Book review of Sally’s Baking 101 by Sally McKenny

The story of Sally McKenney’s remarkable rise in the world of baking is the epitome of homegrown success in the digital age. From sharing a recipe online in 2011 to developing her blog, Sally’s Baking Addiction, and writing three cookbooks, McKenney quickly grew her digital presence into a successful baking empire. Her popularity stems from her conversational yet practical recipe-writing. Sally’s Baking 101: Foolproof Recipes From Easy to Advanced, is no exception. As McKenney notes in the introduction, her recipes are “approachable for everyone” because she takes the time to focus on the fundamentals of baking and “explain how and why the recipes work.” Comprehensive sections on baking basics such as prepping butter, measuring ingredients and using kitchen tools provide a strong foundation to get her (and any) bakes right. McKenney rates each recipe by skill level (beginner, intermediate or advanced) so that bakers of all proficiencies can plot a course for success.

Along with recipes for sweet treats such as chocolate cookies, fudgy brownies and classic apple pie, Sally’s Baking 101 also includes savory dishes, such as easy beer bread, calzones and spinach, tomato and feta quiche. Others add twists to traditional recipes, like McKenney’s chai spice blondies, which incorporate cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg with chunks of white chocolate, giving the typical blondie an upgrade. Still more recipes are brilliantly innovative, such as Birthday Brookies, a half-brownie, half-bar cookie hybrid embellished with brightly hued rainbow sprinkles. And for those who like to play with variations, McKenney has a recipe for Ultimate Muffins: 5 Ways, giving options for a variety of different muffin flavors, from apple cinnamon to chocolate chip.

Colorful, close-up photographs (taken by McKenney herself) illustrate techniques and the finished bakes, making it impossible to page through and not want to preheat the oven. Appropriate for those just venturing into the kitchen to experienced bakers, Sally’s Baking 101  is a true baking manual that home cooks will return to time and again.