Baking for the Holidays

A great book with tasty recipes to keep you warm during the holidays. The step by step with pictures were a great help especially for a beginner like me.

I’ve always wanted to make Danish cinnamon rolls and this recipe book has a version I felt confident enough to try. They were delicious! after my success I will be trying lots moe recipes from this book.

Baking for the Holidays has so many delicious sounding recipes! I cannot wait to try them all! I do admit that some seem a bit more complicated and possibly outside of my skill level, but maybe I can actually do it with these careful instructions! Anyhow if you are looking for a cookbook for some lovely holiday yummies, then I would definitely recommend giving Baking for the Holidays a try.

Wow did this make my stomach rumble.

Baking for the Holidays is a must-buy, whether you’ll be the one in the kitchen, giving it as a gift, or even just drooling over the pages wishing you weren’t on a diet.

The recipes were unique, simple, and easy to follow. My personal favorites were the Cruffins and Apple, Caramel, Hard Cider pie. I also enjoyed the extras at the end, such as whipped cream and lemon curd! The images were perfect, and looked delicious!

Highly recommend this to those looking for a good gift and yummy desserts.

A delightful holiday cookbook with some great recipes to make for the family.

I was able to try 3 recipes from this cookbook (cranberries and cream danish, triple chocolate mousse cake, and turtle bars) and all of them were delicious. This seems like the recipe book you have to work out before exploring.

It should be said that some of these recipes are a little more advanced than the novice baker would feel comfortable with but the instructions are pretty solid you should be able to work through it.

There are some literary quotes and personal anecdotes sprinkled in which are nice. The only drawback of the book is the layout. Maybe it’s a personal thing but I like pictures sprinkled in with the instructions, especially to illustrate what I should be seeing. This cookbook however uses full pages of text instructions.

A definite winner though!

Spicy! I love holiday baking. Well, baking in general. And I always need new recipes to try out. So this book came in the perfect time, when I was running short on baking ideas. I love the photos and this might be the first cookbook I will ever buy.

Oh my goodness...and I mean lots of yummy goodness. This cookbook is one that I will be buying on release day and happily baking each and every recipe.

I live for baking in the cooler seasons and especially at Christmastime. I loved the little stories the author shares as it brings some of her traditions into the heart of the recipe. The recipes are easy to follow and well laid out. I love her tips and tricks, and how some of the recipes are so easily modified to get different flavors and textures.

What I especially love are the beautiful pictures that some of the recipes have. Not only of the finished product, but a step-by-step guide (ahem...raises hand for needing extra visuals) on the various steps, for example braiding bread.

Let this be your go-to baking guide for the Holidays this year! It's perfect to beginners or more experienced bakers!

Thank you Chronicle Books and #NetGalley for and advance copy of this delicious book in exchange for my review!

I received an advance copy of, Baking for the Holidays, by Sarah Kieffer. The food in this book, looks so delicious. Holiday baking is so much fun. and this book has great recipes in it.

Baking for the Holidays is a collection of more than 50 recipes for the holiday season and beyond. This cookbook covers breakfasts, desserts, sweet treat gifts, and more, with photos and detailed instructions accompanying each recipe.

Baking for the Holidays is the cookbook of my holiday dreams; I would happily make each recipe from the breakfast and dessert chapters for Christmas this year. All of the recipes were thoughtful and well-constructed; it is easy to tell a lot of care went into preparation of this cookbook. The photos were beautiful and I liked the layout that condensed each ingredient list to one page. A great cookbook and one that I would love to add to my collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

Baking around the holidays has always been an honored tradition in my home. This book does homage to the many others who celebrate the season with mouthwatering, eye catching, nostalgic inducing treats. Step by step directions, many with pictures to demonstrate, make it so anyone can recreate these amazing dishes. Ingredients are given in both forms of measurement, so these treats are available to all without complicated conversion formulas. There are countless helpful tips scattered throughout, making it feel as though I am learning step by step from an approachable expert. I can see this book earning a place on my year-round cooking shelf. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Holiday baking is a big deal in our family. But then again, cooking from scratch is a big deal in our family any time of year. I am always looking for new recipes to make and share, so I was excited to see this book.

Cookies, cakes, bonbons, pies and more! Some have a different take on what I make now and others are new to me. I’m already planning what I’ll bake for the holidays and with these recipes, my game is definitely going to be bumped up a notch this year. Some will likely become year round favorites too. I can almost smell the aroma now. MMMMMM

I know this book says Baking for the Holiday but there are so many recipes in this book that I would be making year round! There are pictures for a majority of the recipes, which if find make me want to make it more if I can see what it will look like if I don't fail, and many of them even have step by step photo instructions which are so helpful.

Baking for the Holidays is a cookbook focussing on delicious recipes.

I loved this book! The recipes were mouthwatering, and I thought it was organized into sections based on themes really well. The photographs were stunning, and I thought the instructions were well written.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yum! Lots of Breads, Pastries, and desserts for a fattening and delicious winter baking season! I look forward to more cookbooks by this author.

Baking for the Holidays is a beautiful book for baking delectable treats for the holiday season. There are lovely pictures of all the recipes, which I love. That way you can look at the picture first to decide if this is something I might want to bake. Then look at the very detailed recipe. The recipe has very clearly listed ingredients with measurements given two ways. Then a very step by step description of how to make the item. The directions are so clear I think I could even make croissant or puff pastry dough. There is an excellent chapter that gives cooking and baking terms and detailed definition of you will be doing. Lists of possible ingredients and why you would use them. I had never heard of fleur de sel salt or how it is used but now I know. I can't wait to try some of the recipes and I don't think I will be waiting for the holidays to do so. That creme brulee pumpkin pie might have to be made soon.

A quick and lovely recipe book, perfect for your holiday needs!

Sarah Kieffer has a wide range of recipes, from the basics to more complex challenges. Love the addition of pictures, since baking is a visual art. I highly recommend, especially for beginners.

