This was so so so informative!!!! I’ve never learned about baking for this culture, but I absolutely love baking, and I love learning. So this is a stellar read for me!! I’ll likely be grabbing a copy when it comes out for my kitchen!!

This book makes me want to book a trip to Poland, or at least find the nearest Polish bakery. Until now, I hadn’t given much thought to Polish cuisine or its baked goods, but that changes here. The photography is stunning, and I could happily flip through these pages just to drool over the images. I’ll admit I was first hooked by the beautiful cover, but I stayed for the irresistible content inside.

French pastries may have long been in the spotlight, but it’s wonderful to see Polish pastries finally having their moment. After reading this, all I want is a napoleonka.

Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books, and Laurel Kratochvila for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Anyone who loves to bake will definitely want to pick up Dobre Dobre: Baking from Poland and Beyond , a cookbook full of unique and mouthwatering baked goods both sweet and savory. The author, Laurel Kratochvila, was a finalist for the James Beard Award, and anyone who looks at this book will know why. Those who bake love to find new recipes for beautiful, unique baked goods that will draw raves. The variety is amazing, and there are dozens of recipes that will appeal to everyone.

There are notes at the beginning of each recipe from the author and they are well-written and interesting enough that readers will want to curl up in a corner to read the book before starting a long queue of beautiful baked goods . The recipes follow the traditional recipe protocol with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions that make it possible for both beginning and advanced bakers to make picture-perfect baked goods easily.

The beautiful photographs that accompany most of the recipes will make it difficult to decide what to make next. Included are Eastern European breads, babkas, pastries, donuts, cakes, and cookies. There is a recipe for Onion Brioche, bagels, and loaded potato knishes, which are first on my “must make this week” list.

All told, this is an excellent baking book and will be a much used cookbook.

The recipes are distinctly European, mostly from Poland and surrounding areas.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This book looks absolutely delicious and honestly, if I ate this way every day, I’d be 1000 pounds in just a few weeks 😂. Dobre Dobre is filled with rich, decadent recipes that are steeped in history, culture, and serious flavor!

Every page feels like stepping into a warm Polish bakery. I loved how the author wove in traditions, modern spins on heritage bakes, and vivid storytelling that made the recipes feel personal and powerful. There’s something so nostalgic and soulful here, even if you didn’t grow up with these foods.

The intro alone had me hooked (“I fell in love with Polish baking because I didn’t like the pickles in the Czech Republic” I mean, come on. Iconic 😂).

This is more than just a cookbook—it’s a baking journey across generations and borders. Whether you’re an experienced home baker or just drooling for inspiration, Dobre Dobre deserves a top spot on your shelf.

So many different kinds of bread. Seems easy enough a beginner like me could make them. The photos make the food look so good.

4 stars

Wow so many great core recipes—the basics for a variety of doughs that all of the rest of the recipes build off of. As someone who is generally intimidated by bread baking, these easy but heritage filled recipes made it much less intimidating. I also felt like I was getting back to my polish and Jewish roots, very comforting. Thank you for the gifted copy!

This book brings Polish cuisine closer to home in reminsecent mid-centry modern styling like the Good Housekeeping books of the 1960s and 1970s. I loved how they breakdown how to make each food item in an easy way. Can't wait to try some of these.

Beautiful photos and mouth watering recipes. The bread section alone is a reason to read this through and well-thought out cookbook. I cannot wait to make my own Kaiser Rolls and Bialys! What makes this cookbook unique is its' descriptive text that help bakers unfamiliar with certain recipes get a feel for what the dough or batter might look, taste, and feel like for them. This book is a must have for bread and pastry lovers!

Dobre Dobre is a captivating celebration of Poland’s baking culture, filled with over 120 recipes that blend tradition with innovation. Laurel Kratochvila offers a deeply researched and warmly written guide to the breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries that define Polish baking, with stories that honor both Jewish roots and diasporic influences. With everything from bilberry buns to horseradish bialys, each recipe is packed with history and heart. The stunning photography makes you feel like you're traveling through Poland one sweet or savory bite at a time. Perfect for home bakers, heritage seekers, or anyone exploring Eastern European cuisine.

