Duff Bakes: Think and Bake like a Pro at Home

Goldman’s follow-up to his successful Ace of Cakes cookbook is just as appealing as its predecessor. Goldman, a TV personality and owner of Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes, and Gonzalez, the head baker at Goldman’s Charm City Cakes West in L.A., team up to offer readers a litany of tips and practical recipes for all things flour based (as well as an entire chapter that focuses exclusively on vegan and/or gluten-free fare). The duo offer a nice mix of classics such as pecan pie, focaccia, carrot cake, and an apple pear galette, as well as inventive riffs such as Elvis Cookies—a savory-sweet blend of chocolate chips, bacon, bananas, and pretzel crumbs—and chorizo and manchego scones. The reliable sources for ingredients and guidance help readers feel comfortable making their own pie crusts and blueberry muffins before trying their hand at more challenging fare. Rounded out with plenty of salient tips on everything from selecting the right blowtorch (hit the hardware store) to getting cheesecake out of a cake pan (briefly warm the bottom over the stove top), Goldman and Gonzalez’s thoughtful instructions are sure to inspire and embolden readers. Agent: Cait Hoyt: Creative Artists Agency. (Nov.)