A beautiful cookbook that captures the spirit of the Christmas season and the magic of baking. With a wide variety of recipes, Kieffer manages to make even the most daunting pastries seem entirely accessible with her clear instructions. I also love the beginning, where she clearly indicates exactly what you should be looking for in the ingredients these recipes call for!

I really love how these recipes have step-by-step pictures of techniques so you know what it's supposed to look like! All of these look so good and I have to try most of them!

Loved the beautiful pictures and the unique recipes. I especially like the fresh takes on classics, like carrot cake but with burnt honey buttercream.

Not crazy about having to flip back and forth to look up recipes for the different elements for the more complex desserts, but this would probably be easier using a physical copy of the book rather than a digital copy.

Overall a beautiful book that would make a great gift.

You say Sarah Kieffer and I say sold! I’m a longtime follower of Kiefer’s blog and reader of her other cookbooks. Baking for the Holidays will be my holiday baking bible. The book is loaded with a variety of sweets paired with beautiful photography and detailed instructions so you can get the same results at home. I can’t wait to gift this book to all of my family and friends who love to bake and to eat!

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review..

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. While many of the recipes seemed interesting, there were only a handful I would actually use. The Creme Brulee Pumpkin Pie sounds delicious. I would love if I could secure Passion Fruit pulp in the middle of Iowa to make the muffins, but it is unlikely.

Though the soft tones of the illustrations were lovely, it didn't strike me as festive as you would expect a holiday cookbook to be.

I also felt a big portion was devoted to breakfast breads,. I have little to no interest in getting up in the wee hours of the morning to make bread.

This holiday cookbook feels like a chic Christmas hug. It's both a beautiful and informative cookbook, with a cool, crisp aesthetic and a wide variety of holiday recipes.

It is broken up into 5 sections - Morning Breads and Pastries, Holiday Desserts, Gift Giving, Beyond Christmas, Extras - and contains a mix of classic recipes and innovative bakes. With lots of helpful step-by-step photos and very detailed (some might say wordy) recipe descriptions, this book delivers thorough instruction on every page.

I love the recipes in this book, they sound so good. I like how the author took the time to break things down on how different things, such as making pull apart bread, should be completed using pictures. This is definitely a cookbook to add to your shelf and use whether is Christmas time or just a normal day.

What a great cookbook! I love making and this has some really delicious recipes. And not only for the holidays but for everyday! I am definitely be making those cinnamon rolls soon! The photography was really nice too. With the recipes are detailed instructions and nothing crazy or off the wall. I think this sounds be a great gift for the baker I your life.

The beautiful cover drew me in to this fantastic baking book. There are five sections: Morning Breads and Pastries; Holiday Desserts; Gift Giving; Beyond Christmas and Extras. It is packed with delicious sounding recipes alongside clear and illustrated instructions. There are lots of variations to try too. I love the addition of the "Music to bake to" playlist at the end, a really fun idea. Thank you to Sarah Kieffer, Chronicle Books and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Christmas. I LOVE everything so it is no surprise that I jumped on this book. Everyone of these recipes are gorgeous and perfect for gift giving and for holiday get togethers. They are all special recipes. I can’t wait to start my holiday baking (even if it’s 90° outside right now). Bonus points for the book are 1) the author gives weight measurements as well as regular measurements (really good for baking) 2) the pictures are with almost all recipes. And they are gorgeous. 3) there’s variations for some of the recipes so you can switch up recipes.

This is a beautiful cookbook perfect for the festive season! So many easy to follow recipes accompanied by mouth=watering and enticing images. I can't wait for the holidays so I can make these recipes and share them with friends and family.

A wonderful cookbook filled with new and old favorite recipes. The color illustrations are beautiful and make you want to try every recipe. Tips for gift giving your treats and the book itself would be a wonderful additions to any cooks shelf. Cooks of all skill levels and young bakers will enjoy this easy to read collection. I'm a lemon fanatic and there were several ideas for me to try. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The name says it all and delivers on the promise, Baking for the Holidays is a book full of recipes for your holidays with stunning pictures and some pretty delicious twists on some classics! (Cream Brulee Pumpkin Pie or Passion Fruit - Poppy Seed Muffins, anyone?)

I LOVE this book! I am not a baker, but I love gifting people treats during the holidays. It is the one time of the year when I go all out and spend the month baking cookies, squares and pastries!

The illustrations in this book are extremely helpful, the recipes are easy to follow. Sections are explaining the ingredients, which I appreciated. I am dying to try the Lemon Streusel Coffee Cake and make the Panettone Scones for my mom!!

The sections were very well divided. I loved the thoughtful little touches that set the edition apart, such as a section for gift-giving and baking throughout the year, not to mention the suggestions of music to bake to!

Must have for all bakers aficionados and wannabes alike!

Beautifully photographed and written cookbook. This book is geared toward the baker who likes to fuss whenever making treats. Most of the sweeter baked goods use a sweet dough as the background. And if you’ve ever made bread from scratch, trying your hand out with sweet dough isn’t wry different. Also what I liked is it contains recipes for before and after Christmas so it isn’t one that will collect dust.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is a great collection of recipes. The technique notes are a nice addition. The author does a good job explaining the recipes step by step, and the photographs are great! Kieffer even includes holiday music suggestions to listen to as you bake. Looking forwarded to trying many of these when the holidays roll around.

Thank you to Sarah Keiffer, Chronicle Books and Netgalley for the sneak peek at this cookbook.
#BakingfortheHolidays #NetGalley

The holidays are often used as a time to indulge in great food, conversation, get togethers with friends and family. The recipes in this book are beautifully photographed and definitely fit into the category of indulging! I look forward to baking some of these recipes this upcoming winter. This honest review was provided as a courtesy in exchange for an advance preview of this book

Filled with stunning pictures, this book makes me want to bake all year round! It is so approachable with pictures of each step to follow along with. Not only will I be recommending this to my library to purchase, I will be purchasing a copy myself and making this book a part of my holiday traditions.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this publication! I really enjoyed this cooking book! It gave a bunch of good recipes!

