". . .The perfect guide for anyone who wants to ace their baking with minimum study." — New York Times
“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
“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
“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
“Seneviratne offers bakes with inventive twists, presented alongside mouthwatering images that will encourage even the most hesitant of bakers.” — Library Journal
01/01/2024
Right from the introduction, it's clear that Seneviratne's book aims to clear up some misconceptions about baking—mainly that it's overly complicated or not conducive to the experimentation and creativity that some people associate with cooking. From there, her recipes are divided into five broad categories that are further broken into eight more straightforward sections: core recipes, cookies and bars, cakes, pies and tarts, pastries, yeasted breads, quick breads, and, funny enough, desserts. The core recipes section contains instructions for baking's most challenging staples, such as galette dough, pâte à choux, and crème Anglaise—essential recipes and techniques that can be built upon for the other bakes in the book. The other recipes spans from basics, such as chewy chocolate chip cookies and passion fruit and pineapple upside-down cake, to more creative treats, such as gianduja rugelach and apricot cardamom buns; the recipes are varied enough that all readers are sure to find a new favorite. The recipes are not simple, and many involve quite a few ingredients, but Seneviratnegives helpful tips to make the process easier. VERDICT Seneviratne (The Joys of Baking) offers bakes with inventive twists, presented alongside mouthwatering images that will encourage even the most hesitant of bakers.—Whitney Bates-Gomez