Baking Books

I cannot get enough of these cupcakes! I just made the simple chocolate cupcakes with the rich chocolate mousse topping last night. I jazzed them up with a little layer of homemade raspberry jam. There are not only plenty of unique and delicious (not to mention easy) recipes, they almost all have variations to try out. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand, the variety has something for everyone, and the cream cheese frosting is to die for!
Also, the writing is funny and fun, like cooking with your best girlfriend. My husband and I make these cupcakes together and in less than an hour we have cupcakes that are cooled and iced. We always laugh about the commentary in the recipes, my favorite being, "use a double boiler to melt down the chocolate chips. Of course, you don't have a double boiler, so use..." I just love that feel of these cupcakes as something you do with family and friends, not in a formal kitchen.
Enjoy!

It was a chilly Sunday morning in March when my parents announced they were going to become vegans. In their hazy, half-asleep state, the morning radio show to which their alarm was set had been replaced with a talk show. That morning's guest was a doctor and very vocal vegan who insisted easy weight loss was within one's grasp if one simply went vegan. After a week of listening to my pensioner parents insist that they needed to become vegans, I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up every vegan cookbook I could find: Vegan with a Vengeance and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World being the two books our small local store kept in stock.

Five weeks later and several pounds lighter, my parents gave up veganism after I had to, once again, stop them from ordering a cheese and bean burrito or honey-mustard salad dressing because they didn't actually understand what vegan meant. However, I kept the cookbooks, and have referred to them ever since whenever a work potluck or party required me to bring cupcakes.

My office is filled with people who have a variety of dietary restrictions -- many women self-diagnosed with IBS, one with so many digestive problems almost everything you can name will kill her, and one with celiac's disease. Yet, inevitably, I can find a recipe that will satisfy those with sensitive tummies and still be satisfying to those who can eat almost anything.

The Mucho Margarita cupcakes were a hit, and my concoction based on the Vanilla and Agave Nectar cupcakes with peanut buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache are ridiculously popular at home.

But it's not just the amazing results that make these light, fluffy, and oh-so-delicious recipes a hit. It's also the ease of the directions, which I don't need a culinary degree to decipher and the simple ingredients. Yes, agave nectar was hard to come by until a Wegman's opened in my area, and I still have trouble finding green tea powder, but so much of this is so simple, I was able to whip up a dozen last night within an hour, and without going to the store to buy any special ingredients. So their quick, easy, and delicious!

The best part, though, is that unless you let your secret slip, most people do not know that they are vegan!

And did I mention the taste? The texture? The perfection of these little cakes that are like gateway drugs into veganism in general? The book should come with a warning that you will experiment with more vegan cookbooks after you bite into one of these sweet treats if your only aversion in the past has been the bad texture or flavor of vegan food.

God, that's good.

Even if you aren't vegan, do yourself a favor and give this cookbook a try! Wonderfully innovative and delicious recipies, easy to follow instructions and great ingredient suggestions make this gem of a book suitable for anyone on any budget. I made the mocha version of the chocolate cupcake and it was so freaking great I just had to rush to the computer and write a review. Seriously. Even if you have never baked anything in your life, the authors offer trouble shooting tips and explanations of ingredients for those who need a little extra help.
You won't have buyer's remorse, but you may feel a little guilty after eating a way too many cupcakes...

I LOVE this cupcake cookbook! I've baked from it 2 times already, served it to non-vegans and vegans alike, and they were the hit of the office! This is a wonderful book with easy to follow recipes and hints on baking vegan style. I'm not a fancy schmancy cook or chef and this is plain friggin great. Just buy it, bake some and eat them until your in a sugar coma.

I haven't made my way through ALL of the recipes in this wonderful cookbook, but am approaching half of them. Every time I've tried one of the recipes I've found them very easy to follow and the results are delightful, delicious every single time. The almond cupcakes, with or without the apricot jam, are a big hit and have been requested many times now. I've also done then with an almond butter cream, instead of the apricot glaze, and rolled into toasted almond slivers -- looked beautiful and tasted wonderful. Other faves & raves have been the chocolate stout, banana split, gingerbread, chocolate chip pumpkin, and the green tea cupcakes!

