Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat Review

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(More customer reviews)i *love* Martha Stewart's cupcake book! for years i've been searching her web site for cupcake ideas for baby showers and my kids' birthday parties. this book is chock full of wonderfully creative cupcakes for all seasons, holidays and special occasions! i've already made the shark and beach parasol cupcakes for my son's ocean-themed birthday party and the beautiful buttercream chrysanthemum cupcakes for a baby shower. you may think you need some special talent to pull her creations off, but all you need is a little practice and patience! there is no way you can leaf through this book without getting inspired...and drooling! After 287 pages of pics of and recipes for mouth-watering cupcakes, she includes informative pages on tools for baking, how to prepare a piping bag, working with fondant and marzipan, pastry tips and even how to display your treats. my husband agrees that this was a wonderful investment since he's seen how many of her baking ideas have come to fruition in our home...plus he's hoping i make him those yummy tiramisu or choc. salted-caramel mini cupcakes for his birthday! ;) yummo! ENJOY!

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The perfect cupcake for every occasion.Swirled and sprinkled, dipped and glazed, or otherwise fancifully decorated, cupcakes are the treats that make everyone smile. They are the star attraction for special days, such as birthdays, showers, and holidays, as well as perfect everyday goodies. In Martha Stewart's Cupcakes, the editors of Martha Stewart Living share 175 ideas for simple to spectacular creations–with cakes, frostings, fillings, toppings, and embellishments that can be mixed and matched to produce just the right cupcake for any occasion. Alongside traditional favorites like yellow buttermilk cupcakes swirled with fluffy vanilla frosting and devil's food cupcakes crowned with rich, dark chocolate buttercream, there are also sweet surprises such as peanut butter and jelly cupcakes, dainty delights like tiny almond-cherry tea cakes, and festive showstoppers topped with marizpan ladybugs or candy clowns. The book features cupcakes for everyone, every season, and every event: Celebrations (monogram heart cupcakes perfect for an elegant wedding); Birthdays (starfish-on-the-beach cupcakes sure to be a hit at children's parties); Holidays (gumdrop candy ghouls and goblins ideal for Halloween revelers); and Any Day (red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for a picnic, or caramel-filled mini chocolate cakes for grown-up gatherings).In singular Martha Stewart style, the pages are both stunning in design–with a photograph of each finished treat–and brimming with helpful how-to information, from step-by-step photographs for decorating techniques to ideas for packaging and presenting your cupcakes. Whether for any day or special days, the treats in Martha Stewart's Cupcakes will delight one and all.From the Trade Paperback edition.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Cupcakes: From the Cake Mix Doctor Review

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(More customer reviews)I don't often give cookbooks a 5 star, just because many of them have only a few new recipes that I would try, or because the format is poor. Oftentimes, I check out cookbooks from my local library, pick out the recipes that I want to try, and jot them down. When I started to do that with this book, however, I noticed that I was marking several pages in a row, and pretty soon had most of the pages bookmarked! I stopped marking, returned the book to the library, and purchased my own copy.
What makes this seemingly simple concept so special? Well, as the author points out, most people love cupcakes. They are versatile, portable, and easy to create. You can make cupcakes as simple or as creative as you would like. And this great book of over 135 recipes can help in any situation. Need 2 dozen cupcakes for the class bake sale and want the cupcakes to look incredible? Want to impress your dinner guests but not spend hours in the kitchen? Want to wow your kids with a special treat after school? You can make up a batch of cupcakes that will accomplish all of these tasks.
I loved the fact that most of the recipes start with a box of cake mix, and ingredients that I keep in my pantry and refrigerator. Some of my family's favorites include: Red Velvet Cupcakes, Coconut Snowballs, Caramel Spiced Apple Cupcakes, Fresh Raspberry Cream Cakes, and the Marshmallow Frosting.
The author has 2 other books that are also worth a try, "The Cake Mix Doctor" and "The Dinner Doctor". Enjoy!


