Jill O'Connor

OH.MY.WORD.

This is a cakebook full of achievable drama. If you have made a two layer cake and successfully iced it you will be able to get to the beauties in this book. Some are more complicated than others but with patience and attention to detail you can present a bakery style cake at your next party.

There are simple cakes too, like the one showcased below but then there are recipes like the one I can’t wait to try; it is three layers but one layer is marshmallow! MARSHMALLOW – can you show more imagine? It’s chocolate cake, marshmallow, caramel and fudge. I can taste it already. This cake has been in my dreams since I read the recipe. It’s just finding the time to make it.

The book offers tips for each type of cake; the equipment you will need, the best ingredients to use and where you can find things. I especially liked the section on the different buttercreams. I have tried several different types and have had successes and failures. Perhaps with some of the insights offered I’ll do better.

This book will keep me happy for a very long time. Even if only for that one recipe with the marshmallow. But I know I will use it for more than that. Just looking through it was a delight. There was not a photo of each recipe but there were enough photos to keep me very happy. This book would make an excellent gift for any baker in your life. show less

Besides having two of the most important features of a cookbook, solid recipes and a personable author, this one is packed with need-to-know information on cake baking. I'm an experienced baker, yet I still learned some things I didn't know, along with new ways to do things I did know. I can see this being a handy reference for years to come.

The rather unique structure of the book is a huge bonus. Individual chapters are devoted to a flavor or flavors (chocolate, citrus, etc.) instead of to show more the type of cake (butter, sponge, etc.), as in a more traditional layout.

I recommend this book to cake bakers of all experience levels. You might not be able to bake every cake in the book at first, but it will help you build your skills one cake at a time to the point that you can. show less

if ever you're looking for a delicious dessert with a major wow-taste factor, it is in this book!! i have my copy in storage and won't be able to get it again for a while, so i bought it again in kindle format-- that's how worth it is. this book is wonderful for anyone ranging in skill level from beginner to advanced. the author jill o'connor is wonderful about explaining all the technicalities involved in the terms, and she makes it fun and easy. and the recipes!! oh my god, don't get me show more started on how AMAZING everything tastes!!! SO worth it. i couldn't recommend a recipe book higher than this one. :] show less

Like most Chronicle cookbooks this one is beautifully laid out, with fun colors and designs, gorgeously delectable photographs of some of the recipes, and a simple, easy-to-read and -follow recipe format. It includes basic notes on equipment and ingredients.

Chapter 1 focuses on chocolate, with delights ranging from the somewhat familiar (Heart of Darkness Brownies, which are stuffed full of mouth-watering sinful ingredients) to the gourmet (Dark Chocolate Soup with Cinnamon-Toasted Pound show more Cake Croutons).

Chapter 2 is all about puddings. While I found the Coconut Milk-Cream Cheese Flan to be absolutely irresistible, the coconut flavor was so understated, as was the flan-like character, that it tasted as though it was a slightly smoother than normal crustless cheesecake with caramel sauce. Sure, that's utterly sinful and delicious, but when you're expecting coconut flavor and hear the word 'flan' it's just not what you're expecting.

Chapter 3 is all about cookies, cakes, and pies. I couldn't resist making the Nutty Coconut Macaroons (macaroons with three different kinds of toasted nuts in them). They were absolutely delightful, although the recipe's assertion that they would keep for up to two days in an airtight container didn't work out entirely well.

Finally, chapter 4 is filled with items 'for the kid in all of us'. The piece de resistance must be the Quicky Sticky Biscuits. If you think you've had good sticky buns then you have to try these. I can still taste every nuance of pecan, sticky sauce, and buttery biscuit.

If you have good willpower and aren't worried about your fat or sugar intake, then absolutely pick up a copy of this cookbook; its recipes will bowl you over. As for me, I'm going to hide it in a deep, dark corner of the house and pray that I forget where I put it.

For a longer version of this review, visit Errant Dreams. show less