40 books like Eclairs

By Christophe Adam,

Here are 40 books that Eclairs fans have personally recommended if you like Eclairs. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of French Patisserie: Master Recipes and Techniques from the Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts

Sylvie Gruber Author Of Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker

From my list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved French Pastry for as long as I can remember, all the way from my Mum’s kitchen as a kid in Belgium to my own kitchen here in Melbourne. I love it so much I quit my job as an architect 6 years ago to start a blog that focuses on baking and French pastry especially! This crazy experience took me all the way back to Paris to attend a French pastry program at Ecole Ducasse in 2019 and to publish my first cookbook on French pastry at the end of 2023.

Sylvie's book list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking

Sylvie Gruber Why did Sylvie love this book?

This book by the cooking school Ferrandi is the most thorough, complete, and detailed cookbook I’ve ever read about French pastry.

It breaks down hundreds of traditional and classic recipes with step-by-step instructions and photos, as well as lots of tips along the way. It is packed with information to help you create a solid foundation on French Pastry.

If I could only choose one cookbook, it would be this one! 

Book cover of Patisserie: Master the Art of French pastry

Sylvie Gruber Author Of Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker

From my list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved French Pastry for as long as I can remember, all the way from my Mum’s kitchen as a kid in Belgium to my own kitchen here in Melbourne. I love it so much I quit my job as an architect 6 years ago to start a blog that focuses on baking and French pastry especially! This crazy experience took me all the way back to Paris to attend a French pastry program at Ecole Ducasse in 2019 and to publish my first cookbook on French pastry at the end of 2023.

Sylvie's book list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking

Sylvie Gruber Why did Sylvie love this book?

This book features 100 recipes covering every basic skill you will want to learn about French pastry. I particularly love the diagrams and illustrations that accompany each recipe, clearly breaking down each element and step.

The book is a real piece of art that I love looking at and a great reference when looking for classic techniques. 

By Melanie Dupuis, Anne Cazor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Patisserie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Patisserie gives readers all the technical know-how required to become an expert in the art of French patisserie and invent their own masterpieces. Each of the 100 recipes features a full-colour cross-section illustration, step-by-step photography and a beautiful hero image in order to both inspire the reader and demystify some of France's most iconic desserts. Patisserie includes the basic building-block recipes needed to understand the fundamentals of French patisserie, from the pastry itself (shortcrust pastry, sweet pastry, puff pastry, choux pastry and more) to fillings (custards, creams, butters, mousses, ganaches and pastes) and embellishments (meringue, chocolate, sauces and sugar art).…


Book cover of Patisserie: Mastering the Fundamentals of French Pastry

Sylvie Gruber Author Of Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker

From my list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved French Pastry for as long as I can remember, all the way from my Mum’s kitchen as a kid in Belgium to my own kitchen here in Melbourne. I love it so much I quit my job as an architect 6 years ago to start a blog that focuses on baking and French pastry especially! This crazy experience took me all the way back to Paris to attend a French pastry program at Ecole Ducasse in 2019 and to publish my first cookbook on French pastry at the end of 2023.

Sylvie's book list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking

Sylvie Gruber Why did Sylvie love this book?

Another very extensive cookbook on French pastry, I love the unique and personal approach of Christophe Felder.

This book goes over a number of basic recipes but also contains an extensive number of more “old school”, traditional, and/or regional recipes that you might not find in other cookbooks.

I also particularly appreciate the chapter on savoury pastries.

By Christophe Felder,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Patisserie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Newly updated and expanded with 3,500 step-by-step photographs, all the classics of French patisserie are made accessible for the home cook. For every serious home baker, French pastry represents the ultimate achievement. But to master the techniques, a written recipe can take you only so far-what is equally important is to see a professional in action, to learn the nuances of rolling out dough for croissaints or caramelizing apples for a tarte tatin. For each of the 233 recipes here, there are photographs that lead the reader through every step of the instructions. There has never been such a comprehensive…


Book cover of Lune: Croissants All Day, All Night

Sylvie Gruber Author Of Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker

From my list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved French Pastry for as long as I can remember, all the way from my Mum’s kitchen as a kid in Belgium to my own kitchen here in Melbourne. I love it so much I quit my job as an architect 6 years ago to start a blog that focuses on baking and French pastry especially! This crazy experience took me all the way back to Paris to attend a French pastry program at Ecole Ducasse in 2019 and to publish my first cookbook on French pastry at the end of 2023.

