Sift: The Elements of Great Baking (Nicola Lamb)

Sift begins with the foundational ingredients that underpin great bakes—flour, sugar, eggs, fat—before delving into the techniques that bring recipes to life: texture, color, how things rise, and a technical overview. 100 tested, tried, and true recipes follow and are organized by difficulty and time commitment, ranging from easy 30-minute cakes to spectacular showstoppers you can devote a weekend to, including:

• Bake in an afternoon: Marble Cake with Chocolate Frosting, Lemon Curd Meringue Tarts with Blackberries, Miso Walnut Double-Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Bake in a day: Mango Shortcake with Candied Lime, Fancy Rhubarb Tart, Olive Oil Brie-oche with Roasted Grapes, Honey, and Thyme
• Bake in a weekend: 3-Day Focaccia; Pain au Chocolat; Classic Fruit Custard Danish

Gorgeous photos accompany every recipe and the infographic-style illustrations help home bakers easily grasp the hows and whys of baking so they can tackle any project with confidence.