Savory Baking - by Erin Jeanne McDowell (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Food & Wine's 28 Cookbooks and Food Books to Add to Your Shelf This Fall

Bon Appétit's 27 Best Cookbooks of 2022

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Book on Pie and The Fearless Baker, a savory baking cookbook for delicious baked goods at any time of day.

Savory Baking is the next best thing to a private baking and pastry class from star food stylist and baking expert Erin Jeanne McDowell, given in her signature fun and reassuring style. Not only are each of her recipes intensely crave-able, they also offer inventive inspirations and variations for endless, out-of-the-box customizations and more flexibility for the home baker.

Take her Buttermilk Biscuits, for instance, which comes together in a single bowl. You can cut them in different shapes--Erin prefers squares so there's no scrap dough left. And she suggests adding cheese (or fresh herbs or bacon) for bolder flavor. Or substituting the buttermilk with sour cream or crème fraiche for a je ne sais quoi tang. Or adding her green chile gravy when serving. Or make a monkey bread made of biscuit dough! Or...

Chapters in this must-have cookbook span all day (and night) for freshly baked goods whenever the mood strikes:

• Easy and Essential Bakes
• Stovetop Savories
• Yeasted Doughs
• Pizzas, Flatbreads, and Stuffed Breads
• Pastries
• Snacks, Bites, and Apps
• Pies and Tarts

And for those who can't shake the sugar, there are "sweet tooth breaks" throughout. With Erin's can-do encouragement, expert tips, and "Prep School" features to get you equipped with basic techniques throughout, this sweeping and beautifully photographed guide to savory baking will exponentially expand your baking repertoire with a ton of delicious fun.

Review Quotes

"I am obsessed with Erin Jeanne McDowell's book. As a non-baker, she has given me intense motivation to make pie--every recipe looks delicious. She's gifted me bravado--every recipe is so clearly written that I don't fear failure. And as a food fanatic, Erin has inspired me with both her classic recipes and her more creative flavor combinations." - Dana Cowin, host of the Speaking Broadly podcast and former editor of Food & Wine, on The Book on Pie

"With her friendly, hand-holding instructions and photos of exactly what your doughs and fillings should (and shouldn't) look like, Erin Jeanne McDowell has done away with every worry that can vex and intimidate new pie bakers. In the world of The Book on Pie, with Erin cheering for you, pie is easy, pie is fun, pie is anything you want it to be." - Kristen Migliore, creative director of Genius Food52 and author of Genius Recipes

I don't know how anyone could thumb through Savory Baking and not wind up taking it home--every page radiates such warmth and charm. If you fancy yourself more of a cook than a baker, the recipes here will play to those strengths while helping you flex some pastry muscle. At the same time, Erin encourages seasoned bakers to build up a new arsenal of techniques--and mindsets. The art of baking covers such vast territory beyond those familiar powdered sugar snowcaps. - Stella Parks, author of BraveTart

Savory Baking is chock-full of deliciousness and information for a novice baker up to a seasoned one. The addition of variations and alternative inclusions makes for a welcome multiplier of recipes! I learned so much from reading it; now I'm ready to attempt phyllo! - Carla Hall, chef/author/TV personality

Erin effortlessly crosses over from the sweet side in her fabulous ode to the savory side of baking, featuring flatbreads, pizzas, tarts, breads, and more! Savory Baking truly is one of the most exciting baking books I've seen. From breakfast scones, buckwheat crepes, and waffles with fried chicken to cheese-stuffed pretzels, crispy baby baguettes and 'bakery-level treats' like ham and cheese croissants, chile-crunch gougères, and bánh patê sô filled with mushrooms and garlic, Erin's got you covered with easy-to-follow instructions and spot-on tips to ensure success . . . for treats you'll love any time of the day! - David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and Drinking French

"It is inspiring to see the fine and evocative work of this prize representative of a new generation of bakers." - Rose Levy Beranbaum on The Fearless 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 are beautiful and delicious. This book is an absolute must-have for bakers of all levels." - Molly Yeh on The Fearless Baker

"Great news for bakers: Erin Jeanne McDowell has gone all in on pie! Pies of every kind. So many crusts. And instructions as sharp as a lemon's tang. Erin has an extraordinary talent for explaining--no matter how complex the technique, when she tells us how to do it, we get excited about it, we do it, and we succeed. It's the McDowell wizardry." - Dorie Greenspan, award-winning author of Everyday Dorie and Dorie's Cookies, on The Book on Pie