Sylvie's book list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking

Sylvie Gruber Why did Sylvie love this book?

This is the only book I recommend that is not written by a French chef!

I devoured this book not only for the incredibly detailed recipes and techniques covering everything you need to know to make croissants and viennoiseries at home but also for the life story of the chef that accompanies the recipes.

The “Lune” bakery is an institution in Melbourne (Australia) where I live, and I find it so inspiring to read about a local woman who broke through a traditional men-filled industry.

By Kate Reid,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lune as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The debut cookbook from Lune, a world-renowned croissant bakery in Australia.

Lune Croissanterie is one of the most talked about bakeries in the world. From rave reviews from Nigella Lawson, Yotam Ottolenghi, Rene Redzepi and Rachel Khoo, to features in news outlets such as New York Times and The Guardian, Lune has been touted as 'the best croissant in the world' since it opened its doors in 2012. Customers are queuing quite literally around the block from the early hours to eat Lune's pastries, but what makes this book so special is how Kate Reid elevates croissant pastry from a…


Book cover of Good & Sweet: A New Way to Bake with Naturally Sweet Ingredients

Nick Malgieri Author Of How to Bake

From my list on getting you baking like a pro.

Why am I passionate about this?

Whenever I’m asked about when I knew I wanted to be a pastry chef/baker, I always answer, “birth!” My maternal grandmother lived with us and she loved to bake; I was playing with dough as soon as I was old enough to stand on a chair next to the kitchen table. After college I faced a crisis: graduate school or culinary school – I chose the latter and I’ve never looked back. Adding teaching and writing to my love of baking led me to travel, taste, research, and learn new techniques and recipes to share. It’s a passion from which I’ll never retire.

Nick's book list on getting you baking like a pro

Nick Malgieri Why did Nick love this book?

In Good and Sweet, Brian Levy takes a radical approach to preparing delicious desserts – he uses no refined sugar but finds the necessary sweetness of his desserts from fruits (dried, juiced, or fresh), grains, dairy products, and nuts.

Before I tried any of the recipes, I have to admit that I was somewhat skeptical, but one taste of any of the recipes I tried made me realize that there are other ways to sweeten besides refined sugar. My favorites include Blueberry Biscuit Cobbler, Cherry Coconut Clafoutis, Figgy Cheesecake, Rosemary Lemon Shortbread, and Spiced Pumpkin Pie.

Levy also incorporates whole grain flour when appropriate as high-quality flour provides a sweetness of its own.

By Brian Levy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Good & Sweet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Times, Serious Eats

Groundbreaking recipes for real desserts—sweetened entirely by fruit and other natural, unexpectedly sweet ingredients—from a pastry cook who’s worked at acclaimed restaurants in New York and France.

Brian Levy spent years making pastries the traditional way, with loads of refined sugar and white flour, at distinguished restaurants, inns, and private homes in the United States and Europe. But he discovered another world of desserts—one that few bakers have explored—where there’s no need for cane sugar or coconut sugar, for maple syrup or honey, or for anything like…


Book cover of Baking and Pastry: Mastering the Art and Craft

Lei Shishak Author Of Farm-To-Table Desserts: 80 Seasonal, Organic Recipes Made from Your Local Farmers Market

From my list on pastry baking from an award winning baker.

Why am I passionate about this?

Lei Shishak is the author of numerous cookbooks including Beach House Dinners, Beach House Brunch, Beach House Baking, and Farm-to-Table Desserts. A graduate of Culinary Institute of America, Lei is the founder of Sugar Blossom Bake Shop in San Clemente, California. She is one of Southern California’s most respected bakers, having been honored as the Orange County Pastry Chef of the Year in 2011 by Riviera Magazine.

