Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis is one of my favorite cookbooks. When he published his second cookbook, Baking Across America, I was delighted to receive it as a birthday gift. In this post, I want to share my review of the cookbook along with the recipe for beignets.
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What is Baking Across America?
Baking Across America is a cookbook that includes 100 vintage recipes from all 50 states. There are also recipes from Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. The cookbook is divided into the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West regions and features 1-4 recipes from each state. You can find recipes for cakes, cookies, pies, bars, confections, and other desserts in the cookbook.
My Thoughts on Baking Across America
Each recipe in Baking Across America includes an introduction, ingredient list, and directions, along with prep, bake, and cool times. Furthermore, each recipe includes a photo, which I appreciate. Having a photo for every recipe is great because if you are unfamiliar with the recipe, you can see what it looks like. The photos can also help you decide what to make.
I have already made a handful of recipes, including Cider Doughnuts from New Hampshire, Peach Cobbler from Georgia, Beignets from Louisiana, and Fried Pies from Oklahoma. A few other recipes I would like to try next are The Toll House Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies from Massachusetts, Whoopie Pies from Maine, and Buttermilk Pie from Texas.
The recipes are easy to follow, and most of them do not include hard-to-find ingredients. However, there are a handful of recipes that include ingredients from the region, such as huckleberries for Huckleberry Ice Cream from Montana. However, the cookbook includes a tip on berries to use as a substitute. If you are interested in vintage recipes from the US, I do think the cookbook is great.
Beignets Recipe
To get an idea of the recipes in Baking Across America, I wanted to share the Beignets recipe that I have tried for myself and would recommend.
Beignets Recipe
24
servings20
minutes3
hoursIngredients
4 1/2 teaspoons of dry yeast
1/2 cup of lukewarm water
1 egg
1/3 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of evaporated milk (see Notes for a substitute)
4 cups of flour
Oil for frying (I used coconut oil)
Powdered sugar for topping
Directions
- Whisk together the yeast and lukewarm water in a large mixing bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes
- After 10 minutes, whisk in the egg, sugar, salt, and evaporated milk
- Add half of the flour to the mixing bowl and combine, then add the remaining half and knead the dough until a round ball forms
- Cover the dough and let it rise for 2 hours
- Add the oil to a pot and heat until the oil is hot but not boiling (approximately 365°F / 185°C). If you do not have a thermometer, you can add a small piece of scrap dough to test the oil. If the dough floats to the surface and starts bubbling, the oil is ready to add the beignets for frying
- Roll out the dough and cut into squares that are approximately 2 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch thick
- Depending on the size of the pot you are using, add 1-3 square pieces of dough into the oil and fry for 1 minute, then flip the dough and fry for an additional minute
- After frying the beignets, transfer them to a wire rack or a plate covered with paper towels to absorb the excess oil
- Once slightly cooled, top the beignets with powdered sugar
Notes
- Evaporated milk is not the same as condensed milk. Condensed milk has added sugar and is sweeter than evaporated milk. Therefore, you should not substitute condensed milk for evaporated milk. If you cannot find evaporated milk, you can simmer 1 1/2 cups of regular milk on the stove until it is reduced by about half.
Looks like a great cookbook! Thanks for sharing!
Bipolarbabesclub.com
I love the cookbook, and I have been trying even more recipes like the chocolate chip cookies since I published this post!
Whoa! I have not checked out any cookbook for quite a long time. When it comes to recipes, I only search for them on YouTube or blogs. Thank you for sharing.
I do like having some physical cookbooks, and both Baking Across America and Baking Yesteryear are fantastic. I do also look up recipes online!
This sounds like a great cookbook. It’s a shame that they don’t provide alternatives to local ingredients!
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
It is a wonderful cookbook, and he does share alternative ingredients! For huckleberries, he wrote that you can substitute them with raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Though I have tried huckleberries, and they do have a unique flavor that would not be quite the same as the substitution.
Oh, I saw him do recipes on TikTok, always make me laugh/smile. Was planning on getting this book but totally forgot about it. Happy to hear that he also includes variations on things to use as I am not from the US. Great review!
I first watched him on YouTube Shorts, and both of his cookbooks are fantastic!
Thank you!
I haven’t heard of this book, but it looks great! I need to look into more recipe books, especially for the holidays. Thanks for sharing!
Baking Across America did just come out in May of this year, and I do think it is a great cookbook, especially for those who enjoy baking.
Oh yum.. these look great.
The beignets are delicious, and I do love the cookbook!