B. Dylan Hollis, the beloved creator of Baking Yesteryear, is back behind the wheel with Baking Across America: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip, a charming, sugar-coated journey across the fifty states that celebrates America’s most nostalgic and curious baked creations. This time, Hollis swaps his mixing bowl for a map, taking readers on a deliciously eccentric tour of the nation’s kitchens, from the deserts of the Southwest to the lush hills of Vermont.
The premise is simple yet irresistible: one hundred vintage recipes, each tied to a different region or era, showcasing the desserts that shaped America’s culinary identity. Think Whoopie Pies on Maine’s rocky coast, Beignets in New Orleans, Date Shakes in Palm Springs, and the Texas-sized sheet cakes you can practically see from space. Hollis’ passion for old-fashioned baking, mixed with his signature humor and campy flair, makes every page sparkle with life.
Reviewer Ava Courtney Sylvester called it “the best road trip ever,” and she’s right. Hollis infuses every section with personality, from playful poems introducing each region to witty asides and quirky historical tidbits. The tone is pure joy: he peppers in surprising facts (like how the first recorded UFO sighting was a pig-shaped light in Boston), bursts into spontaneous alliteration, and offers cheeky commentary that makes you laugh even before you start preheating the oven. It’s a cookbook that reads as delightfully as it bakes.
For the bakers among us, Baking Across America is both accessible and inventive. As reader Amalie notes, the recipes are clear, straightforward, and thoughtfully organized. Most have no more than two main parts a batter and a topping and only a handful are more complex, like the show-stopping Atomic Cake or the elegant Lemon Fluff. Hollis also includes practical guides at the beginning: essential baking tips, ingredient notes, and a go-to pie crust recipe that ties the whole collection together.
Not every recipe hits the same nostalgic note for every region, and a few choices might leave locals scratching their heads. Yet even the oddballs, like Potato Macaroons made with instant flakes and puffed rice, are too fascinating to ignore. Hollis’ joy for culinary discovery is infectious. Whether you’re reading about Nanaimo Bars or attempting a slice of the Prized Lane Cake, there’s a real sense of adventure in each bake.
Visually, the book is stunning. The food photography captures both the beauty and whimsy of each creation, elevating even the most peculiar recipes into works of art. Hollis’ vintage aesthetic rich tones, retro props, and playful layouts creates an experience that feels half cookbook, half time machine.
If there’s a weak spot, it might be Hollis’ tone. As Amalie points out, his self-aware humor occasionally leans toward the condescending or overly performative. Still, for many fans, that theatricality is part of his charm. His personality flamboyant, funny, and slightly mischievous is what gives the book its heart.
Ultimately, Baking Across America is more than a cookbook; it’s a joyful exploration of American culture through sugar, flour, and a little bit of sass. Hollis invites readers not just to bake but to laugh, learn, and remember the stories behind the sweets. It’s part history lesson, part culinary celebration, and entirely delightful.
If you loved Baking Yesteryear or simply want to take a flavorful trip through the past, this one’s a must-have for your kitchen shelf. So grab your whisk, your sense of humor, and maybe your GPS because this is one road trip worth taking.
Get your copy of Baking Across America: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip here: Buy on Amazon
