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Bake & Pray book

Bake & Pray book

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From manna in the wilderness to the miracle of multiplying loaves, bread is a sign—all over scripture—of God's presence and provision.

It's tempting to think that bread is nothing more than a metaphor for our basic needs: we pray for daily bread, we talk of the family breadwinner, we break bread with our friends.

But what if God cares about the actual, tangible loaves that you pick up at the store? About the sticky dough that you can mix up and shape into something delicious and nutritious?

What if you can know God more intimately through the practice of baking bread?

Bake & Pray: Liturgies and Recipes for Baking Bread as a Spiritual Practice will show you how.
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What does this book cover?

Professional baker and practical theologian Kendall Vanderslice has spent a lot of time reflecting on the connection between the dough that clung to her hands at work and the bread blessed and pressed into her palm at church, ultimately seeing that they both were tangible reminders that God was with her and that God cared.

Weaving baking science and technique together with theological reflections drawn from a wide range of Christian traditions, this book will:

  • teach you how to incorporate bread making into the rhythms of your busy life
  • reveal the ins-and-outs of bread baking while unlocking the spiritual parallels woven into each loaf
  • provide breadmaking liturgies and historical recipes to bake through a variety of liturgical holidays and seasons
  • show how to incorporate baking as a form of prayer in our lives.

As you follow the steps to bake bread―whether you are a lifelong baker or intimidated by the thought of yeast―you will learn something about the character of God and the life of faith. In Bake & Pray, you will get not only a practical understanding of how to bake bread, but also receive a deeper appreciation for the ways God can shape you in the process.

Can I get my copy signed?

All copies of the book purchased directly from the Bake & Pray™ website will arrive signed by the author.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: Mise en Place
Part 2: Basics of Bread
Part 3: A Liturgy for Bread Making
Part 4: Recipes for the Church Year

Advent
Christmastide
Epiphany
Lent
Eastertide
All Saints

Part 5: Prayers for Every Occasion
Conclusion
Journaling Pages

Who is this book for?

This course is for anyone interested in learning to bake bread as a spiritual practice. It's accessible for those who are new to baking and may be a bit intimidated by yeast, but the spiritual teaching is meaningful for the most experienced bread bakers too.

The Bake & Pray™ method focuses on learning through repetition, allowing God to transform you as you transform your dough. It's a purposefully slow process. The goal is not just learning to bake bread, but finding rest, curiosity, and joy along the way.

This book is just the start of your Bake & Pray™ journey. It is meant to launch you into a lifetime of drawing closer to God through the craft of baking!

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Bake & Pray Digital Workshop

Looking for more support on your Bake & Pray journey? Add on the digital workshop. You'll get $10 off the book when you purchase it together with the course!

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long will it take to bake through the book?

    The Basics of Bread section of the book is designed to be used over the course of several weeks. We encourage you to bake one to two loaves with each lesson. After you've covered the basics, the book includes recipes for each season of the church year.

  • What kind of bread will I bake?

    We call this method "sourdough on training wheels". The flavor, texture, and technique are similar to sourdough, while using instant yeast instead of a wild yeast starter. It's perfect for anyone overwhelmed by the time or technique required for sourdough.

  • I'm gluten free. Is this book for me?

    Yes! Since the release of the Bake & Pray book, King Arthur flour has developed a gluten free bread flour that can be used with this technique. The gluten free version of the recipe is included in the Bake & Pray™ digital workshop.

Get the full Bake & Pray experience:

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About Bake & Pray™

Bake & Pray™ is developed by baker, writer, and food and theology scholar Kendall Vanderslice. Our programs are purposefully designed with an ecumenical audience in mind, drawing on the rich history of Christian tradition in order to understand the full power of bread and the table.