Sally's Baking 101: Foolproof Recipes from Easy to Advanced

by Sally McKenney

The ultimate baking book for home cooks of all skill levels with 101 sweet and savory, foolproof recipes plus helpful tips for best results—from the creator of the beloved website Sally’s Baking Addiction.

For years, Sally’s Baking Addiction has been the trusted online resource for anyone who wants to make delicious baked goods from scratch. An expert self-taught baker, Sally McKenney has been dedicated to developing and perfecting a wide range of baking recipes and her devoted audience trusts her implicitly. In this collection of 101 irresistible recipes, she presents an array of crowd-pleasing bakes to suit every occasion and craving, from cookies and bars to cakes, pies, breads, and brunch fare. Sprinkled throughout the book, you’ll find a selection of her most treasured fan favorites, including Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Strawberry Cake, Homemade Pizza Dough, and Classic Apple Pie.

Sally shares everything you need to know to be a successful home baker including basic baking principles, tools and ingredients, detailed how-to’s, and step-by-step photos. She also offers her best tips and tricks, such as how to brown butter, prepare your baking pans, freeze baked goods, test for doneness, and so much more. Simpler recipes are included if your time is limited or you’re just beginning your baking journey, like Chewy Banana Walnut Cookies, Thick & Fudgy Brownies, Lemon Lavender Olive Oil Cake, and the Ultimate Fruit Crisp. Advanced bakers will be excited to try Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Danishes, Tiramisu Cake Roll, Sky-High Chocolate Mousse Pie, and Asparagus & Smoked Salmon Tart. Many of the recipes are somewhere in between, including Buttermilk Chive Fantail Rolls, Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies, Caramel Sheet Cake, and Butternut Squash & Sage Chicken Pot Pie.

With Sally’s Baking 101 as your guide, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to feel confident baking from scratch with tempting, reliable recipes guaranteed to delight family and friends.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title would imply that this is a baking book for beginners but there are plenty of recipes that advanced bakers will be excited to make. 101 Refers to the number of recipes in the book. Every recipe has a skill level, so that you know what to expect before starting:
Beginner: Recipes that have simple steps and require minimal technique.
Intermediate: Recipes that need more precision and/or specialty baking tools.
Advanced: Recipes that use more advanced techniques and tools and make for an exciting yet challenging baking project.

The beautiful photos and detailed recipes are enticing and irresistible.

Recipes I’ve already made are the Chocolate Peanut Butter–Covered Shortbread Cookies and the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread. Next on my list is the Pumpkin Cheesecake.

I’ve never had a bad baking experience while following recipes from Sally’s website. Her detailed recipes are easy to follow, and the results are delicious.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me almost the whole month to go through the cookbook, simply because there were so many new recipes to tag and put on my “to-be-baked” list! To be fair, I’ve followed Sally and made her recipes since back in the blog days, and never had a recipe fail to deliver on the yumminess. That success, coupled with the ease of her clear directions, use of mostly pantry staples ingredients, and the fact that my family knows and loves every recipe made pre-ordering the cookbook a no-brainer!

Lots to try from each section, but writing some down for my own ease in recollection (and *highest priority):

Strawberry Lemon Drops, Pistachio Crinkles, Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread

Thick & Fudgy Brownies, Millionaire’s Shortbread

Chocolate Ganache Cake, Almond Poppyseed Loaf Cake, *Tiramisu Cake Roll, Coconut Hi-Hat Cupcakes, *Espresso Chocolate Truffle Cupcakes, *Pumpkin Cheesecake

Sky-High Chocolate Mousse Pie, Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Pecan Sticky Bun Cake, *Bacon & Cheddar Biscuits, Lemon Blueberry Scones

*Apple Cider Spiced Bread, *Pumpkin Spice Latte Muffins

Brioche-Style Sandwich Rolls, *Buttermilk Chive Fantail Rolls, *Soft Pretzels w/Cheese Dip

Let the fall baking begin! #nomnomnom

Four plus stars!

[Eva Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most perfect recipes! The explanations, the pictures, the organization- my favorite new cookbook!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally has proven herself to me time and time again with her recipes online. I am positive that every single one of the recipes in this cookbook will be absolute bangers. I loved reading this cookbook cover to cover basically immediately after receiving it, and there are SO many recipes I am excited to try!

