I have lots of memories of cooking with my lad, teaching him the skills he needs in order to function well as adult. Now he can pick out a recipe and make it. He’s not the keenest of young chefs, but he can follow a recipe! 🙂 I hope in time he’ll learn to relax a bit about how to cook, and that recipes are guidelines not exact scientific ingredient lists. 🙂 But that’s a discussion for another day! 🙂 Anyways, cooking together is FUN, and The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs helps YOU have fun in the kitchen with your children. A book filled with recipes written for children, giving them the confidence they will cook food that they and other children will enjoy.
What I am Reviewing
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs.
America’s Test Kitchen.
224 pages, 8-12 years,
Received ARC version as tradepaperback. Final to be hardcover.
Cookbook, cooking, kids cooking, kids in the kitchen, diet and nutrition,
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
From the creators of the #1 New York Times bestselling cookbook for kids comes the ultimate baking book. America’s Test Kitchen once again brings their scientific know-how, rigorous testing, and hands-on learning to KIDS!
Want to make your own soft pretzels? Or wow your friends with homemade empanadas? What about creating a showstopping pie? Maybe some chewy brownies after school? From breakfast to breads, from cookies to cakes (yes, even cupcakes!), learn to bake it all here. You can do this, and it’s fun!
The Details of The Complete Baking Book
I’ve not seen very many cookbooks aimed at children, so when this review arrived I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Informative, good pictures, quotes from other young chefs, youth friendly language without talking down, and skill teaching. A well rounded book, let me tell all about it.Â
You will find
Recipes that were thoroughly tested by more than 5,000 kids. The goal was to get them just right for cooks of all skill levels. These recipes are for breakfast, breads, pizzas, cookies, cupcakes, and more. Recipes to delight the fancy and expand one’s tastebuds.
You will find recipes as diverse as the following (just to name a few)
- cherry, almond and chocolate chip granola
- middle eastern za’atar bread
- Buffalo chicken lavash flatbread
- beef and cheese empanadas
- mexican wedding cookies
- cheesecake bars
- olive oil cake
- pumpkin bread with chocolate chips
Helpful Tips
You will find helpful tips for young chefs.Â
- Step-by-step photos of tips and techniquesÂ
- Testimonials (and even some product reviews!) from kid test cooks
- Images of equipment
- four secrets to success in baking
- decoding bakingspeak – glossary of baking terminology
- how to measure liquid and dry ingredients
- 10 essential prep steps
Highlights
Written in child-friendly language, clear instructions were given. If adult-helped was suggested, this was included in the instructions.Â
If needed, diagrams were provided to help the youth understand. Each recipe was loaded with images to assist in baking well.Â
A Fantastic Resource
America’s Test Kitchen has produced a fantastic book to help young chefs (and their mentors) learn how to bake well. There are no meat dishes, or vegetarian casseroles to be found. This book is all about baking, so cookies, breads, cakes, pies and the like. More than 100 recipes to be found.
The abudance of images and illustrations makes it a treasure because you can see what you need to do. Â
Therefore, without hestiation, I urge you to help the young chefs in your life. Go out and get The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs.Â
I do like the look of this and it looks a bit more advanced than the one we got Miss J for her birthday last year. Will definitely check it out. Thanks!
it was a good book I thought, It doesn’t have a lot of allergy-friendly alternatives which might be something you need to be alert for.