The American baking repertoire may be unparalleled in our claim to pies, biscuits and cakes. But step off a plane in London, Mexico City, Istanbul or Paris, and you realize how much more there we can learn about the art of simple, delicious baked goods.

Milk Street “Bakes” includes 200+ recipes—and step-by-step techniques—spanning the globe. We found a simple Spanish almond cake that uses no wheat flour. Loaf cakes that balance the sugar with slightly-bitter rye. Super-creamy Basque cheesecake that requires no water bath. Mexican sweet corn cake made in a blender. Or Catalan biscotti, sticky chocolate cake from Sweden and crispy spinach and cheese börek from Türkiye.

We also include forgotten American recipes, such as maple-glazed hermits, and new classics, such as peanut butter banana cream pie. And we go beyond sweets to include yeasted breads, savory tarts, pizzas and flatbreads (some made in a skillet in minutes).

Most of these recipes are easier than you’d think, from beer pretzels to Danish dream cake. But in baking, the little things count—so Milk Street is here to help you avoid pitfalls with recipes that you can count on. Our promise to you is that you will become the best baker you know!