I’m a sucker for a good cookbook, so when I got the opportunity to receive a copy of Pastry for Beginners from the publisher to review, I jumped at the chance. The author is Sharon Glascoe, recipe developer and content creator at Certified Pastry Aficionado, one of my favorite recipe websites.
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In Pastry for Beginners, Sharon gives step by step instructions with tips and tricks to help you master four different categories of dough: pie dough, puff pastry, yeast dough, and choux dough. Each type of dough is accompanied by several recipes to practice with. The thing I really like about the recipe selections is that there are both sweet and savory options, perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Some of the ones I’m most excited to try are:
- Cranberry Apple Crumble Pie
- Mocha Brownie Pie
- Beef Empanadas
- Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
- Pesto-Ricotta Braid
- Soft Pretzel Bites
- Blueberry Lemon Cream Puffs
And that’s just a few of the recipes that I can’t wait to test! One recipe that I’ve already made is Nutella Pull-Apart Bread. It was a rousing success, with my family devouring one loaf as I took photos of the other. They couldn’t wait for me to get done so they could dig into the second one as well! It was delicious, and I’ll definitely be making it again at some point (after I test out some of the other recipes I have my eye on).
This is Sharon’s first cookbook, but she’s been publishing recipes on her website for years and every one I’ve tried has been delicious. The one thing I think would have improved this cookbook is including more pictures because they help you visualize the finished product, but even without the extra photos I’m still planning on using this book frequently.
Now, are you ready for the super fun part of this post? I’m excited to announce that I’m partnering with the publisher to giveaway a copy of Pastry for Beginners to one lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me which of the recipes I listed above you would love to try first. And feel free to visit my Instagram post and follow the instructions for an extra entry there as well! I’ll be accepting entries now through 5:00 pm EST Friday January 24th, 2020.
Another cookbook you might like: One Dish, Two Diets
Oh Wow! That Nutella Pull-Apart Bread looks amazing and like something my family would love! I would definitely try this one first!
It was very, very good!
I am a sucker for Rugelach. The picture makes me want some now!!! I would love to learn to make it the right way. I cheat and use premade pie dough. Doesn’t cut it. I want the real deal.
Agree – store bought just isn’t the same as homemade 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this Nutella Pull-Apart Bread from the cookbook! So happy that your family enjoyed it.
It was definitely a hit!
oooh, I love a good cookbook! My boys would go crazy for the Nutella pull-apart bread for sure! The pesto ricotta braid sounds fantastic to me too!
I made the pesto ricotta braid last night and it was so fun to watch the puff pastry puff up like a balloon in the oven 🙂
Yum! I’d love to get better at making pastries. The recipe that caught my eye from your list is the Blueberry Lemon Cream Puffs!
Doesn’t that sound amazing? Good choice!
The Nutella Pull Apart Bread looks fantastic!! And, of course, I’m always up for trying new dessert!! Beef Empanadas sounds interesting!!
I can’t wait to try the empanadas. So yummy!
Yum! I absolutely love baking but need some new recipes!
Always need new recipes!
I would literally die for a mocha brownie pie.
Please don’t die!