The Americas Test Kitchen Family Baking Book by Americas Test Kitchen

The Americas Test Kitchen Family Baking Book Reviews

• 
  Nancy

  I love anything from America's Test Kitchen. This book is about baking, one of my very favorite things to do. The chefs (or should I say scientists) at America's Test Kitchen do such a wonderful job with really breaking down a recipe and making sure they have it just right. I love their explanations as to why certain things work in a recipe and certain things don't (after much testing, of course!). Their tip for understanding the difference between melted butter and softened butter was eye-opening. I also love the fact that they have step by step photos for many recipes. They make baking, cooking, everything, so accessible. When you read their recipes, you think--I can do this! Very highly recommended.
• 
  Tj

  This book is more than a cookbook. It has tons of hints on which products, cookware and utensils to buy as well as "how tos" on most techniques. Most importantly it has a recipe for the
  
  
  BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES EVER!!!
  
  
  
• 
  Karen Hood

  This cookbook is a classic with recipes you can count on to be correct. Thanks
• 
  Megan

  Coronavirus anxiety has me baking up a storm, and this book makes me come across like a total pro. What if one outcome of these surreal times is that I start baking my own bread every week? Who knows, weirder shit is happening every day lately.
• 
  Liz De Coster

  Why do I bother getting these from the library, when I inevitably end up bookmarking a third of the recipes and wanting to buy the book? Oh, America's Test Kitchen, how you do tempt me ...
• 
  Ava ☕

  
  
  That is all...
• 
  Donna

  There's a great variety of recipes here, with a lot of helpful pictures. Measurements are given for both volume and weight. Like all the America's Test Kitchen stuff, there are helpful tips and warnings about common problems that people run into.
  
  My biggest quibble is that the recipe instructions geared towards stand mixers. They give timings and mixer speeds for various dough recipes, but no similar guidance for bakers who will be doing the recipes without one. In a way this makes sense, because America's Test Kitchen recipes are about consistently producing the same results, and that's probably easier with a mixer. But those of us who have either budgets or kitchens that are too small for a stand mixer are left to work through the recipes without specific tips or instructions.
  
  Those with either a little baking experience or the confidence to dive right in and try things will still get a lot of use out of this book. But I wouldn't recommend it for hesitant beginners who don't own a stand mixer.
• 
  Camille

  Awesome! Baking is my favorite type of cooking and this book gave me some great pointers. Once again, lots of side notes explaining the science behind baking...which is even more precise than in stove top cooking.
  
  The recipes I've made have turned out beautifully and were delicious. I like that they are for small batches and have detailed instructions with plenty of step by step pictures.
  
  If you like to bake, or want to learn to bake, this is a great book. And the measurements are by volume (unlike many baking books) so you can still make them even if you are like me and don't own a kitchen scale.
• 
  Elizabeth

  Fully illustrated and tabbed, this cookbook hearkens back to the original Betty Crocker cookbook, only resplendent with color photos throughout and updated to include newfangled accessories like food processors and microwaves. This book covers all the homey basics, from biscuits to baklava, flatbread to phyllo, sourdough to souffle. Indeed, just as its
  Eisehower-administration ancestor, the Test Kitchen cookbook includes charts of measurements and substitutions, plus an equipment guide of gadgets in the cheap to moderately cheap price range.
• 
  Marley

  I have used this book for years and love everything about it from the pictures to the tips and equipment reviews.
  Earlier this month I tackled my biggest baking project: making the cake for my brother's wedding. Following the Wedding Cake chapter of this book was a lifesaver. From breaking down the timeline to being very candid about the time, space, and skill needed this chapter was an honest and helpful guide through this imposing process.
• 
  C

  The usual detail oriented style of the Test Kitchen folks. 3 ring binder style binding is handy, tabbed sections even handier. Great instruction, pictures, step by step illustration.
  
  Looking forward to going through and trying a few things in here... learned a few things just perusing. A steal for 2$ used from the library.
  
  Culinary Skill Level: perfect for beginner to moderate.
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  Bethany Montez

  This, is probably one of the best impulse cuz boarders is going out of business buys i ever made. my go-to for any new dessert, i can be confident that as long as i follow it, the food will turn out right. It also has a lot of informative blurbs on random stuff like the best way to butter/flour a bunt pan. LOVE!
• 
  Kathy Kramer

  This is a good book for the beginning baker and those who like to bake. the instructions are clear and the notes are helpful. If you own any of ATK's other books, you may see some repetition, but there wasn't enough of it to dissuade me from buying the book.
• 
  Gail

  I would like to make everything in this book starting on page 1. I hope the people at work are hungry!
• 
  Gina

  In the past couple of days I have made the Spice Cake and the Zucchini Bread...delicious!
• 
  Lisita

  I'm a baker at heart and I can't live without this book. Fun to sit and read through. Wonderful tips and recipes!!
• 
  Laura

  I love this cookbook!!! The layer cakes are my favorite (just made the lemon layer cake for Easter), but there are lots of yummy recipes in every section.
• 
  Kristin

  This is a staple in our house. Get rid of your Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks and switch over to America's Test Kitchen. They're just plain better.
• 
  Michael

  Illustrations were very well layed out. This book is very useful and organized. The binder format takes up unnecessary space, but Im sure its useful for adding information.
• 
  Zoe

  There are a couple signs of how old this cookbook is, like macaron being called French macaroons, but it's overall a delightful balance of simple and sophisticated recipes, with useful tips, clear instructions, and lovely pictures.
  
  1 star taken off for the same reason as the Cheesecake Factory Menu; no one is buying a whole-ass baking cookbook for a "light" section.
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  Sharon Honeycutt

  My go to cook book for all things baking ... until we had to become gluten free. Then we switched to their "How Can It be Gluten Free" cookbook.
• 
  Lauren

  Really good baking book for recipes of all sorts from quick breads to rustic, various cookies and cakes. Definitely one I will try to get to own.
• 
  David

  This is another must-have for every home. My wife makes lots of great baked goods from this book.
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  Maria

  I love basically everything that America's Test Kitchen does. This cookbook is no exception.
• 
  Paula

  The vodka pie crust in this book is the best pie crust ever!