Baking for the Holidays is an adorable cookbook. I see a ton of recipes I'd enjoy making and serving at family gatherings. I didn't want to review the book without trying a recipe, so I made the vanilla bean sables. They were a hit with my kids!

There were two things I didn't really like. For me personally, there were too many yeast recipes, which I have never successfully been able to bake. And I wish the recipes were broken up by steps or smaller paragraphs. I had to keep trying to find where I was, which to me is a little inconvenient.

Overall I really liked this cookbook and plan to buy a copy when it's released. The Hot Chocolate Cake will be a hit when I serve it at Christmas. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#bakingfortheholidays #netgalley

Baking is one of my favorite things to do and I like to start trying recipes way ahead of the holidays. I tried a couple of the recipes in this book and loved them. Looking at the rest, the recipes are great additions for holiday dinners, and they will help me complement my dessert table this year.

I got the book with the intention of baking throughout the year for different holidays - I have another book with candy for holidays throughout the year, so I thought this would be like that for baking. The cover should have tipped me off it was Christmas only. The recipes themselves were good. Did one with the idea I'll do more later..

One of the best holiday baking books I have read. The photographs are wintery, comforting, and compelling. The recipes have a holiday vibe, spice, and richness, but have so many variations and such well-grounded structure that you can use them year-round. There are old favorites like cinnamon roles and cheffy flourishes like burnt honey buttercream. There's even a suggestion of music to bake by to get in the holiday mood. This would make a great gift for anyone who loves baking or anyone who loves the winter holidays.

Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was received as an ARC from Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not help but get excited and hungry when I saw the magnificent desserts and how easy the recipes were to follow. I love how Sarah Kieffer adds a personal connection to each recipe and it makes you want to eat the dish more. I can't wait to make a lot of these desserts including the Giant Cinnamon Rolls, Morning Buns, Star Braid with all of the different fillings and of course the creme brulee pumpkin pie. I know this book will be a hit and a candidate for a future cooking demo that will definitely be very popular. I can't wait to share all of these wonderful recipes with our library community.

We will consider adding this title to our TX Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Beautifully photographed cookbook filled with recipes for Holiday goodies. My mouth watered throughout the entire tome I was reading reading this cookbook. If you’re like me, you do 80% of your baking during a few weeks in December. It’s a frantic exercise to make sure everyone’s favorite food is created along with a few new treats for variety. Kieffer passed the cookbook organization test with flying colors, providing a good table of contents divided into five sections: Morning Breads and Pastries, Holiday Desserts, Gift Giving, Beyond Christmas, and Extras ( Marshmallows, Marshmallow Fluff, Caramel, No- Churn Ice Cream, Pastry Cream, etc.). Step -by -step illustrations on crafting several more complicated recipes are well done and I can’t wait to try the striking Nutella Star Bread.

All in all, an excellent holiday cookbook which is sure to spark enthusiasm for the years busiest baking season.

Baking for the Holidays is a fun and informative holiday baking book. It starts with clear information on ingredients and equipment before moving on to the recipes themselves. I love the number of pictures included, especially as it starts out with cinnamon rolls. The first time I tried making cinnamon rolls, I kept asking my sister if it looked right and this provides a quick check right then and their. All with classic recipes, there are lovely showpieces for when guests are over, like the Nutella Star Bread or the simpler Panettone Scone that I had never seen before. I think it had fun ideas, lots of good tips and tricks, and recipes for any sort of holiday event. I definitely recommend. My one downside is that this is more for entertaining but few recipes are fairly quick, so unless you plan and bake ahead you might be stuck in the kitchen for awhile. Also, as someone with a nut allergy, I wish there were fewer recipes with nuts (there are a significant amount with them) or at least substitutions included. Still, there were a ton of innovative desserts to try.

I Love this cookbook! The recipes contain simple everyday ingredients and still sound scrumptious and look elegant. Each recipe has a corresponding photo which is a must for me. Usually I'm a little hesitant when there is a section on "gift" foods but these actually look like things I would have no problem giving and someone would actually enjoy getting. I recieved this title as a digital e-galley for my honest feedback but I've already put the physical copy on my wish list. It's that good!

What a lovely book that brings back memories of many happy Christmases past.

The beautiful poem and the music list at the end really topped it off as not just a cookbook. The photography is gorgeous, the recipes easily adaptable and they all sound so yummy. They are also easy to understand, easy to follow and most of them are recipes we can all have a go at and succeed.

Great writing, great recipes and great fun.

What a fantastic holiday recipe book!

This book is sure to make you crave some baked goodies! There are so many recipes to try and I will definitely be buying a hard copy of this book to add to my cookbook collection. Something that stood out to me that I really appreciated was that there were lots of danish sweets for those that aren't huge fans of chocolate (sorry!). I can't way to try out some recipes soon!

These are perfect recipes for the winter but really any time of year! The release date in September is perfect so bakers can practice these recipes before the holiday season! The Crème Brûlée Pumpkin Pie is on my “to practice” list! All directions were clear and the photos provided were perfect.
Thank you to Netgalley and Chronically Books for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

There are some recipes in there that I will for sure love to try. I loved this book included pictures of both the dish and the process. Thank you netgalley for providing me an arc.

This book is ending up in my holiday box. The recipes and the pictures are beautiful. The recipes appear to be ones that I would use 1000+ times for my family and might even end up heirlooms.
Excellent written! In the Amazon shopping cart it goes. It might even make it into my families christmas gifts!

I'm so glad that I got this book as now I have plenty of time to practice these recipes for the holiday season. I absolutely loved the Cheater's Croissant Dough and will be using it all the time now!

Baking for the Holidays is a beautiful cookbook full of different recipes to bake during the Christmas season. These recipes are detailed and come with many photos and instructions, making it easy to follow these recipes. All these recipes look and sound so delicious, I will definitely be trying some the next holiday season. This is a such a good and beautiful cookbook that would be great to give as a gift, too!