Lei's book list on pastry baking from an award winning baker

Lei Shishak Why did Lei love this book?

This was my textbook when I was a baking and pastry major in culinary school. In its third edition, this is the most comprehensive pastry baking book from the country's premier culinary school. I still refer back to it time and again for its reliable recipes and classic techniques. The chapters cover every specialty in pastry baking, including bread, chocolates, confections, wedding cakes, pastries, decorating, mousses, and frozen desserts. This book is well worth its price.

By The Culinary Institute of America (CIA),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Baking and Pastry as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The leading learning tool for all levels of baking and pastry ability, newly illustrated and updated Praised by top pastry chefs and bakers as "an indispensable guide" and "the ultimate baking and pastry reference," the latest edition of Baking and Pastry from The Culinary Institute of America improves upon the last with more than 300 new recipes, photographs, and illustrations, and completely revised and up-to-date information on creating spectacular breads and desserts. Covering the full range of the baking and pastry arts and widely used by professionals and readers who want to bake like professionals, this book offers detailed, accessible…


Book cover of Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers

Tammy Donroe Inman Author Of New England Desserts: Classic and Creative Recipes for All Seasons

From my list on seasonal baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an award-winning cookbook author, photographer, and culinary instructor with a passion for local food and dessert. As a trained chef, I’ve worked behind the scenes of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and the TV show America’s Test Kitchen. I’ve also been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and CBS Evening News. For cookbooks, I love beautifully styled photography that pulls me in and delicious, well-written recipes that work in a real home kitchen. I also like a cookbook that you can curl up with and read like a novel. I live outside Boston with my family, two high-maintenance cats, and a pair of well-worn roller skates.

Tammy's book list on seasonal baking

Tammy Donroe Inman Why did Tammy love this book?

Los Angeles-based pastry chef Rucker has compiled her favorite fruit-based brunch and dessert recipes into one tempting volume. Some of my favorites: Spiced Apple Wedding Cake, Huckleberry Blondies, and Kabocha Squash Pie. 

There is some advanced technique here, but most of the ingredients are easy to find. With photography that is bright and inviting, this book is a good, modern addition to your seasonal baking library.

By Nicole Rucker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dappled as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Fresh fruit-based desserts from beloved Los Angeles pastry chef and restaurateur Nicole Rucker.

Nicole Rucker is responsible for some of the most raved-about and Instagrammed pastries and baked goods in Los Angeles, first as the Pastry Chef at the hotspots Gjelina Take Away and Gjusta, then through her pie company Rucker's Pie and restaurant Fiona. In her debut cookbook, Rucker shares her obsession and her recipes with readers to help them achieve the same kind of magical alchemy she's perfected in fruit desserts.

To Rucker, fruit is every bit as decadent as chocolate cake and in this unique guide to…


Book cover of Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts

Nick Malgieri Author Of How to Bake

From my list on getting you baking like a pro.

Why am I passionate about this?

Whenever I’m asked about when I knew I wanted to be a pastry chef/baker, I always answer, “birth!” My maternal grandmother lived with us and she loved to bake; I was playing with dough as soon as I was old enough to stand on a chair next to the kitchen table. After college I faced a crisis: graduate school or culinary school – I chose the latter and I’ve never looked back. Adding teaching and writing to my love of baking led me to travel, taste, research, and learn new techniques and recipes to share. It’s a passion from which I’ll never retire.

Nick's book list on getting you baking like a pro

Nick Malgieri Why did Nick love this book?

Maida’s Book of Great Desserts is the first of many books by her, and the one that influenced me very early in my developing love of baking and desserts.

I was privileged to know Maida for the last 25 years of her life and was able to teach several classes with her. Although all her books were masterpieces, she would most often pick recipes from this book to teach. 

Some of my (and Maida’s) favorites include Queen Mother’s Cake (a recipe shared by a musician who claimed to have received it directly from the Queen Mum), East 62nd Street Lemon Cake, Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies (simply delicious), and Black and White Cheesecake. 

Don’t pass this one by!

