Baking in the American South

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.
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Thank you NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for the opportunity to review this book.

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.

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

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.

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!

Baking. What is there not to like about baking and better still eating a wonderful sweet treat. But this is not just cakes as there are some many great baking treats in this book you will want to try them all. And not only that but the history and stories add so much intrigue and interest that you don't necessarily get in other cookbooks.

All the recipes sound wonderful and I plan to work my way through them all. With great photography as well you will be salivating and running for the kitchen to get started so you can try them all. I'm off to try my first recipe so wish me luck!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Things I learned from this cookbook: the term high on the hog is about premium cuts of meat being higher on the animal, unlike things like pig's feet, which were less desirable, sweet milk is just whole milk that hasn't soured and buttermilk is the leftover liquid from churning butter, and the Choctaw natives who lived on this land cooked a corn mush into leaves over fire, making their own version of cornbread long before settlers arrived. These facts about history made this cookbook such a delight. They aren't just relegated to a small introductory chapter full of words followed by dozens of recipes like so many other cookbooks. Each recipe tells a story. I learned so much about the South reading this book. I also learned the best cake release is a thin layer of vegetable shortening and a dusting of flour. I didn't expect an absolute metric ton of cornbread recipes included, but loved reading the small details for each one, learning about the culture surrounding this staple of the south. The book doesn't shy away from the dark truth of the south, much of the cooking was done by enslaved folks who were forced into kitchens and might not associate cooking and baking with the joy that we all derive from this sort of nostalgia. It explores the comfort and struggle foods of the south, discussing the harvest and the time of the year for killing hogs and why foods emerged during certain times in a period without refrigerators. The cookbook also includes helpful hints like bringing eggs and butter to room temperature and other staples of best practices in baking. Food is so much more than nutrition and sustenance. It's culture, and this cookbook does a great job snapshotting the stories of the south woven into every bite.

I can not tell you enough how much I love this book!!

Im Australian and my husband is Dutch Irish. He goes on and on about a Pecan Pie that is Oma used to make and in Australian we don't really do dessert pies so I've struggled to either buy one or find a good recipe to make one.
Until now!

Zephyr Writes Pecan Pie made him so happy!!! It's definitely going to be making a regular appearance in our home from now on so thank you for that! The stories are such a beautiful touch that really give this book something special.

I personally loved the Chocolate Chess Pie and Cheesey biscuits. I need this cook book in hard copy so please hurry up and let me know where in Australia I can buy it!

What I like the most about this book is the history part. I am not from the US, so I am not familiar with the history of cooking or with the recipes. I choose a few recipes I want to try and I can't wait to see the results. I find the recipes simple and well described.

Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories
Anne Byrn, Rinne Allen (Photographer
The south is well known for their delicious food including their baking. I couldn’t help but think of my mother as I read/reviewed this cookbook. She was/is a great southern cook. Few can surpass her talent in the kitchen. This book is filled with recipes for breads, biscuits, rolls and cornbread. Often people had to cook with what they had available. Lard was a staple in most southern kitchens. In today’s kitchen you will rarely find lard. Recipes share much about the past. Recipes can tell you customs of a family, where their family originated from, and what crops they depended on. Recipes were handed down from family to family. In the past recipes were made from scratch; there wasn’t frozen biscuits and rolls or box mix brownies and cake.
The history of 14 southern states is discussed in this beautifully photographed book. Many of the recipes are pre-Civil War. This book is much more than recipes, it is the history of the people of the south, it testifies to the stories of culture. Each recipe presents a story, and history.

There are 200 recipes in this book and over 150 photos.
thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

As a Southerner I loved this book. These absolutely the kind of recipes my grandmothers made growing up. Except this ladies never wrote anything down. I feel like I have found a tressure trove of these recipes!
The book had beautiful color photos and gives credit to certain bakers in the recipes. They are easy to follow (and healthier. Shh! Don't tell granny!). I loved the culture included behind recipes, people and places. Food is something good about the American South. And this cook book proves it,

Anne Byrn’s cookbooks are always excellent, but she has outdone herself in Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories (A Definitive Guide to Southern Baking). Not only does she include mouthwatering recipes, but also stories about how the classic baked goods originated. This is one to curl up in the corner to read. It is a fascinating read, and for those not from the south, introduces baked goods that are iconic and have been passed down from generation to generation.

