Sally's Baking 101

Sally McKenney started sharing recipes online in 2011, and her blog grew into one of the most trusted baking resources on the internet, known for clear instructions and recipes that work in ordinary kitchens. Sally's Baking 101 brings that approach into a single book designed to teach as much as to inspire.

It opens with the fundamentals: how to measure, what each ingredient does, which pans and tools matter, and how to tell when something is done. Then come chapters on cookies, bars, cakes, pies, breads, brunch dishes and savory bakes. Each recipe is labeled beginner, intermediate or advanced, so new bakers can start with simpler treats such as thick and fudgy brownies, chewy banana walnut cookies or an easy fruit crisp, then work up to layered cakes and yeasted rolls. Savory options include beer bread, calzones and quiche. Throughout, Sally explains why each step matters, and step-by-step photographs show tricky techniques like browning butter and shaping dough.

Clear, warm and reliable, a book to keep open on the counter for years. About 288 pages in hardcover, with photographs throughout.