This is a really good book makes it easy to create a great loaf and explains the methods really well

First off, that scathing one star review..throw it away. The poster sounds like a person who failed baking school and works in a low quality/mass producing corporate bakery.

Now..for a review.

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who wishes to learn to make great bread. The author explains the process from start to finish with many great tips he learned from years of professional experience. He will show you the way to create bread so good, you will have people ask you what bakery you got it at.

I will say, however, that if you are looking for a book that is "bread making made easy!!", this is not it. The formulas take some time, attention and effort to accomplish; you have to put your time in. You will also have to learn the basics of bread making science-nothing too heavy but there will be a few concepts you have to learn.

If you like baking, get the book, hop in, and go for it!

I'm not going to make you read a tome just to find out what i think. This book has such a wealth of knowledge to help you improve your bread baking skills. The formula instructions are clear and easy to understand. The only drawbacks that this book brings are in it's quality of publishing. The book was published in China, it is hardcover but, the cover stock used is very weak and flexes under the weight of the book.

Just wanted to let you know that the quality of the information surpasses the quality of the book itself.

It would be nice if there were some points on what to do next time if your bread doesn't turn out as planned. All of my breads turned out much heavier than illustrated in diagrams. My Italian & Ciabatta breads were better but nothing like shown in the pictures (Those use 100% bread flour). The Ciabatta bread did not require a window pane test so I was hoping that would come out better, in case I wasn't really passing it, even though I thought I was.

The Lavash Crackers show different shades and textures. Mind came kind of the same except were the thinner parts were somewhat over done. In general it was too thick, bread like. I thought I rolled it out to more than 15" x 12" he called for but adjusted for the fact I held back more than half to try to make a pita, not sure what he mean't by "paper thin".

It is inspirational, if only my breads actually turned out better. I have cooked for awhile, but this is my first attempt at bread.

I like the book, it's different than any other bread book I have and now merging recipes from other bread baking books and this one, its helps shake things up a bit. My only complaint is some of the measures are still in volume and not weights. How much does 1 TSP weigh? If I'm going to weigh the flour I should also weigh the yeast.

Over all I LIKE this book.

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book is one of my favorite books. I purchased my original copy in 1967 and have used it for YEARS. All the receipes bring back memories of Christmas holiday baking with all the "children" who were a part of our lives for 40 years. Thank you for letting me find another copy of this book.

This book is full of precious memories for me. I can not remember a Christmas or occasion that my mother didn't pull this Cooky book out and flip threw it with me looking for the perfect cookies to bake. I'd spend days in the kitchen with my mother baking the most wonderful smelling and tasting cookies in the world to me. I'm now 33 and still flip threw this book finding cookies to bake for all occasions with my mother and friends. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants easy to make great cookies and great memories with family.

I bought Betty Crocker Cooky Book for my daughters recently. My mother first used this book in the 1960s and I got a copy to use with my children. Now they are grown and will use the cook book for making all kinds of cookies with their children. It's a must have for anyone who likes to bake (and eat!) cookies.

Ginny

I have baked cookies from the recipes in this book for over 40 years and have given as gifts to friends and relatives at least 25 copies. The cookie recipes are classic and will tempt every cookie eater.

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book is wonderful. It is an exact replica of the same book I grew up on, making cookies with my mom at Christmas time. The recipes are great, and the pictures are all "vintage," reminiscent of the 60's. Some recipes are tried and true--absolutely wonderful and have been passed around at cookie exchanges for decades. The new one might have more updated pictures and a few new recipes, but this one from back when my mom was a new wife is a keepsake that you can share with your own kids when cookie baking time rolls around again in December.

To the author: It's billed as a cookbook. I don't think the author has anywhere near enough first hand knowledge of ALL farms to say that everyone who eats chicken or goes deer hunting is going to burn in hell for it. What are we saying? Some chicken screams to the others, "My God, they've just murdered Gertrude. Don't let the chicks see her like that." I sense a PETA member. There's a huge difference in having a few chickens or pigs or 20 cows in a backyard and a factory farm operation of 100s or 1000s. That's MY speech.