Besides being an excellent cook and recipe developer, Anne Byrne is also an excellent writer. She makes the stories and recipes come alive. Having owned several of her previous cookbooks, I expected this to be a good one, but I am blown away. I want to make almost every recipe in the book.

The recipes are written in the traditional manner with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions. Byrn makes them simple, so that anyone who wants to bake, from beginners to advanced bakers, can easily make these recipes turn out picture perfect and delicious. She has also included beautiful, professional (Rinne Allen) photographs that will make anyone salivate.

My husband is from the south (Kentucky), and his mother was a wonderful country cook; many of the recipes Byrm has included are those that he grew up on, and making them has brought back good memories for him.

All told, this is an excellent baking book that belongs on every cookbook shelf. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This cookbook is absolutely darling! I love all of the explanations before the main chapters and throughout. I also was not expecting this to have so many savory recipes, so that tickled my fancy! I love good southern food and this really seems to allow me to bring authentic southern food up north. All the recipes seem very approachable, use everyday ingredients, but may require a little bit of knowledge to create. This is by no means a beginners cookbook.

I had no idea the variations of cornbreads or buscuits. I also loved that there was a popover recipe!

The history that has been poured into this book, along side the well researched recipes and beautiful photos really make this cookbook a knockout! I can't wait to dig in more!!

Great recipes from the American South. Everything looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Can't wait to try some recipes.

This book is more than a cookbook. Its history, traditions and all the other complex parts rolled up into a sweet, honey topped cornbread slice, that teaches us food history.
This cookbook was a joy to read and to use the recipes. She tells everything she uses all the way down to the type of pots and pans. It’s good to know because most people don’t know that what you cook in matters just as much in how you cook it.
The recipes for me were easy to follow and I love the story of how they came to be.
Every thing tasted great! I didn’t just feed my body but also my mind and soul.


Everyone needs to try these recipes and taste history

If you think this is only a cookbook you would be wrong. This book is filled with so much history about southern recipes. I learned a lot! While I thought I might just get different kinds of cornbread and amazing biscuits, I was so wrong. There are so many spectacular recipes in this book and I can't wait to bake them. I can't help but think that if it weren't for many of these bakers from the 1800's that we might not even know what some of these delicious items were. A fantastic cook book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the copy of the ARC.

Who knew there were so many southern cornbread recipes? This was an interesting read not just for the various recipes included. I loved reading the background on the recipes and the people behind them. I had no idea that Cemetery Cookies were a thing. This is an excellent book for those looking for classic southern baking recipes and the stories behind them!

Anne Byrn has compiled an outstanding amount of Southern baking staples. There are classics familiar (Hummingbird Cake, Bill Smith’s Atlantic Pie, to name a few), gems from Southern icons (Zora Neale Hurston), and wonderful recipes that I’ve never seen before, too. Clear instructions and beautiful pictures. I can’t wait to purchase a copy for my personal library.

This cookbook is fascinating! The southern recipes are accompanied by the history of the variations. The background and additional information makes it that much more enjoyable to try new recipes. The one downside, albeit a small one in this case, is that not all of the recipes have a photograph. Given all of the extra text, though, it would have been an enormous book with extra photos!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperCelebrate for a free copy of #BakingintheAmericanSouth by Anne Byrn. All opinions are my own.

There were so many good recipes in this book! I really liked that different variants on recipes were provided with background as to why and how they differ. You don't just get biscuits and cornbread and then move on to cakes. It was so interesting seeing the variations based on location and time.

A lovely cookbook that details many Southern recipes. I am from Mississippi and loved the recipes that were shared. The caramel cake looks absolutely divine!

It is evident that the author put lots of time, research and care into this book.

