Binding Agents: A Cook/Book Shop
908 Christian StreetJoin Binding Agents and the authors of two phenomenal new baking books for a warm and toasty conversation that will kick your oven into high gear!
Dan Langan is the brilliant, Philly-based baker behind @bakedbydan and the new book Short and Sweet: 75 Simple Recipes to Bake Without a Stand Mixer. He's been baking his heart out since the age of five and inspiring the rest of us since 2012 via his custom cake business, Cake Wars win, and charming social media presence. He believes there's always more flavor to coax from ingredients, better texture to develop, and of course, a quicker path to rewards (with fewer dishes, too).
Martin Sorge is a home baker, cook, writer, recipe developer, and author of runaway summer hit Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipe from the Midwest. When Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith crowned Martin 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. Now he's the baking nerd next door!
While each has been a fearsome competitor in the TV baking world, Dan and Martin are real-life pals and definitely here to make friends over books and treats. We'll celebrate their beautiful new releases and talk about what it took to bring them to life; delve into delicious techniques and fall baking tips; and find out what handshakes from Paul Hollywood and Jonathan Bennett (aka Aaron Samuels!) feel like. Whether you love to get dessert on the table fast, enjoy deep dives into project bakes, or (like us) both, this is an evening you won't want to miss.
Guests may choose a ticket with or without copies of the books. Prices are inclusive of fees and treats. Entrance to the shop requires one step up. Please contact us at hello@bindingagentsphilly.com with any questions or accessibility needs; we'd be happy to help.
Can't make the event but interested in a signed, personalized copy of Short & Sweet? Click here.
ABOUT SHORT & SWEET
Dan Langan's drive to make baking more enjoyable has led him to develop more relaxed recipes that always delivered great results.
Every recipe in Short and Sweet features a brief list of accessible ingredients (no specialty flour here!) and minimal tools (all you need is a bowl and a whisk!) so you can save time and money. Dan shares streamlined classic confections such as melt-in-your-mouth Butter Sprinkle Cookies and Strawberry Shortcakes, whose light and airy texture comes from adding egg to the biscuit dough. He has creative twists like Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies, where thin crackly brownie crust meets rich vanilla-y swirls, and even chilled delights, like Ruby Raspberry Sherbet, smooth and soft thanks to a touch of honey. Dan even quickens rise times for yeasted and kneaded bakes like Hot and Buttered Soft Pretzels, and Philly Provolone Pizza so you can enjoy fuss-free savory bakes, too. Plus, Dan gives his top tips for substitutions and smart baking techniques, so dessert is always within reach.
ABOUT GREAT BAKES
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. This "baking nerd next door" is 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 his debut cookbook, Great Bakes: Modern Classic Recipes from the Midwest, 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 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.
Wed, Oct 14, 2026 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Binding Agents: A Cook/Book Shop
908 Christian Street
Binding Agents is Philly's bookshop for cooks and eaters. Located in South Philly’s culinary epicenter, the 9th Street Italian Market, we’re your go-to source for new cookbooks and food-focused reads, plus gifts and goods for making, serving and enjoying. We’re independent, women-owned, fun & funky. Learn more at bindingagentsphilly.com.
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