Better Baking: Wholesome Ingredients, Delicious Desserts

by Genevieve Ko

Making classic baked goods more flavorful with whole grains, nuts, fruits, and healthy fats. Plus, tasty gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options.

After more than a dozen years developing recipes for food and health magazines and collaborating with noted pastry chefs, Genevieve Ko was determined to create treats that were just as indulgent as their original counterparts, as well as more full flavored and nourishing. In a word, better. Healthful oils prove superior to butter, giving Mocha Chip Cookies crisp shells and molten insides, liberating the citrus in Lemon Layer Cake with Olive Oil Curd, and tenderizing Melting Walnut Snowballs. Refined white sugar pales beside concentrated sweeteners like pure maple syrup, brown sugar, and molasses in muffins and granola. Pomegranate Pistachio Baklava uses reduced pomegranate syrup instead of the usual saccharine one. Nubby flours with personality—whole wheat, spelt, rye, buckwheat, graham flour, and almond flour—bring richness to such desserts as Glazed Apple Cider Doughnuts. And pureed fruits and vegetables (beets in Red Velvet Roulade with Strawberry Cream Cheese; grated zucchini in Chocolate School Party Sheet Cake) keep desserts extra moist.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

Published September 27, 2016

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those cook books that I want to just work my way thru. Oh to have the time to make everything!

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

most recipes use multiple types of flour

[Ambrosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only made 3 recipes so far, but they all were great.

And there are so many other recipes that I plan to try soon.

The recipes all seem fairly easy (Though I'm a very experienced amateur baker).

And Ms. Ko does an amazing job of incorporating whole grains and sugar alternatives (at least partially) and healthy fats in the recipes. The recipes don't just swap in these ingredients for "normal" ingredients, but maximize the flavor and texture of the baked goods with these ingredients.

Added: I also LOVE the fact that she includes volume and weight (both metric and imperial) measures in her recipes.

[Emily Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the recipes I tried from Better Baking! Not all gluten free, but a variety of flours to try in your baking.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this cookbook! Usability is only 4 stars, because I'm not always in the mood for healthier desserts, but when I am (and when I have to bake something for someone with dietary restrictions), this is my go-to book. I've gifted it to several people.

My favorite aspect of this book is that Ko actually describes why she'll use a certain type of flour or fat/egg substitute. So many "healthy" recipes on pinterest just have you subbing applesacue for oil and any gluten-free flour for all-purpose, but the changes you make should depend on whether you want the finished product to be chewy, crispy, or flaky, and whether you need additional moisture or not. Ko demystifies all of this for me. I've used her techniques to tweak many of my old stand-bys. The kids have loved most of what we've tried and liked everything. Highly recommended.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to change your baking to make it healthier, this is the cookbook to start with. This is unlike a lot of other "healthy alternative" cookbooks I've read. It doesn't require that you start over with all new baking ingredients that you've never heard of. Instead, this one reduces the amount of sugar instead of completely eliminating it or substitutes bananas, dates, honey, and alternates white flour with almond flour, rye flour, coconut flour, etc.

If you're already a whole food freak with a completely clean kitchen, this is probably too decadent for you. But if you're looking to make a change in slow smooth steps, this is a great place to start. Great photos and easy directions.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the recipes indicated if it was dairy free/vegan etc. The premise of the book is to use healthier alternatives like whole wheat flour and olive oil in place of butter. Some of these changes are a bit too far out for me to try, but there are some recipes that I think I am going to try.

4/5stars

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this cookbook. Not only are recipes beautifully photographed, but they sound delicious. I like that Ms. Ko made healthful tweaks (mostly more whole grains and less sugar), but didn't remove all the yummy fats and sugars. After all, everything in moderation. :)

[Frederic · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipes here are great, and shade towards healthy without giving up an inch on flavor. They also mostly use pretty regular ingredients, so you aren't likely to have to go out and hit a bunch of specialty shops to get something you need.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabbed a few recipes. Looking forward to trying out desserts with sweet rice flour.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and delectable collection of dishes and bakes. Recommended.

[Celia Juliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book so much that I bought a copy, which is very rare for me. I've tried a few of the recipes, and they've all been delicious. I bake a lot for my sons, and though these recipes are not what I would call health food, they are healthier than the usual baking standards, and as tasty, if not more so. If you like to bake, or are interested in learning, and want something healthier than you find in a standard baking book, without giving up the textures and flavors you're used to, I recommend trying Better Baking.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea... but I don't think I will buy a copy. I did note a handful of the cookie and scone recipes to try. I'm especially interested in her recipes that use rye flour.

[Casseroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! There are recipes I haven't seen much before, if at all. Great pictures and structure. Highly recommended!

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like author's approach of bringing out ingredient flavors.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely cookbook! However, it includes many items that are expensive and/or that I don't generally have in my pantry. I checked the book out from the library and copied a half dozen or so recipes onto recipe cards that I will try in the next week or so. Probably not a book that I would not purchase for my collection; however, after trying a few recipes, I may change my mind.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I am saying is that I am buying this book for myself. There were tons of pictures, great instructions at the beginning of every section, and the recipes are magic. Everything totally looked do-able. This book made me so excited. FAVORITE!!!