Rose’s Baking Basics by Rose Levy Beranbaum

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rose Levy Beranbaum about her latest cookbook, Rose’s Baking Basics: 100 Essential Recipes, with More Than 600 Step-by-Step Photos.  Below, I will share some details from that wonderful experience as well as provide you with a review of this must-have book for cookbook lovers and bakers alike.

Rose’s Baking Basics was written with the novice baker in mind but presented in a way that experienced bakers will appreciate and value. What is noticed immediately are the wealth of photographs which detail each step of the recipe process. The amount of work that went into the photography alone is staggering. I am an experienced baker and following Rose’s recipes in this title is effortless.

As in all of Rose’s books, measurements are given in weights and volume but here she also lays out mise en place instructions as well as countless details to ensure success. Tips are scattered throughout and called “baking pearls.” Do you want to know how far Rose will go to make sure you deliver perfect results? She has provided us with the approximate weight of final batters – just in case we may have forgotten an ingredient, such as sugar. I will admit that I have made that error before. So each cookie bakes perfectly and each cake layer is even. 

Rose is known for preciseness and Rose’s Baking Basics is her gift to her fans of recipes that are perfected – her best pie crust (flaky perfection), best yellow cake, and so forth. Which recipes are her favorites: Triple lemon cake, Flourless chocolate cake, and the Chocolate caramel tart (especially the Dark chocolate caramel tart variation) to name a few. For the event, I made Rose’s chocolate chip cookies and they were a huge success both at home and at the bookstore. Rose wants the ingredients to shine through and her recipes limit sugar and salt – to the level necessary for delicious results.

Of course, I had to ask Rose about cookbooks and she has quite the collection. Who are her favorites? Yotam Ottolenghi, Helen Goh, Erin McDowell (who styled Rose’s Baking Basics), Jean Anderson’s Doubleday Cookbook and of course works by Julia Child and Paula Wolfert.

What’s next for Rose? She shared that before she left for her current book tour, she turned in her manuscript for her next title. Look for Rose’s book on ice cream due out in 2020. Next books will be a tome devoted to wedding cakes and then a memoir. Rose is a great story-teller – her memoir will be fantastic. Of course, she keeps up with her blog which is indexed for our members and shares numerous videos, links to her Craftsy class and more. I don’t think the woman sleeps.

Besides baking, cooking and writing, Rose also spends time on perfecting kitchen products. I have her Perfect Pie Plate which helps those who are crimping impaired to achieve a beautiful crust. 

Her latest endeavor is her Signature Series which includes products that produce ultimate results include, but is not limited to, these items: 

There is also a cherry pitter, mini roller and other products in the works. Rose’s manufacturer, American Products Group, Inc., is offering a set of her Trinity spatula set to three members in our giveaway below (in addition to the publisher, Houghton Mifflin, providing three copies of her cookbook).  

Our will take you inside Rose’s book so that you will see the detail provided to each recipe. This preview features the following

Just a reminder, this title is one of our main selections in the Eat Your Books Cookbook Club this fall. And in case you missed the mention above, Rose is on tour so be sure to check out our calendar to see if she is coming to your area. 

Special thanks to Rose for her time and generosity and to Houghton Mifflin and American Products Group for their efforts in our giveaway below.


The publisher is offering three copies of this book and American Products Group is providing three sets of Rose’s Trinity spatula set to EYB Members in the US and Canada. Two of the entry options is to answer the following questions in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

What product of Rose’s line at American Products Group would you like to try?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on November 18th, 2018.

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160 Comments

  • FireRunner2379  on  October 3, 2018

    I'd like to try the Date nut roll cookies.

  • rchesser  on  October 3, 2018

    Sweet chocolate cookie tart crust (Chocolate pâte sucrée).

  • FireRunner2379  on  October 3, 2018

    I'd like to try Rose's Magic Rolling Pin.

  • Kristjudy  on  October 3, 2018

    Triple lemon velvet cake

  • lauriesk  on  October 3, 2018

    I would make the BlueRaspberry crisp.

  • mcrimmins  on  October 3, 2018

    Chocolate Wafers sound good.

  • lauriesk  on  October 3, 2018

    I would try Rose's Fast Tracks Rolling Rails.

  • rlmolnar  on  October 3, 2018

    Deeply Chocolate Biscotti and the Magic Dough Pastry Mat.

  • Kristjudy  on  October 3, 2018

    I would love to try the rolling rails

  • cookshelf58  on  October 3, 2018

    Date nut roll cookies; Rose's Magic Dough Mat

  • smartie101  on  October 3, 2018

    Deluxe Puffs

  • theheritagecook  on  October 3, 2018

    My husband would love to have her biscotti!

  • Maefleur  on  October 3, 2018

    I would like to try the marzipan cookies!

  • ebs  on  October 3, 2018

    Cream cheese crunch pound cake

  • Mariarosa  on  October 3, 2018

    I can't resist lemon butter squares. And I'd love to try the Magic Dough Mat!

  • Roxy12  on  October 3, 2018

    Triple Lemon Velvet Bundt Cake—we have a nice Meyer lemon crop right now!

  • ADeeRD  on  October 3, 2018

    I would like to try her Date Nut Roll cookies- dates are so good in baked goods. I would also like to try her rolling pin- its nonstick and looks innovative.

  • ToPieFor  on  October 3, 2018

    Buttermilk cupcakes and I'd love to try the Magic Dough Pastry Mat.

  • kristinthiel  on  October 3, 2018

    My lemons are starting to come out so definitely the Triple Lemon Velvet bunds cake!

  • kristinthiel  on  October 3, 2018

    Oops I mean Triple Lemon Velvet bundt cake, darn auto correct, lol!

  • prairieschooner1  on  October 3, 2018

    Rugelach

  • tennyogirl  on  October 3, 2018

    Walnut powder puffs

  • demomcook  on  October 3, 2018

    Babka swirl loaf

  • tennyogirl  on  October 3, 2018

    Rose's Fast Tracks

  • lpatterson412  on  October 3, 2018

    French chocolate tart! I also would love to try Rose's fast tracks!

  • riley  on  October 4, 2018

    Rose's Fast Tracks and Marzipan Cookies

  • vickster  on  October 4, 2018

    Triple Lemon Velvet Bundt Cake

  • ravensfan  on  October 4, 2018

    Molasses sugar butter cookies

  • ravensfan  on  October 4, 2018

    Rose's Fast Tracks Rolling Rails

  • kmn4  on  October 4, 2018

    Triple lemon velvet bundt cake

  • kmn4  on  October 4, 2018

    Fast Tracks Dough Thickness Rails

  • rchesser  on  October 4, 2018

    Roses's Magic Dough Pastry Mat.

  • matag  on  October 4, 2018

    Rose’s magic dough mat

  • matag  on  October 4, 2018

    Beer Bread

  • MittenRD  on  October 4, 2018

    Triple Lemon cake! 🙂

  • eatysmith  on  October 4, 2018

    Rose's rugelach!

  • eatysmith  on  October 4, 2018

    "Visit American Product Groups and leave a comment about which of Rose's Signature line you would like to try." Rose's Pie Recipe Deck!

  • JRumi  on  October 4, 2018

    Blue raspberry crisp

  • JRumi  on  October 4, 2018

    Rose’s Magic Rolling Pin

  • sgump  on  October 4, 2018

    'Tis the season–I'd try the apple pie!

  • jr0717  on  October 4, 2018

    The Glazed mocha chiffon sounds divine!

  • jr0717  on  October 4, 2018

    I'd try the magic rolling pin first!

  • Whyvette  on  October 4, 2018

    I’d like to try the chocolate spangled meringue kisses and Rose’s Magic Dough Rolling Mar.

  • sipa  on  October 5, 2018

    Peaches and cream kuchen

  • Siegal  on  October 5, 2018

    I want to make the swirl babka

  • jmay42066  on  October 5, 2018

    Apple galette

  • jmay42066  on  October 5, 2018

    Rose's Magic Dough Mat

  • t.t  on  October 6, 2018

    Japanese milk bread

  • t.t  on  October 6, 2018

    Rose's Fast Tracks

  • heyjude  on  October 6, 2018

    Clinton St Brookies

  • heyjude  on  October 6, 2018

    I'd love the rolling pin.

  • debbiehb  on  October 6, 2018

    Classic spritz cookies

  • antpantsii  on  October 6, 2018

    My Best Brownies-

    with cream cheese in the ingredients it must be good!

  • Frogcake  on  October 6, 2018

    Triple lemon velvet cake is one of many I’m going to try.

  • Lmocooks  on  October 6, 2018

    Apple Galette

  • Lmocooks  on  October 6, 2018

    I'd like the Magic Dough Pastry Mat

  • Laura1  on  October 6, 2018

    rugalach and the magic dough pastry mat

  • mpdeb98  on  October 6, 2018

    Lemon butter squares and the Magic Rolling Pin

  • milgwimper  on  October 6, 2018

    Marzipan Cookies and the Fast tracks.

  • allthatsleftarethecrumbs  on  October 6, 2018

    Frozen pecan tart.

  • LaurenE  on  October 6, 2018

    Rose's Fast Tracks Rolling Rails

  • KittyPride  on  October 7, 2018

    I would make Triple lemon velvet bundt cake first.

  • CassieD82  on  October 7, 2018

    Scottish shortbread cookies!

  • hirsheys  on  October 7, 2018

    I would make the pate sucre and buy the baking mat to roll it on!

  • amandabeck  on  October 7, 2018

    peanut butter cream cheese frosting (and I guess some chocolate cake to go with!)

  • janv  on  October 7, 2018

    some great Coffee buttercream would be nice

  • janv  on  October 7, 2018

    roses Magic Dough Mat

  • MiMi60  on  October 7, 2018

    I would like to try a Apple galette and I would like to have Rose’s All-American Pie Kit

  • choppergirl  on  October 7, 2018

    Chocolate spangled meringue kisses

  • choppergirl  on  October 7, 2018

    The magic rolling pin

  • RGolding  on  October 7, 2018

    I'd love to make the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies and I'd love to have Rose's Perfect Pie Pan.

  • sipa  on  October 8, 2018

    Babka swirl loaf

  • jennycooks1971  on  October 9, 2018

    Milk chocolate caramel tart

  • sarahawker  on  October 9, 2018

    Scottish shortbread cookies

  • sarahawker  on  October 9, 2018

    I'd love the magic dough mat, I don't have a lot of counter space, this would be awesome.

  • smartie101  on  October 10, 2018

    carrot muffins

  • smartie101  on  October 10, 2018

    I'd like to upgrade to the Magic Rolling Pin

  • okmosa  on  October 11, 2018

    I’ve been on a search recently for a family favorite brownie recipe!

  • Bwalker  on  October 11, 2018

    Oatmeal cookies are a family tradition- always trying new recipes. I would love to try the magic rolling pin.

  • kimtrev  on  October 11, 2018

    Rose's Rugelach and Fast Tracks Dough Thickness Rails

  • RoseMGenuine  on  October 11, 2018

    I would try the carrot cake and I think I need a magic dough mat!

  • banba1  on  October 12, 2018

    I'd bake the Clinton Street rookies, and need a magic dough mat!

  • Steben  on  October 13, 2018

    The marzipan cookies

  • annieski  on  October 13, 2018

    I'd try the Fast Tracks. They look a bit nicer than the very practical dowels that I bought at the hardware store.

  • amylou61  on  October 14, 2018

    I'd like to try the Lemon butter squares.

  • jezpurr  on  October 16, 2018

    The Dough Mat!!!^_^

  • jezpurr  on  October 16, 2018

    The Glazed Mocha Chiffon!!!^_^

  • NaomiH  on  October 17, 2018

    Frozen pecan tart

  • NaomiH  on  October 17, 2018

    Rose's Magic Fast Tracks

  • BridgetL  on  October 17, 2018

    Orange Chiffon, I love anything with orange!

  • herosky  on  October 17, 2018

    I would try pumpkin pie first since we're so close to the holidays. This is also my favorite kind of pie, and I've never attempted to bake one from scratch. I like the dough mat offered on Rose's website the best.

  • Kblg  on  October 19, 2018

    The first recipe I would try is peaches-and-cream-kuchen and I would want to get Rose’s Magic Fast Tracks.

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  October 19, 2018

    I want to make the raspberry almond sandwich cookies.

  • Dannausc  on  October 19, 2018

    Lemon butter squares and the magic rolling pin

  • Alleycat  on  October 19, 2018

    I would hit the cookies first. Chocolate chip and then shortbread.

  • JoanN  on  October 19, 2018

    First up would be Rose's Rugelach, because I can't believe she improved on the recipe in "Rose's Christmas Cookies."

  • Bekstayo  on  October 19, 2018

    I want to make the milk chocolate caramel tart, after having bought Rose's magic dough mat to roll out the pastry!

  • Bekstayo  on  October 19, 2018

    And I'd love the magic rolling pin so that the pastry wouldn't stick.

  • BethBakesBest  on  October 19, 2018

    I've made her rugelach before, but I'd definitely make them again!

  • Littlebirdchoc  on  October 19, 2018

    I would TOTALLY try the Lemon Butter Squares – MMMMMM!! LEMON!!!!

  • Alleycat  on  October 19, 2018

    Rose's magic tracks and mat would be si helpful! The tracks are genius.

  • sequoia55  on  October 20, 2018

    marzipan cookies

  • Aliped  on  October 20, 2018

    I would like to try the no knead bread. I would like to try the Fast Tracks Rolling Rails.

  • BMeyer  on  October 20, 2018

    chocolate caramel tart

  • LizyB  on  October 20, 2018

    Chocolate spangled angel food cake & Rose's Fast Tracks!

  • Wooby  on  October 20, 2018

    Lemon butter squares to start!!

  • RSW  on  October 20, 2018

    Fudgy praline pecan meringue ice cream sandwiches

  • Dlaraneta  on  October 20, 2018

    Lemon bunds cake

  • RSW  on  October 20, 2018

    Rose's fast tracks.

  • wanda72  on  October 20, 2018

    I want to try the triple lemon bundt cake!

  • Rosesrpink50  on  October 20, 2018

    Lemon Curd Whip Cream

  • mrscahughes  on  October 20, 2018

    Any and everything

  • sallansd  on  October 21, 2018

    Walnut powder puffs

  • sallansd  on  October 21, 2018

    Rose's Magic rolling pin

  • Xyz123  on  October 21, 2018

    Milk Chocolate Caramel Tart!

  • Sfgordon  on  October 22, 2018

    I'd try the Babka swirl loaf

  • Sfgordon  on  October 22, 2018

    I'd also like to try Rose's Fast Tracks.

  • threefourpfeif  on  October 22, 2018

    My best brownies look tasty!

  • EmilyR  on  October 22, 2018

    Peanut butter cream cheese frosting

  • EmilyR  on  October 22, 2018

    The link wasn't working for me this one works : http://www.apg2020.com/rose_index.html … I'd love Rose's magic dough mat.

  • LABeachGal  on  October 23, 2018

    I would love to try the Lemon butter squares!

  • LABeachGal  on  October 23, 2018

    The Rose's Magic Dough Mat looks great!

  • KarenGlad  on  October 23, 2018

    That magic rolling pin and the fast tracks even though I wouldn't need them to make Deeply chocolate biscotti

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  October 23, 2018

    the Scottish shortbread cookies found on page 36

  • tararr  on  October 23, 2018

    Chocolate wafers

  • marsmomma  on  October 23, 2018

    I'd make the Chocolate chocolate chip cookies first, I'm still trying to find the perfect (for me) cookie recipe!

  • marsmomma  on  October 23, 2018

    Rose's Magic Dough Mat looks like it would be a great tool for a beginner like me to use.

  • purviska  on  October 24, 2018

    the swirl babka

  • purviska  on  October 24, 2018

    Rose's Magic Dough Mat

  • Mardeen11  on  October 24, 2018

    I NEED the Magic Dough Mat!

  • atesari  on  October 24, 2018

    Apple pie and the magic dough mat. : )

  • upstatemissy  on  October 24, 2018

    I would love to try the Fudgy praline pecan meringue ice cream sandwiches first.

  • modbaker  on  October 24, 2018

    I LOVE carrot cake and would love to try her version! And the Magic Dough Mat sounds fantastic.

  • DemelzaPoldark  on  October 26, 2018

    I love lemon, so my first recipe to try would be Triple lemon velvet bundt cake

  • Jenamarie  on  October 27, 2018

    Milk chocolate caramel tart

  • Jenamarie  on  October 27, 2018

    Fast Tracks Dough Thickness Rails

  • AnneOther  on  October 29, 2018

    I've been wanting to try making a cream cheese pie crust, so the first thing I would make is the "perfect flaky and tender cream cheese pie crust" using the "by hand" method.

  • MCDForm  on  November 1, 2018

    Every cake needs crunch: Cream cheese crunch pound cake

  • jberry  on  November 2, 2018

    As fall rolls in, most start making weighty cookies. I might like to keep'em light this year so we can eat more, Cocoa Meringues.

  • ket06e  on  November 2, 2018

    peanut butter and jelly thumbprints. and the magic dough mat looks great

  • mlanthie  on  November 2, 2018

    Love lemon so it would have to be the Triple lemon velvet bundt cake.

  • Carpecookie  on  November 3, 2018

    Triple lemon velvet bundt cake

  • hillsboroks  on  November 3, 2018

    Triple lemon velvet bundt cake sounds divine!

  • elsid22  on  November 3, 2018

    Mmmm Beer bread (said like Homer Simpson)…..

  • jluvs2bake  on  November 3, 2018

    raspberry almond sandwich cookies

  • jluvs2bake  on  November 3, 2018

    dough mat

  • nadiam1000  on  November 4, 2018

    Rose's Rugelach Rose's Magic Dough Mat

  • jberry  on  November 5, 2018

    I like the looks of the Magic Slice NON-SLIP cutting board

  • jnstewart  on  November 5, 2018

    Marzipan cookies

  • a1apple  on  November 6, 2018

    Fudgy pudgy brownies and Magic Dough Mat

  • KarenDel  on  November 8, 2018

    Scottish shortbread cookies

  • KarenDel  on  November 8, 2018

    Rose's Magic Dough Mat

  • ljkish  on  November 11, 2018

    Date nut roll cookies

  • ljkish  on  November 11, 2018

    I'd like the Rose's Magic Dough Mat.

  • outsidereader  on  November 12, 2018

    I would like to make the Clinton Street brookies.

  • outsidereader  on  November 12, 2018

    I would like to try Rose's Magic Rolling Pin.

  • orchidlady01  on  November 13, 2018

    Cream cheese crunch pound cake

  • orchidlady01  on  November 13, 2018

    I'd love to use the Rose's Magic Fast Tracks Rolling Rails and the Rose's Magic Dough Mat.

  • Willdllilly  on  November 13, 2018

    definitely the rugelach!!

  • jemans  on  November 14, 2018

    the babka swirl loaf looks divine!

Seen anything interesting? Let us know & we'll share it!