Two years ago Paula Shoyer came to market with The Kosher Baker. A cookbook that filled the void for many to create amazing non dairy desserts that left no need for apology. Check out our first interview with Paula and learn more about her transformation from lawyer to pastry chef to cookbook author. Now, Paula is back with more amazing recipes to add to your holiday repertoire. The Holiday Kosher Baker Cookbook is a go to bible filled with tips and tricks for any new or seasoned baker. Paula is especially gifted and making our favorite desserts without any dairy, although this book does include some specialty dairy recipes for Shavuot.
Your new cookbook focuses on holiday recipes, how did you decide which recipes to include?
I have a vision of a new approach to Jewish holiday baking, so my goal was to include recipes for updated version of traditional Jewish desserts as well as encourage the community to consider some new ideas for the holidays. I updated traditional recipes to include modern flavors of sufganiyot for Chanukah such as pumpkin and chocolate ganache and hamantaschen flavors such as green tea and red velvet. New ideas include plated desserts for Rosh Hashanah, homemade candies for Purim, pies for Passover and classic French pastries for Shavuot.
Decorated Brownie Bites
What is your favorite recipe in this book and why? Please share that recipe with us.
I love my Decorated Brownie Bites from the Purim chapter. They are mini 1-inch pieces of brownies where you dip one side in colored sprinkles. I created them as a great idea for Mishloach Manot, but they are so pretty that they make a festive dessert all year round and would be great for any family celebration. For Chanukah you could do just silver and blue ones, for a bris or baby naming you could go with blue or pink, or any time you can match them to your table decor. The brownies can be frozen and taken out and decorated. They are really good brownies, just made a little fancier.
If you have to pick one recipe from this book that you want everyone to try, which one would it be and why? Please share.
I love the Chewy Chocolate Olive Oil Cookies. I find I am making them every week and even started adding another 1/4 cup chocolate chips, a change that will be in the second printing of the book.
You gave many tips in this book like when it is best to use a silpat and when parchment paper is preferred – can you give us 1 must have tip you learned in creating this recipes?
I learned how to create perfect chewy cookies. Most people overbake cookies and I developed a test for making sure cookies designed to be chewy are indeed chewy. After the cookies bake for three quarters of the baking time, open the oven and press a cookie. If you can press halfway down and then your finger stops – take out the cookies. They will harden slightly but stay chewy. If your finger goes to the cookie sheet, give the cookies another 1-2 minutes to bake and check again.
How long did it take you to create this cookbook?
I wrote it in a year, but then did photography and editing for another 8 months.
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How many times did you test the recipes?
Over and over and over and over and then I sent them out to home bakers all around the US and also to the UK for testing.
Almond Olive Oil Cake
Can you share the Almond and Olive Oil Cake and let us know what inspired you to create it?
Even though I love making fancy desserts, I prefer to eat simple ones. This cake is similar to cakes I have eaten in Italy. Moreover, I wanted to create a dessert with olive oil to recall the Chanukah miracle that was not fried.
Enjoy the recipes for
Chewy Chocolate Olive Oil Cookies
Thanks to Paula for talking to us and sharing these fantastic recipes, get The Holiday Kosher Baker on Amazon.
*”Holiday Kosher Baker”!
Beautiful book I saw it on Amazon and was able to view a few recipes and I really would love to have the “Kosher Baker” in my life!
I love the recipes in this book. I like some Jewish food and now I can try new Jewish dishes.
Definitely going to try the chocolate olive oil cookies before Chanukah is over
Looking for new desserts. This would be a great addition to my recipes.
this cookbook looks amazing!!! (and i just ordered the new joy of kosher. looking forward to trying the great recipes)
Looks like an amazing cookbook!
I can definitely use a great book like this!
This book looks beautiful and would be a welcome addition to my library and recipe repertoire!
Recipes look so good! I can’t wait to try them!!
The cookbook looks amazing! With interesting recipes! I would love to win!
would love to win a new cookbook I always enjoy all the recipes…..and creative possibilities!!!!
Wow, this book looks like it is right up my alley…..I love to bake and especially on holidays. Good luck to all who enter!!
Sounds wonderful!!
This looks like an amazing cookbook. It will also make good Chanukah gifts.
The cookbook sounds amazing! I’d love to win it.
I would love to win this! There are no Jewish food outlets where I live, except what I can mail order or make for myself. The more recipes, the better!
I am loving that there are all the olive oil recipes!
I would love this cookbook!
Looks like a great cookbook with interesting recipes!
Cookbook looks great! Would love to win it 🙂
I’d love this cookbook–I just missed hearing her speak a few weeks ago and am regretting it terribly!
Would love to win this looks like a great cookbook
Recipes look and sound delicious! Am looking forward to trying.
Looks amazing!
Thank you for your book. I look forward to try new recipes for Chanukah!
Looks like a wonderful cookbook. Would love to have the cookbook so I could try the recipes
Awesome book!
This cookbook looks excellent!!
Yummy! I would love to win a free copy! Pick me! Pick me!
Looks great!
love new cookbooks!
The cookbook cover looks beautiful ,I will loved to have that book and make some of the wonderful recipes.
can’t wait to check out this cookbook!
The cookbook looks great!
my office already purchased and i was planning to borrow it because there were so many things i want to bake!
Wonderful recipes!
I would love this.
The decorated brownie bites look amazing! They’re a simple idea that would fit in on any elegant table.
I am always looking for desserts without dairy and these sound really delicious. I can’t wait to try some of them.
this cookbook looks amazing. I cant wait to try these yummy recipes.
Those decorated Brownie Bites are awesome!
Looks like a great cookbook. Each weekend we do not have plans we try to make something new. Lots of opportunities for new things in this book!
What a beautiful looking cookbook!
the olive oil cake looks nice and simple.
The decorated brownies look so pretty! I would like to try them with various toppings in blue, white, and silver for Chanukah.
The recipes look amazing!
looks like a great new cookbook
Sounds like a great cookbook!
What wonderful recipes! Can’t wait to try them.