Beranbaum’s Baking Bible is a comprehensive reference to both kitchen staples and baked goods often thought inaccessible to home bakers, such as kouign amann. What sets this book apart is the extreme level of detail in each recipe and the meticulous care with which possible contingencies have been addressed in notes and asides. The typical recipe in this book is several pages of small type, which, rather than being off-putting for an amateur, is liberating because with that level of specificity, any recipe – even one that is very technically challenging – becomes almost foolproof. All ingredients measurements are given in metric weight, imperial weight, and imperial volume, and all tricky techniques are described in detail.

Beranbaum does not shy away from using technical or exotic ingredients but for the most part sticks to pantry staples where possible.