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The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond
Jürgen Krauss's gentle charm, ambitious flavors and scientific know-how captured audiences' hearts on The Great British Bake Off, his semi-finals departure triggering unprecedented complaints from dismayed viewers. Drawing on the flavors and techniques of his childhood home in the Black Forest, this fool-proof collection of recipes provides delicious inspiration for any time of day and any occasion.
From sweet and savory classics such as Flammkuchen, cinnamon and raisin braid, Streusel, marble cake, and Sacher Torte, to festive bakes such as Lebkuchen, marzipan swirl biscuits, Stollen and Easter braid, they are the perfect way to celebrate German baking at home.
From sweet and savory classics such as Flammkuchen, cinnamon and raisin braid, Streusel, marble cake, and Sacher Torte, to festive bakes such as Lebkuchen, marzipan swirl biscuits, Stollen and Easter braid, they are the perfect way to celebrate German baking at home.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published August 29, 2023
68 people are currently reading
5074 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 25, 2023
Beautiful Book, Beautiful Baked Goods
I must start this review by saying that I have not watched The Great British Bake Off so I did not know Jürgen Krauss from that. I just saw the yummy baked goods and knew I wanted to have a look at this book.
Now, I am not much of a baker. I won’t embarrass myself in the kitchen (usually), but cooking and baking are not something I do for fun. But I could see myself trying many of these recipes for An Occasion or as a Grand Gesture of Love. The way Krauss describes how to make each one, I don’t think they would be necessarily hard, but they would be show-stoppers.
My mother collected cookbooks. And while she WAS amazing in the kitchen, she really didn’t collect cookbooks to use. I mean, she did use them, but it wasn’t why she got them. She always said that she read them like novels. I think she would have loved this book. It’s beautifully photographed and Krauss introduces each recipe with a memory, explanation, or tips. I think this book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite baker.
I received an ARC of this book, but all opinions are my own.
I must start this review by saying that I have not watched The Great British Bake Off so I did not know Jürgen Krauss from that. I just saw the yummy baked goods and knew I wanted to have a look at this book.
Now, I am not much of a baker. I won’t embarrass myself in the kitchen (usually), but cooking and baking are not something I do for fun. But I could see myself trying many of these recipes for An Occasion or as a Grand Gesture of Love. The way Krauss describes how to make each one, I don’t think they would be necessarily hard, but they would be show-stoppers.
My mother collected cookbooks. And while she WAS amazing in the kitchen, she really didn’t collect cookbooks to use. I mean, she did use them, but it wasn’t why she got them. She always said that she read them like novels. I think she would have loved this book. It’s beautifully photographed and Krauss introduces each recipe with a memory, explanation, or tips. I think this book would make a wonderful gift for your favorite baker.
I received an ARC of this book, but all opinions are my own.
January 14, 2025
For those who watch The Great British Bake-Off, they will recognize the author as viewer favorite Jurgen Krauss who made mouth-watering desserts in every episode in which he starred. The German Baking Book is a beautiful cookbook filled with stunning photographs, endearing personal memories from the author's life, and delicious recipes for cakes, tarts, breads and other treats. Near the back of the book is a chapter filled with basic recipes for puddings, yeast doughs and cakes. With those few recipes, the author shows us how to make many different edibles. For instance, with the Yeasted Sweet Dough, one can make Butter Cake, Chocolate Pear Crumble Cake, Quark and Crumble Buns or many other yummy delicacies. Also included in the book are individual recipes for such classics as Black Forest Gateau, Linzer Torte, Pretzels and many others. The recipes are easy to understand and the instructions are clearly written. All measurements and temperatures are in metric and imperial units, so this is a cookbook for a worldwide audience.
I received an advance reader copy of this book for free, all opinions are my own.
I received an advance reader copy of this book for free, all opinions are my own.
