by John Barricelli

Clarkson Potter, $35

Buy this book, turn straight to page 86, and make the SoNo Brownies. They’re unabashedly dense and fudgy with a double blast of chocolate—chips for sweetness, cocoa for intensity—and you’ll need them to sate your sweet tooth as you peruse the rest of John Barricelli’s repertoire. At his SoNo Baking Company & Café in South Norwalk (SoNo), Connecticut, he produces baked goods that are beyond great, and in this book he offers more than 100 of his best-loved recipes. They’re all winners, from the simple, rustic Pumpkin Raisin Muffins and Buttermilk Scones to his challenging Classic Croissants (so worth it) and otherworldly Chocolate Bavarian Torte. Along the way you’ll glean heaps of excellent advice that will help you bake better than you ever thought you could.

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