My.stomach is growling! A delicious collection of notable southern cooks and chefs for every kind of baking imagined.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

My mom and I love finding the perfect new cookbook and this was it! As a family from the southern Appalachian mountains this book about recipes and history from the south was perfect for us. I absolutely loved the history in the book. From things I grew up with and love even now, like learning about Minnie Pear and Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. The wonderful recipes go hand-in-hand with the history and love of the South. The recipes show how life and history shape them and evolve them through the years. The book has 200 recipes and you will want to taste and try all of them. I sure found some new favorites like Peach Pound Cake and Thomasville Cheese Biscuits. You're sure to find your own new family favorites too. A book worth sharing to anyone who loves cooking and history. We are so thankful to have received the ebook ARC and will be rushing to add it to our home library. It makes a great gift too.
Worth a thousand stars to me.

Beautiful photography of an immense array of mouthwatering deliciousness. Combining history of the ingredients, Southern baking techniques with so many recipes. This book should be on the shelf of any serious baker. A whole chapter on various cornbreads and another just on biscuits. But, oh my, the cake and pie recipes are to die for!

Anne Byrn is one of my favorite cookbook author and I love her cookbooks. Of course, this became one of my favorites quickly and this is why.

This book features recipes from the south and every recipe comes with history and tells us how life and history evolve them throughout the years. Stories behind each and every recipes are truly fascinating and worth a read. Not to mention this book brings an outstanding amount of true Southern baked goods that will make you want to start baking from cornbread, biscuits to pies and many more! The only thing I wish this book had was more photographs of the recipes, however, this would've been a ginormous cookbook if it contained more pics since it already is a huge book.

I'm not from Southern area, but I love their foods and the joy they bring. I learned a lot from Baking in the American South and can't recommend enough to anyone who loves baking and would like to bake Southern baked gems!

Great southern cookbook! I love the south! I used to live in NJ and I fell in love with southern food when I met my husband in NC. This cookbook doesn’t only have one recipe for each dish, it has more and also have the stories behind them and notes. You’ll find recipes for cornbread, biscuits, loaves, cakes, rolls, breads, pies, and cookies and more from 14 Southern states—TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, NC, SC, GA, FL, KY, TN, WV, DL, VA. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review #BakingintheAmericanSouth #NetGalley

This book begins with a great introduction to the south and baking in the south. I really enjoyed the how to bake this book section. It contained a lot of helpful information. I especially liked the section on converting measurements from old recipes. The backgrounds on each recipe were a fun and interesting touch to the book. As a baker, I love that the recipes contain weight measurement of each ingredient. The included pictures were stunning and really made me want to make the recipes. I really appreciate the inclusion of recipes from restaurants and chefs alike and thought it was great to include background on some of the people as well. All in all, this is a really great cookbook that I think will become a well-loved book among home cooks and bakers. I would definitely recommend this book.

*Baking in the American South is a cookbook where the author, Anne Bym covers recipes from all over the South and from very early days to the present. While some of the recipes seem slightly updated, most are kept in close to their authentic form. What is really great about the book is that the author includes some interviews with current chefs and provides a lot of history on the general categories (such as corn breads) and specific recipes.

*I baked from all the book sections. The recipes are very authentic in feel and do not include crazy instructions or ingredients that you wouldn’t expect to find outside of the South. However, many of the recipes require the reader to get specific ingredients that may be hard to find. The recipes also seem to work and taste fine.

*This recipe would be good for someone who wants to take a deep dive into learning about creating baked goods from the South.

Loved the concept of this cookbook, a mix of history and classic recipes. There were a lot of recipes of differences in cornbread, biscuits etc. So many of these bakes that I have grown up eating brings so much nostalgia. So many great passages and blurbs about the history of the people who first made these amazing recipes. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Some great recipes and fabulous photographs make this a cook book worth purchasing. I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed reading Baking in The American South. I'm always on the hunt for new recipes to trial and I wasn't really familiar with Southern Baking so I was excited to learn more. There are a wealth of delicious recipes in the book. accompanied with mouth watering pictures to tempt you every time you turn the page. However, my favourite part was the book was the stories and biographies that accompany a lot of the recipes. These feature every day Southerners who have trialled and perfected their bake over generations or during the pandemic. However, the book also features recipes taken from famous figures - you can make the cinnamon bread served at Dollywood .Even more amazing though, you can make Rosa Park's peanut butter pancakes from the recipe she wrote on the back on an envelope. The perfect combination of history and recipes, to take you on a gastronomical journey of the South. Perfect for any keen baker.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

