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Small-Batch Baking: When Just Enough for 1 or 2. . . Is Just Enough!
Small-Batch Baking is how to have your cake, and eat it all too. It's baking a plate of cookies (not 4 dozen) to greet the kids when they come home from school, or a few muffins (not 12) when that's all you need for Sunday brunch. It's for the perfect tart to end a small, romantic dinner--or the indulgence of a one-bowl dessert just for you (Honey Apple Oatmeal Crisp, anyone?). Most of all, it's to bring home the joy of baking, when home is just the two of you--small batches whip up quickly, clean up quickly, and don't require hours at the oven.
Written by Debby Maugans Nakos, who clearly possesses the Southern baking gene, Small-Batch Baking offers 200 irresistible recipes from across the baking triple layer cakes, bundt cakes, angel food cakes; pies and tarts; cobblers, crisps, crumbles, and short cakes; cookies, bars, squares; biscuits, muffins, scones, breakfast breads; and a whole section just on Valentine Specials--Double Hot Chocolate Soufflés, Chèvre Cheesecakes with Honey Anise Ginger Syrup, Vanilla Banana Caramel Flan.
A batch of Cream-Filled Chocolate Cookies--that yields a half-dozen. A Coconut Layer Cake, just for two. Individual servings of Cinnamon French Toast Pudding or Southern Peach Cobbler with Bourbon Cream. It's all the bewitching pleasure of home-baked, but--finally--for just one or two.
Written by Debby Maugans Nakos, who clearly possesses the Southern baking gene, Small-Batch Baking offers 200 irresistible recipes from across the baking triple layer cakes, bundt cakes, angel food cakes; pies and tarts; cobblers, crisps, crumbles, and short cakes; cookies, bars, squares; biscuits, muffins, scones, breakfast breads; and a whole section just on Valentine Specials--Double Hot Chocolate Soufflés, Chèvre Cheesecakes with Honey Anise Ginger Syrup, Vanilla Banana Caramel Flan.
A batch of Cream-Filled Chocolate Cookies--that yields a half-dozen. A Coconut Layer Cake, just for two. Individual servings of Cinnamon French Toast Pudding or Southern Peach Cobbler with Bourbon Cream. It's all the bewitching pleasure of home-baked, but--finally--for just one or two.
452 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 15, 2013
Only made 3 recipes: apple oatmeal muffins, brownies, chocolate pound cake. But they were all very good. Very nice to have recipes for very small amounts, since I love to bake but there's only two of us! I think I'm probably going to pick up a copy since this has to go back to the library.
[edit: received for Christmas 2012 from Mom. Have since made a couple of different cookies: an indifferent oatmeal and a very good peanut butter, as well as a tasty chocolate pudding cake.]
[edit: received for Christmas 2012 from Mom. Have since made a couple of different cookies: an indifferent oatmeal and a very good peanut butter, as well as a tasty chocolate pudding cake.]
January 10, 2009
My one complaint about this book is the use of ingredients like candy bars, which are not something I have laying around the house. Even so, I am able to easily make changes and substitutions to the recipes and they turn out great.
August 4, 2008
Fun sweets in small batches which good directions.
June 19, 2009
Do yourself a huge favor and try the chocolate chip scones
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January 20, 2016I bought this book a couple of years back when my family was only two. The theory behind this book is cooking dishes for just two people or one meal. I like the small portions for more than the "just two" idea though. Sometimes you just don't need a whole pan of peach cobbler, but you really want it. But using this book lets you still have homemade instead of store bought versions.
I've mostly made sweets out of this book, but the author does have other baking items. You need to be sure to read the directions thoroughly. The smaller portions of ingredients can take some planning, like eggs. The chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp of beaten egg or egg substitute.
Overall I highly recommend this book
I've mostly made sweets out of this book, but the author does have other baking items. You need to be sure to read the directions thoroughly. The smaller portions of ingredients can take some planning, like eggs. The chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp of beaten egg or egg substitute.
Overall I highly recommend this book
December 31, 2010
Brilliant idea! I love the idea of making just one or two treats, rather than dozens of cookies or brownies. My full review is on my blog.
August 9, 2012
I love this book. Perfect if you don't want leftovers and if you really wanna up your game, you can buy high end ingredients. For example, I like to buy a gourmet chocolate bar and melt it down for the icing on the cake.
September 23, 2021
When I started with this book, I used diced tomato cans. After I made several of the recipes in the with success, I decided to invest in several pastry cake ring molds from Fat Daddio's. I bought 3 each of the 3", 3.5" and 4" and they work BEAUTIFULLY. All you need to do is cover one end with foil and proceed with prepping the rings as you did the cans.
Our (hub and I) favorite treat is the German Chocolate Cake.
I, for one, am enjoying this book. : )
Our (hub and I) favorite treat is the German Chocolate Cake.