Great selection of bake goods for any time of year, and specially for the holidays.
This book has various starter doughs with different options to make an assorted of pastries and breads.

Love all the ideas gathered here.
This could make a great gift for someone that loves baking.
Definitely recommend it.

Baking for the Holidays features some delicious and fun recipes for any time of year but especially those special occasions around the holidays.

The author does a great job adding in small stories and making it personal while also offering lots of ways to personalize the recipes with hints of different toppings to make it your own. Many of the recipes include yeast and rising time so I'd say they're not super quick ones but great for a family weekend of baking or to bring to an event. Beautiful pictures get you excited about the recipes too.

I do wish the steps were numbered or had line breaks in between the steps because I could see if being difficult to find your place if you glance away to stir or mix and come back to the recipe. Excited to try some of these out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a treat! (no pun intended!)

There are so many recipes in this cookbook that I want to try!

First, the recipes are practical and most of them do not sound intimidating! And even the ones that seem pretty complex I feel like I would be comfortable trying.

Second, the photography is amazing! I love the step by step photos for some recipes such as the Pear-Almond Danish Braid or Nutella Star Bread. There are just somethings that are hard to write into words, which I personally feel like is where you lose people in a recipe, but with accompanying photos, it makes it seem doable.

Overall, this is something I want on my cookbook shelf. I am always looking for different recipes during the holidays to really wow people, but also appease to my picky eaters at home and certainly there are many options in Baking for the Holidays.

I absolutely love baking, especially during the holiday season! Not only do all of these recipes look delicious, the pictures are beautiful. The Nutella Star Bread looks INCREDIBLE! I cannot wait to try some of these out!

5 stars, Fabulous Baked Treats

BAKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Sarah Kieffer

A wonderful how-to book for baking treats for the holidays or special occasions. There are lovely full-color photos throughout the book, the author shows you exactly how to fold your dough and how to give it an impressive, stunning almost show-like presentation. Stars with cinnamon bread, easier puff pastry, and panettone scones are some of the recipe techniques that the author displays for you to follow step by step.

I always like to read books about baking, to give my family a special treat, that can be made every year. Highly recommend it. There is a section at the beginning that goes over the techniques of baking, along with a description of each ingredient used and the purpose of it.

There are crisp, clean farmhouse, snowy scenes for art, strategically placed throughout the book. It really is eye candy and you may not want to share your copy with anyone else. Since I have an eBook, it was simply amazing that all of the pictures were included, usually, the publisher doesn't put the artwork or pictures in, until you purchase a copy.

I am sincerely grateful for the complimentary copy of #bakingfortheholidays from #netgalley #chroniclebooks #sarahkieffer I was under no obligation to post a review.

This is a well done book, full of great recipes to make during the holidays and beyond. Instructions are simple and straightforward. The pictures are breathtaking. But something I really loved about this book is that it's not just about cranking out a few sweets to give away over the holidays as if it is yet another chore or something to check off an endless to-do list. As I worked my way through this book, I was actually excited for the process, not just the result. Baking can be relaxing and this book encourages me to do the kind of baking I really enjoy. I also appreciated that there were variations within the recipes themselves. Something as simple as monkey bread had multiple variations/styles but use the same base. I would also say that most recipes in this book need not be isolated to the holidays. The majority can be made year round. One thing I will note, however, is that almost every recipe in this book is heavy in dairy and gluten. For those of us with dietary restrictions, this may not be the book for you. Otherwise, I highly recommend!

An amazing cookbook for the holidays! I particularly loved the easy step-by-step instructions and the photos that accompanied them.

Neat-looking recipes. Some variation options after directions in a number of the recipes - which is nice if wanting something different.

What an incredible collection of holiday baking recipes! I love this cookbook! Every recipe has a short description or history, a mouth watering picture (or several), and detailed instructions for baking. I do love it when a recipe book includes photos for all of the recipes, and the photos in this book are gorgeous and evoke memories of holidays past while also envisioning future holiday gatherings. The recipes are easy to follow with substitutions and variations included where appropriate, making them adaptable to your tastes and available ingredients. The bread recipes also include step-by-step picture instructions making them even easier to follow, and I sincerely appreciate this attention to detail! This holiday baking book is sure to be a favorite in your cookbook collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronical Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such a great holiday cookbook! I loved all of the sweet roll recipes. I will definitely be making some of these for Christmas this year and I will want to get a physical copy of this book. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful recipes!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

Wow! This holiday baking book has it all: holiday photos, instructional pictures taking you step by step through the recipes, photos of the tasty-looking finished products. What is not to like?

Rarely do I want to try practically everything in a cookbook. This book is one that challenges and entices me to try each recipe. I especially love that the author liberally uses my favorite baking spice, cardamon, in many of her recipes.

I am excited to try her Easy Danish Dough and her Cheater’s Croissant Dough. Her instructions seem easy enough to follow with what I hope will be super good results!

Additional pluses to this cookbook are her ‘recipes’ for holiday music to bake to. Also, her bibliography and her lists of resources are extremely useful.

Everyone that does holiday baking of any kind should own this book. I think I will go out and order my copy today so that I can practice before Christmas comes.

Baking for the Holidays is a nice collection of festive recipes developed and curated by Sarah Kieffer. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a winter themed recipe collection full of tempting breads, sweet bakes, cookies, and candies for entertaining or gift-giving. The author says that although her family celebrates Christmas, the recipes are presented with an eye to end-of-year baking and entertaining and are aimed at "the holiday season". The book is certainly filled with attractive and enticing sweet treats.

The recipes are arranged thematically: morning breads & pastries, holiday desserts, gift giving, beyond Christmas, and extras (jams & curd, marshmallows, decorative caramel shards, and other partial ingredients. Each recipe includes serving yields, special notes, and prep times. Recipe ingredients are listed bullet point style along with optional ingredients. All measurements are given in American standard measures with metric measures in brackets (yay!). The directions are given step by step, with assembly tutorials which are accompanied by clear color photos. The nutritional information is not included. Each of the recipes also includes a serving photo in color. Serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate.

