Frosting the Snowman: The Holidays' Best Baking Books
Break out your baking sheets. Dust off your apron. ‘Tis the season for culinary enthusiasts and Betty Crocker box mix devotees alike (not judging!) to participate in the annual tradition of holiday baking, the perfect excuse to snack on sugar-coated gingerbread snowmen, truffles and meringue. The latest baking books are packed with creative ideas for holiday desserts — and enough photographic eye candy to send you into a mental sugar coma before you even turn on the oven.
» “The Kosher Baker”
By Paula Shoyer ($35, Brandeis)
Washington-based cookbook author and pastry instructor Paula Shoyer whips up a hefty and comprehensive collection of dairy-free desserts in “The Kosher Baker.” The book is conveniently divided into easy, intermediate and advanced recipes, and includes traditional Jewish specialties such as Challah and Hamentaschen, and more inventive creations such as brownie pops. Shoyer’s no-sugar-added and low-sugar recipes also make “The Kosher Baker” a valuable cookbook for eaters with restricted diets.
Taste-tested: The (very) sweet and satisfyingly crisp Amaretto Cookies were a hit with dinner guests — even nut-averse friends.
Tempting: The recipe for jelly doughnuts — a dessert often enjoyed during Hanukkah — would come in handy at a holiday brunch.
» “Baked Explorations”
By Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito ($30, Stewart Tabori & Chang)
Brooklyn bakery owners Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito set out to rehabilitate “abandoned desserts” such as chiffon cake and Boston cream pie in this photo-filled nostalgia trip. Besides ample sections on breakfast pastries, pies and cakes, the cookbook has some ambitious ideas for holiday cookies, including the Salt-n-Pepper Sandwich Cookies, a modern twist on Oreos; and Speculas, a version of Delta Airlines’ Biscoff cookies.
Taste-tested: The Andes candies-laced Chocolate Mint Thumbprints were the perfect party contribution, despite their somewhat complicated and time-consuming recipe.
Intriguing: Pumpkin Cheddar Muffins, in which cheese meets gourd, cayenne and black pepper. The flavor combo sounds weirdly appetizing.
» “Bake!”
By Nick Malgieri ($30, Kyle Books)
With a range of cookbooks and years of teaching and professional baking experience under his belt, Nick Malgieri goes back to basics in his newest recipe collection. Detailed instructions on techniques lead each section; 20 chapters cover every sort of baked good, from scones to rolled cookies. Step-by-step photos are helpful for newbies. Suggestions for recipe variations and storage are extra-useful touches for chefs of all levels.
Taste-tested: We mixed up a batch of Malgieri’s all-purpose muffins, and then followed his tips for adding apple jam. The result was an underwhelming, ordinary muffin. The Sweet Pastry Dough, however, made a perfectly crisp, golden crust for our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.
Festive fare: Swiss Bull’s Eyes and Butter Rosettes would be welcome at many a cookie swap.
» “The Happy Baker: A Girl’s Guide to Emotional Baking”
By Erin Bolger ($18, Harlequin)
With the very personal inspiration of Bolger’s own dating challenges and disasters, “The Happy Baker” could have been sappy. Fortunately, Bolger doesn’t take herself too seriously, presenting a quirky set of sweets for indulging a girl’s broken (or just bored) heart. The laugh-out-loud names of her recipes include You Break-a My Heart, I Bake-a My (banana) Pie; My Mom Didn’t Like You Anyway, Cupcake; and Bite My Peanut Brittle, Bi-Atch. Concise directions accompany each recipe in the book, which Bolger first self-published in Canada.
Taste-tested: Our batch of Dating Ain’t Easy, Gingerbread Biscotti had a satisfying balance of sweet and spicy, topped with white chocolate.
Tempting: We’d love to receive a plate of the super-simple Candy Cane Bark (hint, hint, hint).
Gifts to Make Your Stomach Grumble
The holiday cookie plate is a BIG DEAL for some people (e.g., our mom). If baking a batch (or 10) of cookies is your idea of a good time, too, check out Lauren Chattman’s “Cookie Swap!” ($15, Workman), which contains 71 recipes, including the decadent Ganache-Glazed Brownie Bites. Gingerbread lovers can take their decorating to the next level with Joanna Farrow’s “Dress Your Gingerbread” ($15, Octopus Books). With dozens of suggestions for frosting “outfits,” the book would make a fun stocking stuffer for a kid. And creative cooks should check out Diane Morgan’s “Gifts Cooks Love” ($25, Andrews McMeel Publishing), which brims with edible DIY presents. Coolest idea: Seven-Month Vanilla Extract, which is made by infusing rum and vodka with vanilla beans.
Photos courtesy Harlequin and Kyle Books