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The cupcake is America's darling. It's celebrated in upscale bakeries, on Sex in the City, on the cover of Gourmet, and in thou-sands of classrooms—where every day, it seems, a parent has sent in a batch for the kids to share. The very word conjures up whimsy, coziness, pleasure, nostalgia. Not to mention the fact that their diminutive size means you can eat a lot of them. Once upon a time, a family had only two recipes for cupcakes—chocolate and vanilla. Not anymore. Now Anne Byrn brings them to the next level. And who better? Recognized as the master of cake-mix baking, Anne is the author of The Cake Mix Doctor and Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor, which have a total of over 1.8 million copies in print. In Cupcakes she offers 135 tempting recipes for children and grown-ups, for special days and everyday, lunch bags, holiday festivities, and an unexpected dinner party dessert. You'll never believe these artful little cakes started with a mix. Coconut Snowballs, Jelly Doughnut Cupcakes, Kiss Me Cakes, Warm Chocolate Cupcakes with Molten Centers, Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting. There are surprising additions (tuck a chocolate kiss orpiece of cookie dough into the batter). Creative toppings and easy from-scratch frostings (whipped cream spiked with Kahlua; miniature M&Ms; a creamy malted frosting with crushed malted milk balls).Terrific decorating ideas, from glittering golden dragees or elegant chocolate curls to yellow peeps for an Easter cupcake or—for Groundhog's Day—a groundhog's face made out of chocolate frosting and jimmies. Includes a 16-page full-color opening essay.

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Little Cafe Cakes Review

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(More customer reviews)Not to say this isn't a fine book. What I wish I'd realized is that it's from New Zealand. I am in the United States. Some measurements are metric. Some aren't. Many measurements are by weight, so have a kitchen scale handy. Temps are celsius. I'll have to do many conversions. Other problems: many things have different names than we use here, so I have to translate to figure out what they are. Also, some things are not foods available here, as far as I know, like quark. What is that?
Cookbooks are better if they are from your region, in terms of measurement and temperature systems -- and available ingredients. Some of the cakes sound bizarre to me for that reason, but there are lots of interesting-sounding items to try!

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Sinfully Vegan: More than 160 Decadent Desserts to Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth Review

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(More customer reviews)To begin: I love this book. Love, love, love. I do have one complaint, though. With 140 recipes, it's going to take me forever to try them all! Especially since I just want to keep making my favorites over and over again.
Anyway, I could gush for hours about how great the recipes themselves are. [The Richer Than Fort Knox Cake was a huge hit at my husband's workplace. Everyone was shocked that 1) it wasn't from a bakery, and 2) it was 100% vegan. And I always love showing people that you don't deprive yourself of good things by making vegan choices.] But before I get carried away, I'd like to point how how much I love the organization of the book. Each recipe is divided into simple steps, and recipes are subdivided into sections--like the cake, the frosting, the garnish, etc. Also, Ms. Dieterly includes serving info, prep and baking time, and nutritional information, and also notes whether the recipe freezes well. And for those with wheat allergies, all of the wheat-free recipes are specifically marked as such.
She has recipes for the following dessert categories: cookies and brownies; cakes and quick breads; Boston cream pies; pies and tarts; cheesecakes; puddings; donuts and candy; beverages and smoothies; and frostings, toppings, and crusts. Sadly, there are no vegan ice cream recipes. But I'll be so busy eating brownies and cheesecakes and donuts, I won't have time for ice cream anyway!
The ingredients she uses should be familiar to most vegan cooks, and I don't have any trouble finding them. However, if you're new to vegan baking or live in an area where it's difficult to find, for example, silken tofu, then the author provides an introduction to the vegan ingredients you'll need, as well as a list of mail-order companies from which you can purchase the necessary ingredients. And if you're still searching, a quick Google search can reveal numerous places on-line to purchase vegan foodstuffs.
Finally, I'd just like to comment on the writing style. I really enjoy reading the author's recipe descriptions and other comments. She's clear and informative, but also sounds like a friend who's hanging out in your kitchen while you're baking.
All in all, this is a great cookbook. Buy it and amaze your friends with your delicious--and compassionate--desserts.

