Great Bakes - by Martin Sorge (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Martin Sorge, winner of The Great American Baking Show, guides readers through more than 100 recipes for sweet and savory bakes that celebrate the bounty of the Midwest, from modern classics to innovative show-stoppers.

When Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith crowned Martin Sorge the winner of The Great American Baking Show in 2023, few would have guessed that his baking journey began with him setting the microwave on fire trying to make a biscuit. But after years spent in the kitchen, he had become a full-fledged "baking nerd next door"--the perfect guide to explain how to adjust a recipe for rye flour or perfect your pavlova without bogging you down with too many details.

In this debut cookbook, Martin shares those tips and many more, in a collection of recipes that highlight the ease and enjoyment of wholesome ingredients and simple flavors, while encouraging readers to try new twists on familiar favorites. These breads, cookies, crisps, cakes, pies, pastries, and--yes--biscuits sneak surprising ingredients into the classics: Super-Soft Malted Cinnamon Rolls that elevate the childhood staple, Glazed Lemon Verbena Shortbread that gets a bit of zing from the window-box herb, Sweet Corn Milk Bread that highlights the perfection of an ear of summer sweet corn. From the Midwestern flavors of Chicago Dog Focaccia and Michigan Forest Cake to traditional Christmas Stollen and Swabian Soft Pretzels rooted in Martin's German heritage, Great Bakes welcomes bakers of every level with recipes they'll reach for again and again.

Review Quotes

"Great Bakes celebrates the Midwest and butter in equal measure. An absolutely gorgeous book that knows exactly where its heart is." -- Nicola Lamb, baker and author of James Beard Award-winning book Sift and the Kitchen Projects newsletter

"Martin Sorge speaks in a voice so gentle and assured, so Midwestern friendly, that the intensity of aromas and flavors he wants you to seek out and experience for yourself--the singular magic of lemon verbena, or the lushness of Michigan peaches--has a powerful kind of urgency. The uncomplicated crisps, cookies, cakes, breads, and pies in these pages feel deeply loved, the emotional anchors of a life in which baking takes the shape of care." -- John Birdsall, James Beard Award-winning author of What Is Queer Food?

"From staples like cornbread and buttermilk biscuits to German classics like Stollen and Vollkornbrot to nostalgic bakes like apple crisp and cinnamon rolls, Great Bakes is a love letter to the Midwest, celebrating its seasonal produce and deep-rooted baking traditions. I suggest devouring it in one sitting, a mug of coffee in one hand, the other free to dog-ear corners and underline the many pearls of wisdom from Martin Sorge--an enthusiastic, self-taught, delightfully opinionated, grain-loving, baking-by-weight evangelist. This delicious read will have you adding buckwheat and rye flours to your grocery list and will make you wish sour cherry and sweet corn season would arrive immediately." --Alexandra Stafford, New York Times best-selling author of Pizza Night

"Martin addresses several audiences equally well with this book. If you want to get an understanding of the American Midwest as a cultural and culinary terroir from a very personal perspective, this book is for you. If you are just starting to bake and need help, this book is for you. And if you are a seasoned baker looking for recipes that are slightly off the beaten track and encourage creativity, this book is for you. An enjoyable read!" -- Jürgen Krauss, Great British Baking Show contestant and author of German Baking and The German Christmas Cookbook

"Martin's passion for craft shines in Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest. Written like a love letter to the Midwest, Martin shares recipes in an approachable way with clear instructions that guarantee readers a successful bake. From simple bakers to showstoppers, you'll discover the 'whys' and 'hows' in just enough detail to grasp the process of becoming a confident baker. Enchanting photography throughout makes this collection a must-bake book!" -- Dan Langan, author of Short and Sweet

"This book invites you into Martin's kitchen, showcasing recipes that feel authentic, unpretentious, and well-salted. And if there's one thing that matters in a kitchen, it's salt. Through thoughtful advice, approachable techniques, and playful humor, Martin ensures that anyone who picks up a copy of Great Bakes is well equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed in baking through the lens of a passionate Midwesterner." -- Justin Lerias, owner and pastry chef of Del Sur Bakery

"Martin has quickly become one of the most trusted recipe writers I know. Whether I'm looking to bake something unfamiliar and new, or just need a solid recipe for a familiar sweet, I know that he will anticipate my questions, deepen my baking IQ, bring a distinct and memorable point of view, and--most importantly--he will deliver with a spectacular outcome. I've been so eager to add Great Bakes to my short stack of most-reached-for cookbooks. Here, at last, his broadly appealing, Midwestern-hued recipes are available for everyone to enjoy and share." --Lukas Volger, author of Start Simple and Snacks for Dinner

"Martin is the home baker's home baker. His compendium of baking knowledge is friendly, thorough, and bursting with Midwestern energy. Whether you're a voracious beginner looking for a helpful guide, or a seasoned cookie queen, Great Bakes is sure to stoke your curiosity in the kitchen." -- Lisa Ludwinski, author of Sister Pie: The Recipes and Stories of a Big-Hearted Bakery in Detroit

"Great Bakes is a cookbook that grows with you. Martin meets bakers at every stage--offering clear guidance for beginners and playful, imaginative recipes that keep seasoned bakers engaged. Rooted in tradition but open to curiosity, this book balances familiar favorites with bakes that invite growth. It teaches with confidence, encouragement, and just enough push to try what's next." -- Justin Burke, author of Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride

"Peruse the pages of Martin Sorge's Great Bakes, and I promise you'll never again think of America's heartland as flyover country. With evocative photography, an eloquent baking philosophy, and chapter openers that reward attentive reading, this book teaches us to bake each season's best. From biting into sweet corn from the roadside stand to picking ripe cherries to turn into pie, Great Bakes will leave you aching for the bounty of the Midwest." -- Roxana Jullapat, author of Mother Grains and Morning Baker

"Martin's case for modern Midwestern baking has me fully convinced." -- Brian Levy, author of the book Good & Sweet and the Formal Assignment newsletter

"Cooks like Martin Sorge rise from 'flyover country' again and again to demonstrate that we, too--and perhaps we, especially--possess great gifts from the fields and streams, and even greater talents in the kitchen." -- Paul Fehribach, chef and owner of Big Jones and author of Midwestern Food and The Big Jones Cookbook

About the Author

Martin Sorge is a home baker, cook, writer, and recipe developer. His work has appeared in Food & Wine, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago magazine, WBEZ Chicago, Trink magazine, and more. He shares recipes, tips, and stories in his newsletter, also titled Great Bakes.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith named Martin the winner of The Great American Baking Show in 2023. A native Hoosier, he lives in Chicago and Michigan's pinky finger with his husband and two cats.