The Fannie Farmer Baking Book

by Marion Cunningham

A superb collection of more than 800 recipes drawn from both America's rich past and new culinary discoveries. It's the Bible of baking, considered by many as the most thorough baking book on the market. The highly readable, easy-to-follow text explains the whys and hows of baking and makes it easy for even the beginner to achieve delicious results in the kitchen. Line drawings throughout.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference

640 pages, Hardcover

Published March 16, 1996

About the author

Marion Cunningham was born in Southern California in 1922, and now lives in Walnut Creek. She was responsible for the revision of The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and is the author of The Breakfast Book, and Cooking with Children. She travels frequently throughout the country giving cooking demonstrations (some with James Beard), has contributed articles to "Bon Appetit," "Food & Wine," and "Gourmet" magazines, and writes a column for the "San Francisco Chronicle," and the "Los Angeles Times." Over seventy episodes of her television series "Cunningham & Company" appears regularly on the Food Network.

In 1993, Marion received the Grand Dame award from Les Dames d'Escoffier "in recognition and appreciation of her extraordinary achievement and contribution to the culinary arts." In 1994, she was named Scholar-in-Residence by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Reviews

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For baking and desserts, this is my absolute favorite cookbook. I got it on cassette tape from the library for the blind when I was a teenager. It just about killed me emotionally to have to send it back. I copied dozens of recipes on to braille paper since my only way of reading the book back then was to get it on cassette, and only from the library for the blind at that
The recipes in this cookbook range from a dark rich devil’s food cake two a light and fluffy chiffon pie, from vanilla fudge frosting, to homemade water crackers. There are dozens of pies and tarts, at least 100 types of cookies, tons of cakes, breads, and more. If it can be done with an oven, there is at least one example of it in this book. Each recipe comes with a little story or historical note about the origin of the recipe or where it was popularly served in times past. The book also contains detailed information about ingredients, how to measure and use them, and how to choose the right tool for the job. I learned so much from this book, and its influence has shaped by cooking life for the past 30 years or so. I was overjoyed and so excited when our national Library service for the blind made this cookbook a digital talking book that I could use on my phone every day. It feels as if a much loved, much missed relative has finally come home for good. :-).

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My recent foray into croissant baking made me recall this cookbook which my mother owned but never used. I used to love reading all the pie and cake descriptions. Turns out it also has a well-researched and descriptive recipe for two sorts of croissants. That was my excuse to pick up a copy and settle in to enjoy reading it again. And maybe this time I'll even bake from it!

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my go-to books, a dynamic that's evident from the food smudges on a great number of pages and the fact that the book opens to some recipes that are family favorites: Snickerdoodles, Loni Kuhn's Devil's Food Cake, Chewy Fudge Brownies -- the last one my default brownie recipe for its chocolate density. I made it less than a week ago. The Seven-Minute Frosting is also a standard. I especially like the variations on a theme that recipe offers. Marion Cunningham's versatile approach has helped me to make other improvisations. I've even made her hamburger buns, though my note by that recipe suggests a lower temperature. That's the only recipe I've tried that hasn't been perfect. A lot of baking books I've read/used have the required standards: banana bread, brownies, sugar cookies. But the brownies are a pale imitation of perfection, and the banana bread is too sweet. These recipes have been vetted. There's intelligence and experience at work here.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing... if I am looking for a half-remembered recipe from my childhood, this book will have it. If I want anything from a quick dessert or a special birthday cake, this book delivers everytime. Most recently tried the Lazy Daisy cake. Sorry Mom, it is better than yours! Even at high-altitude, no recipe from this book has ever fail me.

[Brianne P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So delighted to have this in my newly growing cookbook collection. I decided to try Butterscotch Brownies (pg 226) Which lead me down a rabbit hole of what exactly is Butterscotch? When I think of butterscotch I think of those gold wrapped candy discs or even a bag of those weird "not quite caramel but not peanut butter flavored" butterscotch chips found next to chocolate chips. As a matter of fact, butterscotch is simply melted brown sugar and butter. A simply beautiful combination that flavored my Butterscotch Brownies..which also included coconut flakes, macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chips. Hey... go big or go home, right?
A wonderful classic baking cookbook for any cookbook collector!

[Barbara Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite cookbooks- it’s a go to for everything

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains more than one favorite recipe and it's one of the first ones I go through when I'm looking for something difference. The Kona Inn banana bread recipe is so fabulous, my family doesn't want anything else. Not only are the recipes good, but there are a lot of informative and instructive pages, as well. I highly recommend this book if you love to bake.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and finally found it this weekend at a used book store and scored it for $3.99! Whoo! to the Hoo! Anyway, this has the best one bowl no double boiler brownie recipe in the world not to mention items from places that no longer exist like Shrafts. A family treasure to go back to again and again.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

alright, not a literary review here, but the best baking book i've ever had. my mom had it when i was growing up, and literally, i've never made anything bad out of it (ok, except for the stuff i've burnt). i think i heard it's out of print and hard to find, but still. good stuff.

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of print. If anyone has one they want to gift me, I so want it! I am afraid someday the library copy will go missing or get damaged, and this is one of those books that needs to remain available! Marion Cunningham did an amazing job.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this when the 1984 printing was published and its the baking bible in my house. I've made the Lemon Meringue Pie recipe so many time that the page had lemon curd all over it. And the Chewy Chocolate Cookies are to die for!

[Liz Gass-Boshoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book giving you a range of baking options from yeast breads to muffins. All are well tested and sure to turn out well.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you only have one book about baking, this should probably be the one. I use it constantly.

[Alexis]

The Fannie Farmer Baking Book by Marion Cunningham (1996)

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to apple pie recipe is from this book ~ delish!!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book just for the section on home canning - but find myself referring to it for so much more.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun reference for anyone wanting to look up traditional and/or standard baking recipes. Not a bad staple for baking cookbook collection.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best home-cooking cookbook ever. If you really want to cook from scratch and not mixes, boxes and cans, this is the place to go.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty much the only cookbook I use for baking. Every recipe I've tried is wonderful.

[Julie Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most reliable cookbooks with clear instructions and tasty results.

[Barbjonesport.net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fannie Farmer Baking Book by Marion Cunningham

A must for any cook especially the new cook, here all your questions about baking are answered.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otro libro cuyas recetas se ven muy bien, pero que no he practicado!!!