Book Description

In this accessible, step-by-step guide, professional baker Theresa Culletto shows you how to transform artisan breads into show-stopping creations by shaping, twisting, painting, and embellishing them into edible masterpieces. Base recipes include challah, cracker, focaccia, lean, pita/naan, pretzel, pumpernickel, and savory and sweet buttermilk doughs. Have fun making bread stalks, edible baskets, leaf branches, quilted buns and bread bowls, savory or sweet confetti bread, sunburst breads, and even a van Dough focaccia garden. Then take your baking out of this world by learning how to make whole wheat and multigrain variations, natural food dyes, and even decorative frames for your carbo-licious creations. For beginners, Culletto offers a comprehensive overview of bread baking 101, including terminology, necessary equipment, how to work with starters, and more, and little fingers can help by placing decorations. For seasoned bakers, she provides a plethora of inventive tips and techniques, including how to prep veggies, herbs, and other deliciously decorative ingredients; how to prevent scorching; and helpful storage info. Organized by season and covering all major holidays, Beautiful Bread offers delicious ideas for every occasion, such as framed floral fruit bread for Mother’s Day, pretzels with a twist (and that’s no lye), themed dough-nations for bake sales, spiced pumpkin bread bowls for fall soups, and more. Gorgeous instructional photos accompanying 75 mouthwatering recipes will inspire you to embrace your creativity and bake in completely new, exciting ways. You’ll be whipping up art you can eat in no time!