To truly master your skills, you need to have the right guidance and information. On your own, you can only go so far, and after a certain period, you need professional help. However, there are many cookbooks on the market covering baking and pastry, but which ones are the best?
The customers do not need to worry, though, because below, we have given a list of the best pastry cookbooks written by professional pastry chefs. The recipes within these cookbooks will take your baking game to the next level.
Table of Contents
Best Pastry Cookbooks
| Image | Best Pastry Cookbooks | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Brooks Headley’s Fancy Desserts | 99% |
 | 2. The Baking Bible | 96% |
 | 3. Tartine | 92% |
 | 4. Advanced Bread and Pastry | 89% |
 | 5. The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our pastry cookbooks reviews:
1. Brooks Headley’s Fancy Desserts: The Recipes of Del Posto’s James Beard Award-Winning Pastry Chef
The recipes included in this cookbook are fun and experimental. Many pastry chefs recommend this book as recipes have flavor and are written keeping in mind bakers that like to be creative and innovative. This book is full of ideas that you normally won’t find in other books, and it has 97 recipes to choose from.
There are over a hundred photographs, and the book is divided into six different chapters. Chapter 1 is about fruits, Chapter 2 on vegetables, Chapter 3 on Grains and flour, Chapter 4 on Chocolate, Chapter 5 on Seeds and nuts, and chapter 6 on dairy. You learn different types of desserts such as melon candy, tofu chocolate, and fruit sobert from this book.
The Brooks Headley cookbook covers everything in great detail. Ingredients and methods are also elaborated in the book. A lot of guests have also contributed to the book. Many people have put in the effort in this book to make it unique. Many pastry chefs around the world not only use this book as guidance but also recommend it.
The Brooks Headley cookbook is the one to have, it is not only for professionals, you can use it as well and seek guidance from it at home. Once you have this cookbook, you won’t need another one, so if it fits your budget, buy it.
Why do we like it?
- 97 recipes
- Over hundred pictures
- Guest contributors
- Recommended by professionals
2. The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum
The author of this book is also referred to as the ‘Diva of Desserts,’ and The Baking bible is one of her finest books. This book also won the 2015 IACP cookbook award, so you can see how prestigious it is. This cookbook contains all-new recipes for desserts such as tarts, pies, pastries, and bread loaves.
This book offers guidance in all the baking categories, so it is not only specific to pastries. The recipes in this book are detailed, the ingredients are provided, step-by-step methods are also discussed, and what stands out is that the recipes are foolproof. The book also gives small tips that will make a big difference in your baking.
Making a pastry is a delicate and technical process. You will only get better at it by learning the hard way. However, this book will make your life very easy, the information given is detailed, and you will only need this book to cover all your baking needs. With the help of this book, you can even make bakery-style pastries.
Every recipe included in the Baking bible is full of flavor and delicious. If you follow the instructions given in the book, you will see the difference in your baking. This book is a good investment. If it is within your reach, that you should go for it.
Why do we like it?
- Detailed
- Foolproof recipes
- Won the 2015 IACP Award
- Tips
3. Tartine by Elisabeth M. Prueitt
Tartine is a book that has been hailed a classic by professional pastry chefs. The author has shared all her secrets, recipes, and tips in the book. This book has all details you need to be a successful baker and pastry chef at home. Easy-to-follow recipes for lunch, breakfast, and dinner have been discussed in detail.
Of course, we cannot miss out on the dessert, Tartine also covers a lot of dessert recipes, and practical advice along in the form of notes is also given in the book. Several photographs in the book will help elaborate the information and give you a clear picture of what you need to do. You can also gift this book to other pastry enthusiasts.
Making pastry is all about precision, and Tartine will offer you the right kind of advice. The detailed recipes and the photographs will help you understand and give you a clear idea about what you need to do. The author’s notes, which are small tips, are a bonus in this book, and you should take full advantage of that.
- Author’s note
- Practical advice
- Easy to make
- Photographs
4. Advanced Bread and Pastry by Michel Suas
Advanced Bread and pastry is a cookbook designed to enhance your bread and pastry-making skills. The book covers in detail the various aspects and techniques of making good bread and pastry. This book specifically caters to the need of enthusiasts, students, and professionals. Advanced bread and pastry introduces a lot of traditional recipes but with modern approaches.
Different modern methods and techniques are given in the book; they will help you make traditional recipes. The instructions given in this book are clear and precise. The details regarding the ingredients are also very impressive, and creative ideas are also discussed so that you continue to be innovative with your baking.
The book also discusses the evolution of ingredients and the presentation of food. You will also get guidance on the kind of products you should use and the ones you should not use. Overall this is another impressive cookbook that you could have in your cooking arsenal. With this book’s help, you can up your game and gain the knowledge you didn’t have before.
Why do we like it?
- Detailed
- Information on ingredients
- Precise
- Modern approaches
5. The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern by Claudia Fleming
The author of this book is a renowned name in the pastry world, and this cookbook has over 175 recipes. Many desserts made by Fleming have won numerous awards, and she uses fresh and flavorful ingredients to make them. The book is also very well organized as recipes are discussed seasonally.
Recipes also contain details of the kind of chocolate they will need, fruits, spices, and even the amount of dairy required. In the book’s finals chapter, the author discusses how to assemble desserts and make them presentable. With this cookbook’s help, you can make several desserts such as Apple Tarte Tatin, Chestnut Soufflés, Chocolate ganache, and many more delicious recipes.
Many professional bakers and pastry chefs have praised this book. The book contains more than 80 photographs that elaborate the recipes and offer you great insight into what your recipes must look like in the end. This book has inspired generations of dessert enthusiasts and will continue to do so in the future.
This cookbook is the complete dessert book; it is almost as if the author is speaking directly to you and guiding you through the process. It has interesting recipes, instructions, detailed ingredients, and creative ideas that you need.
Why do we like it?
- Well organized
- Creative ideas
- Praised by professionals
- Clear instructions
Pastry Cookbook Buyers Guide
A cookbook is something you need to get more skilled in the kitchen. The best cookbook will contain all the necessary information and creative ideas. However, there is very little awareness among the customers, they often end up buying mediocre products, and instead of improving their cooking skills, they get worse at it.
If you are tired of going through the same old cookbooks and not getting the desired results, then it is time to look elsewhere. Customers need to know their product well, but they should consider some factors before they buy cookbooks.
Quality
A cookbook is only good if it fulfills its purpose, and that is to give the customer as much guidance as possible. Always go for pastry cookbooks that professional chefs recommend. Please do your research on the books and their writers in order to get the best product possible.
Clarity
A cookbook can only be considered useful if it is clear and precise. Pastry cookbooks should be able to discuss in detail different methods of making pastries, ingredients needed, baking techniques, and presentation. Thoroughly go through the books you want to buy and make sure that they are clear enough.
Recipes
Recipes are the crux of a dish, and cookbooks usually contain dozens of them. However, recipes need to be foolproof for them to be clear and precise. The books we have listed above have foolproof recipes, so they are some of the best pastry and baking cookbooks.
Always look for books that have foolproof recipes so that you end up making the best dessert or pastry dish. These recipes will eventually make you a better chef and enable you to do a lot more than what you are doing right now.
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