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Erin Jeanne McDowell

Hi, I’m Erin! I fell deeply in love with baking at 14 years old, and have never looked back!!!

My baking journey started in my mom and grandma’s kitchens, then led me to my first bakery job at 16. Then, I headed off to study at The Culinary Institute of America. My goal was to learn and devour as much as I could, and then share it - however possible - all in the hopes that I could help other people discover that they love baking, too.

Today, I combine my professional training + deep love of teaching to develop recipes, write cookbooks, and make instructional baking videos. I'm ringing in more than ten years working in both digital and print food media. My work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Food Network, Bon Appetit, Food52, and more.

My first book,The Fearless Baker (2017) was named one of the Best Baking Books of the year by the New York Times. My second, The Book on Pie, (2020) is a New York Times Bestseller. My latest, Savory Baking (2022) is about baking beyond sweets - for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between!

I host the award-winning series Bake it Up a Notch on Food52, where I share deep-dives into baking methods and troubleshoot common mistakes.

After 17 years in New York + New Jersey, I recently moved “home” to Kansas City, where I can be closer to my family. I live with my husband, Derek, and our sweet pup, Brimley (whose favorite human food is pizza crust).