Sweet Laurel: Recipes for Whole Food, Grain-Free Desserts

Sweet Laurel paleo bakery cofounders Gallucci and Thomas (The Kitchy Kitchen blog) apply their healthy approach in a debut cookbook that features indulgent, whole foods desserts from their Santa Monica bakery. Basing their book on their Sweet Laurel Method principles (keep it simple, keep it whole, keep it balanced, keep it stress free, and keep it beautiful), the authors reveal the secrets behind their stylish confections, beginning with foundational recipes for egg, butter, dairy, and sugar substitutions made with seeds, coconut oil, nuts, and natural sweeteners. Pantry staples and essential tools are outlined, and recipes are coded as vegan, raw, or nut-free. The recipes are simple-to-assemble classics: cookies and bars feature brownies, snicker doodles, and lemon bars; pies offer dairy-free cheesecake and frangipane pear galette; cakes are old favorites—pineapple upside down, classic chocolate varieties, and carrot cake, as well as an elegant pistachio rose cake frosted in rose buttercream. The Grand Finale chapter instructs on “show-stopping” layer cake decoration. For folks wanting to try their hand at baking sumptuous whole ingredient, grain-free sweet treats, this collection is a well-conceived, enticing primer. (Apr.)