OP: The Simple Art of Perfect Baking

William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1985. Hardcover. Fine in Very Good jacket. Signed first printing. Flo Braker was a baker’s baker, and her first book, The Simple Art of Perfect Baking (1985), was the standard bearer for technically sound and approachable home baking books for many, many years. (As an aside, we will mention that Braker’s debut was edited by the indomitable Maria Guarnachelli, who also had her hand in Classic Indian Cooking, The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, and Bravetart, among many others, if that helps contextualize the type of rigor we’re talking about). At a little over 500 pages, with some recipes occupying as many as four pages or involving a handful of subrecipes, The Simple Art… has all the potential to be overly complicated and totally maddening. Quite the opposite is true, however, as Braker’s teaching experience and know-how inspire just the right amount of confidence to tackle everything from a classic angel food cake to a cranberry eistorte—a frozen dessert, which,