These days a cookbook has to bring more to the table than just recipes and Baking in the American South delivers a buffet. Part cookbook, but also a book filled with history, anthropology, and eye-catching photos, this tome collects recipes from a veritable who's who of southern cooks, bakers, and personalities with an introduction to each of them. The asides that provide a historical or geographical perspective were interesting to read and the photos made it a coffee-table-worthy compendium. The chapters included were an Introduction and explanation of pantry basics, "Sizzling Cornbread", "Hot Biscuits", "Quick Loaves, Griddle Cakes, Waffles, and Fritters", "Rolls, Breads, and Yeast-Raised Cakes", "Comfort Puddings", "Pies Plain and Fancy", "Bake Me a Cake", "Cookies and Bars by the Dozen", and "Frostings and Flourishes". I'm sure that some people may wonder why there is a chapter on corn bread alone, but to me that makes it a true southern baking book, because there are many varied kinds of corn bread and you need to do justice to the staple with more than just one recipe buried in a chapter of quick breads, and the same goes for biscuits. Recipes are well organized, clearly blocking prep and cook times, serving size, ingredients, and detailed instructions. Reading through and looking at the pictures accompanying many recipes left my mouth watering and I can't wait to try a number of them and sharing them with friends.
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Celebrate) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Love Anne Byrn and love her combo of history and recipe. This one will be a big hit in our collection.

This cookbook has a lot of recipes I very much want to try, and they seemed very accessible for different levels of experience. As a southern bookstore, our customers will love it.

Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn is a cookbook that I can not wait to have in my cookbook collection. This is so much more than a regular cookbook because it gives the history and story behind the recipes.
The recipes are so varied, yet all connected by the history behind them. The photos of the food are wonderful. When I saw the photos of so many of them, I was so eager to get my ingredients out and make the recipe.
This book is one that will be in many cooks’ collections. This will be a great gift for me to give to all my family and friends who love to cook and enjoy the history behind what they are making.
Thank you NetGalley, Anne Byrn and Harper Celebrate for the ARC of Baking in the American South. This is my personal review.

This book contains really interesting stories and history, it is beautifully presented and photographed. The introduction and throughout addresses relevant issues like race and class. As an Australian I very much appreciated that the recipes were in grams, as well as cups and weird American measurements (12 sticks of butter, anyone?)

As I am wont to do, I wanted to cook from this book, as well as review the way it looks. My parents were coming for dinner, and we always finish our meals with either a pudding or a cake, so I made the Maryland Jewish Apple cake, which went down very well!

Overall I would recommend this book, both as a cookbook and for those who have an interest in the cooking and culture of the American South.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn is an inspiring compilation of recipes that instantly made me eager to get into the kitchen. From the moment I opened its pages, I was captivated by the creativity and versatility of the dishes presented.

What truly sets this book apart is the depth and detail with which Byrn explores the world of Southern Baking. The accompanying stories and notes provide extra context and confidence, making it easier to tackle the recipes.

The book's layout is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, allowing for easy navigation and seamless execution of the recipes. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice, the instructions are clear and concise, making baking a joy.

I am excited to share these gourmet delights with my loved ones and am confident that this cookbook will become a cherished addition to my kitchen library, a source of shared joy and delicious meals.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for generously providing me with an e-book copy of Baking in the American South in exchange for an honest review.

Converts Historical Recipes
Ms. Byrn covers different historical recipes from different parts of the south, converting to modern cooking methods and products adding a bit of history to the cookbook. Interesting read.
I requested and received a NetGalley arc to peruse gratis as is my opinion

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Celebrate, and Anne Byrn for this ARC of Baking in the South. It is an amazing cookbook with 200 recipes from 14 states and over 150 beautiful photographs. I loved the stories that described the history, places and people that made these recipes. I am from the south and had no idea how many recipes there were for biscuits and cornbread. These recipes alone will keep me busy in the kitchen for a long time. I can’t wait to get my copy when it is published.