December 9, 2023
The editing is not great. I found many errors. But after trying a recipe I am buying it. I love the different cookie recipes and the use of bread flour and yeast doughs. Yum!
And I have not watched the tv baking shows.
And I have not watched the tv baking shows.
August 30, 2023
Anyone who watched the 2021 season of The Great British Bake Off will remember the humble, mild-mannered Jurgen Krauss, who stole our hearts as he made his breads and biscuits and his famous Black Forest Cake. As someone who actually grew up in the Black Forest, he knew those flavors well. And now he offers us that recipe along with many other of his German baking recipes in The German Baking Book.
Krauss is a technical baker, careful with his measurements and exacting with his creations. But as he explains in his cookbook, his love of baking started when he was a child, in the small kitchen with his mother and his brother. And while he could find many of his favorite German baked goods in local bakeries when he was still living in Germany, when he moved to the UK, he could no longer find his favorite breads and treats in the local bakeries. So he learned to bake them himself.
The German Baking Book is a celebration of the flavors of Krauss’s childhood, from the Linzer Torte that he asked his mother to make for his wedding to the butter cookies and gingerbread they made for Christmas cookies, from the Apple Fritters that he and his brothers sometimes got after school to the Flame Cake he discovered at university, from the Passion Fruit and Mango Charlotte Royale like he saw in the department store displays when he was a kid to the giant pretzel they eat for breakfast on New Year’s, these recipes are filled with the warmth of family memories as much as they are filled with flavor and a passion for baking.
There is a range of recipes here, from simple Funnel Cakes or Milk Rolls or Lemon Cake to the complex braided breads like a Swiss Sunday Bread or the Triple Charlotte Rousse with homemade ladyfingers. There are traditional German recipes, like the Simple Streusel Cake, an Almost Sacher Torte (although he adds orange, a taste he acquired in the UK), Butter Cake, Gugelhupf, and Fastenwahe. There are some amazing surprises, like his Cheesecake with Raisins, Butter Crescents, or The Waves of the Danube (a sheet cake that when cut creates the look of waves with its layers).
But he also includes some basic recipes that bakers can take and make into their own personal creations, like his Luxury Marzipan, Streusel, Basic Sponge Cake, Rich Yeasted Sweet Dough, or Basic White Bread. In his chapter on Sweet and Savory Breads and Rolls, there are illustrations to help guide you as you work with the dough. Throughout the book are beautiful photographs of the bakes, to inspire baking and eating (they look amazing!), as well some photos of Krauss’s childhood home and memories. Not all of the recipes are photographed, which I found a little disappointing since the photography was so gorgeous and refined, but that is my only criticism of this beautiful cookbook. The German Baking Book will be an amazing addition to any baker’s library, and it could even inspire other bakers to try a competition with their own family flavors and inspiration.
I was a big fan of Krauss on The Great British Bake Off. He was one of my favorite bakers and on my favorite season. I have been waiting literally years for him to craft a cookbook for us, and The German Baking Book was worth the weight. All I need now is some time to bake a a lot of flour.
Egalleys for The German Baking Book were provided by Weldon Owen, with many thanks.
Krauss is a technical baker, careful with his measurements and exacting with his creations. But as he explains in his cookbook, his love of baking started when he was a child, in the small kitchen with his mother and his brother. And while he could find many of his favorite German baked goods in local bakeries when he was still living in Germany, when he moved to the UK, he could no longer find his favorite breads and treats in the local bakeries. So he learned to bake them himself.
The German Baking Book is a celebration of the flavors of Krauss’s childhood, from the Linzer Torte that he asked his mother to make for his wedding to the butter cookies and gingerbread they made for Christmas cookies, from the Apple Fritters that he and his brothers sometimes got after school to the Flame Cake he discovered at university, from the Passion Fruit and Mango Charlotte Royale like he saw in the department store displays when he was a kid to the giant pretzel they eat for breakfast on New Year’s, these recipes are filled with the warmth of family memories as much as they are filled with flavor and a passion for baking.
