Bake Smart: Sweets and Secrets from My Oven to Yours

Review Quotes:

"Samantha Seneviratne has a fresh approach to what can feel like a tired niche--the baking book. She organizes her beautifully photographed cookbook by spice, so chapters are sorted by cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and so on. It's a different way to peruse--and be inspired by--a baking book. And tucked inside those chapters are approachable and creative takes on classic treats." - J.M. Hirsch, Associated Press, on The New Sugar & Spice

"The Joys of Baking is a sweet meditation on why we bake, on how what we make with our hands changes us, soothes, comforts and inspires us. Sam's generously personal stories and the collection of recipes she braids into them encourage us to bake, to pay attention as we stir and knead, and to reap each of the many pleasures she describes. The book is a delight." - Dorie Greenspan, award-winning author of Everyday Dorie and Dorie's Cookies

"The Joys of Baking bursts with ripe fruits and berries, dark, bittersweet chocolate, buttery tarts, whole grains, and creamy custards--in short, all of my favorite things to bake... and eat! Sprinkled with personal stories, Samantha Seneviratne's gorgeously photographed cookbook will fill anyone's sweet spot." - David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and The Perfect Scoop

"It's not just glorious recipes, it's her personal stories too--Sam shares her passion for baking and the physical and emotional benefits of baking." - MarthaStewart.com on The Joys of Baking

"Seneviratne offers bakes with inventive twists, presented alongside mouthwatering images that will encourage even the most hesitant of bakers." - Library Journal

"Samantha covers a lot of ground--cookies, cakes, breads, pies--making this a lovely gift for a baker looking to discover new things." - FoodNetwork.com on The Joys of Baking

"Bake Smart offers essential techniques and tips to make baking less stressful--and to help home cooks become better bakers. Seneviratne's recipes are...revelatory" - Bon Appétit

"If you've ever said, "I'm just not a baker,"... buy this cookbook. You'll shed your fears and fill your home with the smell of fresh-baked cookies in no time. Samantha Seneviratne is a magician with her words--she can explain even the most complicated things in a way that only a master instructor can." - Simply Recipes

"Seneviratne's contention [is] that while baking takes time it doesn't have to be hard. And that, above all, baking is about pleasure." - Eater

"Samantha Seneviratne takes those elusive baking secrets and effortlessly integrates them into your home setup through Bake Smart. Her approach demystifies the art, making it inviting, even for those just dipping their toes into the baking pool. This isn't just a guide--it's a baking companion of the first order." - Tasting Table

". . .The perfect guide for anyone who wants to ace their baking with minimum study." - New York Times

New York Time's "The Best Cookbooks of 2023"

Bon Appetit's "The Best 23 Cookbooks: Fall 2023"

Eater's "The 16 Best Cookbooks of Fall 2023"

Tasting Table's "27 Cookbooks We're Looking Forward To In Fall 2023"

NY Mag's "The Best Fall Cookbooks, According to Our Kitchen and Dining Writer"

Simply Recipe's "These 12 New Cookbooks of Fall 2023 Make the Best Gifts"

Oprah Daily's "The Best Cookbooks for Holiday Pie Inspiration"

Critically acclaimed baking expert and media star Samantha Seneviratne dispels common baking myths and fears--and shares 100 of her favorite irresistible recipes.

Star baker Samantha Seneviratne wants to tell you the baking secrets of industry pros: You can soften butter in a microwave in seconds, without melting it. Don't bother sifting flour. No stand mixer? No problem--you can mix it by hand. Test the doneness of a cake without toothpicks (who actually has those?). Make a custard with a dump and stir method. Tempering schmempering.

Break free from common baking myths, fears, and unnecessarily fussy procedures, with Bake Smart, filled with Sam's tips and warm reassurances plus 100 stunning, mouth-watering recipes that are surprisingly achievable for any home baker. Chapters are organized by main baking ingredient (Butter; Sugar; Eggs; Flour, Nuts & Cocoa; and Yeast), each starting with a quick intro to break down the fundamentals of baking, as well as core recipes--like Basic Custard, Any-Nut Frangipane, and Rough Puff Pastry--that are easy to master and return to again and again.

And each chapter includes recipes for delicious, modern-yet-timeless sweets:

Stuffed S'more CookiesLemony Hibiscus DoodlesRaspberry Rye Balsamic TartBurnt Caramel Basque CheesecakeCaramelized Banana Cream Cornflake TartPassion Fruit and Pineapple Upside Down CakeGianduja RugelachMaple Tahini Chocolate Skillet CakeBig and Fluffy Lemon and Orange BunsChocolate Sesame Swirl BreadLinzer CookiesApricot Cardamom Buns

Review Citations:

• Booklist 11/01/2023 pg. 9 (EAN 9780358715146, Hardcover)
• Library Journal 01/01/2024 pg. 24 (EAN 9780358715146, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Seneviratne, Samantha

SAMANTHA SENEVIRATNE is a star baker, food editor, food stylist, recipe developer, and author of the James Beard Award-nominated The New Sugar & Spice, as well as The Joys of Baking, which was named one of the best baking books of 2019 by the New York Times. She's appeared as a judge on Chopped: Sweets, Beat Bobby Flay, and Girl Scout Cooking Championship, and on the Food52 and Bon Appetit YouTube videos, and is a regular contributor to New York Times Cooking. She lives in Brooklyn with her son.