Watch The Everyday Gourmet: Baking Pastries and Desserts

The Everyday Gourmet: Baking Pastries and Desserts is a Great Courses series that will take you on a journey through the world of baking. Taught by Chef Stephen L. Durfee, a professional pastry chef and educator with over 25 years of experience, this course is aimed at home cooks who want to improve their baking skills.

Over the course of 24 lessons, Chef Durfee will guide you through the basics of baking, teaching you how to make everything from simple cookies to more complex cakes and pastries. You'll learn how to measure ingredients, mix dough, and use different baking tools and equipment. Chef Durfee will also teach you how to master different baking techniques, such as creaming, folding, and piping.

One of the highlights of this course is Chef Durfee's infectious enthusiasm for baking. He's clearly passionate about his craft, and his enthusiasm is contagious. As you watch him twirl around the kitchen, whipping up delicious desserts with ease, you'll be inspired to try your hand at baking too.

But this course isn't just about watching Chef Durfee bake. Each lesson also includes a hands-on component, where you'll follow along with Chef Durfee as he guides you through the steps of each recipe. You'll learn how to make classics like chocolate chip cookies and apple pie, as well as more exotic desserts like crème brûlée and macarons.

One thing that sets this course apart from other baking courses is its emphasis on technique. Chef Durfee doesn't just teach you how to make individual recipes – he also teaches you why each step is important. For example, when making macarons, he'll explain why it's important to sift the almond flour and powdered sugar, and why it's crucial to let the macarons rest before baking. By understanding the science behind each recipe, you'll be better equipped to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.

Throughout the course, Chef Durfee also shares a wealth of tips and tricks that he's picked up over his years as a professional pastry chef. For example, he'll show you how to make a perfect pie crust by using a food processor, and he'll teach you how to create a smooth and silky ganache every time.

In addition to baking techniques, Chef Durfee also covers essential pastry skills such as tempering chocolate, making caramel, and working with puff pastry. He even includes a lesson on how to create stunning dessert presentations, so you can impress your guests with not only the taste but also the visual appeal of your creations.

Overall, The Everyday Gourmet: Baking Pastries and Desserts is a comprehensive and engaging course that will teach you everything you need to know to become a skilled home baker. Chef Durfee's infectious energy and clear teaching style make each lesson a pleasure to watch, and his emphasis on technique will help you develop your own baking style. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced baker, this course is sure to inspire you to get into the kitchen and start baking delicious desserts.

The Everyday Gourmet: Baking Pastries and Desserts is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between November 2, 2012 and on The Great Courses