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What better way is there to end a meal than with a luscious piece of cheesecake, a rich slice of chocolate cream pie, or some chewy peanut butter cookies--all made with easy-to-find vegan ingredients? In this newly updated and expanded edition of Sinfully Vegan, Lois Dieterly shows you how to do just that, with more than 160 dairy-, egg-, and cholesterol-free recipes.
Sinfully Vegan offers desserts from every shelf of the pastry case: cakes, candies, cookies, brownies, pies, tarts, puddings, and quick breads. Complete with essential baking and preparation tips, creative recipe variations, nutritional breakdowns, and wheat-free alternatives, Sinfully Vegan is the ultimate vegan dessert resource and an essential addition to any kitchen. And since there are no eggs in the batter, plenty of sampling is encouraged!

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Betty Crocker Decorating Cakes and Cupcakes (Betty Crocker Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Based on the adorable cover, I was anxious to add this book to my collection, however, I was a little disappointed once it got here. If you're going for something cute to take to your child's classroom party, or easy decorating for young children, then this book is for you. To be honest, this is just a glorified version of the Betty Crocker mini-magazines you find at a grocery store check out (as a matter of fact, I own one of those, and there are repeats in this book). If you are thinking of purchasing this book, I recommend you flip through it at a local book store first to make sure it is the level you are looking for.

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Easy cake and cupcake decorating ideas to make any occasion specialWith Betty Crocker Decorating Cakes and Cupcakes, you can turn a delicious cake into a work of edible art! Even if you're a beginning baker, you can make a Ladybug or Butterfly Cake for a picnic, a Bib or Bootie Cake for a baby shower, a Train, Teddy Bear, Kitty Cat or Purse birthday cake for a young child, or a Baseball Cap or Flip Flops masterpiece for a tween. You'll learn step by step how to create and decorate all kinds of delicious cakes for all kinds of events:* Festive holiday cakes like New Year's Cake, Leprechaun Village Cake, Firecracker Cake, Black Cat Cake, Turkey Gobbler Cake or a Holiday Pinecone Cake* Celebration creations like an exquisite Classic White Wedding Cake or whimsical Wedding Cupcakes, an Anniversary Cake, a Mother's Day Hat Cake, a Father's Day Hawaiian Shirt Cake, a Star of David Cake and moreInside, you'll find everything from basic cake-baking tips and delicious recipes (including many that can be made with cake mix and ready-to-spread frosting) to detailed illustrations showing how to add the decorative finishing touches. The simple yet innovative decorating techniques and ideas here will make decorating a piece of cake!For more great ideas visit BettyCrocker.com

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The Sweet Melissa Baking Book: Recipes from the Beloved Bakery for Everyone's Favorite Treats Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a customer of Sweet Melissa Patisserie for years, and am so excited to have Melissa's "secret" recipes in my hands! I made the Fallen Chocolate Souffle Cake (cover photo) for a dinner party last night. It won rave reviews and everyone had seconds! (And was also most excellent for breakfast this morning!)
The recipes are well thought out and easy to follow. The hardest thing about this book is to decide what to make next. I see myself working my way through this book ala Julie and Julia! Next up: Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake with Blackberry Glaze. Yum!


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The Buttercup Bake Shop Cookbook: More Than 80 Recipes for Irresistible, Old-Fashioned Treats Review

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(More customer reviews)I agree with the first reviewer of this book that the key word here is "old fashioned." These are the desserts that you turn to when you want something warm and familiar, and that'll settle into your stomach with a delightful plop.
Right from the start, the author makes it clear that all her desserts are made from scratch with whole milk, real butter, and white sugar. While die-hard health buffs might scream at the thought of no low-fat anything in this book, most dessert lovers like me revel in the Red Velvet Cake, Banana Cream Pudding (presented in a most novel way!), Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies, cupcakes, and Rice Crispies Treats, which, (for me) was a hard to find recipe until I bought this book.
This book is simple pleasure and it takes you back to the joy of baking. There are no fancy, gravity-defying desserts here - just sheer delicious desserts you can make at home.

