Martin Sorge, winner of the Great American Baking Show , guides readers through more than 100 recipes for sweet and savory bakes that celebrate the bounty of the Midwest, from modern classics to innovative show-stoppers. When Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith crowned Martin Sorge the winner of the Great American Baking Show in 2023, few would have guessed that his baking journey began with him setting the microwave on fire trying to make a biscuit. But after years spent in the kitchen, he had become a full-fledged “baking nerd next door”—the perfect guide to explain how to adjust a recipe for rye flour or perfect your pavlova without bogging you down with too many details.  In this debut cookbook, Martin shares those tips and many more, in a collection of recipes that highlight the ease and enjoyment of wholesome ingredients and simple flavors, while encouraging readers to try new twists on familiar favorites. These breads, cookies, crisps, cakes, pies, pastries, and—yes—biscuits sneak surprising ingredients into the classics: Super-Soft Malted Cinnamon Rolls that elevate the childhood staple, Glazed Lemon Verbena Shortbread that gets a bit of zing from the window-box herb, Sweet Corn Milk Bread that highlights the perfection of an ear of summer sweet corn. From the Midwestern flavors of Chicago Dog Focaccia and Michigan Forest Cake to traditional Christmas Stollen and Swabian Soft Pretzels rooted in Martin’s German heritage, Great Bakes welcomes bakers of every level with recipes they’ll reach for again and again.  Praise for GREAT BAKES : " Great Bakes  celebrates the Midwest and butter in equal measure. An absolutely gorgeous book that knows exactly where its heart is." — Nicola Lamb, baker and author of James Beard Award-winning book Sift  and the Kitchen Projects  newsletter "Martin Sorge speaks in a voice so gentle and assured, so Midwestern friendly, that the intensity of aromas and flavors he wants you to seek out and experience for yourself—the singular magic of lemon verbena, or the lushness of Michigan peaches—has a powerful kind of urgency. The uncomplicated crisps, cookies, cakes, breads, and pies in these pages feel deeply loved, the emotional anchors of a life in which baking takes the shape of care." — John Birdsall, James Beard Award-winning author of What Is Queer Food? "From staples like cornbread and buttermilk biscuits to German classics like Stollen and Vollkornbrot to nostalgic bakes like apple crisp and cinnamon rolls, Great Bakes is a love letter to the Midwest, celebrating its seasonal produce and deep-rooted baking traditions. I suggest devouring it in one sitting, a mug of coffee in one hand, the other free to dog-ear corners and underline the many pearls of wisdom from Martin Sorge—an enthusiastic, self-taught, delightfully opinionated, grain-loving, baking-by-weight evangelist. This delicious read will have you adding buckwheat and rye flours to your grocery list and will make you wish sour cherry and sweet corn season would arrive immediately." —Alexandra Stafford, New York Times  best-selling author of Pizza Night "Martin addresses several audiences equally well with this book. If you want to get an understanding of the American Midwest as a cultural and culinary terroir from a very personal perspective, this book is for you. If you are just starting to bake and need help, this book is for you. And if you are a seasoned baker looking for recipes that are slightly off the beaten track and encourage creativity, this book is for you. An enjoyable read!" — Jürgen Krauss, Great British Baking Show  contestant and author of German Baking  and The German Christmas Cookbook "Martin's passion for craft shines in Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest . Written like a love letter to the Midwest, Martin shares recipes in an approachable way with clear instructions that guarantee readers a successful bake. From simple bakers to showstoppers, you'll discover the 'whys' and 'hows' in just enough detail to grasp the process of becoming a confident baker. Enchanting photography throughout makes this collection a must-bake book!" — Dan Langan, author of Short and Sweet "This book invites you into Martin's kitchen, showcasing recipes that feel authentic, unpretentious, and well-salted. And if there's one thing that matters in a kitchen, it's salt. Through thoughtful advice, approachable techniques, and playful humor, Martin ensures that anyone who picks up a copy of Great Bakes  is well equipped with the knowledge they need to succeed in baking through the lens of a passionate Midwesterner." — Justin Lerias, owner and pastry chef of Del Sur Bakery "Martin has quickly become one of the most trusted recipe writers I know. Whether I'm looking to bake something unfamiliar and new, or just need a solid recipe for a familiar sweet, I know that he will anticipate my questions, deepen my baking IQ, bring a distinct and memorable point of view, and—most impor