There is a range of recipes here, from simple Funnel Cakes or Milk Rolls or Lemon Cake to the complex braided breads like a Swiss Sunday Bread or the Triple Charlotte Rousse with homemade ladyfingers. There are traditional German recipes, like the Simple Streusel Cake, an Almost Sacher Torte (although he adds orange, a taste he acquired in the UK), Butter Cake, Gugelhupf, and Fastenwahe. There are some amazing surprises, like his Cheesecake with Raisins, Butter Crescents, or The Waves of the Danube (a sheet cake that when cut creates the look of waves with its layers).
But he also includes some basic recipes that bakers can take and make into their own personal creations, like his Luxury Marzipan, Streusel, Basic Sponge Cake, Rich Yeasted Sweet Dough, or Basic White Bread. In his chapter on Sweet and Savory Breads and Rolls, there are illustrations to help guide you as you work with the dough. Throughout the book are beautiful photographs of the bakes, to inspire baking and eating (they look amazing!), as well some photos of Krauss’s childhood home and memories. Not all of the recipes are photographed, which I found a little disappointing since the photography was so gorgeous and refined, but that is my only criticism of this beautiful cookbook. The German Baking Book will be an amazing addition to any baker’s library, and it could even inspire other bakers to try a competition with their own family flavors and inspiration.
I was a big fan of Krauss on The Great British Bake Off. He was one of my favorite bakers and on my favorite season. I have been waiting literally years for him to craft a cookbook for us, and The German Baking Book was worth the weight. All I need now is some time to bake a a lot of flour.
Egalleys for The German Baking Book were provided by Weldon Owen, with many thanks.
May 11, 2024
I don't really watch The Great British Bake-Off, so I wasn't familiar with Jurgen Krauss, but I appreciated his no-nonsense approach to cookbook writing, and THE GERMAN BAKING BOOK contains quite a few recipes I'd be interested to try out. However, there are a few drawbacks that prevent me from giving this a full 5 stars.
1) Most of the recipes call for medium-sized eggs. I recognize this is the standard egg size in Europe, so that's fine, but then there are also a handful of recipes that call for small eggs or XL eggs or even unspecified-sized eggs, which... what gives? Just be consistent! Or at least specify the weight of the eggs since everything else has measurements given by volume and weight.
2) A lot of recipes call for a 10-inch springform pan. Again, maybe that's the standard springform pan size in Germany, but it seems a 9-inch is standard in the U.S., so I'd be hesitant to try a lot of the cake recipes due to not wanting to buy another pan.
3) A few recipes contain errors that could have been caught with a more careful editor, which makes me feel this book's publication was rushed. For instance, for "Red Currant Tart with Meringue" (p.77) and "Pear Tart with Sour Cream" (p.78), the ingredients say "9 Tablespoons (125g), cubed, plus extra for greasing." Yes, you can probably figure out that the missing word is "butter," but this shouldn't happen in a published cookbook. There was another recipe where the word "hazelnuts" was missing from the ingredients list. Lastly, several recipes refer to other page numbers, but occasionally those page numbers were incorrect. Again, not a dealbreaker, but the lack of care with these small details is troubling.
1) Most of the recipes call for medium-sized eggs. I recognize this is the standard egg size in Europe, so that's fine, but then there are also a handful of recipes that call for small eggs or XL eggs or even unspecified-sized eggs, which... what gives? Just be consistent! Or at least specify the weight of the eggs since everything else has measurements given by volume and weight.
2) A lot of recipes call for a 10-inch springform pan. Again, maybe that's the standard springform pan size in Germany, but it seems a 9-inch is standard in the U.S., so I'd be hesitant to try a lot of the cake recipes due to not wanting to buy another pan.