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Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery Review

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(More customer reviews)I baked the strawberry cupcakes right away and served them at my brother's wedding. They are fabulous! Recipes use good, natural ingredients...nothing artificial here. Simple and pretty designs for the cupcakes too.

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If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)We love the "If You Give..." books at our house. Our 2 1/2 year old will sit through "Mouse Cookies & More" which has "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", "If You Give a Pig a Pancake", "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" & "If You Take a Mouse to School" all in one, and then she'll want to read it all over again.
We were very excited to get a new "If You Give..." book, especially one about a cat (our daughter's favorite animal); but I found this story to be less charming than the others. Some of the transitions felt forced; for example, Cat goes to the gym and then suddenly wants to go to the park - I didn't get the connection so the book just didn't flow as well as the others I've read.
This is not to say my little girl isn't completely captivated by the book. We've had it less than a day and have read it through several times (we had to stop because of dinner and bedtime or we'd probably still be reading it!).
So, overall the story is cute and sweet, just like the others, but "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" is still my favorite.

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Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor Review

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(More customer reviews)Now there are times when we can't prepare something from scratch, and this book is perfect for those times. By adding a few extra ingredients that are readily available in your pantry, you can turn somethin ordinary into something people will rave about, and beg you for the recipe. Meanwhile you have accomplished this with a boxed cake mix, and things you normally have in the pantry. I like this book more than the first book, as well it has one of the things that I enjoy the most.... Chocolate. This book is packed with all sorts of recipes for cake(Chocolate Sour Cream Cake), brownies (Kaluhua Cream Cheese Brownies), and many other tasty creations. The book is well written, easy to read and filled with serving suggestions and so much more. I would highly recommend this book to you if you are looking for something a little special.

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Betty Crocker Big Book of Cupcakes Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this cookbook! I've seen other cupcake books that have a few good decorating ideas mixed in with mediocre ones, or that have a lot of cute ideas but don't offer new flavors beyond the basic vanilla, yellow, or chocolate cake mixes. This one is abundant in both inspiration for decorating and a variety of flavors.
Just about every recipe is accompanied by a beautiful color photograph to inspire creativity. The book starts with four basic cake recipes including white, chocolate, yellow, and lemon, plus five base icing recipes. These all serve as the base for creating dozens of flavors and textures for cupcakes that are anything but ordinary.
I made the chocolate chip cheesecake swirl cupcakes (p. 44) and my family enjoyed them. I used a boxed devil's food cake mix instead of the recipe in the book. Other flavored cupcakes I will try include Gingerbread with Cream Cheese Icing, Key Lime, Eggnog Poppyseed, Cookies 'n Cream, Butterscotch with Salty Caramel icing, Lemon-Blueberry, and Mocha Caramel Cappuccino. The Apple-Fig Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Maple Sauce also caught my eye. So did the Strawberry Colada Cupcakes. I could go on and on.
There are wonderful ideas for just about every holiday and occasion including children's birthdays, cupcakes baked in ice cream cones, floral themes, weddings and showers, and animal themes that are adorable. The lamb cupcake shown on the cover is perfect for Easter, as is another one inside the book featuring a bunny with marshmallow ears.
Anyone who loves cupcakes and enjoys decorating them will absolutely be inspired by this book!


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The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook: Old-Fashioned Recipes From New York's Sweetest Bakery Review

