The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum has a pretty intimidating title, but does it live up to it? Let's give this some thought. Well, for one thing, if you are looking for recipes on how to cook a meatloaf or chicken casserole, this book is probably not what you are looking for. However, if you are a true baking enthusiast, or a mom who has 5 kids to bake for, then this is spot on. It has clear, authoritative and detailed instructions for creating exceptional cookies, cakes and breads. Have you ever found a recipe that looked simple enough at first glance but turned out to be long and laborious? The good news, this book is nothing like that.
500+ Pages of Thoroughly Detailed "how & why" Recipes
It does have over 500 hefty pages to it and like all her other books, whatever she is presenting, you get a thorough commentary on it. This is by far one of her largest books. It's her 10th cookbook offering you a collection of pastries, cakes, cookies, breads and candies blending European and American traditions and explaining her recipes thoroughly as to the 'how and why' she is baking each of them. Each recipe is set up in meticulous, commandment-like instructions. Golden rules if you will.Even a Novice Baker Can Do it
There are simple selections for the novice baker (i.e. blueberry buckle) where they can dive right in and begin creating tasty treats and then go on to the other recipes that are a little more complex (caramel cream cake roll and prune preserves). The Baking Bile even provides you with some exclusive desserts that you won't find anywhere else (pomegranate winter chiffon meringue pie). The equipment list, ingredient glossary, appendixes and resources are all very helpful too.
When Rose Says 'Do it'...Do it!
Rose, driven by a ravenous curiosity, has spent decades perfecting her recipes for cookies, cakes, bread and pastries. She is about making recipes that work. She is all about knowing exactly how and why they work. Once she figures this out, she goes beyond this and makes them even better and then shares it with the world.
The only thing you have to do when baking through Rose's 'The Baking Bible' cookbook is follow her instructions precisely. If she tells you to use bleached flour, go out and get yourself some bleached flour (you get better-textured baked goods since the bleach process absorbs more water). If she tells you to use superfine sugar, do it (this creates the most neutral flavor and finest texture). And you better believe there is a reason why she has you cut through the succulent caramel buns with dental floss. This might not be something that some more seasoned bakers wish to deal with. But, if you don't, you end up making a mess of the dough you have been working with for the past couple days (the floss slices through the buns with precise accuracy leaving no mess).
Dimensions
Again, this is a pretty hefty book with some serious meat to it.Pros:
- Lot's of recipes for the ambitious baker
- Very concise and detailed instructions
- Gives you the 'how & why' of every recipe
- Gives you special tips, commandment-like directions and even a 'trouble-shoot' section
Cons:
- Does include some complex recipes
- Some recipes call for specific ingredients that are not common kitchen items
- There isn't a great deal of pictures
Consumer Ratings
This cookbook is holding some pretty decent ratings clear across the board, and not just on Amazon. There are over 160 reviews alone on Amazon with most of them being good ones which is probably why it has a great rating.
Price
You can get the book for under $25 which is pretty affordable since it does have over 500 pages.
In her latest baking cookbook, you get fastidious instructions, precise measurements and essential recipes that work. You come out with quite a few delicious tricks up your sleeves. However, beware, novice bakers might get a little intimidated at first, but again, there is something in it for everyone.
I found this book to be at it's cheapest through Amazon. You can grab your copy here.