The recipes' ingredients are easily sourced and the resultant dishes are family friendly and appealing. Everything is well done and I heartily recommend the book overall. There are a number of these recipes which will get an appearance in my own family dinners/potlucks in the coming months. Probably worth noting, a lot of these recipes are quite chocolate heavy (there's a recipe for fruit cake with chocolate glaze included here). For folks who love chocolate on everything - this one has the goods. The other thing which struck me was that this is a very *stylish* book. Many of these recipes are just that little bit fancier than the average run. Some of them might be a little bit labor intensive for rushed and stressed holiday cooks (but they're so elegant).

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Love the cover and I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t pick up a book that includes holiday desserts. I had a serious fascination with the pictures!

What did I like? The cinnamon rolls and the cream cheese danishes really caught my eye! Yummy! Seriously though the rest of the book was worthy of a look but totally out of my cooking range. My dessert cooking is very limited since we never eat many sweets.

Would I recommend or buy? I don’t make enough desserts to buy a dessert baking book and this one seems to need a more expert hand. The book has step by step instructions for twisting bread doughs and some really nice looking cakes. I’ve never had much success making a cake so I usually skip them. The cake in here looks like that Bridgerton tea cake. Thanks to the publisher for a look.

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review.

I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did but here we go. The classic cinnamon rolls did catch my attention and I’m looking forward to being in the mood to prepare and bake them. The Nutella star bread also looks amazing, and I do appreciate the pictures that show you how to fold and prepare it correctly. All the recipes have pictures which I love! I wanted to give it four stars because the recipes intimidate me, but the pictures, detailed instructions, and hope to be able to do them and have them look as beautiful earned it a five-star rating.

Update: I went for it and made the cinnamon rolls, they turned out larger than expected and next time I will go for the extra cinnamon sugar filling, The day after baking the cinnamon rolls I brought them to my work and people loved them (!!), they stayed good for the next 3-4 days (covered but out of the refrigerator), I would just pop them in the microwave and boom, they were soft, warm and delicious

This cookbook gets 5 stars for looks. The photos in this are absolutely beautiful. The recipes, while absolutely delicious sounding, are not for the every day common baker in mu opinion. If you want to try out a more complicated and detailed recipe for your family for the holidays then definitely grab this cookbook. I want to make the morning buns ASAP. However, if you want something that doesn’t require more time and skill I’d look elsewhere.

If you have a blossoming baker in your family then this book would be an excellent gift for them.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.

Baking for the Holidays by Sarah Kieffer is a beautiful cookbook with lots of photos showing methods as well as the finished baked goods. Sarah offers reminiscences about her holidays growing up and makes the book feel very homey.

The book is divided into five chapters: Morning Breads and Pastries, Holiday Desserts, Gift Giving, Beyond Christmas, and Extras (which encompasses recipes for things like whipped cream, lemon curd, and crème fraiche). Most of the recipes look inspiring, but I have to tell you that a lot of them seemed time and/or labor intensive. Seriously I love the idea of making cinnamon buns from scratch and having them warm on Christmas morning but with everything else going on during the holidays, making a yeast dough just doesn’t come high on my list. I could see it happening at another time, though…..probably in January, late, late January, when the mad rush is over.

Now, I’m an outlier on this next thing, and I admit it. Give me less chocolate on desserts. Please. Sarah puts chocolate on things that really doesn’t need them. I’m certain that some of you have bad feelings about fruitcake, but I believe that a fruitcake that is done well is a brilliant thing. And certainly doesn’t need chocolate glaze because it already should be rich enough! I feel like bakers…and maybe Americans, just need to take a step back from pouring chocolate on everything. See. I am an outlier.

Along the same lines of incorporating chocolate, Sarah seems to like things a bit sweeter than I would be happy with. Pumpkin pie is the holy grail of Thanksgiving desserts in my family. While I agree with Sarah that a little crunch is needed, her remedy is to brûlée the top thus adding more sugar to a recipe that already incorporates a cup of the stuff (my recipe is still hefty on the sugar with 3/4 cups). As for the crunch, I like chopped walnuts, which are so, so delicious when toasted and certainly healthier than adding more sugar.

While some of the cakes were very appealing like the White Cake with Cranberries and White Chocolate Buttercream and Carrot Cake with Burnt Honey Buttercream, many of these recipes just don’t scream homey to me. Homier kinds of recipes can be found in the gift section, but even still some of these seem a little on the higher end of things and again, of course, incorporate extra chocolate. Boohoo. Yeah, yeah, yeah, my pet peeve. However, the one recipe I am dying to make is the Coconut-Cardamom Cupcakes. I love cardamom and can almost imagine how wonderful it would taste with coconut. If I had all of the ingredients, you can be sure I’d be whipping these up right now! Yum.

If you’re looking for downhome kinds of recipes from Christmases past, this probably isn’t your book. However, if you’re an experienced baker who wants to try some different takes on established recipes, this is definitely a go. The book is very well done.

Oh, and if you are looking for the Pumpkin Pie with the Candied Pepita Streusel mentioned in the blurb, stop. Someone ate it along with the recipe.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The holiday’s are such a special time for my family, and a lot of what makes it special is baking! Baking for the Holidays is FULL of recipes I cannot wait to try and bring to celebrations this upcoming holiday season (Especially the Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bark YUM!!!)! The aesthetic of this cookbook is absolutely incredible! I also enjoyed the step-by-step photos provided in some recipes, just so I can make sure I am doing everything right haha. The instructions are easy to follow and explained so you know exactly what needs to be done and when - no guessing games in this cookbook! I can’t wait to work my way through these recipes, this is a must-have for bakers of any level his holiday season!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. I absolutely loved Baking for the Holidays. It is a beautiful cooking/baking guide. This book put me in the holiday mood! I believe that it would be a great holiday guide for ideas for baking, especially for people who are looking for a variety of recipes. I would definitely buy this book for myself or friends/family members who enjoy baking.