Mouthwatering photos of breads and pastries that will tempt readers into testing their skills. Bakers will need to plan ahead to purchase items not typically in a pantry or fridge, such as live yeast or ghee.

Directions are clear and concise. Explanations are at the front of the book. Not every recipe has an accompanying photo, sadly, but most recipes do.

Laurel Kratochvila’s latest book, dedicated to the rich and diverse world of Polish baking - both old and new, Jewish and diasporic - is nothing short of remarkable. Long overdue, this deeply researched and beautifully executed volume is a vital addition to the world of culinary literature. It’s no surprise that Kratochvila is a 2023 James Beard Award finalist.

From traditional bagels to luscious honey cakes, the book offers an expansive and varied collection of recipes. The photography is visually stunning, with step-by-step images that support and inspire bakers of all levels. Kratochvila’s passion is evident on every page - from her thoughtful explanations of ingredients to the abundance of practical tips she shares throughout. Recipes are clearly written, with both volume and weight measurements, and are accessible to home bakers without compromising depth or authenticity.

One standout recipe I tried was the Walnut-Paste Babka with Nut Crumble - a showstopper that turned out perfectly. The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow, and the results earned rave reviews from everyone who tasted it.

This is more than just a cookbook - it’s a love letter to a culinary heritage that deserves recognition. I plan to purchase several copies as holiday gifts; it’s the perfect present for avid bakers, food lovers, and culinary historians alike.

While chocked full of information and pictures, the recipes themselves are not very diverse. There are five chapters and each chapter seems to be comprised of one recipe and a multitude of variations. I was hoping to see more diversity as Polish food can be wide ranging. It'll be a great coffee table book in a café somewhere but I don't see many people trying them at home.

Immediately knew this was going to be a great read, a few pages in. Quarter of the way in, marked this down to purchase a physical copy. I would not recommend these recipes for beginners to try, but rather for those with more experience. I cannot wait to give these a go.

An absolutely GORGEOUS and chock-full cookbook of Polish baking! The recipes are explained succinctly, and the photographs and layout are stunning. (Fantastic work on the part of the photographer in particular!) Cannot wait to buy my own print copy and recommend for purchase at my library.

This was a great cookbook. Very easy-to-follow recipes. I can't wait to try these recipes. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This is the perfect baking guide for someone like me. My parents were both from Poland, and growing up all we ate was Polish food at home. My mom was also quite the baker, her babka and kolaczki were known throughout the neighborhood. “Dobre Dobre: Baking from Poland and Beyond” by Laurel Kratochvila brings back many of those memories and adds a few more to repertoire of Polish breads and desserts.

To start, Ms. Kratochvila gets you through the basics: how to work with yeasted dough and sourdough. Not only are things explained fully, but also the step-by-step illustrations on forming the dough are a godsend. Now we can start baking. Part One is chleb, breads, which includes bagels, bialys, and other traditional Polish and Jewish staples. Each recipe includes a brief history/introduction, some tips, plus detailed ingredient lists and instructions. I especially appreciate that the total time required is laid out for each step at the start of the recipe, saving yourself from any nasty surprises along the way. Every single recipe is also gorgeously photographed, so you know exactly what it should look like. I think my favorite from this section has to be one of the rye breads, a Polish tradition.

Part Two is drozdze, yeasted breads, and this is where Ms. Kratochvila blew me away. She started the section with five different dough recipes, five slightly different basics, that could be used again and again to make many different breads, cakes, etc. I had never thought of Polish baking in this way, now I know what I need to master. The Polish crescent rolls, both plain and filled, bring back so many memories and are some of my favorites. But the babka, the plum sheet cake, the apple fritters, and of course the paczki all bring me back to my mother’s baking at home.

