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25th out of 696 books
—
663 voters
The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion: The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook
Every kitchen comes equipped with a fundamental, dependable cookbook classic such as Joy of Cooking or Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook. Now bakers have a modern classic of their own. From leavening, mixing, proofing, and kneading, through shaping and baking, the experts at King Arthur Flour lead you through hundreds of easy and foolproof recipes from tricky yea...more
Hardcover, 656 pages
Published
September 17th 2003
by Countryman Press
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This book is a really good book. I give it 3.5 stars; four just seems too high. This is a thick book full of accurate recipes. Anyone who is into cooking knows it is a pain when measurements given do not result into a good final product. All of the recipes I have tried so far are excellent. The biscotti recipes are really great especially when dipped in chocolate ;). One of my biggest complaints for this book is the set up of the recipes and pictures. For such a large cookbook there are very few...more
I came from a home where homemade bread was rarely produced and I have always wanted to get into bread baking so this is one of the places I started. King Arthur's web page is another. This book offered excellent information and tips about bread making. I only thoroughly read the yeast bread section since the book is probably 600 pages or more. I came out understanding the science behind baking and yeast a little better. I've attempted quite a few loaves in the past few weeks and none of them ha...more
If I can quote one of the comments on this book, "if you like to bake then you need this book." It's a grand collection of recipes for baking bread (homemade rye bread yum), pies (the best Key Lime pie recipe I have found) and just about every recipe in the book is great. Couple this with information on their website and with practice you can master most baking skills easily. I know most cookbook fans don't just have one book but when the subject is baking this is the only one you would need.
Jan 05, 2010
Mary Mcelveen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who bakes.
Shelves:
cookbooks
If you bake, you need this book. It could be subtitled "Everything You Need to Know about Flour and the Baking Process". From the difference between hard and soft wheat to the reasons behind every step in the baking process, it is all here. Excellent reference, and excellent recipes. If I were forced to winnow (some wheat humor, there) my collection down to 5-10 cookbooks, this would be among them.
This baking book is not for beginners! However seasoned bakers will find some amazing formulas and fun baking adventures. In the breakfast section you will find the most amazing basic pancake recipe! Give it a try... If you a new baker check it out of the library first and try some of the formulas and then make a purchase. Happy Baking!!!
This is one of an excellent series by King Arthur on baking--having been to their store in Northfield a number of times, I can see that they have alot of experience with baking and took a long time to go from there to doing cookbooks, which is a good way to do it--these recipes work and are delicious
This is another cookbook I've had for ages but have barely made any of the recipes in it. I really like the layout--there aren't many photos, just a few color inserts, but the sheer amount of recipes makes up for it. This is definitely like a baking bible. I especially like that they list both volume and weight measurements for all recipes.
As with all my cookbook reviews, I'll update as I cook from this!
Gingerbread Pancakes -- 4 stars
These have really good flavor, but I found them a touch on the...more
As with all my cookbook reviews, I'll update as I cook from this!
Gingerbread Pancakes -- 4 stars
These have really good flavor, but I found them a touch on the...more
A great basic cookbook. You will most likely have all the ingredients for almost every recipe in this book on hand, unlike a lot of newer cookbooks which call for odd and expensive ingredients. And it had a large breakfast section which I enjoyed.
Aug 11, 2011
Aleeda
added it
This is one of my go-to books when I'm looking for recipes for baked goods. Sometimes there's a hint in there about a technique or an ingredient that makes the knowledge useful beyond that recipe. KAF tests and retests, tweaking each recipe as necessary.
This is the best cookbook ever! Every recipe I've tried has been excellent. Of course it's all about flour, so it only has breads, scones, muffins, cookies, pizza crust and pancakes...stuff like that. It's excellent though.
I checked this out from the library, and I have already put it on my Amazon wishlist. It has great recipes and wonderful information. I rank it right up there with my America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated cookbooks.
One of my favorite "go-to" baking books. Very good, solid recipes, plus volumes of information and help for baking success. Look for it at the library.
I love the recipes but the book itself was absurdly huge, making it difficult to read a recipe from it without it spontaneously closing.
My favorite baking book, especially the many yeast bread recipes. My book is dog eared, with comments in the margins. One of my classics!
There are some great recipes in here, and some great basics for churning out good pie crusts, etc.
A little complex for the beginner baker. But some really great recipes too. Worth a look.
This was a good tool to have when learning basic cooking skills. Sold it on Ebay.
Very comprehensive; detailed explanations of the whys and well as the hows.
This is a great one to have as a staple cookbook
My absolute favorite- I use it all the time.
A bread makers bible. 10 stars.
Nov 23, 2008
Moon
marked it as to-read
I want this cookbook!!
I have not read all of this book, as it is mostly a recipe book, but about 1/3 of it is the science behind baking and how ingredients combine to make your breads and cookies and cakes rise or be fluffy or not. Knowing the 'why' behind the recipe is helping me make the substitutions that I like doing to try and make slightly healthier versions of bad for you treats! I am a fan of the KA flours and their website too, though. This one is from the library, but I think I need to purchase one to keep...more
I hope this book finds its way under the Christmas tree this year--what a great baking book!
Best baking book, period.
Good recipes
A baker's bible.
Cooking
Nov 13, 2012
Maggie
added it
loved it
This cookbook rocks! If you like to bake, it is a must have. The information is outstanding, basic info that I like to be able to reference easily, and tips and tricks from their stellar test kitchens. My goal is to be able to do all of our bakery goods, crackers and sandwich rolls for example, as well as bread and cookies, and this cookbook has a recipes for all these items. Most important, what I've baked out of it has been excellent!
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Jan 05, 2013 02:28pm