The good:
Perfectly laid out, stunning pictures, and I absolutely love the basic recipes she included. If nothing else, those recipes for basic Danish and sweet doughs, rough puff pastry, and cheaters croissant, plus the "extras" section, might make getting this cook book worth it.

The bad:
These are recipes you can find a thousand times over. I almost didn't bother scrolling though it because the recipes were so 'eh.' There isn't anything I got excited over which was disappointing.

Bottom Line:
If you don't already have a recipe book with these Christmas basics, then sure, grab a copy, but if you're a seasoned Christmas baked goods baker, then stick to what you have.

I adore Sarah Kieffer's cookbooks and blog and this new one for the Holidays is just as genius as the others. Mouth watering photos, over the top (but still totally approachable) recipes to wow your friends and family plus tips and tricks to bump your baking game up to the next level. I especially love that she has a whole chapter dedicated to edible gifts. Don't miss this one!

I am a sucker for cookbooks, especially baking & holiday cookbooks! So Baking for the Holidays caught my attention quickly! I have to admit, this once will probably end up in my personal collection! I love all the photos, especially the ones that show the step in making these items. Also, I really like that this book has recipes that you don't find in every other baking cookbook.

The book starts by offering a list of items the home baker should have, pantry basic, kitchen tools, and other items that make baking easier. The first chapter is morning items (cinnamon rolls, danish, scones, etc.), then you have chapters for holiday desserts, gift items, and beyond Christmas. The book finishes out by supplying ideas for making your baked items fancy.

I really think I will have to purchase a copy of this book for myself. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Wow! This book is lovely. My mouth is watering from all the delicious treats included in this book.

The beginning includes a list of resources as a home baker - pantry staples, kitchen tools, and other resources. The recipes range from breakfast delights through delicious gifts and home made treats. There's also an extra section detailing how to do some "fancy" work to make your holiday treats look like they are from some high end bakery. The pictures are gorgeous and detailed.

I definitely can't wait to get my hands on a copy. This book will make an excellent Christmas present.

Baking for the Holidays layout is very nice on the eyes. I love how it not only gives you a picture of the item you are going to bake but it gives you photos of step by step, which is very helpful for a visual learner like myself. I can't wait to make the Peanut Butter Cups and Salted Caramels this year with my kids to give out to family and friends. This will be so much better than our normal tradition of cookies. You have to have this book!! Thank you NetGalley for the advance read and Sarah Kieffer who is brilliant!

My Review for Baking For the Holidays by Sarah Kieffer-
5 Stars

I've always been an avid cookbook collector and it wouldn't surprise me if this one takes a spot on my bookshelf soon. I loved all of the different recipes, most of which I haven't heard before, a difficult thing to accomplish. Usually for holidays the only baking I do is sugar cookies, but now I have plenty of ideas and I'm sure my nephews will be more than happy to help with that. The instructions are easy to understand, the writing is clear and concise, and the pictures make everything look divine. Definitely a 5 star cookbook. If you want to try something new for your holiday table, then I definitely vote this book.

Baking for the Holidays by Sarah Kieffer is a truly lovely holiday cookbook. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes look yummy. You will also find plenty of baking tips and information about baking ingredients. Some of the recipes you'll find include:

Giant Cinnamon Roll
Cheater's Croissant Dough
Cranberries and Cream Danish
White Cake with Cranberries and White Chocolate Buttercream
Creme Brûlée Pumpkin Pie
Frozen Bon Bons
Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Turtle Bars
Vanilla Bean Sables
Blueberry Streusel Buns
Cruffins
Hot Chocolate Cake
Confetti Cake

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley

Baking for the Holidays is stunning! All of the photos made my mouth water. The recipes are clearly written and the tips at the beginning of the book are extremely helpful. I am excited to bake up a bunch of these once it cools off (our AC is broken). My daughter is impatiently waiting to try the Nutella Star Bread! I did feel this book could use a few more recipes. 4.5 stars

The recipes in here look beautiful, and I enjoyed reading the stories that go along with them. I appreciated the fact that each recipe had a picture, and many have pictures that show step by step how to make the item!

I love everything to do with Christmas especially the cookies & pastries! This cookbook is awesome, the pictures are beautiful, and the recipes appear to be easy with ingredients already found in my pantry. I cannot wait to try these! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

On the one hand, it felt a little weird to read a book about holiday baking less than a week after a historic, record-setting heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.

On the other hand, reading the book and thinking about winter was a blessed mental break and reminder that weather will, in fact, grow colder (and I’ll one day have to turn on my heater again, though it is not this day!).

Autumn is hands down my favorite season; it kicks off allllll the baking goodness I love, not to mention the glorious kitchen smells (and free residual oven heat to warm my apartment, if I’m honest). I happily daydream of and anticipate Thanksgiving and Christmas, listen to Christmas music, and visit Hobby Lobby for #allthehomedecor shopping. So reading Baking for the Holidays gave me a sneak peek of that in July (Christmas in July, anyone?!)–and I loved it on all the levels. (Oh, sorry, let me keep on with the hashtagging–#allthelevels.) This cookbook, focused on my favorite time of year and favorite things to eat, is utterly glorious, from the photography to the sheer ideas it gets me itching to start on (if only the oven wouldn’t heat things up before I want it to!).

And the stories Kieffer includes are so very relatable and entertaining, bringing back many a childhood memory as I read. (Plus, anyone that favorably mentions Amy Grant’s Christmas albums is all right in my book. And book quotes scattered throughout?! I think I’ve found a kindred spirit.)