Other than trainwreck of an intro, the book is masterfully organized and presented. She definitely insists on having everything a certain way, and worked very hard at having information needed to bake with maximum ease. I like it when a list of pantry items is given, units of measure, and common utensils/kitchen tools. It's interesting to see what each author keeps on hand and it's a fast way to get a beginner up and running. The core truth of the intro is that Americans have gotten into the habit of eating a very limited variety, mostly the same thing over and over. Much of that comes from the increased popularity of prepared foods and the convenience of eating out. I like the suggestions and specif brand names, so you can go into a store and ask for it. The nut milks, almond milk sounds like it must be good. The cashew cream sounds good.

Most of the palates are out of order. I know mine was. That's my main reason for cutting out factory ingredients, including dairy, meat and eggs. It the only way to really know what you are eating.

I don't bake enough yet to know, but I wouldn't think it'd be too hard to substitute honey, organic cane sugar, or suganat for refined sugar. All you're after is the sweetness. I do not know if that would affect the baking process. Precise measure and heat are the key, for me, maybe humidity too. I can think of worse ways to spend time to testing cookies and sweets for sweetness or proper baking.

The flour issue can be resolved with organic flour. So, I don't get the complaints that this is just a cookbook with substitutes for animal products, what else is vegan baking? Heidi Swanson might have some more thoughts in the way of alternative sweetners.

The Pine Nut Anise cookies are probably really good. I'm not sure if some reviewers even have the book.

It's a good book, after the 7+ page lecture. If you want to learn ways to get around animal products and control what goes into your body, it's good. She did a good job setting it all up for beginners and giving the more experienced a gander at how she sets up, suggested specific brands and giving the ones she liked the best. As hard of a time as I gave her about the sermon, if she says something is really good, I trust her. She's probably an ESFJ Myers Brigg personality. The presentation is almost perfect. She certainly writes well. I'll probably buy her cookbook when it comes out.

I am new to the vegan world and changing my diet hasn't been as difficult as changing the family's. I want my kids to start eating healthier, but finding delicious goodies that they like has been challenging. This cookbook is awesome for anyone who loves desserts and baking. The recipes are easy to make and my kids have absolutely loved every one I've made so far. They all taste like the real thing!

THis is a great basic vegan book everyone should have. The information about substitutes alone is worth the purchase and the recipes are all staple baking and delicious.Friends did not know about the vegan ingredients and said the choc. chip cookies were the best they ever had.

I really like this cookbook. I agree with other posters that it doesn't focus on super-healthy recipes, but she clearly states that most of the items in the book are treats in which one should indulge only occasionally. The ingredients are pretty easy to find and you can always substitute whole wheat or alternative flours and other ingredients if you so desire. I, for one, really enjoy having a traditional kind of baking book in vegan form. It makes it much easier to make things that I know all of my omnivorous friends will like, and it's not always easy converting recipes myself. The photos are lovely, and almost every recipe I've made from this book has turned out very well. I even bought a copy for my non-vegan mother, and I know that she's used it a few times when baking for her friends.

Another thing I really like about the book is that it includes short educational sections about the negative aspects of dairy and egg production, and on good baking techniques.

I'd give this book five stars. Is it all healthy recipes? No. But it doesn't set out to be a healthy vegan baking book. The mission is to show that you can make tasty vegan baked goods without the use of animal products. It fits the bill.

So while I tend to opt for more healthier versions (not using white flour, etc.), I still think it's a great book to have in my cookbook collection.

There was one part though, where she referenced that there was no difference between white sugar and using something like pure maple syrup. This is wrong as there are minerals in pure maple syrup (zinc, maganese), making it a healthier sweetener.

I really like all the full color photos in the book and all the extra tidbits of information offered throughout. There are some great recipes included, something for everyone and I can substitute the white flour for spelt flour where desired. I also enjoy listening to Colleen's podcast. This is a good book to add to any cookbook collection.

Wonderful book especially as it is up-dated for current use since new equipment has been introduced as well as new products. Even if I don't use it to cook, it makes wonderful reading.

This is the classic cook book, and anyone building a library should have it. More easily digestible than other classics like Larousse's Gastronomique; while less rudimentary than The Joy of Cooking. I covers essential culinary classics and maintains the original recipes' integrity. This book is the jumping off point for those whose want to create the classics, and have the fundamentals to add their own flavors and flair. Julia is all about loving to cook.