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(More customer reviews)I consider myself to be an avid and skilled baker/cook. I have been baking and cooking successfully for well over 22 years. I got this book and MORE FROM MAGNOLIA as gifts from a friend who is a big fan of the cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery in New York. I was very careful to follow the recipes exactly and I most certainly am not a beginner. The first recipe I tried was Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out okay; a bit on the dry side and I would have used maybe a bit more vanilla. I tried two more recipes (Devil's Food Cupcakes and Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake) just to give the books the benefit of the doubt. I used only the freshest, highest quality ingredients and I was extra conscientious when following the recipes and the results were still mediocre. The cupcakes were dry and the layer cake was bland. Old-fashioned is a quality I like in my baking but dry and bland are qualities no one likes. I have heard so much praise about the goods at the Magnolia Bakery that it leads me to wonder if the recipes in the cookbooks have been adjusted to turn out inferior results. The book itself is easy to follow, well-written, and laid out neatly. The lack of so many pictures did not bother me at all and the pictures they did include were beautiful and attractive. But the recipes are what matters the most in any cookbook. The results have been consistently just okay. I really expected a lot but I'm sorry to say I'm disappointed.

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Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a relatively new vegan, and I dove in head first and purchased a TON of vegetarian/vegan cookbooks so that I would not get bored and frustrated with my new lifestyle. Of all of the cookbooks I own, I have been disappointed with many, impressed by some and awed by only one - Vegan with a Vengeance. The recipes are creative, flavorful, and are enjoyed by my meat-eating friends/family as much as by me! Plus, the book covers a lot of ground - from breakfasts/brunches to desserts, soups, sammiches, etc. I love the additional commentary and advice in the book, regardless of the fact that the other and I don't have the same views on many issues! I keep going back to this cookbook frequently and my many others are starting to collect dust. An absolute must have for any vegetarian or vegan library, and highly recommended for anyone else who wants to eat a little healthier and more varied as well.

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Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule Review

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(More customer reviews)I love love LOVE this book. The recipes are simple and perfect, every time; I have had VCTOtW for about a month and a half now, and despite at least weekly bakings, haven't had a single recipe fail yet. Not one. Since I bought it I seriously can't stop baking and am beginning to fear for my waistline!
I would like to second another reviewer who pointed out that the recipes don't ask you to use egg replacers or other "substitutions" common in vegan baking (usually because someone is trying to veganize a non-vegan recipe); instead, the recipes are just designed vegan from the ground up, and call for simple ingredients that anyone would have (oil, baking powder, etc.). Also, there are tons of beautiful color pictures of finished cupcakes throughout, which is one of the most important things about a cookbook, to me. Then, too, they suggest enough variations on each cupcake recipe (there's 6 suggested ways to dramatically alter the chocolate cupcake recipe alone) that this book will keep you occupied for quite a long time.
Since every baker likes a little external validation, here's mine: I have gotten absolute raves on every cupcake I have made so far, and most of these raves were from non-vegans who were comparing my vegan cupcakes with regular [non-vegan] cupcakes. For example, last night I fed a chocolate cupcake with cookies 'n cream frosting (vegan buttercream frosting with Newman's O's mixed in... this is a recipe from the book, obviously) to a friend who didn't just enjoy it, but was absolutely WOWED. "Geeze, it's amazing what they're doing without dairy or eggs these days; these are better than regular cupcakes" was one comment that I particularly appreciated because most vegan desserts can taste good, but in my experience it's the rare vegan dessert that can taste identical or even BETTER than the regular omni thing.
I would recommend this book to anyone, vegans and omni's alike, because even if you're not vegan (or lactose intolerant), the cupcakes taste fabulous. The recipes are so simple they're basically idiot-proof, and I have seriously never in my life had better chocolate cupcakes than the ones I made from this book: moist and fluffy and ooh... just perfect. And I'm not even a chocolate person.
Anyway, do yourself (and everyone in your life who will be eating your baked goods) a favor and buy this wonderful book! I'd give it 10 stars if they'd let me...

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The hosts of the vegan cooking show The Post Punk Kitchen are back with a vengeance - and this time, dessert. A companion volume to Vegan with a Vengeance, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World is a sweet and sassy guide to baking everyone's favorite treat without using any animal products. This unique cookbook contains over 50 recipes for cupcakes and frostings - some innovative, some classics - with beautiful full color photographs. Isa and Terry offer delicious, cheap, dairy-free, egg-free and vegan-friendly recipes like Classic Vanilla Cupcakes (with chocolate frosting), Crimson Velveteen Cupcakes (red velvet with creamy white frosting), Linzer Torte Cupcakes (hazelnut with raspberry and chocolate ganache), Chai Latte Cupcakes (with powdered sugar) and Banana Split Cupcakes (banana-chocolate chip-pineapple with fluffy frosting). Included also are gluten-free recipes, decorating tips, baking guidelines, vegan shopping advice, and Isa's true cupcake anecdotes from the trenches. When Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, no dessert lover can resist.

