Sally's Baking 101: Foolproof Recipes from Easy to Advanced

An impressive array of renowned bakers and cooks have lined up to praise this book from the creator of Sally’s Baking Addiction.  Endorsements from Dorie Greenspan, Deb Perelman, and Erin Jeanne McDowell will always catch our attention.

The title suggests a beginner-level baking book, which doesn't quite capture the range or depth of what's inside. McKenney is known for writing detailed recipes with abundant tips–something she certainly delivers in this book.  

You’ll absolutely find the kind of sweet and savory items that would belong in any starter book (chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake, bagels).

But the biggest payoff here happens when McKenney steps away from the familiar to offer some fun and enticing creations of her own. For example:

• Strawberry lemon drops, a riff on what’s commonly known as Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cakes

• Fresh peach mascarpone pie

• Zucchini and tomato herbed biscuit cobbler

• Gruyere and thyme popovers

Our take: the title undersells what the book delivers. Don’t overlook it just because it sounds basic.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.