Continuation of Volume I. This volume has breadmaking for one that wants to duplicate wonderful French bread. Unless you live near a fabulous bakery, the recipes in the bread and pastry section will make life better.

Both Volumes I and Volumes II are must have and make absolutely wonderful gifts for any new bride.

Julia's book was recommended to me by a French Chef we met in the Caribbean. It is the perfect book from which to learn French cooking. Julia's instructions are very detailed and make it easy to prepare each recipe. I highly recommend this book.

Being french and a lover of cooking, and living in United States for the last 15 years, I was intimidated by this thick and presumably academic American Cook Book, until I read "my life in France" also written by Julia Child.
In this book,the way she describes how she wrote "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was so lively and appealing that I decided to give it a try.
And I was not disappointed.
Not only she gives all the equivalent proportions, quantities and temperatures, but she explains very clearly and simply how to make a dish a success. I tried several of the recipes, my best being a "souffle with orange and Grand Marnier" .
To get the most of her explanations I also borrowed a couple of DVDs of her first cooking shows from my local library, and I got the same good feeling.
The reason I gave only 4 stars is because of the presentation of the recipes, with a very detailed master recipe, and just a few lines for the variants. That makes a little bit uneasy to go back and forth during my usual rush cooking time. But that is part due to my own lack of organization.
I was so thrilled by this book that I also gave it , as a gift , to a friend who loves cooking.

I've purchased a number of gluten-free cookbooks since my husband was diagnosed with celiac disease a couple of years ago. This is the first one that has recipes that actually taste like the wheat-flour versions! I had given up on gluten-free baking, but somehow this book caught my eye, and am I ever glad. I just made the chocolate chip cookies for my husband and ate 5 of them myself even though I've pretty much given up sweets! I can't wait until he gets up and tries them! He craves good baked goods and these will be a definite hit. Thanks for the great recipes!

An interesting and detailed book. Be advised that one needs to plan ahead before experimenting with this chemistry. The author also advises of that!

I bought this book and several others to bake a treat for a family whose daughter has celiac disease and numerous food allergies - egg, soy, nuts, and citrus among others. I found a recipe for chocolate sandwich cookies, which was easily adaptable for the child's needs, using pure palm shortening instead of soy shortening, egg replacer for the eggs, and parchment paper instead of cooking spray. (Bonus: you can reuse each sheet of parchment paper once, since the cookies do not lose a lot of butter while baking.) The recipe was overall easy to prepare, and made oodles of little sandwich cookies, which were delicious enough to stand on their own merits. I tested the cookies on several unsuspecting people, and everyone raved about them. My husband ate about six before he could stop himself. So my friends' four-year-old daughter was able to have "Oreo" cookies for the first time in her life, thanks to this book. I didn't try any other recipes in this book, and I gave it to my friend so she could explore it further; but I imagine the other recipes will taste as delicious because the author appears to have put a great deal of thought and effort into creating recipes that recreate textures and flavors people love.

I've stopped using all my other baking recipes since I acquired this book. Its recipes and specific flour mixture create truly delicious baked goods, and few people would know they're GF.

This book is wonderful especially because it bakes GF with a minimum of ingredients. If you have done any GF baking you know it requires many ingredients and many egg whites. Most of these recipes use whole eggs and a brown rice flour mix (that you can buy already mixed at Authentic Foods) that is easy to have on hand. If you are new to GF baking, by all means start here.

This is one cookbook I have not regretted buying, it's well written and very well illustrated. Exceptional recipes.

This book was exactly what I was looking for. It not only has great recipes in it but also explains the whys of baking. Want to know WHY you don't stir muffins or brownies too much? Want to know WHY your bread dough sometimes doesn't rise right? This book has it all. A great read along with the recipes. Plus, it was $10 cheaper through Amazon than from King Arthur itself.

If you haven't taken time to look this one over, if you're a serious baker, you're missing out on some of the best recipes and information about quality baking! I've been baking for more than 30 years and this is a terrific addition to my cookbook collection that I'll use frequently!

I love my cookbook that I received. It was what I expected it to be and more. It came in a timely manner.

