Baking for Two: 200+ Small-Batch Recipes, from Lazy Bakes to Layer Cakes

by America's Test Kitchen

ATK revolutionizes small-batch baking with innovative techniques, flexible equipment options, and 200+ big-flavor recipes.

ATK cuts sweet and savory treats down to size while cutting out the small-batch baking quirks in this exciting cookbook for no calculators to scale recipes, no measuring out half an egg, no buying a container of an ingredient to use just a tablespoon, no stale leftovers, no kitchen full of required equipment. ATK's small-batch baking

Eliminates waste with recipe yields that work for Serve Blueberry-Lavender Cornmeal Crumbles in two ramekins, warm from the oven, or make storage-friendly loaf pan Coconut Snack Cake when you want to share or keep some for the week.
Is adaptable for the air fryer or toaster Turn to the toaster oven instead of turning on the oven for two scones. Make desserts you never knew you could in the air fryer, even Basque Cheesecake! 
Turns your freezer into a treat Recipes that yield more than a handful are formulated to bake from frozen—and taste just as good as fresh. Solve the perennial breakfast problem with a half dozen Cranberry-Cardamom Muffins you can bake off individually. (You freeze the batter in paper liners.) Simplify longer recipes like Croissants by preparing them ahead, freezing, and then baking later. 
Delivers baking joy with everyday Keep dough balls of Coffee-Toffee Cookies in your freezer. Use store-bought puff pastry to make impressive Everything Bagel Danishes or Fruit Tart in a snap. 
Offers pan Cheese Bread with Feta and Nigella Seeds is a delightful mini loaf, but it will satisfy the same if baked in a muffin tin or ramekins. If you have a cute pan collection, there are baby Bundts and petite cakes to please, but there's always an option to use a conventional pan.
Make four Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits for a dinner bread basket, or freeze the dough portions and bake off one or two whenever you like—in just 25 minutes. Better yet, you can do it in an oven, toaster oven, or air fryer. Celebrate an intimate birthday with a 6-inch Vanilla and Passionfruit Layer Cake for two. Satisfy an impromptu chocolate craving with speedy, perfectly portioned Molten Chocolate Microwave Mug Cakes.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, Reference

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

America's Test Kitchen, based in a brand new state-of-the-art 60,000 sq. ft. facility with over 15,000 sq. ft. of test kitchens and studio space, in Boston's Seaport District, is dedicated to finding the very best recipes for home cooks. Over 50 full-time (admittedly obsessive) test cooks spend their days testing recipes 30, 40, up to 100 times, tweaking every variable until they understand how and why recipes work. They also test cookware and supermarket ingredients so viewers can bypass marketing hype and buy the best quality products. As the home of Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines, and publisher of more than one dozen cookbooks each year, America's Test Kitchen has earned the respect of the publishing industry, the culinary world, and millions of home cooks. America's Test Kitchen the television show launched in 2001, and the company added a second television program, Cook's Country, in 2008.

Discover, learn, and expand your cooking repertoire with Julia Collin Davison, Bridget Lancaster, Jack Bishop, Dan Souza, Lisa McManus, Tucker Shaw, Bryan Roof, and our fabulous team of test cooks!

Learn more at https://www.americastestkitchen.com/.

Reviews

[Lesley Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful if you like to bake but in smaller batches. Simple everyday ingredients.

[Julie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of good recipes for two
I made lots of photo copies from this library book

[Yaaresse]

DNF @abt 23 %
Not sure why I keep checking ATK books out from the library given how I find them annoying AF. The recipes are usually solid, if not all that inspiring, but something about their tone is off-putting for me. Part patronizing, part snotty.

[Zade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely fun, but also informative cookbook. Even though I'm still a few years away from cooking for a small household, I'll be using this cookbook a lot right now. I enjoy trying new recipes, but with a wide variety of tastes in the family, there's always a risk of food going to waste (or me having to eat the same thing twice a day for a week - bleh!) if the majority doesn't approve. With the cost of groceries soaring, it's nice to be able to try new recipes in small batches and won't be difficult to increase the recipes that earn the coveted family seal of approval.

I especially enjoy the variety of recipes from different parts of the world. The authors explain what makes each recipe work and provide excellent instructions with pictures for less familiar processes. Recipes that would be daunting in most cookbooks seem quite reasonable in this book, enticing me to step out of my comfort zone. And if I completely fail, it's not such a tragedy since it was only a few servings.

I usually prefer cookbooks written by individuals or small groups (Moosewood cookbooks are among my favorite), leaving the "corporate" cookbooks (my Betty Crocker is from the 70s) for the times when I need to revisit something basic. In this case, though, America's Test Kitchen have produced an inventive, interesting collection that even manages to have a consistent and engaging narratorial voice.

I borrowed it on Kindle, but have already ordered a copy to keep. It's not awful of me if I get myself a little present for the festive season, right?

[Lafourche Parish Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baking can be a lot of fun, but if you don’t regularly have a crowd of people to share treats with, trying to figure out what to do with your tasty results can be weirdly stressful. A typical box of cake mix makes two dozen cupcakes! That can result in some stomachaches if you only have two or three people in your household. That’s why America’s Test Kitchen has published Baking for Two.

With over two hundred recipes ranging from a dozen cookies (yes, just 12!) or six-inch cakes, to four no-knead dinner rolls or two calzones, this cookbook covers the baking needs of a small household. Of course, if you want to treat a crowd, you can still double, or more, any recipe. Many recipes come with freezer instructions if you want to prep an after-work snack ahead of time. Also, while all of the base recipes assume you will use an oven, some also come with instructions for baking in an air fryer if you enjoy using that. If you're watching what you eat, the back of the book includes nutritional information for every recipe.

I’m looking forward to making the “no-knead mini country boule” soon for my partner and myself. It looks so adorable and tasty in the photo.

- Catherine, Cataloging Associate

[Dundee Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This baking/cookbook is a MUST for anyone who is cooking for two or just a few! My favorite concept that this book offers, is that it not only tells you how to cook small, but how to prepare and freeze for later. In addition, it cover what pans to use and if the recipe will work in an air fryer, toaster oven, or if you should stick to a full size oven for best results. It is also a plus that it covers small meals and breads, just not sweets! You will definitely want add this cookbook to your shelves!

[Jodell Larimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tried the Lemon Bar recipe - perfect. Recommend this cookbook HIGHLY for everyone. Family of ten, let everyone fix their own instead of having to go through 6 dozen before your favorite comes up in the queue.
Only regret not financially flush enough to purchase one each for all my friends and family.

[Carol Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several of the recipes great. But how many pans does one need to have? I saw recipes for 4, 6 and 8 ounce ramekins. I wish I could buy one size to use! But recipes look doable. I'm trying the biscuits soon.

[Donna Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright cooking book. There were plenty of recipes tp try but unfortunately due to my food allergy and dislike of certain foods, there was not a whole lot I saves. Others might be more fortunate in finding some good recipes to save.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chefs should read this. thank you test kitchen.

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not a baker, I found this to have a lot of good recipes that I became interested in wanting to try.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly for the recipes selected, I don’t think many of them needed down sizing.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually, if I'm going to take the time and effort to bake, I'd like enough to save or share.

[Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has 2 types scones with airfryer instructions added.
1 maple and pecan --- change to walnut.
1 British style

[Debijones · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to have a copy of this book