Classic recipes (Cinnamon rolls! Streusel coffee cake!) appear alongside fresh takes and trendy-ish ingredients (Nutella star bread–and who can go wrong with the beautiful pattern it makes?!–and Meyer lemon-white chocolate scones!). And the season doesn’t get much more festive, food-wise, than with the white cake with cranberries and white chocolate buttercream; its incorporation of rosemary-sprig garnish truly elevates it. And, this may be the cookbook that finally gets me to try Nutella, haha. I love that the book includes tips and tricks for early prep, as well; we all know how crazy the hols can get, and anywhere we can save ourselves time and/or angst is always appreciated.

A true feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Kieffer is quickly finding a place on my cookbook shelves. While many of the recipes in Baking for the Holidays are familiar to me, Kieffer has included plenty of suggestions for twists on originals - unusual thing you can add to cakes, breads, and pastries - that add new life to old classics.

Every recipe I tried resulted in delicious, well-baked goodies, due to Kieffer’s careful and detailed instructions. She’s a good writer, and very attentive to detail, which makes her a great writer of cookbooks! The photography is full of luscious images of cakes, cookies, pastries and other delectable items.

My favorite “new” recipe is the one for Morning Buns, which I will be adding to my rotation of special items to bake for holidays.

Buy this for the baker in your life!

The Book has a main recipe and also includes different ways to change the recipes. So you really get more recipes. The directions are very detailed.

Lovely book! I love all the pictures of the delicious looking treats and can’t wait to try some of these recipes.

I love this cookbook!

It has a great variety of recipes for the holidays with easy to follow instructions and some beautiful photos. I love the small extras included in the book like how to make your own marshmallow and candied citrus peel. I also love the section that has recipes intended for giving as gifts.

My only disappointment was that it didn't have more pumpkin recipes. I love pumpkin! A recipe for pumpkin bread or a pumpkin roll would have been great, but other than that, this is a great cookbook for holiday baking and giving.

5/5 stars.

This is a rather slim collection with a few repeats from Kieffer’s other books. It’s beautifully shot with the author’s signature cozy writing but it feels a little rushed to me, meant to capitalize on the success of 100 Cookies. I’d probably only purchase this one at a deep discount.

This cookbook was so wonderful, it was packed with mouthwatering pictures. I literally wanted to go into the Kitchen and make all of these recipes. This cookbook isn't just for the holidays you could use these recipes for whenever you want.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

I know that this is early for the holidays but you might want to look at this book sooner rather than later. That way, there will be plenty of time to decide which recipes you want to try.

This collection is divided into sections on Morning Breads and Pastries; Holiday Desserts; Gift Giving; Beyond Christmas’ and Extras. There are other enticing sections of which my favorite is “Music to Bake to.”

Some of the recipes are those for Pear-Almond Danish Bread; Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake; Modern Fruit Cakes; Coconut-Cardomom Cupcakes’ and Marshmallows. As the cover promises, there are fifty in all.

The book begins with a section titled “How to Use this Book” and is followed by a section on techniques. Bakers will find these to be helpful. There are also many enticing photographs. In addition to showing the baked goods, there are illustrations that demonstrate some aspects of the recipe.

Some of these recipes are undoubtedly too difficult for me but those with a bit of baking experience (or patience) should do fine.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Wow - I read through this book in one night!!

There are so many tasty looking baking recipes that will make any baker want to instantly run out to the store to get the ingredients and start baking!

I loved how they were divided into sections with stories and handy tips along the way.

I’m sure this will be a cookbook that will be on many home cooks and bakers’ shelves to reference in the future!

Best part was probably all of those beautiful photographs that had my mouth watering!

Baking for the Holidays is a comprehensive collection of all the special treats we associate with the holidays. Beautiful photography of delicious dishes, including step by step photos of particularly complex recipes. The recipes are in both metric and customary units. This book is a delight for the eyes and inspiration for all level of bakers.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a lovely holiday book! Divided into five main sections, including Christmas breakfast/brunch recipes, desserts, food gifts to give and recipes for year-round use; this book adds even more fun to the Christmas season with a Spotify playlist. Highly informative basic information as well as gorgeous photography round out a book to cherish for many years to come.
With so much unknown about the coming holiday season, spend a little homebody time with this book and plan for a season of joy and comfort.

This baker can do no wrong! After an amazing baking book in the form of “100 Cookies” I was so excited to read and bake from the newest book from the kitchen of Sarah Kieffer. I loved the structure of this book. The morning recipes with sweet bread for cinnamon rolls and the chocolate hazelnut twist is out of this world! As always, Kieffer delivers easy to read and follow recipes with a dash of coziness that makes each dessert special and will remind people of home during the holidays. I’ll be purchasing a hard copy of this one to keep in my kitchen for years to come!

Everyone likes a new cookbook for the holidays . If baking is your thing or if you want to give baking a try this book has it all .
Beautiful pictures, Ingredients you will be able to find and possibly already have stocked . Easy to follow instructions with some step by step pictures.
Dress up your holiday table with beautiful sweets or bake and gift, the receiver will know it was made with love ❤️
These baked treats will definitely remain dancing in my head .

Sarah Kieffer of The Vanilla Bean Baking Blog has come up with another beautiful, well put together baking book. In this book, Baking for the Holidays, she shares holiday inspired desserts as well as desserts you can enjoy all year long.

I am a baking cookbook connoisseur and there are a few things that make a good cookbook. In my opinion they are: recipes with clear directions and steps, gorgeous photographs of most if not all the recipes and recipes that are unique or teach a new method to common recipes. Baking for the Holidays does just that! Not only is the book designed beautifully, the photos are stunning and make you want to dive in and start baking. What I appreciate most is the more unique recipes such as the cruffins which are a tall muffin and croissant hybrid that looks so good. Not only do I plan on purchasing this book for our library's collection but I want to go and buy my own copy as well.

As a beginning baker, there wasn't a lot in this cookbook that felt accessible. The recipes are time consuming and require more skill than a casual home baker may possess. That being said, the food looks delicious and the photos are attractive.