Such an amazing array of recipes from cookies to cakes to brunch to bread. I'm making the first of many of these recipes first thing in the morning. Sally, you are the GOAT! 🐐

[Karen]

Has ANYONE in these reviews actually MADE any of her recipes? Or are we just fans who want to boost her ratings? I want to know if the cookbook is worth buying. Are the recipes good?

[Sara Rishforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oatmeal Wheat Sandwich Bread is so so good! Looking forward to making more recipes!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny - I never felt so connected to the website, but really loved this cookbook. Lots of great recipes that I can't wait to try! The banana cookies are just what I need living in Hawai'i!

[MacKenzie Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally makes baking feel fun, approachable, and totally doable. Baking 101 isn’t just a recipe book, it’s a guide that explains the why behind the steps, which gave me so much confidence in the kitchen many years ago (because her blog and now website are incredible). Every recipe I’ve tried has turned out perfectly (her cookies are a must, even if you think you have a good cookie recipe, I always consult Sally). The photos are gorgeous, the instructions are crystal clear, and the whole book feels like baking with a friend.

[Rada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook, or should I say bakingbook, is so special. There is so much good baking information and advice. Even a seasoned baker like myself learned something new. You can trust that every recipe in here will absolutely 100% work. It is not a regurgitation of what you can find on Sally's website, but new recipes with a few fan favorites thrown in. The book is so pretty! The pictures are gorgeous making you want to immediately eat or bake what you're looking at and the binding is pretty too! I love the pink ruffled edge holding the cover together. The recipes contained herein are both sweet and savory, but the entire book leans more toward sweet. If you can only have one baking book in your house, let this be the one. You will want to make these recipes over and over again. In fact, I’ll just go and get my pans out right now 😀.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will absolutely be making everything in this cookbook as soon as I get home!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often that I dole out 5 stars for a book, let alone a cookbook. This one is by food blogger Sally McKenney. Unlike a lot of social media food influencers, Sally has put out an excellent cookbook on baking. Although none of the recipes are new or unique, they are what Sally considers her best recipes. There are seven chapters that cover cookies, brownies & bars, cakes, pies, brunch, quick breads & muffins & yeast breads/pizza. Each chapter has a dozen recipes - more or less. Most of the recipes are for sweets, but she has included some tantalizingly tempting savory ones such as butternut squash & sage chicken pot pie and spinach, tomato & feta quiche. The recipes are for beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Each recipe is written clearly and concisely. Any seasoned cook or baker can make these recipes. Each recipe not only has a photo but every photo tempts you make them. I’ll definitely be trying out some of these recipes soon. This would be a nice addition to anybody’s cookbook collection. Happy Baking!

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Add this to your cookbook shelf! I've tried many of her recipes off her website and is a go-to for a baking recipe when needed.

This book has all kinds of baked goods that have delicious photos to accompany! Easy instructions, how-to's, substitutions if allowed. All stages of skill: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well if you already love Sally's website this will be a slam-dunk. Beautiful, of course, recipes you want to try RIGHT NOW, of course. Just delightful.

[Megan Szabla]

Can’t wait to test out some of the recipes in this cookbook!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I desperately need a hard copy of this!

[Carolina Campoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge fan!

I already use lots of Sally's recipes. So this book is also a must have. I really enjoyed the tips and specifics as they help beginners.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really like how accessible the recipes and methods are. I have tried several and they have all come out well. Can’t wait to do more.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had two total recipe fails from this so far. I’m being generous with the three stars as other recipes were ok.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apple Cider Spice Bread 3/5
Brown butter pumpkin oatmeal cookie 2/5
Maple brown sugar Cookie 3.5/5
Chai spice bar 3/5
Salted Brown butter Pecan Bar 3.5/5
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcake 2.5/5

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this one- not pretentious or self-absorbed, great photos (none of the author looking "sexy", thank you Sally)

Recipes look good, and I've saved about a dozen to try.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars

I like her stuff and this was no exception. She writes clear concise recipes with good flavors. They're approachable and I can't wait to try some out.