Elisa Strauss

Okay that's a cake! Can you believe it?? I was immediately grabbed by this bright, bold cover - and the fact that that's a cake!

My children were subjected to many of my efforts that consisted of more desire than skill when they were younger. This book actually makes it quite simple. It's broken down in chapters covering the Basics - the equipment and tools needed. Techniques - icing techniques, how to use a pastry bag and more. And the best for me - Recipes - foolproof, tried and true, show more guaranteed to taste good recipes for cookies and cakes. I'm definitely using some of them this Christmas -the gingerbread cake and cookies and a great basic vanilla sugar cookie. All of them are straight forward, using ingredients you already have on hand.

And icing recipes! Okay put your hand up if you've ever added too much milk, then a little more icing sugar, oops a little more milk...... Again foolproof recipes for different buttercream icings and fondants. Decorated cupcakes and mini cakes are featured as well.

Have you ever bought a cookie bouquet before? I have, but don't think I will ever again - Strauss's directions make it easy to do yourself.

The cakes pictured are amazing and fantastical, but doable. This book will spark your creative juices and imagination! show less

This is a dazzling book with fantastic, creative ideas for cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes & cookies. The book begins with basic information about cakes including recipes and techniques. Then there are chapters for each type of pastry. Everything in here is gorgeous and seems to be described in great detail in order to make it easier for novices. The photographs are beautiful! Note, these are some serious projects and it was written by Elise Strauss who owns NYC's famed bakery, Confetti Cakes. show more If you have the time and patience, you should definitely check this book out. It has some REALLY cool ideas in it! (I think I will start small....cookies or cupcakes.) Be warned though, once you serve these items to your loved ones, they will want you to do it for every event! show less

When my son was three, I decided to make a train cake for his birthday. I worked for hours on it, and it turned out pretty good, but if I'd had this book, oh the train cake I could have made! How about a cake that looks like a MP3 or a hamburger with fries? There are recipes, explicit decorating instructions, ideas on transporting goodies, templates, even conversion tables, a long list of resources, and an index. If you've ever wanted to learn to make fondant, you'll learn how with this show more book. Before your next party, this is the book you need. show less

Confetti Cakes for Kids by Elisa Strauss is a beautiful book. The beginning of the book focuses on tools, techniques, baking terms and lots of great tips. Following that, you’ll find recipes for cakes, cookies, brownies and icings. The last part of the book is filled with gorgeous pictures and directions to make absolutely stunning cakes and cookies. I love to sit and flip through the pages and admire these beauties. I cannot, however, imagine that anything I make would ever look like the show more cakes in the book. They look like they require hours of work and loads of talent. If I was able to make one of these, I would dare anyone to touch it, let alone eat it.

Elisa Strauss is the founder and head designer of Confetti Cakes, a bakery in New York. She has written one other book, The Confetti Cakes Cookbook. show less