I'm looking for a good book that teaches the science behind baking ... . such as what exactly the baking powder does, how different sugars change a recipe.. etc.

Maybe a course book from a culinary institure?

Does anyone know of one that they would recommend?

Thanks for your help!

bump

Try this book Professional baking by Wayne & Gisslen. Its teaches you all about baking. Everything you need to know for baking different cakes, different mixing method and it even have a lot of recipes as well.

the content includes:
Basic Principles
Ingredients
Understanind Yeast and dough
Yeast dough formulas and techniques
quick bread
doughnuts, etc
pastries, creams, icing

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-8746188-3563841?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=professional+baking
Amazon has the book for sale

I got this book from my BIN he did several culinary courses.

Hope this help.

I like the Profession Pastry Chef: Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry by Bo Friberg. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0471359254/?tag=cakecentral-20

It is very informative, explains things in detail and has lots of recipes. 1040 pages!

I have a book called:


Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavor (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History) (Hardcover)

by Hervé This

It's an awesome book. When it's not so late I'll recommend some more books.

Cookwise by Shirley Corriher, who is a food scientist is a good one. It's not specific to baking, but it has a good baking chapter:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0688102298/?tag=cakecentral-20
Also, "What Einstein Told His Cook" is an interesting read:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393011836/?tag=cakecentral-20

I'm sure you can get these from the library, too.

Baking Illustrated-The Practical Kitchen Companion for the Home Baker by the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine is a good one explaining how they tested recipes for various areas of baking - cakes, cookies, pies, etc. In the cake section they recommend having 2 sets of cake pans - two 8 inch rounds and two 9 inch rounds, which only covers the recipes they give (imagine only needing only 4 cake pans! ). It has a few color plates of the finished products, but also supplements their how-to's with black and white photos and/or drawings, e.g. page 373 Assembling a Baked Alaska.

I also love the Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum.

Have you check your library lately they have alot of books cake decorating and videos too Rudith

well i may be banned from this site after this: but i swear i learned TONS from Alton Brown's
'I'm Just Here for More Food', his cookbook about baking.

i'm assuming it's far more elementary than previously mentioned books, but an easy read.....i guess it depends on exactly what you are looking for.

if you like alton brown, it's very much 'him.'

consequently? i do NOT buy cookbooks, but i had the opportunity to meet him.....it's riddled with baking knowledge throughout....but it has recipes too (you kind of learn through each recipe) and might i say, our challenge has been to find ONE recipe we don't love.....so far we are unsuccessful.

sally

I second the votes for Shirley O. Corriher's and Alton Brown's books.

Deanna

I love Alton Brown. Thx for the suggestion.

On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee is like a bible among professional chef and avid cooks alike.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0684800012/?tag=cakecentral-20

Thanks so much!

I've already cleaned out the library... they didn't have much on the technical side.

These all sound like great suggestions.. I already subscribe to Cook's Illustrated and I love it.. I'll absolutely check out that book. And I love Alton Brown (Good Eats is my favorite show!) so his book is also on the list. Amazon loves me!

You guys are the greatest! I knew I could count on you!

Also from the library you can check their website look for the book you want and see if they have a cake decorating if they dont have in that library they may borrow from another library rudith

Have you checked the baking 911 website? Sarah has a lot of good information there.

You have to read the Cake Bible!!!! It really tells all the science behind things.