Best Baking Books

Finally! I constantly wish I was a better baker, and now there is a collection of books to help me get there. The James Beard Foundation has selected thirteen books are essential to a baker's cookbook collection. Believe it or not, I do not own any of these books! Needless to say, I have a lot of shopping to do. From the secrets of perfect baking to tips about using eggs to indispensable base recipes for cookies from Martha Stewart, this list will get you set for any baking occasion.

In no particular order or rank, here's my baking summer reading list:

• Baking: From My Home to Yours
• Beard on Bread
• Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts 
• The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread
• The Cake Bible
• Classic Home Desserts: A Treasury of Heirloom and Contemporary Recipes from Around the World
• Cocolat: Extraordinary Chocolate Desserts
• The Fannie Farmer Baking Book
• Great Pies & Tarts
• The Italian Baker
• Martha Stewart Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and Share
• My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method
• The Simple Art of Perfect Baking

So join me in the kitchen this summer. Test these books. Bake some treats...and don't forget to share!