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🔪 Methods & Techniques

Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible

✍️ Gardner, Erin
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$24.99
Backordered — usually ships in 1–4 weeks
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A humorous collection of one hundred baking recipes that justify avoiding daily chores.

The text positions baking as an acceptable method for delaying work and household duties. Gardner uses humor to validate the act of putting off emails or cleaning by focusing on dough and chocolate. The structure supports this theme by categorizing recipes according to the type of responsibility the baker wishes to escape. This approach transforms common avoidance behaviors into a curated list of sweet treats. The content emphasizes the sensory experience of cooking as a means to disconnect from stressors like term papers or difficult family members. It suggests that the tactile nature of baking provides a necessary pause in a busy schedule.

Key Themes
Procrastination through baking Humorous avoidance tactics Specific recipe categories
Literary Context

Published by Atria Books in March 2020, this hardcover volume reflects a cultural moment where mental health and stress relief became central topics. The New York Times described it as a needed distraction during a period of heightened anxiety. It taps into the trend of using creative hobbies as coping mechanisms for modern life pressures.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Nora Ephron's food essays · The 'Barefoot Contessa' series by Ina Garten (for contrast) · Humorous lifestyle guides by Jennifer Weiner
🔪
Methods & Techniques
🏛 Atria Books 📅 2020 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781982117740
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible

Erin Gardner, a pastry chef and blogger, presents one hundred recipes designed for those seeking to avoid daily responsibilities through baking. The book frames cooking as a valid excuse to ignore emails, laundry, and cleaning supplies. It offers a structured escape from the demands of modern life by turning kitchen time into a purposeful delay tactic. The collection is organized into chapters that address specific procrastination scenarios. Readers will find sections titled Case-of-the-Mondays Morning Treats, Late-for-Everything Loaf Cakes, and Fear-of-Success Snack Cakes. These categories guide the baker toward appropriate distractions based on their current avoidance needs. The recipes range from quick one-hour projects to more involved weekend affairs. Specific examples include Peanut Butter S’more Bars for work-related dread, No-Bake Cookies-n-Cream Pie for academic stress, and a scratch-made Gingerbread House for family tensions. This volume suits individuals who enjoy baking as a form of mental break or creative outlet. It appeals to those who appreciate the humor in delaying chores through culinary arts. The book is less suitable for bakers seeking rigorous technical instruction or traditional holiday guides without a humorous twist. Gardner’s approach prioritizes the joy of distraction over perfection, making it a practical companion for anyone needing a delicious diversion from their to-do list.

💎 Expert review

“
🍳
Eatbook Family editorial team
Cookbook desk
Gardner’s collection succeeds as a witty companion for the chronically distracted baker, framing avoidance as an art form. The humor validates the need to disconnect from emails and chores through tactile engagement with dough and chocolate. However, this edition is strictly unsuitable for serious pastry students or those demanding rigorous technical instruction. Traditionalists seeking straightforward holiday guides without comedic twists will likely find the tone frivolous.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a lighthearted escape from modern stressors will find value in Gardner’s unique premise of using baking as a socially acceptable delay tactic. The book appeals to those who view cooking as a mental break rather than a rigorous technical exercise. By categorizing recipes according to specific avoidance scenarios, such as academic stress or family tension, it offers tailored distractions for the overwhelmed. It is ideal for bakers who prioritize joy and sensory experience over perfection, providing a curated list of treats that transform common procrastination into a delicious, purposeful pause in a busy schedule.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Eatbook Family —
⭐ eatbookfamily.com editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Home bakers who enjoy humor and need permission to take a break from work or chores. Ideal for those seeking stress relief through tactile dough handling rather than complex culinary challenges.

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Eatbook Family editorial team

Gardner’s collection succeeds as a witty companion for the chronically distracted baker, framing avoidance as an art form. The humor validates the need to disconnect from emails and chores through tactile engagement with dough and chocolate. However, this edition is strictly unsuitable for serious pastry students or those demanding rigorous technical instruction. Traditionalists seeking straightforward holiday guides without comedic twists will likely find the tone frivolous.

❓ Frequently asked questions

The text emphasizes quick and easy methods designed to provide a necessary pause in a busy schedule rather than complex culinary challenges.
224 pages, hardcover.
Published in 2020 by Atria Books.
Orders ship from a US warehouse. The shipping cost is shown before you pay, and returns are accepted within 30 days.

📖 Who should read this

Home bakers who enjoy humor and need permission to take a break from work or chores. Ideal for those seeking stress relief through tactile dough handling rather than complex culinary challenges.

📜 Historical context

This title joins the niche of humorous cookbooks that blend lifestyle commentary with recipes. It stands out by framing baking as a valid excuse for avoiding daily responsibilities, turning avoidance into a curated list of sweet treats for modern readers.

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