Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

As the second title in Sur La Table's namesake cookbook series, The Art and Soul of Baking focuses on the largest specialty demographic within the culinary market--baking.

The Art and Soul of Baking guides readers through the world of baking, where alluring aromas of chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon fill the air and tempt the palate. Culinary authority Sur La Table teams with professional pastry chef and baking instructor Cindy Mushet to create the ultimate book for bakers. The Art and Soul of Baking demystifies the friendly science of baking through delicious recipes and photography sequences that illustrate proper techniques for carmelizing sugar, or working with croissant dough.

From tantalizing tarts, decadent cakes, and delicious cookies, to more complex creations like crusty breads and flaky pastries, to melt-in-your-mouth meringues, and lighter-than-air souffles, The Art and Soul of Baking offers the instruction of a private baking class at home. Beautiful photographs and more than 250 fool-proof recipes, as well as information on over 100 popular baking ingredients and more than 50 pieces of baking equipment, ensure that Sur La Table's The Art and Soul of Baking is destined to inspire passion in any baker and make the craft of baking not just accessible, but a true passion.

Average Customer Rating:

The Art & Soul of Baking - Sur La Table	Customer Rating:
What a great book. Comprehensive, simple, easy to read great instructions. It has all the makings of a good baking/pastry book. Every baker should have this as a bible.

One cookbook collection that truly lives up to its title!

Customer Rating:

From the selection of a recipe, to the gathering of ingredients, to the preparation of the kitchen, through the process of preparing the dish, to the aromas emanating from the stove, to the presentation of the finished work of culinary artistry, there are few things more likely to ensure total satisfaction than a baker's efforts placed before a hungry and grateful family. Drawn from the kitchen of Sur La Table, and a well deserved selection of the Gourmet Cook Book Club, this superbly illustrated and 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium of recipes and instructions compiled by professional pastry chef and baking instructor Cindy Mushet is a welcome addition to any personal, professional, or community library cookbook collection. The recipes range from yeast read and rolls, layered pastries, quick breads, and tarts, to pies, turnovers, dumplings, fruit desserts, cookies, brownies, cakes, custards, souffles and more. Of special note are the initial chapters on 'The Baker's Kitchen' and 'The Baker's Pantry', and the concluding chapter on 'Basic Recipes and Finishing Techniques. "The Art & Soul Of Baking" is one cookbook collection that truly lives up to its title!

Wonderful Book from a Great Pastry Chef

Customer Rating:

An amazing book from a great pastry chef (if you get a chance to take a class from Cindy at Sur La Table or elsewhere, be sure to go!!). Every recipe I've tried has been excellent and gotten rave reviews. While some recipes may intimidate the very beginning cook, there are loads of illustrations and instructions every step of the way to produce a successful product. A "must-have" if you enjoy baking even once in a while.

another great Sur la Table book	Customer Rating:
So far I've used this book mostly for the pumpkin and apple recipes, and they're great! Now I can't wait for holiday baking...I plan to try the sugar cookies next and maybe even a tart for Christmas.

Impressive, Beautiful and Full of Great Information and Recipes

Customer Rating:

This beautiful cookbook is amazing. It is just packed with great information. It is 440 pages full of tips, instruction, gorgeous photographs and fabulous recipes. This cookbook covers everything from the basics to information even experienced bakers will find of use. The information and instruction is presented in a very non-intimidating, approachable way. This cookbook covers yeast and quick breads, pastries, pies, cookies, cakes, tarts, fruit desserts, custards and puddings, plus souffles, cheesecakes and more. Each section begins with helpful information about ingredients followed by techniques and instruction. The recipes include time saving tips called "getting ahead" and storage tips. The recipes are all followed by possible variations. I am not a novice baker but not a pro either. I feel this cookbook will give me the skills needed to tackle even the most ambitious baking project as well as the more basic baking. This cookbook is truly empowering!