Bittersweet: The Five Tastes of Dessert and Beyond (a Baking Book)

From Thalia Ho, creator of the award-winning blog Butter and Brioche and author of Wild Sweetness, a lyrical and visually stunning cookbook of more than 100 enthralling dessert recipes, exploring the five tastes and how they transform on the plate and beyond.

In her follow-up and foil to Wild Sweetness, Thalia Ho explores the five tastes and distills their ability to transform desserts into something memorable. Bitter brings deep complexity, sweet tempers and comforts, sour surprises and brings things to life with citrus or tang, salt can offset or enhance, umami is strong and satisfies.

With gripping prose, deep reflection, and hauntingly beautiful photographs, Thalia shares more than 100 inspired and inventive recipes to elevate what your last bite can be–adventurous, otherworldly, and unforgettable:

Sugar Buns

Singed Sherbet Meringues

Preserved Lemon Pie

The Dark Side Roulade

Cr?me Br?l?e Ice Cream

Salted Yolk Custard Tart

Soy Ganache Brownies

Deep Miso Caramel Apple Pie

Ivoire and Caviar

Crunchy Chili Oil Tart

For beginner and ambitious home cooks and bakers alike, this striking and meditative book is one you’ll want to show off, on your coffee table, on your shelf, and in the kitchen.

Author: Thalia Ho
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Harvest Publications
Published: 02/10/2026
Pages: 256
Weight: 1.42lbs
ISBN: 9780063411418
Language: English