Sift: The Elements of Great Baking

An essential guide to baking that combines easy-to-follow, science-based advice with 100 reliable and delicious recipes for both novices and more experienced bakers, from the renowned pastry chef behind the Kitchen Projects newsletter. Her palate and mind thrill me in equal measure and I cannot wait to read, learn from, and celebrate this book.--Samin Nosrat

Sift begins with the foundational ingredients that underpin great bakes--flour, sugar, eggs, fat--before delving into the techniques that bring recipes to life: texture, color, how things rise, and a technical overview. 100 tested, tried, and true recipes follow and are organized by difficulty and time commitment, ranging from easy 30-minute cakes to spectacular showstoppers you can devote a weekend to, including:

- Bake in an afternoon: Plum Sandwich Cake, Mocha Chocolate Chip Cake Bars, and 10-minute Mango Cheesecake - Bake in a day: Chocolate Mousse Cloud Cake, Fancy Rhubarb Tart with Pistachio Custard, and Olive Oil Brie-oche - Bake over a weekend: Clementine Crème Fraiche Ice Cream Cake, Grilled Cheese Za'atar Pain Suisse, and Honey Mandarin Buns

Gorgeous photos accompany every recipe and the infographic-style illustrations help home bakers easily grasp the hows and whys of baking so they can tackle any project with confidence.