3) A few recipes contain errors that could have been caught with a more careful editor, which makes me feel this book's publication was rushed. For instance, for "Red Currant Tart with Meringue" (p.77) and "Pear Tart with Sour Cream" (p.78), the ingredients say "9 Tablespoons (125g), cubed, plus extra for greasing." Yes, you can probably figure out that the missing word is "butter," but this shouldn't happen in a published cookbook. There was another recipe where the word "hazelnuts" was missing from the ingredients list. Lastly, several recipes refer to other page numbers, but occasionally those page numbers were incorrect. Again, not a dealbreaker, but the lack of care with these small details is troubling.
October 18, 2023
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you!
Krauss was a popular contestant on The Great British Bake Off so that's sure to drive interest in this book. I love the beautiful pictures and the recipe introductions sharing information about Krauss' personal life, Germany, or both. I've really enjoyed reading this book cover to cover just for enjoyment without making any of the recipes (yet). Krauss' instructions are clear and detailed with a conversational style that makes it pleasant to read. Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of small errors in the recipe lists and sometimes errors in the instructions. This book could have used a more careful eye while going through editing. A lot of the recipes are intimidating to me as a real novice baker, but there do seem to be a variety of difficulty levels represented. I have found some simpler recipes in the book that I intend to try and then (hopefully) update this review with my success in following the instructions. This is a beautifully made book and I really enjoyed the read!
Krauss was a popular contestant on The Great British Bake Off so that's sure to drive interest in this book. I love the beautiful pictures and the recipe introductions sharing information about Krauss' personal life, Germany, or both. I've really enjoyed reading this book cover to cover just for enjoyment without making any of the recipes (yet). Krauss' instructions are clear and detailed with a conversational style that makes it pleasant to read. Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of small errors in the recipe lists and sometimes errors in the instructions. This book could have used a more careful eye while going through editing. A lot of the recipes are intimidating to me as a real novice baker, but there do seem to be a variety of difficulty levels represented. I have found some simpler recipes in the book that I intend to try and then (hopefully) update this review with my success in following the instructions. This is a beautifully made book and I really enjoyed the read!
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July 3, 2024I’ll fully review and rate this book later after I can try a recipe or two. General impressions: fantastic photography and food styling, charming (if expected) personal little blurbs about each recipe, and copyediting which I just don’t think reflects the precision of the chef-author. Even multiple rounds of professional copyediting can miss things, but the editing on this cookbook left a fair bit to be desired.
I’ll note two errata before I forget them:
Page 29 - Crumble Cake. The directions for the cake recipe call for a streusel sub-recipe found on page 188. The streusel recipe referenced is actually found on page 192. The ingredients list for the crumble cake accurately lists the page of the streusel recipe, so it’s just an error in the recipe directions.
Page 191 - Hazelnut Paste. Description is copied from Almond Paste (marzipan) and three uses of the word almond were retained instead of being changed to hazelnut.
I’ll note two errata before I forget them:
Page 29 - Crumble Cake. The directions for the cake recipe call for a streusel sub-recipe found on page 188. The streusel recipe referenced is actually found on page 192. The ingredients list for the crumble cake accurately lists the page of the streusel recipe, so it’s just an error in the recipe directions.
Page 191 - Hazelnut Paste. Description is copied from Almond Paste (marzipan) and three uses of the word almond were retained instead of being changed to hazelnut.
June 29, 2023
I didn't know that Jurgen Krauss was a contestant on the Great British Baking Show, but this cookbook appealed to my German heritage first and foremost--but now I want to go sneak episodes of the show to see this chef in action! This is a gorgeously photographed book and contains a variety of recipes that one normally associates with Germany (streusel cake!). At first glance, they look simple to follow and I'm eager to try each--especially the cookies. I also enjoyed Krauss's personal photos and recollections. It definitely adds a special touch to the book.
Special thanks to Insight Editions for the complimentary egalley of this book. It's definitely one that I would buy as a final copy and recommend to others.
