The Craft of Baking: Cakes, Cookies, and Other Sweets with Ideas for Inventing Your Own
James Beard Award—winner Karen DeMasco, who first came to national attention as the pastry chef of Tom Colicchio’s Craft, Craftbar, and ’wichcraft restaurants from 2001 to 2008, approaches the art of baking in a unique way. Building on the savory cooking philosophy of using seasonal ingredients to create dishes with pure flavors, Karen makes acclaimed desserts that are both simple and elegant. Now, she shares her secrets and techniques in her first cookbook, The Craft of Baking, designed to...
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James Beard Award—winner Karen DeMasco, who first came to national attention as the pastry chef of Tom Colicchio’s Craft, Craftbar, and ’wichcraft restaurants from 2001 to 2008, approaches the art of baking in a unique way. Building on the savory cooking philosophy of using seasonal ingredients to create dishes with pure flavors, Karen makes acclaimed desserts that are both simple and elegant. Now, she shares her secrets and techniques in her first cookbook, The Craft of Baking, designed to help home bakers think imaginatively in order to expand their repertoires with new and fresh combinations.Using the bounty of the seasons as inspiration and Karen’s clear instructions, both beginners and experienced bakers will find it easy to let their creativity take the reins. Learn how to make Karen’s celebrated sweets, such as Apple Fritters with Caramel Ice Cream and Apple Caramel Sauce, White Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream, and Raised Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnuts. Then check out the tips on "varying your craft" to transform Grandma Rankin’s Cashew Brittle into Pumpkin Seed Brittle and to alter a cobbler recipe to make Rhubarb Rose Cobbler in the spring or Mixed Berry Cobbler in the summer, for example. Karen’s suggestions for "combining your craft"–such as serving Almond Pound Cake with Apricot Compote and Lillet Sabayon–reveal how easy it is to take desserts to the next level. Karen’s ingenuity is boundless. All types of sweets, from muffins and scones to pies and cakes to ice creams and custards, are her mediums for exploring flavors. With Karen’s simple techniques, unique flavor combinations, and inventive ideas, The Craft of Baking will change the way you think about baking and equip any home cook with the skills and creativity to create amazing, one-of-a-kind desserts. The New York Times - Christine Muhlke DeMasco has (along with her co-author, Mindy Fox) written a book of sweets to savor…DeMasco layers the homey foundation of her childhood favorites with the spontaneity she honed working in seasonal-ingredient-driven kitchens and a love of modern touches.
Back-to-School Raspberry Granola Bars\ Makes 16 bars\ These nutty fruit cookies are perfect for a lunch sack, last-minute bake sale, or early autumn picnic. They are quick to put together with pantry staples and everyone seems to love them.\ 12 tablespoons (11/2 sticks)\ unsalted butter, plus more for the pan\ 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped\ 11/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour\ 11/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats\ ⅓ cup granulated sugar\ ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar\ 1 teaspoon kosher salt\ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda\ 1 cup raspberry preserves\ Preheat the oven to 350oF. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line the bottom with parchment.\ In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.\ Spread the pecans on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Cool the sheet completely on a wire rack.\ In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and pecans. Pour in the melted butter, and using a wooden spoon, mix together until well combined.\ Transfer about two thirds of the dough to the prepared baking pan. Press the dough evenly into the pan, forming a firmly packed layer.\ Using an offset or rubber spatula, spread the preserves over the dough. Evenly sprinkle the remaining dough over the preserves.\ Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the top is golden brown and fragrant, about 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let it cool completely. Then cut into 2-inch squares.\ The bars can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.\ Grandma Rankin's Cashew Brittle\ My Grandma Rankin started making what became her famous cashew brittle as a young adult, using a recipe passed down by her mother. Years later, she decided to give the salty-sweet candy as Christmas gifts. Before long she was sending my grandfather to the nut factory to buy nuts in bulk. For years she made 150 pounds of the candy every holiday season!\ Makes 1 3/4 pounds Nonstick cooking spray\ 2 cups sugar\ 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter\ 1/3 cup light corn syrup\ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda\ 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt\ 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) salted roasted cashews\ Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set it aside.\ Combine the sugar, butter, corn syrup, and ½ cup water in a large saucepan. Stir together so that all of the sugar is wet. Cook the mixture over high heat without stirring until it turns a dark amber color, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Carefully whisk in the baking soda, followed by the salt; the caramel will rise and bubble. Using a wooden or metal spoon, fold in the cashews. Pour the brittle onto the prepared baking sheet, and using the back of the spoon, spread it out into a layer about ½ inch thick. Let it cool completely. Break the brittle into bite-size pieces, using a mallet or the back of a heavy knife.\ The brittle can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.\ Varying Your Craft: Pumpkin Seed Brittle\ Replace the cashews with 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) toasted pumpkin seeds.
\ Christine MuhlkeDeMasco has (along with her co-author, Mindy Fox) written a book of sweets to savor…DeMasco layers the homey foundation of her childhood favorites with the spontaneity she honed working in seasonal-ingredient-driven kitchens and a love of modern touches.\ —The New York Times\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalDeMasco, Tom Colicchio's former pastry chef at his New York City restaurants and a 2005 James Beard Award winner, makes her cookbook debut with Fox (food editor, La Cucina Italiana magazine). In the first sections, she covers ingredients and techniques accessible even to novice bakers. Then come her "new modern-day treats," created with "traditional recipes and familiar home baking techniques," e.g., Lemon Olive Cake (an interesting variation on the traditional lemon cake using butter and extra virgin olive oil). Sources are listed for hard-to-find items. Owing to DeMasco's well-respected culinary pedigree, home bakers will want this.\ \
