Baking and the Meaning of Life

JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER. In her hotly anticipated debut solo cookbook, Ottolenghi pastry chef and recipe developer Helen Goh shares her 100 favourite baking recipes to show the many ways baking brings meaning and joy to our lives. No one knows the 'why' or 'how' of baking better than Helen Goh, recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi for more than a decade, co-author of bestselling books Sweet and Comfort , food columnist for the Good Weekend , The Guardian and Observer , and practising psychologist. In this, her first solo cookbook, Helen draws on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her acclaimed work with Ottolenghi and her psychology training to share her distinctive approach to baking with 100 delicious sweet and savoury bakes. With recipes like Chocolate Tahini Cake with Sesame Brittle, Plum and Pistachio Bars, Pandan and Coconut Chiffon Cake, and many other shareable treats that offer both tried-and-true and creative flavours, this book is a celebration of community, connection and pleasure through baking. Helen's Champagne and Blackcurrant Celebration Cake will become your new go-to for a special occasion, while a batch of Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes for a picnic or charity bake sale is a small but powerful building block of community and solidarity. All of her desserts are impressively sweet ways to celebrate milestones and connect with family and friends. And after your sweet tooth has been satisfied, there are more than 15 savoury baking dishes, from a Puttanesca Galette with Lemon Ricotta to a Potato, Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia. With inventive flavour combinations that showcase Helen's creativity, a wealth of thoroughly road-tested bakes and her reflections on living and baking well, Baking and the Meaning of Life is a one-of-a-kind companion bakers will return to again and again to spread joy, one cookie, cake, or cheese puff at a time.

JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER. In her hotly anticipated debut solo cookbook, Ottolenghi pastry chef and recipe developer Helen Goh shares her 100 favourite baking recipes to show the many ways baking brings meaning and joy to our lives. No one knows the 'why' or 'how' of baking better than Helen Goh, recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi for more than a decade, co-author of bestselling books Sweet and Comfort , food columnist for the Good Weekend , The Guardian and Observer , and practising psychologist. In this, her first solo cookbook, Helen draws on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her acclaimed work with Ottolenghi and her psychology training to share her distinctive approach to baking with 100 delicious sweet and savoury bakes. With recipes like Chocolate Tahini Cake with Sesame Brittle, Plum and Pistachio Bars, Pandan and Coconut Chiffon Cake, and many other shareable treats that offer both tried-and-true and creative flavours, this book is a celebration of community, connection and pleasure through baking. Helen's Champagne and Blackcurrant Celebration Cake will become your new go-to for a special occasion, while a batch of Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes for a picnic or charity bake sale is a small but powerful building block of community and solidarity. All of her desserts are impressively sweet ways to celebrate milestones and connect with family and friends. And after your sweet tooth has been satisfied, there are more than 15 savoury baking dishes, from a Puttanesca Galette with Lemon Ricotta to a Potato, Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia. With inventive flavour combinations that showcase Helen's creativity, a wealth of thoroughly road-tested bakes and her reflections on living and baking well, Baking and the Meaning of Life is a one-of-a-kind companion bakers will return to again and again to spread joy, one cookie, cake, or cheese puff at a time.

Real Simple , Top 24 Cookbooks of 2025 Slate, 10 Best Recipes of 2025 The Los Angeles Times , 33 of Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 NPR, Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 The Washington Post , 14 of Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 In her hotly anticipated debut solo cookbook, Yotam Ottolenghi pastry chef and recipe developer Helen Goh draws on her rich multicultural heritage to deliver more than 100 of her favorite recipes No one knows the "why" or "how" of baking better than Helen Goh, recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi for more than a decade and co-author of New York Times bestselling books Sweet and Comfort . With the debut of her first solo cookbook, Goh shares her distinctive approach to baking informed by her multicultural heritage with 100 delicious desserts of all kinds as well as savory bakes. Drawing on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her acclaimed work with Ottolenghi where she specialized in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, and even her active psychotherapy practice, Goh not only shares her favorite baking recipes, but also reflections on life, sharing how baking can bring us together and add meaning and joy to both significant and everyday moments. With recipes like Chocolate Tahini Cake with Sesame Brittle , Plum and Pistachio Bars , and Pandan and Coconut Chiffon Cake , and more shareable treats that offer both tried-and-true and creative flavors, this book is a celebration of community and pleasure through baking. Goh's Champagne and Blackcurrant Celebration Cake is perfect for a graduation party or New Year's Eve, and a batch of Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes or Red Plum, Almond, and Lime Baby Cakes for a charity bake sale could be small but powerful building blocks of connection and solidarity. All of her desserts are impressively sweet ways to celebrate milestones reached and connect with family and friends. After your sweet tooth has been satisfied, there are more than 15 savory baking dishes, from a Puttanesca Galette with Lemon Ricotta to Potato, Garlic, and Rosemary Focaccia . With inventive flavor combinations that showcase Goh's creativity, a wealth of time-tested bakes, and her philosophies on living and baking well, Baking and the Meaning of Life is a one-of-kind companion bakers will return to again and again to spread joy, one cookie, cake, or cheese puff at a time.

Real Simple , Top 24 Cookbooks of 2025 Slate, 10 Best Recipes of 2025 The Los Angeles Times , 33 of Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 NPR, Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 The Washington Post , 14 of Our Favorite Cookbooks of 2025 In her hotly anticipated debut solo cookbook, Yotam Ottolenghi pastry chef and recipe developer Helen Goh draws on her rich multicultural heritage to deliver more than 100 of her favorite recipes No one knows the "why" or "how" of baking better than Helen Goh, recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi for more than a decade and co-author of New York Times bestselling books Sweet and Comfort . With the debut of her first solo cookbook, Goh shares her distinctive approach to baking informed by her multicultural heritage with 100 delicious desserts of all kinds as well as savory bakes. Drawing on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her acclaimed work with Ottolenghi where she specialized in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, and even her active psychotherapy practice, Goh not only shares her favorite baking recipes, but also reflections on life, sharing how baking can bring us together and add meaning and joy to both significant and everyday moments. With recipes like Chocolate Tahini Cake with Sesame Brittle , Plum and Pistachio Bars , and Pandan and Coconut Chiffon Cake , and more shareable treats that offer both tried-and-true and creative flavors, this book is a celebration of community and pleasure through baking. Goh's Champagne and Blackcurrant Celebration Cake is perfect for a graduation party or New Year's Eve, and a batch of Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes or Red Plum, Almond, and Lime Baby Cakes for a charity bake sale could be small but powerful building blocks of connection and solidarity. All of her desserts are impressively sweet ways to celebrate milestones reached and connect with family and friends. After your sweet tooth has been satisfied, there are more than 15 savory baking dishes, from a Puttanesca Galette with Lemon Ricotta to Potato, Garlic, and Rosemary Focaccia . With inventive flavor combinations that showcase Goh's creativity, a wealth of time-tested bakes, and her philosophies on living and baking well, Baking and the Meaning of Life is a one-of-kind companion bakers will return to again and again to spread joy, one cookie, cake, or cheese puff at a time.