Special thanks to Insight Editions for the complimentary egalley of this book. It's definitely one that I would buy as a final copy and recommend to others.
October 11, 2024
I will try to update my review when I've made some of the recipes.
I adored Jürgen on Bake Off and was very excited when I heard about his book. His personality shines through and I appreciate all the context he provides to the bakes. There seems to be a good range in difficulty. I'm sure there are several recipes that I won't attempt making, but I will look out for next time I go to Germany, in case I can try them there. There are also several that look intimidating at first glance, but I feel with Jürgen to guide me through, I could give them a go - including his beloved Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.
The photos and overall design are also wonderful - if I had a coffee table, this would definitely live on there.
I adored Jürgen on Bake Off and was very excited when I heard about his book. His personality shines through and I appreciate all the context he provides to the bakes. There seems to be a good range in difficulty. I'm sure there are several recipes that I won't attempt making, but I will look out for next time I go to Germany, in case I can try them there. There are also several that look intimidating at first glance, but I feel with Jürgen to guide me through, I could give them a go - including his beloved Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.
The photos and overall design are also wonderful - if I had a coffee table, this would definitely live on there.
November 1, 2023
This is a beautifully made book with a whole variety of recipes, whether you like "German" food or not, there will be plenty that appeals to you. The pictures are incredibly clear and the instructions are well-written and actionable. It will be easy for all skill-levels to find recipes that look both appealing and doable for them. If you have watch or are a fan of GBBS, you'll know that Mr. Krauss was one of the contestants that people thought could really win the show and were surprised to see eliminated near the end. It appears that he has really expanded upon his skills and has now shared his recipes with the rest of us.
July 28, 2024
A gorgeous book filled with interesting baked goods, sweet and savory. Many of these items not normally seen in U.S. cookbooks, fascinating.
My only critiques:
- Some odd ingredients in the U.S. not explained, quark? (a sort of a cream cheese)
- Some recipes not photographed!!! And they are made in special pans so what do they look like???
Obstkuchen ?? ( ok a fruit tart with a pretty arrangement of fruit on top.) Gugelhupf ?? Well, look it up looks like a pretty funny upside down flower pot.
If you read my cookbook reviews I am always harsh when ingredients are missing or instructions are unclear. I found NO mistakes in this cookbook which is a rarity.
My only critiques:
- Some odd ingredients in the U.S. not explained, quark? (a sort of a cream cheese)
- Some recipes not photographed!!! And they are made in special pans so what do they look like???
Obstkuchen ?? ( ok a fruit tart with a pretty arrangement of fruit on top.) Gugelhupf ?? Well, look it up looks like a pretty funny upside down flower pot.
If you read my cookbook reviews I am always harsh when ingredients are missing or instructions are unclear. I found NO mistakes in this cookbook which is a rarity.
July 7, 2023
It was a little disappointing when Jurgen was eliminated from GBBO, but you can't have a bad day that close to the end! (My heart belonged to Chigs after he was gone, but Giuseppe was certainly worthy of the championship.) Jurgen's cookbook is very well-done and it looks like he can make even complicated recipes easily doable. I don't have a lot of time to do complex baking, but I might purchase the cookbook when it's published anyway, just in case. The recipes all looked fantastic. Thanks to Insight Editions/PW Galley Grab for providing me with a free review galley!
December 23, 2023
I will always read every Great British Bake-off book that our Library buys. I think it's an incredible show and I love all the contestants.
This book had wonderful stories and amazing recipes of German bakes, many of them I not heard of before. The only way the book could have been improved was to include a photo of every bake -- it would have been lovely to see how everything should look.
Nicely designed book, and I'm so happy Jurgen was able to put this out -- as he was AMAZING and it was so sad when he didn't advance to the final round that season.
This book had wonderful stories and amazing recipes of German bakes, many of them I not heard of before. The only way the book could have been improved was to include a photo of every bake -- it would have been lovely to see how everything should look.
