Sally's Baking 101 Foolproof recipes from easy to advanced

Sally's Baking Addiction blogger McKenney debuts with a mouthwatering compendium of new and "fan favorite" recipes. A thorough introduction covers ingredients, tools, and handy tips, including the best methods for melting chocolate and measuring dry ingredients. Cookies range from the classic--chocolate chip, made with melted butter and an extra egg yolk to achieve "maximum chewiness"--to the inventive, including pumpkin oatmeal cookies made with brown butter. A section on bars opens with a foundational brownie recipe that is then riffed on in the "birthday brookies," a cookie-brownie hybrid, and the crème de menthe brownies. Non-chocolate options include salted pecan pie bars. McKenney's cake tips include using hot liquid (either water or coffee) in chocolate cake recipes to "bloom" the cocoa powder, enhancing its flavor. A chapter devoted to pies and tarts opens with a crash course on crusts complete with "troubleshooting" advice for common problems that arise when rolling out dough. "Brunch bakes" include bagels and French toast casserole; muffins come in apple cinnamon, lemon poppy seed, blueberry, birthday cake, or chocolate chip; and a final section on yeasted doughs offers up stromboli, brioche sandwich rolls, and soft pretzels. Recipes are categorized by experience level from beginner to advanced. The result is a delicious, confidence-boosting collection that home bakers will return to time and again. (Sept.)