“It is inspiring to see the fine and exciting work of this prize representative of a new generation of bakers.”
—Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of The Baking Bible
“For years we’ve been the beneficiaries of the sky-high cakes and dreamy pies Erin has whipped up for Food52, and we’re so delighted she’s sharing her baking gifts in The Fearless Baker. Her six-layer Dame’s Rocket Cake and diagonal lattice crust are in our future!”
—Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, cofounders of Food52
“This book is not only a shortcut on the road to fearlessness, but also a plainly spoken guide to why ingredients do what they do, alongside a very welcome kitchen pep talk. All the tools to lend a good amount of confidence in the kitchen, plus Salted Caramel besides!”
—Joy Wilson, author and blogger, Joy the Baker
“Erin’s fierce understanding of the science of baking makes her one of the most trustworthy bakers that I know. But what’s even more special is that she does it all with the exact kind of friendliness and warmth that you want when you’re about to tackle laminated dough or French macarons for the first time. The recipes here are as encouraging and thorough as they beautiful and delicious. This book is an absolute must-have for bakers of all levels.”
—Molly Yeh, author and blogger, My Name Is Yeh
"In her first cookbook, McDowell, a baking columnist for Food52, endeavors to make baking easier and more understandable for home cooks. She distills the professional tips she’s learned over the years and offers advice that both new and experienced bakers will find indispensable. Her recipes run the gamut from simple chocolate chip cookies to the more involved chocolate palmiers, made with home puff pastry, and chocolate cream pie with whipped peanut butter cream. Her sense of fun is felt throughout the book with recipes such as PB&J Whoopie Pies and caramel corn layer cake. She adds twists to recipes to make them her own, such as with salted caramel-swirled meringues; grapefruit meringue pie; and raspberry-ripple crunch bars, an innovation that she explains came to her in a dream. Comprehensive tips on baking and decorating cakes and pies accompany tempting recipes, including for pound cupcakes made with honey-caramel glaze, mocha cake with a coffee and white chocolate ganache, and a simple cider caramel apple pie. Her clearly written recipes and tips, explained in a friendly, encouraging voice, will inspire confidence in experienced and novice bakers alike.
—Publishers Weekly