Highly recommend this book. It is the definitive Southern baking handbook, and the last one you'll ever need to buy. The cookbook includes a wealth of different recipes for cornbread, yeast bread, pies, cookies, and cakes. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few notable gems included, such as beignets, Texas-Czech Kolaches, Highland Park Cafe's Zucchini Muffins (a local, Dallas favorite), and Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies. This book is a treasure of recipes; recipes which feel like have been passed down from generations upon generations. Mark your calendars for September 3, and go ahead and pre-order. You won't regret it! My sincere thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This cookbook was perfect. It had the perfect ratio of text, stories, history, and photos. In addition it was very visually pleasing with a great number of pictures. I would highly recommend!

"Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories" by Anne Byrn is a delightful journey into the heart of Southern baking. This comprehensive guide covers everything from pantry essentials to essential baking equipment, making it accessible for both novices and seasoned bakers alike. Byrn's collection of 200 recipes not only showcases the classics like cornbread, biscuits, and luscious cakes with decadent frostings but also delves into their rich cultural and historical significance. Each recipe comes with its own untold story, adding a layer of warmth and authenticity to the baking experience. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.) Whether you're craving a taste of tradition or eager to explore new flavors, this book is a must-have for anyone passionate about Southern cuisine and baking.

I’m sure that we all approach cookbooks in a different way. Me? I like to read them like a novel. Because of this, I am always delighted to find a cookbook that can offer me not only recipes, but historical facts, new methods of cooking, local culture, and thoughts and tips from fellow cooks. Baking in the American South by Anne Byrne (Set to be released on September 4th) has all of these things, plus it offers us recipes that are truly fine examples of the wonderful tradition of Southern baking.

This book contains 200 recipes from 14 Southern states, and nearly as many mouthwatering photos, that will send you running into the kitchen, whisk in hand. For me, this book was worth it alone for the cornbread recipes. There are biscuits as well, and rolls, cakes, and cookies, all most certain to send you into a carbohydrate coma.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the people who created these recipes and their varied cultures. Kudos to Bryne for being able to convert those old recipes when inexact measurements were used. To the dismay of everyone in my family, my grandmother used to say things like “add enough flour until it ‘looks right,’” confounding everyone. Because of this I was grateful for the included and most helpful chart in converting those measurements into modern day ones. This provides the reader with the wonderful opportunity to recreate those much loved, crumbling, food-stained recipes from decades past, allowing them to partake in the delights of their own family’s culinary history.

You don’t have to be a baker to be fascinated by the contents. You will, however, want to explore each chapter in detail (one of which is devoted entirely to cornbread, be still my beating heart):

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

This is really a book that needs to be experienced. Historians, food lovers, family cooks, and professionals, will all find great value here.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Anne Byrne, and Harper Celebrate for providing me with a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one's a heartfelt journey through the rich culture of Southern culinary history. As someone who loves exploring the stories behind food, I was truly captivated by how this book intertwines personal narratives with timeless recipes. The recipes themselves are a treasure trove of Southern classics, from Thomasville Cheese Biscuits to Georgia Gilmore's Pound Cake. Each one carries with it a piece of history, revealing how the ingredients and techniques have evolved through time. I was particularly fascinated by the stories of how mill locations influenced local recipes and how baking traditions were impacted by historical events like the Civil Rights Movement. The book's exploration of African-American contributions to Southern baking and the preservation of family recipes through generations is particularly moving. It’s clear that these recipes are not just culinary artifacts but also symbols of cultural resilience and tradition.

For anyone interested in baking, Southern cuisine, or food history, this book is a gem. It’s an invitation to not only cook but also to connect with the deeper stories behind each dish

I went to school for baking and have experienced many a book on baking. This book is love. Absolute love from touches of history and a glimpse into the stories that are the people and cultures that exist in the southern states; to the wide variety of recipes on traditional southern baked goods.

