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NPR's Book of the Day

In a new version of 'The Cake Bible,' Rose Levy Beranbaum updates a culinary classic

Nov 19, 2024
Rose Levy Beranbaum, the esteemed author behind the revolutionary cookbook "The Cake Bible," shares her insights on baking in today's culinary landscape. She discusses the evolution in baking techniques, like the shift to weight measurements and reverse creaming. Beranbaum highlights common mistakes beginner bakers make and offers tips for simplification, focusing on ingredient selection and measurement accuracy. Additionally, she shares the story behind a chocolate cake named after Plácido Domingo, connecting baking with emotional resonance in people's lives.
10:22

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Rose Levy Beranbaum's updated edition of The Cake Bible adapts baking techniques to modern ingredients and equipment, emphasizing precision in measuring by weight.
  • The revised Cake Bible simplifies baking for beginners by introducing the reverse creaming method and highlighting the emotional connections fostered through baking.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Baking Techniques

Baking has seen significant advancements since the release of The Cake Bible, particularly with the introduction of new techniques and tools. Rose Levy Berenbaum emphasizes the importance of weighing ingredients instead of measuring by volume, which ensures precision and consistency in baking. The revised edition acknowledges changes in both ingredients, such as the reduced size of egg yolks due to younger laying hens, and equipment, notably the height of cake pans, which impacts the final product. These details are crucial for achieving the desired texture and flavor in baked goods, illustrating how even small variations can lead to different outcomes.

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