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

Sally’s Baking Addiction blogger McKenney debuts with a mouthwatering compendium of new and “fan favorite” recipes. A thorough introduction covers ingredients, tools, and handy tips, including the best methods for melting chocolate and measuring dry ingredients. Cookies range from the classic—chocolate chip, made with melted butter and an extra egg yolk to achieve “maximum chewiness”—to the inventive, including pumpkin oatmeal cookies made with brown butter. A section on bars opens with a foundational brownie recipe that is then riffed on in the “birthday brookies,” a cookie-brownie hybrid, and the crème de menthe brownies. Non-chocolate options include salted pecan pie bars. McKenney’s cake tips include using hot liquid (either water or coffee) in chocolate cake recipes to “bloom” the cocoa powder, enhancing its flavor. A chapter devoted to pies and tarts opens with a crash course on crusts complete with “troubleshooting” advice for common problems that arise when rolling out dough. “Brunch bakes” include bagels and French toast casserole; muffins come in apple cinnamon, lemon poppy seed, blueberry, birthday cake, or chocolate chip; and a final section on yeasted doughs offers up stromboli, brioche sandwich rolls, and soft pretzels. Recipes are categorized by experience level from beginner to advanced. The result is a delicious, confidence-boosting collection that home bakers will return to time and again. (Sept.)