Cover Image: Anna Olson's Baking Wisdom

Anna Olson's Baking Wisdom

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Member Reviews

I have recently been enjoying baking so I thought it would be fun to read Anna Olson's Baking Wisdom "cookbook". I was extremely lucky to have been given a copy through netgalley. This book has great tips and recipes for both beginner and experienced bakers. It is packed full of great information. Would definitely recommend to any avid baker.

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While I consider myself a devoted cook, I must admit that baking has never been my thing. Needing some wisdom in baking, I opened up Anna Olson's Baking Wisdom to find some. Anna Olson is renowned for her exceptional expertise and unwavering passion for pastries, which surpasses my current baking level. There is a wealth of baking knowledge and a delightful array of recipes that left me eagerly contemplating the idea of dusting off my pastry brush. The book starts with the fundamentals, from understanding ingredients with clear instructions and insightful tips accompanying each recipe, which should provide the guidance needed to achieve professional-level results.

The visual appeal of the mouthwatering photographs added an extra layer of delight as I flipped through the pages. Anna Olson's expertise shines through every page, making it a delightful companion for anyone who appreciates the art and joy of baking.

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I’ve made many of Anna Olsen recipes in the past and I love this whole book equally. They are really easy to follow along and give great tips and tricks to effecting some of the best recipes.

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I’ve always enjoyed Anna Olson‘s cookbooks because she has a knack for making all of her recipes just seem easy. What I especially liked about this book was the beginning. It’s the perfect resource for a new or experience baker because it breaks down a lot of the baking basics. I feel like most cookbooks have the “what should be in your pantry”, and this book does have that. But it also has explanations and science behind the basics and simple recipes that can be added or can be enjoyed on their own. Not that I didn’t love the entire book but I think the beginning is the perfect resource for anyone to keep on the shelf.

The book is separated into different types of baked goods and at the start of each is a quick reference for what’s going to be included. It also labels the recipes from easy to hard. The pictures are simple and look delicious and I like the added touches that she adds to each recipe.

This book is definitely going to be a staple on my shelf and I’ve already highlighted quite a few recipes that I want to try. I especially like that Anna Olson explained how Canadian ingredients compare to other country’s ingredients so that we’re able to more accurately adjust. As a fellow Canadian, I don’t think I realized this, so that was a nice added touch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

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I have since purchased this cookbook and am enjoying using it. I have always had success with her recipes.

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Anna Olson is a Canadian baking treasure. She has published several cookbooks, all of which have been best sellers. Her Baking Wisdom is the culmination of her years in the kitchen and is full of several tips and tricks.

While this cookbook contains over 150 recipes, I could not test them. Why? Because quite a few contain nuts which is a no-go in my household. Those that did not contain nuts were ones I couldn’t test either. Why? Because they assumed I had counter space to make French pastries, the budget to purchase unique ingredients or tools.

On the plus side, roughly a third of the book contains Olson’s tips. She includes her preference for ingredients, temperatures, and substitutions. Also included are her preferred baking tools and how to prepare them for baking. Olson also had a glossary of baking terms, how-tos (tempering eggs and toasting nuts), and even how to fix baking blunders (seized chocolate). She also included a glimpse at the science of baking (high-altitude baking).

I wouldn’t mind having this cookbook as part of my collection for the first third of the book. But it would be a waste as I couldn’t make most of the recipes.

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Anna Olson never disappoints. I have been watching her on tv for as long as I can remember and her on screen personality translates perfectly. I love how she shares her knowledge in a way that is accessible and makes you feel like you can bake anything no matter the difficulty level.

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Baking tips, tricks, and techniques combined with over 150 recipes, this book is worth having on every baker’s (or want to be) shelf! Great material!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Appetite by Random House in exchange for my honest review

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I was so excited to receive a review copy. Sadly the only format it was in was pdf. The text was sooooo small I couldn't read it! You cannot increase the font with the pdf in Netgalley. I'm sure the cookbook is fantastic, I just wish I'd been able to enjoy it.

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Loved the layout of this cookbook!

Had really great recipes that were simple and well thought out. The images that showed each step of the recipe was something I loved and would hope to see in more cookbooks in the future!

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Anna Olson has come out with another hit book! Even if you have any of her other books, this is a must have!! I love the way it's written and I as I read it, I did so in Anna's voice. I'm not expert baker by any means so it was so nice to have expert advice given in such a down to earth manner. And of course we can't forget the delicious recipes, what's an Anna book without them?! This may be my favourite book of hers so far and that's saying something.

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Anna Olson knocks another one out of the park. This book is thoughtully laid out to make it easy to create delicious items with her knowledge and talent. This book should be in everyone's kitchen. Become a better baker with Anna!

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This book is not only beautiful to look at, but Anna Olson's instructions and advice are simple and to the point. I appreciated the several pages of how-tos, and the scientific information on how some critical baking ingredients function with heat. All this is followed by a series of recipes, with clearly laid out steps and advice on preparation and storage. And the photos! Totally scrumptious-looking, they made me want to pull flours, sugars and other ingredients out of the cupboard and start baking right away!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

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Full of fabulous recipes, as well information regarding the science of baking. Excellent for helping to understand and be able to correct issues such as why a cake is rising up in the middle instead of an even level rise, which helped me perfect my cake recipe for my son's birthday this year. I've bookmarked 26 recipes that I can't wait to try, such as homemade candy canes, maple pumpkin scones, onion herb and parmesan upside down cake, sponge toffee, chewy brownie cookies, and rhubarb rye bread. If you've ever enjoyed Anna Olsen on tv then you definitely need to add this cookbook to your collection. I know it's called Baking Wisdom, but it's been dubbed the baking bible in my house! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thank you for my review copy!!

I have been watching Anna Olson on Food Network since I was a kid and couldnt wait to get my hands on this book.

Filled with mouth watering desserts, this book will have your taste buds buzzing!!

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Synopsis from Goodreads: Inside Baking Wisdom lies the answer to every baking question you’ve ever had (and many you haven’t yet), plus over 150 perfected recipes—both savoury and sweet—for bakers of all skill  levels. Get inside Anna’s baking brain, as she shares a career’s worth of experience to build a true masterclass in baking. In this incredible baking compendium, you will learn the hows and whys of baking through her flawless techniques, patient advice and literally hundreds of photos. This is an all-encompassing guide, guaranteed to make you a better baker.

Review:
I've loved Anna Olsen since her first tv show, Sugar, appeared on the Food Network. She's a bright and positive presence, and her style of teaching on the show comes across through her writing. Every instruction can be easily followed, and it really felt like I was inside her brain, understanding how she thinks through a recipe to get to the final product, the delicious treat! The pictures were beautiful, and helpful in illustrating the steps of the recipes, and I also liked the tips and tricks she left interspersed within the recipes. I will always come back to read more by Anna Olsen!

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This was a beautiful book. There was a ton of useful information and I can't wait to try some of the recipes

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Delicious and beautiful! I've always loved Anna Olson as a personality and this cookbook is just another reason why. Steps are clear, photos are beautiful, and results are to-die-for.

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So much yuuuum!!! I think the worst part of this book is trying to figure out which recipe to start with!! Absolutely incredible recipes that are straightforward and easy to follow with ingredients and methods I already was comfortable with! Yuuuuum!!!!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pictures are vibrant, and the detailed steps are wonderfully clear. I also loved the details comparing the different types of lamination and pastry/crusts. The instructions are so helpful and I plan to do a lot of baking with this book.

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