Nicely designed book, and I'm so happy Jurgen was able to put this out -- as he was AMAZING and it was so sad when he didn't advance to the final round that season.
August 3, 2024
submitting this as my genre ive never read for my summer bingo board. i think in all technicalities i have read a cookbook just never cover to cover like i sat here for the last hour and did. im making apple cake next week and maybe i need to refine my bread making skills again.
also Jurgen is my fav bake off contestant ever and this book is beautiful to look at, the stories with each recipe are so cute, and make me want to bake!!! also i miss Germany !!!
also Jurgen is my fav bake off contestant ever and this book is beautiful to look at, the stories with each recipe are so cute, and make me want to bake!!! also i miss Germany !!!
December 17, 2023
The German Baking Book
Jurgen Krauss has created a little masterpiece of a cookbook, filled with nostalgia and recipes that are easily attainable by the home cook. These are lovely recipes that are not just what you'd find in a neighborhood bakery but also in your grandmother's kitchen. I can attest to their authenticity having had an Oma of my own.
Jurgen Krauss has created a little masterpiece of a cookbook, filled with nostalgia and recipes that are easily attainable by the home cook. These are lovely recipes that are not just what you'd find in a neighborhood bakery but also in your grandmother's kitchen. I can attest to their authenticity having had an Oma of my own.
June 29, 2023
A delightful cookbook from GBBO fan favorite Jurgen, it’s everything you’d want it to be. Utterly charming headnotes with personal anecdotes and tips. Easy to understand recipes. Appealing photos. I want to make so many things and to give this cookbook as a gift.
April 11, 2025
This book was fun to go through. It was interesting that a bunch of the German bread recipes used a sweet yeasted bread as its base instead of quick breads with chemical leaveners. There were definitely a few recipes that I would love to try.
October 4, 2023
i love this man
November 4, 2023
The recipes are fantastic and oh so delicious!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
I made the first recipe….delicious Apple Fritters.
Jurgen was a favorite baker on the Great British Bake-Off. He should have won!
Jurgen was a favorite baker on the Great British Bake-Off. He should have won!
November 13, 2023
Some recipes look like variations on a similar theme, and definitely needed a better proofread. Still, a lot of yummy looking possibilities.
October 12, 2024
The recipes look great. Most have a photo. What I didn’t like about it was the font used for the list of ingredients. A simple thing but annoying enough that I wouldn’t use this book.
November 1, 2023
It is fine. I wish there were more breads and less sweets. I liked his little personal asides. I thought it was strange that he placed all the 'basic' recipes and techniques at the end instead of at the beginning of the book.
September 11, 2024
Jurgen Kraus wrote an easy to understand, gorgeous German Baking Book filled with luscious baked goods. I'm crazy about European baked goods with special fondness for those of Eastern European origin.
My favorite breakfast in Germany is Brotchens with Rahm Frischkäse, which is like cream cheese but better, and jam. Alas, brotchen's weren't included, however I absolutely cannot wait to try the Swabian Spelt Rolls.
I appreciate the photos and illustrative drawings in The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond as well as the warm descriptions and memories included.
I'm not a fan of recipes that begin with other recipes found on different pages of cookbooks. I found a few recipes in The German Baking Book that start with several other recipes. It's a pet peeve of mine, especially for simple recipes with few ingredients.
4 Stars for The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond.
My favorite breakfast in Germany is Brotchens with Rahm Frischkäse, which is like cream cheese but better, and jam. Alas, brotchen's weren't included, however I absolutely cannot wait to try the Swabian Spelt Rolls.
I appreciate the photos and illustrative drawings in The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond as well as the warm descriptions and memories included.
I'm not a fan of recipes that begin with other recipes found on different pages of cookbooks. I found a few recipes in The German Baking Book that start with several other recipes. It's a pet peeve of mine, especially for simple recipes with few ingredients.
4 Stars for The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond.
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