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The Artful Baker is out!

The Artful Baker is finally out for you to bake from! I’ve been waiting impatiently for this day to arrive for almost two years now!

It feels like yesterday, but I started working on the Turkish edition of The Artful Baker over 7 years ago. Following four and a half years of hard work, it was published in 2014. Right after the book tour and then a short vacation in San Francisco, I started working on the English edition. I still can’t believe I was able to finish it in 18 months. Thanks to my dear friend Rachel Berman Boller, who you’ll meet in person if you can make it to one of the book tour events in San Francisco, all the recipes I and my army of Turkish recipe testers worked on for years were tested with U.S. ingredients. The majority of the recipes worked in her kitchen just as greatly and we were able to finalize those that needed a few tweaks within the deadline.

Here are a few details about the book and a sneak peek inside, in case you’ve missed my earlier posts.

The Artful Baker - Golden Gate Bridge

The book starts with an introductory chapter, where I share how I first started cooking in college; why I stopped cooking when I moved to San Francisco; my obsession with San Francisco, The Golden Girls, and baking after I moved back to Istanbul; beginning my blog, why I named it Cafe Fernando, and how it became bigger than I ever could have imagined; what led me to quit the corporate world to become a full-time food blogger; and my journey writing this book.

Right before getting to the recipes, there is a section called Before We Begin, where I share my golden rules of baking, vital to achieving success, efficiency, and peace of mind in the kitchen.

The Artful Baker - Cookies

There are nine recipe chapters in total: Cookies; Brownies (because they deserve a chapter of their own); Cakes, Muffins, Cheesecakes & Meringues; Tarts, Galettes, Pie, Quiche, Cobbler & Crumble; Breads & Pastries; Ice Creams, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbets (my favorite chapter); Confections & Drinks; Jams & Jellies; and Base Recipes.

The book is comprised of almost entirely new content, with a few updated versions of your favorite recipes from this blog, such as Brownie Wears Lace, my signature brownies topped with blond chocolate ganache and bittersweet chocolate lace (originally commissioned by Dolce & Gabbana and awarded “Best Original Baking and Desserts Recipe” by Saveur magazine); Raspberry Jewel Pluot Galette, a recipe inspired by Chez Panisse’s 40th year anniversary celebrations; and Devil Wears Chocolate, my version of devil’s food cake that graces the cover of my book.

Are you obsessed with The Golden Girls as much as I am? If yes, you’ll be psyched to learn that there is a berry tart recipe in the book named after Blanche Devereaux, which you can find at my dear friend Katie Parla’s blog. Also, she’s giving away three copies of the book!

The Artful Baker - Tarts

Every recipe in the book has gone through a meticulous development phase, tested by an army of home bakers having varying levels of skill, equipment, and access to ingredients, and revised to ensure that they will work flawlessly in any kitchen. And, every recipe has a photo that completes its story.

The Artful Baker - Brownies

I’ve managed to include half a dozen new recipes that are not included in the Turkish version, such as Hazelnut and Caramel Cookies, my favorite cookie in the book; Tahini & Leblebi Swirl Brownies, which are made with sarı leblebi (double-roasted chickpea) flour; Matcha and Pistachio No-Bake Cheesecake, which I developed in the hopes of making up for the trauma I’ve put my friends through with the first matcha cheesecake I baked for them several years ago; and Million-Dollar Raspberry Caramels, which a friend of mine believes is my million-dollar invention.

The Artful Baker - Cakes

The Artful Baker - Confections

At the back of the book, you’ll find detailed information about the defining characteristics of the most common ingredients used in the book (along with suggestions about substitutions and storage) and the list of equipment that will make your life in the kitchen easier and the time you spend there more enjoyable.

A very important detail: Throughout the book, measurements of ingredients (including liquid ingredients) are provided in both volume and weight (grams). I know how important this is to most of you! Where a volume measurement isn’t useful (e.g., for chocolate or some of the fresh produce), weight measurements are provided in both ounces and grams.

Do you remember the collage I made from 3000+ Instagram photos that were published by readers who bought my Turkish book and baked from it?

Instagram Cafe Fernando Collage

I’d love to do one for The Artful Baker! When you bake from my book and wish to share it on social media, please tag them with the official hashtag #artfulbakercookbook, and I promise to work on the collage right after I return from the book tour. By the way, in case you’ve missed the earlier post, here are the confirmed events of the book tour so far.

