This is one of those books that as soon as I received the approval, I sat down and read it cover to cover. This has everything I like in a cookbook; historical information and context, recipes, and great photography. Who knew there were so many different ways with cornbread? Fascinating! This southern loving northerner will definitely be purchasing a copy.

A delicious look at baking in 14 of the Southern states. With stories, recipes and lovely photographs, this was a joy to read.

Being someone from two of those states, I can say these are the best the south has to offer.

From before the Civil War to today’s Southern cooks, this book brings up so many good memories of food, family and friends.

Whether a family reunion, Sunday dinner, or a funeral, you will find something yummy in the pages of this book.

This one is definitely a keeper.


NetGalley/ Harper Celebrate September 03, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Baking in the American South is an amazing Southern cookbook. There are beautiful pictures and recipes that are easy to follow. Most of the recipes are pretty concise. Following each recipe is a little history snippet.

The cookbooks sections are:
Sizzling cornbread
Hot biscuits
Quick loaves, griddle cakes, waffles, and fritters
Rolls, breads, and Yeast-Raised Cakes
Comforting Puddings
Pies Plain and Fancy
Bake Me a Cake
Cookies and Bars by the Dozen
Frostings and Flourishes

The cookbook is an incredible book filled with southern cooking and the rich history behind it. I can't wait to make the recipes in this cookbook!

This cookbook is very nice, however I felt that there were too many pages whereas I prefer a cookbook is concise, I was expecting to see deep southern black American recipes also but I did not

I cannot wait to own the physical copy. I am a southern city girl who has always said my family culture is southern since we’re not entirely sure of our heritage. This collaboration of recipes is just wonderful and I can’t wait to try them!

What sets this cookbook apart from others is the deep history that is etched into each one of the standout recipes.
Each recipe sounds as delicious as the last, they all feature a small blurb explaining the history of the recipe or the creator and are followed by delightful looking photos.
I am from the UK and I doubt I’ll ever get to try real southern food but with this cookbook I can bring some of the south to me.
———————
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for the opportunity to review this book.

I am hoping that the title of this extraordinary book does not deter some of those who may be interested. The mouthwatering recipes are not just for the south. I am from New York City and live in Maine, and this book is going to grace my kitchen upon publishing! I can only hope the same is true for my fellow bakers, we all deserve this book. And this is not my first cookbook! This is a cookbook bible! This is a user friendly, down to earth, invitation to bake! It is filled with much useful information and descriptions, and beautiful photography. It is part history, part biography, part instruction manual. But all of that does not take away from its' purpose, giving you recipes that you can't wait to try. It pulls you in with pages of cornbread, then pages of biscuits, (my favorite). Who knew there was so many different types of cornbread and biscuits? This book has it all, breads, muffins, pies, cakes. Along the way, it offers small stories of who some of these recipes actually belonged to, some famous, some not so famous, but all of them remembered. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for the advance read and helping me find my new favorite cookbook!

Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn is a delicious journey into the heart of Southern baking, tracing its evolution from simple, resourceful recipes to a rich culinary tradition. Through 200 recipes and over 150 photos, this cookbook captures the essence of Southern baking that embody the region's flavors and history. What sets this cookbook apart is its storytelling. The author weaves tales of the past with each recipe, revealing how geography, culture, and even politics have influenced Southern baking.