Did I realize that there were so many cornbread varieties out there? No, I did not. The things you’ll learn in this book! This is part cookbook, part study on women and their roles in the family in the historical US south. Each recipe has a mini biography or story attached to it, with notes on ingredients or techniques involved. Besides the many cornbread recipes, there are cakes, squares, cookies, and other treat recipes that have been passed down from older generations, with notes and substitutions made as our baking tools and ingredients have changed. A really nice book with pictures of the recipes, and the women they came from.

I received a free ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Book Review: Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn

Rating: ★★★★☆

As someone who has always been fascinated by the rich tapestry of Southern culture in the US, I was excited to dive into Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories by Anne Byrn. What I found was not just a cookbook, but an enthralling journey through the history of Southern baking that left me both educated and inspired.

The book takes us on a culinary expedition across 14 Southern states, showcasing 200 recipes that reflect the evolution of baking in the region—from simple make-do recipes passed down through generations to cherished classics that have become staples in Southern kitchens. Byrn brilliantly weaves together narratives that highlight how geography, history, and culture have shaped the dishes we know and love today. Did you know that the location of mills influenced local recipes? Or that pound cakes played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement? These fascinating insights add depth to each recipe and make it clear that there’s a story behind every bite.

I absolutely loved the history interspersed throughout the book. Each recipe is accompanied by an introduction to notable Southern cooks, bakers, and personalities, making it clear that this isn’t just a collection of dishes but a tribute to the people who brought them to life. Byrn's asides provide historical and geographical perspectives that are genuinely interesting to read. The photos are not only eye-catching but also elevates this book, making it perfect for setting out on any table for guests to flip through.

Among the standout recipes are Thomasville Cheese Biscuits, Ouita Michel's Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins, and Georgia Gilmore's Pound Cake. Each dish is well-written and accessible, making it easy for everyone—from novice bakers to seasoned pros—to whip up some Southern delights in their own kitchens.

In conclusion, Baking in the American South is a brilliant mix of culinary art and storytelling. It’s clear that this author has created an essential guide for anyone interested in Southern baking. This book is not just about food; it's a celebration of Southern heritage and the women (and men) who have preserved it through baking. Whether you're looking for a new recipe to try or just want to learn more about Southern history, this book is definitely worth picking up!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of "Baking in the American South," and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed. This cookbook is not only a delightful read but also an informative journey through the rich history behind each dish. The range of recipes is exceptional, offering everything from classic Southern staples to unique, lesser-known treats. The detailed background on each recipe adds a wonderful depth to the experience, making it more than just a cookbook—it's a celebration of Southern baking traditions. I was so captivated by this book that I'll be purchasing a copy for my collection as soon as it’s available. Highly recommended for anyone who loves baking and has a passion for Southern cuisine!

Recipes provided by location covering the entire American south with stories to go along. This is great if you like southern baking, you will find lots of instruction to create the perfect treat. There are really nice photos so you can make sure your items look right as well. Perfect bakers treat.

For those not aware of the history tied into Southern cooking, this book takes an interesting look at how the same recipe can evolve based on your culture and the heritage of an area. By presenting similar recipes across the many varied Southern states, and talking about the different influences, Byrn helps the reader to not only understand the cooking culture of the South, but how a recipe can travel around the South, be touched by different hands, and end up something different and modern in its sensibilities, yet still keep the core of the recipe. It's tradition, love, and cooking, all rolled into one. An interesting book for gift giving this year, for the person who loves cookbooks, and has many of them!

This is a fantastic cookbook. There are so many great recipes and I can’t wait to make my way through them all. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is a fantastic cookbook! The recipes are unique and every recipe in this has a story behind it which is refreshing. There are recipes for cornbread, biscuits, breads, waffles, fritters, cakes, puddings, pies, tarts, cookies,bars,frostings,sauces and glazes. The photos throughout are wonderful. If you're a fan of Southern food or are interested in trying it, then I think this is a great cookbook for you! Special Thank You to Anne Byrn,Harper Celebrate and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gorgeous cookbook. Beautiful color slides and delicious recipes with a little write up on the history of each one as well as lots of interesting historical information on Southern baking.

