Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn: Cookbook Review

Baking in the American South is a love letter to Southern baking written by Anne Byrn. Released on September 3, 2024, it is full of history, stories, and delicious recipes. Byrn is a bestselling cookbook author who felt driven to share the story of her family and hundreds of others along the way.

I want to thank Harper Celebrate and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Baking in the American South. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Witness the rise of Southern baking from the humble, make-do recipes of our ancestors to its place as one of the world’s richest culinary traditions through this essential cookbook from bestselling author Anne Byrn. With 200 recipes and more than 150 photos from 14 states, Baking in the American South has the biscuits, cornbread, cakes, and rolls that will help you bake like a Southerner, even if you aren’t.

Recipes can tell you volumes if you pay attention—the crops raised, languages spoken, family customs, old-world flavors, and, often, religion. Did you know that where a mill was located affected the recipes handed down from that area? Or that baking and selling pound cakes directly impacted the Civil Rights Movement? These stories and recipes, developed from good times and bad, have been collected and perfected over years and are now accessible to us all. Anne’s expertise in assessing, modernizing, and developing well-written recipes makes this the definitive guide for bakers of all levels.

This fascinating dive into the history of 14 southern states—Texas, Florida, Kentucky, and more—features stories and beautifully photographed recipes from pre-Civil War times to today’s Southern kitchens. It’s about the places, the people, the products, and the culture of the moment that influenced what people baked. It’s about African-American women and the monumental contributions they have made to the art of Southern baking, about home cooks and how they’ve kept traditions alive wherever they settle by baking family recipes each year for holidays and celebrations, and about the pastry chefs who have thoughtfully reimagined how the South bakes.

Experience the recipes and the stories behind them that showcase the substantial contributions Southern baking has made to American baking at large. Food historians, bakers, foodies, and cookbook collectors from every corner of the country will want this cookbook in their collections.

My Opinions

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. The book is broken down into the following chapters:

• Sizzling Cornbread
• Hot Biscuits
• Quick Loaves, Griddle Cakes, Waffles, and Fritters
• Rolls, Bread, and Yeast Raised Cakes
• Comforting Puddings
• Pies Plain & Fancy
• Bake Me a Cake
• Cookies & Bars by the Dozen
• Frostings & Flourishes

I’ll let you guess what chapters the Hush Puppies and Beignets are in!

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.

Are you looking for more food-related content? Check out my other Foodie Fridays posts.