Deanna F. Cook - Baking Class

To make this book, I had lots of kitchen helpers. Three cheers and many thanks to the great kids pictured on the pages: Amalia, Amelia, Anna, Caleb, Coco, Dante, Djamil, Eden, Ella, Ethan, Finn, Inez, Luca, Maceo, Maisie, Malia, Ryland, Saenger, Sarah, Sophie, Tate, Tessa, Theo, Zadie H., Zadie S., and Zora.

I also want to thank our photographer, Carl Tremblay, and his assistant, Julian Chappell, for the beautiful photos, and talented food stylist Sally Staub. Special thanks to Jessica Armstrong, Lisa Hiley, and Deborah Balmuth, the team at Storey who helped make this book the best it could be. Thanks, too, to my partners at Kidstir.com for inspiring some of the recipes in this book. Lastly, I couldn't have made this book without the support of my family, who tested and tasted many of the recipes. Thanks Ella, Maisie, and Doug!

To my baking friends: Thanks for picking up Baking Class. I hope you enjoy baking up a storm with the recipes in this book. Please share photos of your kitchen creations with me at DeannaFCook.com Id love to see what you bake up!

Grab your apron and follow these tips and tricks for kitchen fun!

Each recipe is rated with one, two, or three rolling pins so you know the skill level needed to complete it. If you are a new chef, you can start with the easier recipes and work your way up.

Most of these recipes are no-bake and can be pulled together without having to use the oven.

These recipes involve baking in the oven or toaster oven, so brush up on your oven safety skills before you begin. These are good recipes to work on with a parent or older sibling.

These recipes involve cutting with sharp knives, using an electric mixer or food processor, and using the oven. They tend to take more time to prepare, too.

Start good habits from the get-go by following these basic kitchen rules . To begin with, ask an adult for permission before using the kitchen. Ask for help, too, if you have questions along the way.

1. Wash your hands with warm water and soap before you handle food.
2. Roll up long sleeves & wear an apron. Tie back long hair to keep it away from food. You can even wear a bandanna or chefs hat!
   
3. Read the recipe from start to finish before you begin. Follow the steps closely.
4. Put out all the ingredients youll need (see the Heres What You Need list) to be sure you have everything.
   
5. Start each recipe with ingredients that are at room temperature. And be sure to check expiration dates (dont use baking soda or perishables if they are past their dates).
6. Take out all the tools you need for your recipe from measuring cups to bowls.
   
7. Measure carefully (see the tips in ).
   
8. Always use pot holders when moving pans in and out of the oven, and remember to turn the oven off after youre done baking.
   
9. Arrange your oven racks. Cookies, cakes, and breads bake most evenly in the middle of the oven. So before you preheat, arrange the oven racks so that one is in the center.
10. Preheat. Let the oven come to the correct temperature before you put in your pans or cookie trays. Otherwise, your food will take longer to bake or will cook unevenly.
11. Leave the oven door shut. The temperature drops every time the door is opened, so dont keep opening it to check your food. If your oven has a light, use it to keep an eye on your baked goodies.
12. Use a timer. Always set a timer, and dont leave the room when your cookies and pies are baking. Trust your sense of smell. If you smell burning, turn off the oven and take your food out, even if the timer hasnt gone off. Ovens heat at different rates, and no one wants burned baked goods!
    
13. Leave the kitchen sparkling clean! Put away the ingredients, wipe down the countertop, and wash the dishes.

To make the recipes in this book, youll need some basic baking tools, such as cookie sheets, dry and liquid measuring cups, mixing spoons, and pot holders. You can put together a personal baking kit with your favorite tools and cookie cutters. Just find a big cardboard box or clear plastic container and stock it with your favorite baking tools. Label or decorate your container with the stickers in the .