Artful Baking with Altitude in Mind

Author and cake artist Lindsey Johnson introduces her visually stunning cookbook Wild Sugar, featuring a delectable collection of dessert recipes, just in time for summer

July 16, 2024

Richa Mitchell,

Johnson’s seasonally inspired cookbook is filled with homestyle baking recipes, cake and cookie decorating techniques, baking tips and tricks, and personal family stories about ranch life. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

Baked goods can dry out in mountain locales if not prepared to certain specifications. Luckily for high-elevation cooks, Lindsey Johnson offers special baking tips and tricks in her brand-new cookbook, Wild Sugar, which features an exclusive section on high-altitude baking.

“When I moved to Wyoming from California, I noticed all my recipes were failing. With some research, I discovered it was the high altitude,” explains Johnson. “They say baking is a science—well, at 6,500 feet in elevation, that science changes. I went to work on testing recipe adjustments, which led to the creation of new recipes.”

Wild Sugar Seasonal Sweet Treats Inspired by the Mountain West by Lindsey Johnson, Lady in the Wild West, with Chase Reynolds Ewald, $35, Gibbs-Smith.com | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

The recipes are featured in an elegant 224-page cookbook featuring more than 50 delicious sea-level dessert recipes with high-altitude recipe options. The well-crafted cookbook shares pro tips and easy-to-follow instructions for the home baker, as well as striking photos and personal stories. “That’s what makes the book different from most cookbooks,” says Johnson. “It’s not just recipes and photos; there’s a heart and personality to it. I was very grateful the publisher let me be so open and honest about my life and how Lady in the Wild West (Johnson’s social media moniker) came to be.”

Johnson’s love for baking started alongside her mother in the kitchen in her hometown of San Clemente, California. Her appreciation for the outdoors was inspired by her father. “My dad raised me to love the mountains. He’d take us to Sun Valley, Idaho, every summer and winter to camp and ski,” she says. When her husband had an opportunity to move the family to Wyoming, Johnson pictured her boys exploring, wild and free, in the mountains, the way she did.

The sweets featured in the book are works of art, decorated with mountain scenes, foraged wildflowers, and sculpted buttercream petals. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

Following 34 years of coastal life, Johnson made the move to a rustic 20-acre ranch outside of Jackson, Wyoming. Between taking care of three sons, farm animals and her two dogs, she found time to craft classic recipes such as lemon bars, blondies and vanilla cake amplified by the local seasonal flavors of the Rockies, including rhubarb, bourbon and huckleberry.

“The Dark Red Velvet Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Cream Cheese Frosting is one of my favorite recipes in the cookbook,” says Johnson. “This cake is perfect for a mountain barbecue or a Fourth of July celebration. It’s festive, looks gorgeous on a cake stand, and satisfies every craving.” Arranged seasonally, the delightful cookbook offers a road map for creating the perfect sweet treat at home. “I hope my cookbook inspires readers to bake,” Johnson says.

Fresh farm ingredients take center stage in Johnson’s baking. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

“For summer, I can’t get enough of the Happy Trail cookies,” says Johnson. “They’re the perfect summer hiking fuel. My kids love them.” | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

Johnson has spent countless hours in the kitchen. She credits her mother for instilling the love of baking at an early age. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

Fresh raspberries sit atop delicate cupcakes iced with buttercream frosting. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson

Johnson has lived in Wyoming for more than 10 years and loves ranch life. “We have a cow, six goats, 11 chickens, two pigs, and two dogs. Life is messy, cozy, and always comical,” she says. | Photo: Lindsey Johnson