With 200 recipes and their backstories, 'Baking in the American South' celebrates the diverse and enduring legacy of Southern baking. Byrn features a wide range of recipes from classic pecan pies and buttermilk biscuits to lesser-known specialties like sweet potato pone and bourbon-infused cakes. As a sixth generation Australian with no ties to the American South, I'm looking forward to trying some of these!

All the old favorites are in this volume of recipes from an author of well respected letters. The writing and step by step method allows the reader to experiment and explore biscuits , pies and cakes that are revered in the south. It is well researched and the photographs can make you gasp. The hard part is deciding where to begin. The easy part is finding a loved one to take one more bite. It was a delight to read and more fun to explore.

This is a delightful cookbook! I've enjoyed learning about a whole style of cooking I've never tried before. This is extremely different from my own birth culture, and it was very fun to learn about it!

This is a unique cookbook/history of Southern recipes. I loved that in one of the intro sections, it listed Conversions of Common Measures from Old Recipes (i.e. "butter the size of a walnut). The recipes are in chapters: 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; and Frostings and Flourishes. While the recipes in the cornbread and biscuits chapters are multiple variations of basically the same food item, the other chapters have a lot of variety. I really enjoyed how the chapters started with a background/history essay, and then ingredient information and the recipes followed. The recipe sources range from famous chefs and authors to the Carter White House to Southern Women both famous and not. The book has beautiful color photography and would be a wonderful cookbook library addition or gift for someone who loves Southern food and/or baking.

Fascinated by southern baking....

I'm fascinated by southern baking and this book delivers gorgeous photos and lovely recipes from the south. Some very regional recipes I haven't seen before, too.
Highly recommend.

What a great resource for baking up Southern favorites! I was amazed by all the recipes, helpful tips, list of best brands of ingredients to use, the history behind each recipe, and the wonderful photos that made my mouth water. Some of the recipes I want to try are hush puppies, orange rolls, and the famous Dollywood Cinnamon bread. Can't wait to start baking!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Celebrate for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Baking in the American South combines an academic history lesson, the best of church bake sales and cookbooks with a large part of cooking at your grandmothers elbow, the sheer amount of corn bread recipes is testament to this. But the book os better for it, it is a tome and if there is a recipe you tasted once and want to recreate this is thr book to help you do it!!

It is warm and interesting and, from what I tested delicious, although I have barely made a dent in the cornbread recipes to date!

“Baking in the American South” is a recipe and history book by Anne Bryn. If Ms. Bryn’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she did the “Cake Doctor” cookbook series many years ago (books I still refer to all these years later). In this book, there’s a lot of history - both of the individual recipes, but also of the different sections. For instance, there are a lot of cornbread recipes - some are standard cornbread in a cast iron skillet, but other cornbreads are pancake-like and still others in muffin form. Why the differences? Ms. Bryn explains all. I knew that there were numerous biscuit recipes (cat’s head, drop, flake), but seeing a number of them in this book makes me truly appreciate the humble biscuit and its fantastic history. There’s also recipes for cakes - amusingly I believe only one for my favorite “Southern” cake (Hummingbird), but, well, maybe it’s a pretty standard recipe. I will admit to not having time to actually make any of the recipes before writing up this review (the book was released a few days ago), but from a quick glance over the recipes and directions, they seemed pretty sound. If that’s not the case, I’ll update this review. You don’t have to be Southern to enjoy these recipes, but if you are, some of these recipes may put a smile on your face as you wander down memory lane.

As someone who grew up in the American South, though as a transplant and not a native, many of these recipes seemed to unlock a bit of nostalgia for the assorted potlucks I attended as a kid. Each of the nine chapters starts with a brief look at the history of the food. Learning why cornbread is a staple food in the South is fascinating, as is learning why Southerners love bread of all kinds.

Back to those nine chapters. Yes, there’s more to the book than cornbread. Though you’ll be surprised to learn that of the 200 recipes in the book, roughly 24 of them are cornbread! I was shocked to see that many options.

