Delectable: Sweet & Savory Baking

by Claudia Fleming, Catherine D Young (Contributor), Johnny Miller (Contributor)

In this “genius” (Claire Saffitz) cookbook, the “legendary pastry chef” (Eater) invites you into her home kitchen with 140+ sweet and savory recipes she perfected for friends and family.
 
“A home baker’s fantasia . . . [Fans] have been waiting twenty-one years for a follow-up to her equally legendary first book, The Last Course. The wait was worth it.”—Eater

ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE The New York Times, Saveur, Los Angeles Times

In Claudia's first cookbook, a culinary classic, she shared recipes from the menus at Gramercy Tavern that introduced home cooks to her sophisticated, classically inspired seasonal desserts and pastries and established a standard in pastry kitchens across the country. Now Claudia is offering a new collection of recipes all developed and tweaked in her own small kitchen. Baking at home, Claudia brings her characteristic style and skilled approach to every sweet and treat, along with an ease with culinary history, and a growing connection to her own family traditions. A mix of classic favorites and new explorations, including her first foray into savory recipes for savory baking, each delicious dish is the work of a master in her prime.
 
Claudia's knowledge and facility, refined over a storied career in pastry, mark these more casual, desserts and savory bites. Her thoughtful essays on subject ranging from working with yeast to a professional’s approach to frosting a layer cake, reflect her intention to share all she knows. With more than 140 recipes, the book is organized into chapters
 
• Breakfast & Breads: Blueberry Muffins; Rhubarb Scones
• Doughnuts & Cakes: Cider Doughnuts; Devil's Food with Earl Grey Cream
• Cookies: Grapefruit Rugelach; Pizzelles; Maple Shortbread
• Pies: Nectarine and Fig Tart; Plum Cobbler; Kumquat Tatin
• Savories: Eggplant Caponata Tart; Chickpea Crackers; Tomato Crostata
 
Making simple preparations truly delicious is a challenge Claudia Fleming has always embraced. With Delectable, she continues to set the standard for pastry chefs and home bakers alike.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2022

Reviews

[Shelby Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

the biscuit section is standout, the traditional european pastry influences evident, and the overall taste & technique displayed in the book ... exquisite

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I only see myself making three of the recipes in this book (Cheese Rolls, Ginger Stout Layer Cake, Almond and Walnut Brownies—and maybe that XVOO Lemon Cream!), I loved reading it. The organization of the recipes is superb—she even reprints ones that appear within other recipes (like crusts and frostings), which is brilliant. There’s nothing I dislike more than having to dig through the back pages of a cookbook to find something essential to what I’m making from a recipe early on. I also appreciate that, while there are many photos of the author throughout the book, they are not highly stylized or glamorized. She is shown in a very humble kitchen (for such an acclaimed chef) simply doing what she loves. More photos of finished product would have been nice.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is around 3.5 stars for me.

While I like the variety of recipes included, I wish there were more pictures included. There's also so many unique recipes which is cool to see, but there's also some very technical recipes or things that don't seem as accessible. It's not a baking book for beginners, but it has a lot to offer for both sweet and savory recipes. It's not the kind of recipe book where I'd make everything in it, but there's definitely some fun things inside.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are sweet and savory recipes perfected for friends, family and most importantly; yourself! If you’re a novice in baking, get to amping up the variety of desserts you prepare, that will have taste buds making everyone drool. These delicious recipes will make you the essential ingredient to every party. I can’t wait to show the upcoming Holidays what I have in store.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not overly inspiring or unique. Not enough photos of the finished product you are seeing a recipe for. When there are photos, it is often not of the finished product - a huge photo of fresh blueberries for blueberry turnovers as one example? It would be better to have the end product.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a more sophisticated take on baking for someone looking to take a step up in their skills and expand their repertoire. It includes a lot of recipes with European influence. Nicely presented. IIt’s just not what I’m looking for right now.

[Margery Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting. very clear instructions on biscuits and pie crust. i herd an interview with the author on Radio Cherry Bomb podcast on this and its why i wanted to read the book. the recipes i plan to make though are the escarole pie and the potato pizza. those two got me excited!

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Gramercy Tavern and that made me anticipate this book. Worth waiting for. A brilliant collection of delicious and delectable sweets and savory bakes. Glad it’s easy on the cakes and cupcakes and goes into all the rest. (There are cakes but that’s not the main focus).

[munchingpeanuts · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an okay baking book. I like how it uses weight measurements and a lot of recipes. But there is a lack of final product pictures and a lot of recipes where you need alternative flours and sugars to bake simple recipes.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

i can't get excited about some of the recipes

but the blueberry tart
and the devil's food cake chocolate doughnuts with espresso glace
were pretty decent

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Claudia Fleming! Terrific recipes, both sweet and savory...a library book so good that I had to run out and buy my own copy. Looking forward to exploring all the recipes within!

[Julie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun recipes to try!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many yummy looking recipes in here. I’m definitely going to check this out from the library again soon and make something.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always telling how many pages I want to scan when I get a cookbook from the library, and in this instance it was a lot. Salivating over the close up photos.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While many of these recipes sound amazing, so many of them are so super complicated that I am not likely to try them. Yummy sounding though. Good for people with more free time.