I know, I know! It’s still August and you are wondering why I’m talking about this yummy Holiday baking Cookbook, right? It’s because it publishes in just a couple of weeks, Sept 7 and it will make such a great gift for new bakers or even for your own Cookbook collection, so I had to tell you about it now.

Who doesn’t love some Holiday baking? The house fills up with the smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate. I can smell it now and can’t wait to start baking for Christmas.

Baking for the holidays has some tried and true Holiday favorites and some fun new recipes that I haven’t yet tried.

Burnt Honey Buttercream, Lemon Pull-Apart Bread, Nutella Star Bread (this looks beautiful!), Hot Chocolate Cake, Frozen Bon-Bons, no churn Ice Cream and this cool new idea – Cruffins! 🤯😃♥️💚 A cross between and Croissant and a Muffin. O-M-G!

Every recipe in this books is a make-from-scratch. Some recipes are really easy, others you may need to read a couple of times to make sure you understand the process. But I promise you, you will not be disappointed if you pick up this Cookbook!

For the recipes that will take a bit of extra time, Kieffer does an excellent job of making easy to read directions to simplify the process for the baker, as much as possible.

A great cookbook for every household that loves to wake up to the smell of holiday baking! YUM!

Thank you to #ChronicleBooks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an amazing collection of recipes! The recipes included in this book, are easy to read and the assortment is vast! You’ll find traditional desserts, breakfast pastries for both everyday consumption & holiday gatherings and gift giving ideas. The pictures made me want to head into the kitchen and start baking! There’s even a playlist you can find on both Spotify and Apple Music!

Beautiful book laid out with photo's and recipes broken up by type of baking. Additionally, the author provides variations, and ways to make the baking easy so that you enjoy your company versus in the kitchen baking. Many of the recipes sound very yummy and easy to accomplish to make a wonderful table for any occasion but it focuses on holidays. Photo's include step by step directions in some areas as well as completed products. Recipes are given in a variety of measurements for the casual and professional baker. Breads, pastries and pies are included and sound delicious to try. I may be giving it a go before the holidays.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Kieffer and publisher for the opportunity to review the book.

Wonderful baking book, and not just for the holidays. The recipes all sound delicious and include a color photograph. Many of them are for more special items or a special flavor or decoration. Recipe chapters are Morning Breads and Pastries, Holiday Desserts, Gift Giving (i.e. candies and cookies), Beyond Christmas (flavors or items that especially work year-round), and Extras (toppings, garnishes).

Baking for the Holidays by Sarah Kieffer is an enchanting mix of extravagant and comfort food creations. The adventurous baker will appreciate the unusual combinations such as Passion Fruit Poppyseed Muffins but the recipe variations for lemon and orange-cranberry muffins will appeal to those who may be bit less willing to experiment on new flavors. There are also enchanting mash-ups such as the Cruffins (“the love child of croissants and muffins”) and Hot Chocolate Cake. The author shares her inspiration for each recipe which is a charming aspect of this book. The photography is a visually appealing blend of tantalizing baked goods and technical guidance for constructing the confections. This book is sure to become favorite holiday resource for many bakers. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

Thank you netgalley for providing me the arc, in exchange for a honest review!
I love baking, and I do a lot of it. I also love the holidays, so basically this cookbook had my name written all over it. And if there is one thing I've learned from testing recipes, it is that the classic cookie recipe will tell you everything you need to know about the book. So when I got my hands on the arc, I immediately found a cookie recipe, the Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, and whipped them up. Oh boy, were they delicious!! As far as the actual book goes, the layout is great, the directions are easy to follow, I love the add pages for classic baking techniques, and everything looks delicious! I can not wait to pick up an actual copy!

Wonderful recipes. I love the pictures and stories with the recipes too. Some unique and classic recipes are featured which is a great mix for a good cookbook. Can’t wait to try some!

What a beautiful book! Fabulous photos, original and delicious-sounding recipes, and on overall incredibly cozy feel. I appreciate that there were spots with stories that personalized the book, but it wasn't like I was reading an entire memoir before getting to a recipe. It seemed well thought-out. I also appreciate that the recipes that used techniques, etc from other cookbooks or chefs were credited as such.
I definitely want to try out some of these recipes once the weather cools off!

The book cover is catchy and there are some good recipes in this cookbook. However, this cookbook did not meet my expectations. Nonetheless, I am thankful to review it!

HOLIDAY GOODIE PERFECTION!

looking for the perfect way to impress the in-laws?

Look no further!

This is the perfection.

The pictures are magical. The presentation spectacular. The recipes TOP NOTCH

I love sweet treats for the holidays! What a wonderful way to connect and spend time with the family. This book is laid out beautifully, and the photos are STUNNING. I am crossing my fingers that my attempts end up looking similarly. I am bummed out that this advance copy will expire before I can use the cookbook in the holiday season. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Baking for the Holidays made me feel excited for the Holidays! The book features 50+ recipes that are perfect for the Holidays and sharing with friends and family. I loved that most recipes included a make ahead suggestion, since so much of Holiday Baking is scheduling accordingly around family commitments and events.

The book is broken into the following sections:
-Morning Breads and Pastries
-Holiday Desserts
-Gift Giving
-Beyond Christmas
-Extras

A few recipes that stood out to me that I look forward to adding to my Holiday rotation this year (or honestly sooner!): coffee cardamom monkey bread, powdered sugar donuts, crème brûlée pumpkin pie, turtle bars, blueberry streusel bars, hot chocolate cake, and caramel shards.

While I found these recipes to be pretty traditional, I think the recipes are very thorough and the selection is well curated. I’m sure this will become a staple in a lot of homes this Holiday season.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and #NetGalley for the ARC of this cookbook, in exchange for my honest review. What sets this cookbook apart from a sea of other holiday baking cookbooks: ingredients listed with both volume and weight measures, lots of photos to show the how for the more complicated braiding/assembly steps, plus two sections that I find uniquely valuable - the gift giving recipes and the extras recipes. Can't wait to give these a go!