I received this book as a gift this past Christmas, and it is by far the most-used cookbook I own. I have a special penchant for baking, but am only still learning (before this cookbook, I'd only ever really baked cookies).

I can say, then, that this cookbook is excellent for the learning baker. This is the book I used to learn to bake bread (like their delicious and easy Vermont Maple Honey Bread, and the much more complex but oh-so-worth-it Crostini with Basil, Chevre, and Sundried Tomato), and bagels, and the Simple but Perfect Pancake.

The only possible criticism I can muster is that sometimes I cut down a little on the salt and sugar (I don't like things very sweet), but I think with every cookbook you have to learn the writer's taste so you can adjust them to yours.

I LOVE to bake, and I love that just about anything I could want is contained in this book -- along with extremely detailed commentary so that you understand what you're doing, instead of just following directions.

It's those very clear directions, interesting facts, and the indispensable elaboration on specific ingredients in the back of the book that make this a book from which you learn not just recipes but actually how to bake.

So good job, King Arthur Flour -- I'm incredibly grateful I received this book!

As the owner of more than 700 Cookbooks, I can't honestly say that both books by this Author are my Favorites. I am planning a trip especially to visit the Bakery & Cafe for the real experience.

This cookbook is terrific on all counts--great recipes (the Sugar Saucers are the end-all, be-all sugar cookie), beautiful coffee table book, and entertaining read. The fact that the book is printed on glossy paper means the pages will stand up to the occasional butter sputter and drool from looking at all of the wonderful photos. I really enjoyed reading the introduction and narratives that precede each chapter and recipe--a nice addition for those of us who can only dream about visiting Rather Sweet's Bakery & Cafe. I look forward to working my way through all the recipes!

We visited the Rather Sweet Bakery in Fredericksburg, TX last year and I LOVED it. We ended up going there for breakfast every morning we were there. When I saw she had a book with the actual recipes from her restaurant I could not resist.

Everything I have made has been perfect. These recipes are not for the person looking to lose weight (butter, suger, YUMMY!), but they are absolutely delicious. I have not had one thing come out less than delicious. I love the scones, kolaches, and chocolate chip cookies (the best I have ever made or eaten). If I cooked from this as much as I wanted I would be so fat (but very happy). I swear this cookbook has made my husband and little boys love me more!!!

Buy this book!

One note, most recipes make enough for a party, so I would suggest cutting the recipes in half if you are a family of 4 like us.

Just the recipe of the ALL SOLD OUT CHICKEN POT PIES alone is reason enough to buy this book. They are incredible!
The Texas tortilla soup is a favorite. The desserts are extra yummy too.

I visited Rather Sweet Restaurant in Fredricksburg, Texas with a friend. We both had chocolate cake for desert and decided it was the best we had ever had. So I was on a quest for the recipe. I found it in this book, made it for a party and got the same results! Heaven, this lady can bake and tell you how to bake too!

After reading all the positive reviews of this book I had high hopes. I've made a number of the recipes from this book and they have all produced mediocre results or been failures. This seems to be the fault of the recipes as I usually have great success with baking. I would recommend Beatrice Ojakangas's baking books as much better alternatives to this one.

This is an excellent book for those who wish to learn the ART of baking. For many, including myself, baking is a labor of love, and an expression of spirit.
Those who like clear-cut recipes may not be comfortable with this book as the recipes are interspersed with notes, drawings, etc, and the recipes require a bit of learning by doing.
I like that every step is paired with an explanation of why/what it does.
I received this book as a wedding gift, and I will definitely be passing this one along to others.

good god, i have tried to make bread periodically over the years only to end up with a heavy dense product that was never any good. if i had found this book back when i first tried making bread i would have been much better off. this book is excellent, i picked it up after watching the author's dvd how to cook your life and he explained things so well that i had to get it, and i was not disappointed. the book is incrediblely easy to follow though i recommend photo copying the instruction pages so you don't get the book goey like i did. but the bread turned out light and fluffy on the very first attempt and the flavor was great. i can't wait to bake my way through this book. and if you are like i was wanting to bake bread but intimidated by it. this is the book for you.

This book was an amazing find for me. I have always been of the mind that bread baking is too much trouble and too much time for the results. But I wanted to try and fortunately happened upon this book. Not only can I now bake wonderful bread, but I also am gaining a deeper understanding of myself through the process of baking bread as I am guided by this book.