I can’t wait to meet you in person at one of the events. Please come by and sample recipes from the book. I’ll post reminders on Instagram before each event. We are planning some exciting giveaway campaigns as well so make sure to follow me on Instagram (and turn on push notifications) and join The Artful Baker Facebook group for updates.

Happy Baking!

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The Artful Baker is out! To order a copy, please visit:

U.S. –Abrams // Amazon // Barnes&Noble // Books-A-Million // iBooks // IndieBound // Powell’s
U.K. –Amazon U.K. // Blackwell’s // Book Depository // Foyles // Waterstones
Canada –Amazon Canada // Indigo

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October 17, 2017 · 9 Comments Categories: Cookbook Tags: abrams books, cenk sonmezsoy, the artful baker, the artful baker cookbook

« The Artful Baker book tour
Pistachio and Matcha Sablés from The Artful Baker »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Valentina

    October 17, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    I feel absolutely silly but got very moved by your post. Your passion, determination, hard work and candour. I’ve got my copy today. So excited to read it and most importantly cook from it. Break your leg as they say in the theatre. Hope you come to London for the book signing at some stage. Wishing you every success Cenk.

    Reply
  2. Colin Rous

    October 17, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    This sounds really exciting but can I purchase it here in Turkey (I live in Fethiye) ot do I need to go through Amazon.UK.
    Thank You.

    Reply
  3. Terrel

    October 19, 2017 at 2:05 am

    I got my copy today!!!!! It is absolutely fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful book, recipes and photos with with the rest of the world.

    Reply
  4. zafer kakınç

    October 24, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    JUST RECEIVED THE BOOK, THE ARTFUL BAKER. LOVED IT! GREAT PRINTING, PERFECT COLOUR REPRODUCTION, METICULOUS EDITOR’S JOB. CENK IS THE ARTFUL BAKER HIMSELF, TO FALL IN LOVE WITH! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, C.S.! SEE YOU BACK IN ISTANBUL WITH WHOLE NEW TIDBITS..LUCK ON YOUR BOOK TOUR…

    Reply
  5. Pelin

    October 26, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    Cenkcim, I’m so glad that your website is back. I missed you and I totally love you: your warm and sincere tone, your obssessiveness, your attention to detail are all qualities that I cherish in your writing. And of course the recipes are divine! Can’t wait to buy the book (xmas present hello!) and watch these cool new videos. BTW I know you’re a dessert guy but your chicken soup is my go-to and I just dropped in to check the recipe for my sick hubbie and noticed all the delightful new activity. Aaanyways, just wanted to say BIG congrats and also– you gotta update your ABOUT page cuz there’s only old info about the Turkish version of your book there.

    lots of love!!

    Reply
  6. Nicole

    January 30, 2018 at 10:10 am

    I am so curious about the book, but before I buy the english version – will there be a german translation? If so – how long do I have to wait for it?
    I could read it in english, but my other half would have problems with the language…
    thanks! Nicole

    Reply
    • Cenk

      March 1, 2018 at 10:14 am

      Nicole – Unfortunately, there are no plans for a German translation yet.

      Reply
  7. Cynthia Gridley

    July 11, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    I received this cookbook as a birthday gift and have not been able to put it down! I love so many of the recipes and make them often. I did have a question, my daughter loves making the million dollar raspberry caramels, do you think the consistency would be compromised by doubling the recipe?

    Reply
    • Cenk

      August 6, 2019 at 10:07 am

      I don’t think so. So happy you liked the book!

      Reply

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The Artful Baker

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"In addition to being a skillfull technician of his trade, Cenk is an artist of exquisite taste, and an excellent and informative writer. Cenk is one of the most original authors whose work I have ever encountered." ⎯ROSE LEVY BERANBAUM

"Some books are beautiful, some are useful and the rare ones are both. The Artful Baker is a rare book from a rare talent. Cenk is a gifted storyteller, an extraordinary pastry chef, and a man with a remarkable eye–his images make you dream." ⎯DORIE GREENSPAN

"A beautiful collection of classic and exotic desserts, The Artful Baker will entice you into the kitchen with spectacular photographs and clear instructions." ⎯DAVID LEBOVITZ

"The Artful Baker presents clearly written recipes, easy to master techniques, strikingly beautiful presentations, and exquisite flavor. In other words, this book has it all." ⎯NICK MALGIERI

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