Along with the history lesson at the beginning of each chapter, each recipe gives a brief story of its creator. Some recipes were modified to match what is available now, including any changes in measuring and cooking.

One recipe that intrigued me the most was Edna Lewis’s Sourdough Pancakes. I was so intrigued that I made the recipe that weekend. It takes some prep time (at least 8 hours), but they taste like no other pancake you have eaten—unless you’ve been blessed to have them before.

While I only tested a couple of recipes in the book, I enjoyed both and look forward to bringing a touch of the American South to my Canadian home. This cookbook would be a welcome addition to any kitchen, not just one in the American South.

Oh.my.goodness! I think we all know that I love reading cookbooks, from any area and any age--but this one combines history and photography with the recipes so beautifully that it is easily a new favorite! The sheer number of pages dedicated to cornbread, biscuits, and breads alone (hundreds!) is both a straight way to this carb-lover's heart, and a fascinating bunch of tidbits on the topics such as the history and evolutions of flours in the American South. Was I looking up brands and types I'd never heard of? Sure was. Was this baking and history geek SO happy? SURE WAS.

Other notes of appreciation:

*The nuanced points about enslaved persons and what they brought with them from their homelands and how baking certain dishes evoked/might evoke mixed or negative feelings

*Learning of the history of pound cake in the Civil Rights Movement

*Nostalgic glimpses of history, without being completely sugarcoated

*The conversions and bits of southern measurements--made me smile and remember days spent in my (Midwestern) grandmother's kitchen where I learned to cook and bake by similar "measurements" and now frustrate my own friends and family with my "recipe notes"

*The inclusion of tomato gravy recipes (Okay, this "appreciation" is based upon my husband's love of the stuff + how much I'm always missing his wonderful grandmother)

*Beautiful photography, with the past mixed with the contemporary

Have I purchased this title for my own cookbook library? SURE HAVE! :) Buy your copy noooooow!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Celebrate Publishing for the chance to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a beautiful cookbook! The recipes are not out of this world crazy hard. Substitutes are listed for ingredients that you may not have at your local grocery store because of where you live. Loved the history behind the recipes and learned a few things. Hints on how to make your recipes turn out better, secrets really. Photography is beautifully done. I can't wait to start making these amazing recipes and have already pre-ordered the book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

There aren't many cookbooks about which I can say this, but this book is amazing! It's more than a simple cookbook. The history, the photographs and the CORNBREAD AND BISCUITS!! Who knew there were so many?! As soon as I dove into this hefty volume I knew I needed a copy. The research that was done to create this book is extensive, every page is a pleasure to read. I own a lot of cookbooks and I have been baking, especially bread, since I was in elementary school, and I am proud to have this volume on my shelf. And not just breads and cakes are included, as I had assumed - puddings and pies are here as well. There is literally something for everyone. I know, I'm going on and on....and on about this book, but this is an exciting addition to my personal library and I will say that you can't go wrong with this cookbook.

My ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Any cookbook that begins with almost 100 pages of historical cornbread recipes is aimed directly at this Georgia girl’s heart, soul and gastronomic spirit in mind, and that is exactly what Anne Byrn’s extraordinary “Baking in the American South: 200 Recipes and Their Untold Stories” does magnificently.

With marvelous full-color photographs throughout by Rinne Allen, this treasure of historical Southern foods included reprinted handwritten vintage recipes, historical anecdotes about many of the unique dishes, as well as photos and stories about many of inventors and their origins.

You will also learn about modern conversions from their historical predecessors, such as “a pinch of salt” or baking in a “fast oven.” This is in addition to so many classic Southern recipes for biscuits, breads, cookies, cakes, and pies.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Anne Byrn, and Publisher Harper Celebrate for this advanced reader’s copy for review.

Anne Byrn collects recipes from fourteen Southern states from the Civil War to today’s recipes. She shares both recipes and stories. There are over 200 recipes including biscuits, cornbread, pound cakes, cakes and cookies. Another beautiful cookbook from this wonderful author.