I know this may sound like a bunch of new-agey gobbledygook, but if you really want to feel like you're accomplishing something when you bake bread (especially if you are a beginning bread baker), this would be a good book for you. One of the things I like best about it is that it provides step-by-step instructions on how to bake bread in general, and then gives you the recipes to fit into the process. The book also tells you what kind of (basic) equipment works best. But it's also very open in saying that all of its instructions are merely guidelines, and the person reading it is left feeling free to deviate out of desire and/or necessity.

The Tassajara Bread Book is also an enjoyable read, and has some fantastic recipes in it (I use the egg bagel recipe to make Challah that is even better than the Challah from Trader Joe's!).

For years I have been intimidated by bread - previous attempts have been disasterous: I have baked loaves so dense they have their own gravitational field, or a bread-like substance somewhat akin to crackers lies in the bread pan. I had almost given up on it, until a friend handed me this book and said, "Don't be afraid of the bread - try this."

The recipies are simple, and the instructions are idiot-proof with diagrams on how to mix, knead and shape the dough. My first tenative attempts were not bad - certainly I have much more to learn and to tinker with, but Brown's clear instructions make the process remarkably easy. In addition to the "idiot-proofing" of bread making, the book has a wide variety of recipes for all kinds of bread: pastries, muffins, rolls, even dessert breads. It is not too much of a stretch to claim that for most of us, there is no need for any other books about making bread if you own _The Tassajara Bread Book_. If I can be successful using it, anybody can - therefore I strongly recommend it to anyone struggling with breadmaking.

After being a fan of Virgina Willis, I by chance got to meet her in person at the American Royal Bar B Que competition at which she was a speaker in their guest chef segment. She prepared Coca Cola Ribs, Finglering Potato Salad and a fantastic light Black eye pea salad with a light vinegerette. I had to hand it to her to prepare Ribs with so many Rib pros on the show ground. I didn't want to tell my husband and his team that they were better than theirs, but the truth is they were! I was also fortunate enough to win a book & speak with her. She was as warm and friendly as your neighbor next door. As we parted I felt I had to give a big thank you hug.
On the flight back to California I read the entire cookbook. The stories were charming as Virgina, straight from the heart, the recipes as filled with love as the flavor of food sounded.
I have made many some light and some rich, my California friends all ask me how I found old time recipes that are the comfort food we all crave in our busy California lives, yearning for the memories via food of Grandma. It also has tips for some of the more difficult techniques such as how to keep a souffle from falling, slicing herb techniques to name a few. I hope ya'll enjoy the book as

Bon Appetit, Ya'll is the best Southern Cookbook on the market. It is the perfect blend of your grandma's southern dishes and gourmet sophistication. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are readily available. I would recommend it to everyone, Southern or not!

This book is fantastic. Lovely, personal and full of recipes I actually make and want to make.

I was fortunate enough to attend the annual American Royal Barbecue Cook Off in Kansas City last night and had the unique pleasure of meeting Virginia Willis and winning this cookbook! What a lovely and gracious lady. I obviously have not had time to try any of her recipes yet, but I have had time to read through some of her stories. I collect cookbooks that contain not only good recipes, but cookbooks that I can "read" like a non-fiction book and ones that contain beautiful pictures. Bon Appetit, Y'all ranks highly in both areas. I did get to sample her Black-Eyed Pea Salad which she prapared before dozens of fans and it is to die for. I only wished we could have spent more time with her to hear more stories about Virginia's interesting and blessed life. Thank You Virginia!

It is true, "Bon Appetit, Y'all" is a beautiful, well laid out cookbook full of wonderful receipes, photographs and stories. I couldn't put the "book" down before reading through the stories and "almost" wishing I were a true Southerner. While the book is worthy of the coffee table, you may have to buy two copies and keep one in the kitchen. As a food novice, I am pleased that the receipes contain more direction, explanation and handy hints than the average cookbook. The in-depth direction and interesting stories give me confidence and inspiration to try the receipes and improve my cooking abilities.

"Bon Appetit, Y'all" is a perfect Christmas present and I plan to buy a copy for all the chefs in my family.