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

Sweet Laurel Bakery, creation of the Los Angeles based duo Laurel Gallucci and Claire Thomas, has earned a national reputation. Their cakes and desserts are made with organic natural ingredients that happen to be grain-free, (mostly) dairy-free, and refined sugar-free without relying on gums, chemical stabilizers, or fillers. Nearly all of the recipes here are simple enough for a novice home baker. Pantry staples include coconut and nut products (milks, flours, creams, butters); dates, honey, and maple syrup; and simple baking spices and extracts. The equipment needs are also simple, with the most unusual being a nylon nut-milk bag and the most expensive being a good blender. The flavors are mostly sweet with a few savories for good measure, including sesame crackers, nut-milk cheese, savory turmeric bread, and everything-bagel bread. The sweets are the stars of the show, though, especially the cakes. Each component, from the cake to fillings and decorations, is addressed individually