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Cupcake Kit: Recipes, Liners, and Decorating Tools for Making the Best Cupcakes Review

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(More customer reviews)The cupcake kit includes colorful, decorative cupcake papers for regular-size and mini cupcakes. It also includes a decorating bag with coupler and four different tips, and a small cookbook with a handful of recipes. No, it isn't a huge amount of stuff, but remember, this is aimed at a very specific audience--folks who want to do a bit of simple decorating and don't want to buy big sets of tips and tons of paste colors. It'll serve you well as a quick beginner intro (making it also a great gift), a quick fix if you need to make a few dozen cupcakes and don't have the equipment to do it, or a great way to learn how to make a few pretty cupcakes if you already know you can't or don't want to do the really fancy stuff!
The recipe booklet is pretty, with nice layout and photos, and includes both the basics (yellow and chocolate cupcake batters, cream cheese and chocolate frostings) and some nifty diversions. Personally I like the "hummingbird swirls," which have fruit and nuts in them, and are topped with a lovely ivory-colored cream cheese frosting. (This is the first time I've seen a cream cheese frosting that called for both cream cheese and butter, and it's really good!) Simple decorating ideas range from swirls of frosting piped from a star tip, to easy spiderweb designs, jelly bean "eggs" in a nest of coconut shavings, chocolate shavings, glazed lemon peel, and a few other easy-to-implement and delicious decorations.
It's a narrow-purpose item, but it's perfectly designed for its target audience! [Review book courtesy of publisher]

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Small-Batch Baking Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, so I love to bake. Unfortunately, there are only two people in my household and both of us have, um, "portion control problems".
Since most of my favorite cookie recipes yield several dozen and making just PART of a cake is nearly impossible, my boyfriend and I often end up eating way more than we actually want. Sometimes I'll try to pass off my baked goods to co-workers, but (and I'm being painfully honest here) I usually polish off the batch myself in less than 3 days.
I know all that sugar is no good for me, but I can't imagine not having cakes and cookies once in a while. Life's too short to cut out something I enjoy so much!
When I came across this book, it was like I stumbled across a puzzle piece I hadn't noticed was missing. The cake recipes make single or double servings! The cookie recipies make less than a dozen! I've tried cutting regular recipes in half, but the results are never quite right. With this book, you're measuring ingredients in tablespoons instead cups, and the two recipes I've tried have turned out beautifully.
The peanut butter cookie recipe made 8 perfect cookies and tonight I tried a recipe for two giant oatmeal cookies. Perfect again. I can't wait to try to make the small cakes, little breads and even a baby Baklava!
I expect that this book will change the way I bake forever. It's nice to make a dessert that I can enjoy without feeling like a jerk for enjoying way too much of it.

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Cupcakes Review

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(More customer reviews)Someone (author? editor? photographer? all three?) isn't clear on the concept that this is a COOKBOOK. Granted, due to budgetary restraints, some cookbooks can't photograph every recipe. Problem is, that this one could have. We have full-page artistic illustrations of mixing bowls, piping tubes, beaters, 2 pages of empty cupcake pans, and 3 full pages showing paper cupcake liners. We have one page showing three (unidentified) cupcakes with two of them out of focus. If all those full pages that were dedicated to artistic fulfillment and depth of field exercises, had instead each shown 2 or 3 cupcakes each, every recipe in the book could have been presented. Captioning would have been nice, too. One cannot assume that everyone knows what a "vanilla cheesecake crunch top cupcake" looks like, but I think that it should be safe to assume that everybody knows what a paper cupcake liner looks like!

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