By Maida Heatter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Gathers recipes for cakes, cookies, pastries, crepes, blintzes, popovers, cream puffs, puff pastry, pies, cheesecakes, ice creams, and souffles.


Book cover of The Sweet Life: Desserts from Chanterelle

Lei Shishak Author Of Farm-To-Table Desserts: 80 Seasonal, Organic Recipes Made from Your Local Farmers Market

From my list on pastry baking from an award winning baker.

Why am I passionate about this?

Lei Shishak is the author of numerous cookbooks including Beach House Dinners, Beach House Brunch, Beach House Baking, and Farm-to-Table Desserts. A graduate of Culinary Institute of America, Lei is the founder of Sugar Blossom Bake Shop in San Clemente, California. She is one of Southern California’s most respected bakers, having been honored as the Orange County Pastry Chef of the Year in 2011 by Riviera Magazine.

Lei's book list on pastry baking from an award winning baker

Lei Shishak Why did Lei love this book?

Pastry chef Kate Zuckerman shares her recipes from Chanterelle, the beloved, award-winning New York City restaurant. This book is a beautiful and complete look into a restaurant pastry chef’s world. The recipes cover a full spectrum of desserts from luscious tarts to cakes, cookies, custards, soufflés, and delightful confections. Readers will enjoy in-depth explanations of pastry techniques and the history of ingredients. Two of my favorite recipes in the book are the Roasted Apple Beignets and the Brandied Dried Fig Soufflé.

By Kate Zuckerman, Tina Rupp,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sweet Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Say the word "Chanterelle" to a food-loving New Yorker and the first thing she thinks of is the beloved restaurant that put SoHo on the culinary map in 1979 and is now approaching its 25th anniversary in its new location in Tribeca. Kate Zuckerman, Chanterelle's pastry chef, has met and exceeded the high expectations of the restaurants' founders, David and Karen Waltuck, by creating exquisite desserts that draw upon her vast culinary experiences - both as a 4-star pastry chef in Boston, San Francisco and New York - and through her culinary travels to countries such as India. The Sweet…


Book cover of Bake Your Heart Out: Foolproof Recipes to Level Up Your Home Baking

Courtney Carey Author Of Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes: Easy, Delicious Desserts Inspired by the '80s

From my list on satisfy your nostalgic sweet tooth.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a baking blogger with a serious love for all things '80s and all things sweet. Cupcakes are my passion but I have a huge sweet tooth for all types of desserts. I created my blog, "Cake Me Home Tonight," to share my passion for baking, easy and delicious recipes, and baking tips and tutorials to inspire home bakers to elevate their baking game. I am always inspired and motivated by my favorite cookbook authors and baking bloggers to create dessert recipes with a nostalgic twist. I hope these books satisfy your sweet tooth as much as they have mine!

Courtney's book list on satisfy your nostalgic sweet tooth

Courtney Carey Why did Courtney love this book?

Bake Your Heart Out: Foolproof Recipes to Level Up Your Home Baking is truly a masterpiece of a cookbook. Dan offers up a variety of amazing dessert and breakfast recipes featuring cookies, bars, breakfast bakes, pies, tarts, and cakes. Similar to many of my favorite bakers, Dan’s recipes feature classic, nostalgic flavors with a little twist of something extra.

I have learned so much from Dan as he shares the most interesting and innovative baking tips and tricks for creating absolutely delicious and beautiful baked goods. Sometimes one little baking trick can make all the difference! 

By Dan Langan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bake Your Heart Out as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The debut baking recipe book from Food Network star Dan Langan!

Like many of us, Dan Langan learned young that if you want to make someone smile, all you need to do is give them a cookie. Dan channeled his natural creativity into baking alongside his mother and grandmother, and he soon became obsessed with making and remaking his favorite recipes until they were the tastiest and prettiest versions of themselves. Since then, Dan has become a trusted source for delicious, foolproof bakes and has connected with home bakers via social media, television, and digital videos, and through his website,…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in dessert, pastries, and baking?

Dessert 22 books
Pastries 22 books
Baking 29 books