Who will you call in case of failure? – Our communities

west end

Who can you call when your cookies aren’t crispy or your brownies don’t have that first dose of rich gooey chocolate? I called a toll-free hotline for advice while testing the Hershey recipe that I expected would be a long-time family favorite. The dessert wasn’t a total failure, but it certainly wasn’t the amazing no-bake chocolate dessert I was looking for.

It was also the day before this column was due to be published, which left me with no happy ending to my previous column. I was expecting to share the recipe requested by several readers. Instead, I ended up with an under-rich dessert, similar to a chocolate mousse, that didn’t set and I didn’t know why.

King Arthur Baking Company, based in Vermont, is my new go-to for wonderful baking advice. The employee-owned company’s stated mission is to inspire connection and community by spreading a love of baking — and it truly does. Their toll-free baker helpline is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on weekends. Professional bakers happily guide callers through all baking challenges and also answer baking questions via chat or email. King Arthur sells a popular range of flours, so the helpline has been expanded during the pandemic due to the growing popularity of sourdough bread baking.

The staff member I spoke with was able to understand my frustration and discussed the baking science behind the Maillard reaction, diplomat cream, gelatin sheets and more in friendly conversation. Next time I’ll call with any questions before desperately trying to save a cooking accident. The company runs two popular baking schools as well as online courses, so its advice is reliable and well-delivered.

Carlos Café’s Chocolate Oblivion recipe (previously published in Ciao! Magazine) that my brother largely adapted is pretty close to my mother’s recipe and each iteration is better than the last, so I think it’s time to stop to look at recipe books.

However, I followed a reader’s suggestion and visited hungerbrowser.com, which is the home of Uncle Phaedrus: consulting detective and finder of lost recipes. Because I haven’t had any luck finding the recipe on his comprehensive, searchable site, I emailed him the few details I have and hope for a response.

The King Arthur Baker Hotline toll-free number is 1-855-371-2253 and if you visit kingarthurbaking.com, you will come to the hotline part, where you can start a live chat with a baker.

Anne Hawe
West End Community Correspondent

Anne Hawe is community correspondent for the West End. She can be contacted at annie_hawe@hotmail.com

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