is the backbone of great baking. Of note, like the majority of American books, the recipes (with the exception of the breads) work with volumes and so you will need a set of measuring cups & jugs and you need to make sure they are not UK measures (which are larger). I got my baking kit when I was in the US but I have seen that my local kitchenware shop stocks the correct sizes. I wouldn't bother trying to convert the measures as I think you will lose the proportions. There is a very handy conversion chart at the back for weights and oven temperatures and UK equivalents for some ingredients (i.e. heavy cream = double cream). The other thing to warn you about is the quantities that the recipes yield. Like our pond-side cousins, they are massive. I have 24 light-as-air yellow butter cupcakes and 6 dozen mexican wedding cookies cooling as we speak, but you may as well only turn the oven on once and bake en-masse. There are suggestions for freezing and keeping, so I think actually while it might save you time, but not your waistline! This is an excellent reference of all things baking and I whole heartedly recommend it for anyone wanting to get into baking.

Una compra genial en todo. El formato quizás un poco grande, pero lo compensa con todo lo que trae. Incluso estando en inglés te enteras perfectamente con las fotos. Pero espero que se traduzca más a esta mujer, que es una crack.

un bel librone, pieno di ricette ognuna correlata da una foto. lei è come sempre una garanzia:) consigliato , anche per chi non ha i misurini americani dato che alla fine del libro c'è una tabella con le convesioni