I, for one, am enjoying this book. : )
January 14, 2018
My sister gave me this book over ten years ago. I had found it in the library and raved about it. She's a diabetic, so we don't need tons of goodies laying about. It really works for me. The boule recipe is difficult for me but every one loves the results. We have used the chocolate cake recipe often. The biscuits are fantastic. It's so neat to make something fresh from the oven for dinner.
May 10, 2019
An excellent small batch book with some seriously good recipes.
January 26, 2020
Creative recipes when baking for two. Love using tin cans to bake small cakes in.
April 26, 2016
I like this cookbook but I also have a problem with it. First off, it's nice to find a recipe for just 2 jumbo muffins/4 regular muffins, 3 brownies, or 6 cookies. I say that because it lets me have fun baking and I make just enough for an afterschool snack without loading the house down with baked goods. It also means you can bake something fresh everyday.
Now, the problems. Is there a real need to bake individual two layer cakes, baked in old cans? It seems like way way too much work for something miniature for each individual. Perhaps if you lived alone. But even then, wouldn't it be easier to bake a regular cake and cut it into the shapes you need for individual layers than to try to bake in empty cans? (Careful not to cut yourself on the raw cut rims!) Also, the author must assume we're idiots because a simple recipe for a cookie or a muffin has a page to a page and a half of instructions. Anyone familiar with baking knows how to make a muffin or a cookie, just give us the ingredients for a small batch and simple directions. Now if you're making a tiny tart, it might make more sense. However, it got to the point that when I'd copy down a recipe to try (it was a library book) I'd read the directions and write instructions half the length of the original. (For instance, she adds 'whisk to mix' after every addition.) I just found it almost insulting that for even the simpliest of recipes like a chocolate chip cookie it has two pages of instructions (plus ingredients). Also a note that sometimes she chops up candybars for ingredients in recipes that we don't have (or need) lying around. Not that you couldn't substitute chocolate (or flavored) chips instead.
Now, the problems. Is there a real need to bake individual two layer cakes, baked in old cans? It seems like way way too much work for something miniature for each individual. Perhaps if you lived alone. But even then, wouldn't it be easier to bake a regular cake and cut it into the shapes you need for individual layers than to try to bake in empty cans? (Careful not to cut yourself on the raw cut rims!) Also, the author must assume we're idiots because a simple recipe for a cookie or a muffin has a page to a page and a half of instructions. Anyone familiar with baking knows how to make a muffin or a cookie, just give us the ingredients for a small batch and simple directions. Now if you're making a tiny tart, it might make more sense. However, it got to the point that when I'd copy down a recipe to try (it was a library book) I'd read the directions and write instructions half the length of the original. (For instance, she adds 'whisk to mix' after every addition.) I just found it almost insulting that for even the simpliest of recipes like a chocolate chip cookie it has two pages of instructions (plus ingredients). Also a note that sometimes she chops up candybars for ingredients in recipes that we don't have (or need) lying around. Not that you couldn't substitute chocolate (or flavored) chips instead.
November 18, 2016
The red ink is hard to read, there are no pictures. The recipes are hit and miss, tried out a cake recipe which was very dry and the banana cream pie which was good although I would use a quarter batch of a graham cracker crumb recipe over the chocolate one in the book. I have found way better small batch recipes online. I was so excited about this book and it ended up being such a disappointment
February 9, 2012
I'm always on a diet, but I refuse to compromise on desserts or flavor. I love to make recipes from this book. My husband especially likes the Chocolate Chip Cookies, I make it as a cookie cake for his birthday.
May 8, 2012
The thing is, if I'm going to dirty the same number of dishes that I would in full batch baking, why wouldn't I share the result with friends/family/co-workers? They always seem happy to help make it disappear!
April 22, 2020
An old standby for a reason... especially in the spring of 2020, Small-Batch Baking is THE ANSWER to wanting "a little something" while you're quarantined at home, but can't be trusted with a full batch of cookies.
February 11, 2008
While I love the idea of this book, I have yet to actually make any of the recipes in it.
April 21, 2009
Smaller cookie or dessert recipes for those who want something sweet but do not want too much to ruin the diet.
September 2, 2010
I hate having left overs go stale and with this delightful little book, that will happen less. My favorite recipe is Apricot Meringue Cookie Tarts!
May 20, 2011
Great book full of useful tips and perfectly scaled recipes to make just a serving or two. Favorites so far: whole wheat banana bread, country bread.
April 21, 2025
I have yet to make a recipe in this that wasn't fabulous. Honestly.
September 22, 2012
Just what I needed. A book that allows me to indulge in my sweet tooth without having tons left over. Now when I want a little cake, I can literally make one.
April 18, 2017
My favorite recipe is her carrot cake. Good flavor, easy to make and just the right amount. This is perfect as a wedding present. Note: it may be out of print.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews