The Joys of Baking – Cookbook Giveaway

Enter our giveaway open to US members for The Joys of Baking: Recipes and Stories for a Sweet Life by Samantha Seneviratne. This book made my Baker’s gift guide this year.

If I had to pick a specific subject matter that was my favorite in the cookbook arena, I would choose baking titles hands down. I love trying new savory recipes from my wonderful collection but I can always create a dinner using my own knowledge and instinct. When it comes to baking, I need a starting point to begin before I can put my own spin on a recipe.

Samantha’s previous title The New Sugar and Spice: A Recipe for Bolder Baking is a favorite of mine as it shares recipes for flavor combinations that are exciting and fresh. For example: Salt and pepper caramel brownies and Pistachio and chocolate butter cake. (She is also the author of Gluten-Free for Good: Simple, Wholesome Recipes Made from Scratch).

The inventive baker continues her exploration of combining ingredients, spices, and flavors to create wonderful taste sensations in The Joys of Baking. She writes in the introduction, “Cooking is a necessity…..Baking is different. Baking is a choice.” This is true. As cooks, we must feed our family each day. But when we choose to bake for them, we are not doing so to fulfill a nourishment obligation, we are baking to bring them joy. This book is filled with over 75 recipes to bring you and those you love joy.

The following recipes are available online for you to try now:

Special thanks to Running Press for offering three copies of this fantastic book in our giveaway below.

Thanks to the publisher for providing three copies of the above-referenced title in our giveaway open to EYB Members in the US. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

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 and this forum post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries. 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 July 5th, 2020.

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164 Comments

  • Shelley.b  on  January 5, 2020

    Glazed pear fritters

  • ravensfan  on  January 5, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • matag  on  January 5, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs

  • mcrimmins  on  January 5, 2020

    Cherry Ricotta Turnovers

  • LarissaPrusak  on  January 5, 2020

    I would make the maple cream pie

  • ToPieFor  on  January 5, 2020

    Banana Bread Scones

  • jr0717  on  January 5, 2020

    The unorthodox challah with dates and cocoa

  • DarcyVaughn  on  January 6, 2020

    Blood orange and ginger sherbet

  • riley  on  January 6, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs

  • dbranigan27  on  January 6, 2020

    I would try Honey nut coffee cake.

  • sarahawker  on  January 6, 2020

    Orange streusel cake

  • Shelmar  on  January 6, 2020

    Earl Grey Pain au Chocolate

  • Mtetpon  on  January 6, 2020

    cream puffs

  • pvia  on  January 6, 2020

    Salted chocolate-covered chocolate caramels

  • hbakke  on  January 6, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • lean1  on  January 6, 2020

    Banana bread scones sounds great.

  • floridagld  on  January 6, 2020

    Blood Orange Ginger Sherbet immediately caught my eye.
    Living in Florida always looking for delicious recipes using Blood Oranges.
    Also
    Nectarine galette with sour cherry jam!
    And, many others.

  • pabd  on  January 6, 2020

    Strawberry rhubarb cake with bay and orange ?

  • hillsboroks  on  January 6, 2020

    I would make the Raspberry Crostata with Hazelnut Graham Crust.

  • Siegal  on  January 6, 2020

    I want to try whole grain choc chip cookies

  • Peter  on  January 6, 2020

    Apricot frangipane phyllo tart

  • MOSteen  on  January 6, 2020

    Honey nut coffee cake

  • ebs  on  January 6, 2020

    Coconut and berry cream roll

  • MarciK  on  January 7, 2020

    Coconut and berry cream roll

  • dbielick  on  January 7, 2020

    Hummocky meadow berry buckle

  • kmn4  on  January 7, 2020

    Lemon lime Earl Grey sablés

  • debbiehb  on  January 7, 2020

    Mascarpone gingerbread bars

  • ARackerby  on  January 7, 2020

    I love spelt: Chocolate almond spelt shortbread

  • lpatterson412  on  January 8, 2020

    Whole grain chocolate chip cookies!

  • fmd518  on  January 8, 2020

    Salted chocolate-covered chocolate caramels

  • heidimia  on  January 8, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs! My husband loves cannolis so this would be a fun recipe 🙂

  • nadiam1000  on  January 8, 2020

    Guava Cream Cheese Rugelach

  • JessHeilman  on  January 9, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • Lafauvette  on  January 10, 2020

    whole grain chocolate chip cookies

  • MamaV  on  January 10, 2020

    Crème brûlée tart with pears and chocolate- the pairing sounds yummy!

  • RickPearson54  on  January 10, 2020

    glazed pear fritters

  • roxlet  on  January 10, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs

  • ang709  on  January 10, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • maggz19671  on  January 10, 2020

    Banana bread scones

  • LeMinou  on  January 10, 2020

    Banana bread scones

  • Blackeyedsusans  on  January 10, 2020

    coconut-and-passion-fruit-pound cake

  • demomcook  on  January 10, 2020

    Coffee crème bundt cake

  • ljkish  on  January 10, 2020

    I would like to make the Sweet potato cinnamon buns with browned butter cream cheese glaze

  • LaurenE  on  January 10, 2020

    Cherry Ricotta Turnovers

  • sequoia55  on  January 11, 2020

    Banana Bread Scones

  • RSW  on  January 11, 2020

    Blood orange and ginger sherbet

  • mightymhk  on  January 11, 2020

    maple cream pie

  • t.t  on  January 11, 2020

    Chocolate almond spelt shortbread

  • Dannausc  on  January 12, 2020

    Chocolate cardamom babka

  • mpdeb98  on  January 12, 2020

    Mascarpone gingerbread bars

  • MiMi60  on  January 12, 2020

    Crème brûlée tart with pears and chocolate

  • banba1  on  January 12, 2020

    Earl Grey pain au chocolat

  • dan031082  on  January 12, 2020

    Hidden heart biskvi cookies

  • HomespunHouse  on  January 12, 2020

    Chocolate cardamom babka

  • chefthomas  on  January 15, 2020

    Mascarpone gingerbread bars

  • lisa59  on  January 16, 2020

    I would love to try the Orange Streusel Cake!

  • AshtasticAwesome  on  January 16, 2020

    Chocolate Cardamom Babka sounds sooooo amazing. So much in this book sounds amazing.

  • vhfvhf  on  January 16, 2020

    Dark Chocolate Malt Celebration Cake

  • TwoGrants  on  January 18, 2020

    Caramel cookie bars.

  • lisambb  on  January 18, 2020

    The sweet potato cinnamon rolls

  • HelenB  on  January 18, 2020

    Roasted plum cloud cake

  • nursepp  on  January 19, 2020

    Dark Chocolate Malt Celebration Cake

  • sakcrisler  on  January 19, 2020

    Walnut cake with penuche fudge frosting for Dad

  • fujirw  on  January 19, 2020

    Sweet Potato Cinnamon Buns!

  • virjeania  on  January 20, 2020

    Peppermint snow patties

  • mrskitcatb  on  January 20, 2020

    Five layer honey cream cake

  • Karla123  on  January 21, 2020

    I’d love to make some coconut-scented vegan graham crackers.

  • mpritchard  on  January 22, 2020

    Lemon cream cheese danish loaf

  • NaomiH  on  January 23, 2020

    Double chocolate rye blackout cookies

  • Ozma81  on  January 23, 2020

    Strawberry rhubarb cake with bay and orange

  • sandz4321  on  January 23, 2020

    Coconut and berry cream roll

  • ktwalla  on  January 23, 2020

    Coconut Passion Fruit Pound Cake

  • LeePicard  on  January 24, 2020

    Is it really possible to pick just one. I am a baker. Breads and cookies mostly but I do it all. I love bubka. I can honestly say I might just have to do the chocolate cardamon bubka first. Who the heck would ever think to put cadamon in a bubka??? I’m going to have to try that. My daughter-in-law loves apple cake. Any kind. So that would probably be second. Again, some interesting ingredient choices – coconut! – would never think to pair with apple but a favorite ingredient. And because I do love coconut, the third might have to be the coconut custard hand pies followed by many hours in the gym! I don’t get excited by too many baking books but this one looks fantastic.

  • dtremit  on  January 24, 2020

    How can I resist the “We are nuts about nuts cookies”?

  • InAHealthyKitchen  on  January 24, 2020

    I don’t know what peppermint snow patties are, so I’d start with those to educate myself

  • Lora724  on  January 24, 2020

    Roasted plum cloud cake

  • moralla  on  January 25, 2020

    Cherry ricotta turnovers

  • FireRunner2379  on  January 25, 2020

    The Glazed pear fritters sound excellent!

  • kitchen_chick  on  January 26, 2020

    Banana date bread with lime! What a neat combination of flavors.

  • lisa59  on  January 26, 2020

    I would try Honey Nut Coffee Cake first.

  • Sfgordon  on  January 27, 2020

    Crème brûlée tart with pears and chocolate sounds so yum

  • cellenly  on  January 29, 2020

    Coconut buns

  • HLadd  on  January 30, 2020

    Blood orange and ginger sherbet

  • BatshevaR  on  January 30, 2020

    chocolate cardamom babka

  • GranChris  on  February 1, 2020

    Cherry Ricotta Turnovers

  • KitKatCat  on  February 1, 2020

    Five-layer honey cream cake

  • frolic838  on  February 4, 2020

    Hummocky meadow berry buckle

  • MsLiz  on  February 5, 2020

    I would like to try the Lemon Cream Cheese Danish Loaf

  • JEWGAL777  on  February 7, 2020

    The first recipe I would like to try is the Chocolate Cardamom Swirl Babka.

  • ljskop  on  February 7, 2020

    Raspberry rhubarb streusel muffins

  • Leonard5854  on  February 7, 2020

    I’d try Caramel Cookie Bars first.

  • BMeyer  on  February 7, 2020

    Dark chocolate malt celebration cake

  • sequoia55  on  February 8, 2020

    Orange streusel cake

  • circ2000  on  February 8, 2020

    Salted chocolate-covered chocolate caramels

  • brigs03  on  February 8, 2020

    Blood orange and ginger sherbet (and not because its the first recipe in the index, lol)

  • tararr  on  February 10, 2020

    Cherry Ricotta Turnovers

  • Samjbutler  on  February 14, 2020

    cherry ricotta turnovers

  • Jennifer7  on  February 14, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs

  • Kleio08  on  February 14, 2020

    the Raspberry Crostata with Hazelnut Graham Crust

  • tarae1204  on  February 14, 2020

    Unorthodox challah with dates and chocolate

  • AnneOther  on  February 14, 2020

    I kind of wish I had the book in my hands right now so Is could make the Banana Bread Scones. Sounds good!

  • lgroom  on  February 15, 2020

    Blood orange and ginger sherbert

  • mph993  on  February 15, 2020

    Honey nut coffee cake

  • elysek  on  February 15, 2020

    Coconut and berry cream roll

  • Erobbins  on  February 16, 2020

    Pistachio Praline Puffs!

  • JazPon  on  February 26, 2020

    banana bread scones

  • kathay708  on  February 26, 2020

    Banana bread scones

  • HappyAm  on  February 26, 2020

    Lemon cream cheese Danish loaf

  • Laura1  on  February 27, 2020

    whole grain chocolate chip cookies

  • Nancith  on  February 29, 2020

    Roasted plum cloud cake sounds incredibly yummy!

  • Moonbaker  on  February 29, 2020

    I gotta say blood orange and ginger sherbet–sounds so very tasty!

  • EmilyR  on  February 29, 2020

    Lemon cream cheese Danish loaf

  • elsid22  on  February 29, 2020

    Pear fritters!

  • sheraneprish  on  March 1, 2020

    Saffron and chocolate tea cake

  • Samjbutler  on  March 3, 2020

    Orange streusel cake

  • lisa59  on  March 4, 2020

    I would choose to make the Coconut and Passion Fruit Pound Cake.

  • jezpurr  on  March 4, 2020

    Strawberry rhubarb cake with bay and orange!!!^_^

  • eyreka  on  March 7, 2020

    Sweet Potato Cinnamon Buns

  • orchidlady01  on  March 11, 2020

    Raspberry crostata with hazelnut graham crust

  • choppergirl  on  March 15, 2020

    Honey nut coffee cake

  • kathay708  on  March 19, 2020

    Salted chocolate-covered chocolate caramels

  • rychepet  on  March 22, 2020

    I would love to make the Raspberry crostata with hazelnut graham crust. They are a couple of my favorite flavors!

  • percussion03  on  March 23, 2020

    double chocolate rye blackout cookies

  • leilx  on  March 23, 2020

    Chocolate coconut handpies and chocolate cardamom babka

  • Aminata95  on  March 23, 2020

    Cherry Ricotta Turnovers

  • jehausman  on  March 26, 2020

    Glazed chocolate doughnut waffles

    Times like these call for chocolate!

  • SerenaYLee  on  March 26, 2020

    Sweet potato cinnamon buns with browned butter cream cheese glaze.

  • bevie19  on  March 26, 2020

    roasted plum cloud cake 🙂

  • stricklinhome  on  March 29, 2020

    Saffron cake! Yum!

  • ewalsh40  on  March 29, 2020

    Spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti

  • RSW  on  March 30, 2020

    Spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti

  • kbennall  on  March 30, 2020

    If it says “pound cake” in the name, I’m in, so the coconut and passion fruit pound cake is already on my list.

  • qchu204  on  March 31, 2020

    orange streusel cake

  • DFed  on  April 3, 2020

    I’ve always wanted to attempt a babka

  • stephntran  on  April 11, 2020

    Coconut passion fruit pound cake sounds amazzzzzing

  • JenjiRM  on  April 22, 2020

    Cherry ricotta turnovers!

  • nvernon  on  April 26, 2020

    Strawberries and cream ice cream

  • smartie101  on  April 29, 2020

    banana bread scones

  • gilmonster  on  May 2, 2020

    maple cream pie

  • CowBelle  on  May 3, 2020

    Lemon curd

  • Spazzyhands  on  May 3, 2020

    Coffee crème bundt cake

  • JenThomas318  on  May 10, 2020

    Guava cream cheese rugelach

  • bkwrms78  on  May 17, 2020

    That looks like a lot of great recipes. I’d have to go with the Spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti first.

  • LydiaR  on  May 18, 2020

    Cannoli cream puff, yummmm

  • ToPieFor  on  May 18, 2020

    Roasted plum cloud cake sounds delicious!

  • itadakimasu  on  May 19, 2020

    Caramel cookie bars

  • LEKcookbooks  on  May 24, 2020

    Guava cream cheese rugelach!

  • Edubwin  on  May 31, 2020

    I want to try the caramel cookie bars

  • YumYum21  on  June 6, 2020

    Strawberry rhubarb cake

  • roseryan1972  on  June 6, 2020

    Cannoli cream puffs

  • hiimadethis  on  June 6, 2020

    I made her double chocolate cookies featured on NYT Cooking and they were amazing!

  • bevie19  on  June 6, 2020

    roasted plum cloud cake!

  • bvgardner  on  June 7, 2020

    Lemon cream cheese Danish loaf

  • dprice  on  June 7, 2020

    Chocolate cardamom babka.

  • Pamyoungvb  on  June 7, 2020

    Barley oat biscuits

  • JLZ9697  on  June 7, 2020

    5 Layer Honey Cream Cake sounds interesting

  • csmith222  on  June 7, 2020

    Sweet potato cinnamon buns with browned butter cream cheese glaze. Would have never thought to try sweet potatoes in a baking recipe.

  • Lsunaga  on  June 8, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • Sprungatlast  on  June 8, 2020

    Spiced chocolate hazelnut biscotti

  • Jenamarie  on  June 13, 2020

    Spicy chocolate hazelnut biscotti

  • youngsvnnhrs  on  June 13, 2020

    Lemon lime Earl Grey sablés

  • imaluckyducky  on  June 20, 2020

    Coconut and passion fruit pound cake

  • MarianneShirk  on  June 23, 2020

    Chocolate cardamom babka

  • Shanthz  on  June 27, 2020

    Banana bread scones

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