Helen Goh: Baking and the Meaning of Life
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There's something quietly profound about baking. The way flour and butter and sugar transform into something golden and fragrant. The way a kitchen fills with warmth. The way a cake on the table says I made this for you without needing words. Helen Goh - the pastry genius behind some of Ottolenghi's most beloved desserts - understands this better than anyone. Baking and the Meaning of Life isn't just a collection of recipes. It's a meditation on why we bake, what it gives us, and how the simple act of making something sweet can ground us, connect us, and bring unexpected joy.
Helen's approach to baking is both exacting and generous. She respects the science - the precision, the technique, the way temperature and timing matter - but she also celebrates the soul of it: the ritual, the creativity, the pleasure of sharing something you've made with your own hands. These recipes span everything from buttery morning pastries and elegant layer cakes to rustic fruit tarts and show-stopping celebration desserts, each one written with the clarity and confidence that comes from decades in professional kitchens.
What this book brings to your baking:
- Recipes that work - tested, retested, and written with the kind of detail that sets you up for success, whether you're a confident baker or just starting out
- Flavour combinations that surprise and delight - Helen's signature style blends Middle Eastern spices, European technique, and bold, unexpected pairings that make every bite memorable
- The confidence to tackle ambitious bakes - clear instructions, helpful tips, and encouragement to try things you might have thought were beyond your skill level
- A deeper appreciation for the craft - understand not just how to bake, but why certain techniques matter, and what makes a truly great cake, tart, or pastry
Whether you're baking to celebrate, to comfort, to impress, or simply because you need something beautiful and delicious in your life right now, this book meets you where you are. It's the kind of cookbook that earns flour-dusted pages and butter-smudged corners - the highest compliment a baking book can receive.
Hardcover. Gorgeously photographed. A book that reminds you why baking matters.
About the Author
Helen Goh was born in Malaysia and came to Australia with her family at age 11. A trained psychologist, she combines psychology practice with a cooking career, becoming head pastry chef at a landmark Melbourne restaurant before moving to London and joining Ottolenghi. Co-author with Yotam of the best-selling baking book Sweet and family food book Comfort, she has worked closely with him in recipe development for over 10 years, drawing widely on Asian, Western and Middle Eastern influences. Helen is a food columnist whose recipes appear in the Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian and Observer. She lives in London with her husband and two sons. @helen_goh_bakes
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