Part Three is ciastka, cakes. Once again, we start with two basic doughs that will be used throughout this section. Of course the highlight of this section is szarlotka, a very traditional Polish apple cake, but we also have Polish crumb cake, the “Warsaw cake”, and many others.

Part Four is cziasteczka, cookies. We start with yet one more dough to learn, but many of the recipes use the previous doughs as a starting point. The shortbread “machine cookies” that Ms. Kratochvila describes were a constant in our home, using the meat grinder to produce an unbroken log of shortbread with a very distinctive shape, the picture could have come directly from my childhood! And chrustciki, never called faworki at my house, are still my all-time favorite Polish cookie. I have a different recipe for kolaczki then this book, using melted vanilla ice cream in the dough, but the Chicago-style kolaczki is another classic.

Part Five is ptysie etc., specialty desserts. One more dough recipe, choux, and a heck of a lot of meringues. Meringues are not my thing, but we also have Polish cheesecake, different from what you’re probably used to seeing, another favorite.

And finally we have Part Six, extras. These are mostly fillings that are called for throughout the other sections, along with toppings.

Once again, this is a cookbook that I will purchase the day it comes out. Ms. Kratochvila captures the heart of Polish baking, the versatility of using what’s available and fresh, the goodness of using natural ingredients. Both the old-style goods and the newer interpretations are wonderful and show that this is a culture that respects its traditions but yet keeps moving forward. Excellent addition to any kitchen. And yes, Poland does have the best dill pickles.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Chronicle Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This book is beautifully simple and provides a selection of recipes for all Polish staples. The recipes are easy to follow and clear while the photography is stunning. I love that the names of the dishes are in Polish and English and measurements are in milligrams and cups. I enjoyed it so much that I plan to order it and cook my way through it. Dobre, Dobre is truly one great baking book.

Great baking book for bread lovers! Endless recipes and great photos to be able to get an idea of how to do things and what they should look like. Very thorough instructions!

If you enjoy cookbooks that blend delicious recipes with rich historical and cultural context, Dobre Dobre is sure to delight you. The author embarks on a meaningful journey to reconnect with her roots during a trip to Europe. It's in Poland, among the familiar scents and flavors of traditional bakeries, that she feels a deep sense of homecoming.
In this beautifully crafted book, she dives into her Polish-Jewish heritage, collaborating with bakers, historians, and researchers to compile a collection of recipes that tell a story of immigration, multiculturalism, resilience, and tradition.
With stunning photography of breads, cakes and cookies, this cookbook brings Polish baking history to life, helping readers understand the past and its influence on the present.

I love baking, but I love baking things that are new to me even more. Dobre Dobre was an entirely new experience in baking that I have never done before.

To get started, DOBRE DOBRE gave an excellent overview over the ingredients, special tools, and history of Polish baking that was really great to know going into this cookbook. The section on working with different doughs really shed light into an area of baking that was new for me. It was clear, organized, and really supports the reader who is new to this method of baking.

The measurements are both in volume and weight, which allows both metric and imperial bakers to use the book. Each recipe comes with a brief introduction of the food, which feels really nice and adds a bit of charm to the cookbook. The baking instructions are written in paragraph form and unnumbered, which felt a bit stressful at first, but I quickly fell into the swing of the recipe once I got started.

There is a huge range of different recipes in this book, and it's easy to find something new and exciting to try for any meal.

The design of the book is clean and simple, with the written recipes a solid white background. Opposite of most recipes is a photo of the food, which are all beautifully photographed. It feels very pleasing to the eye.

The first recipe I tried was the Plummy Yeasted Tray Cake and it was delicious! The instructions were easy to follow and the ingredients were easy to source. Let me tell you- we all had to pause a moment to savor this cake because it was outstanding!

Overall, DOBRE DOBRE is a vivid, diverse, and exquisite cookbook that any baker would enjoy.