Book Review #2

posted by joeli under book reviews

For my next book review I want to talk about A Baker's Field Guide to Cupcakes.

Overview: This book consists of 15 master recipes (7 cupcake recipes and 8 frosting recipes) and 60 recipes which adapt those master recipes. This is a format which I absolutely adore. Now, don't be worried--the 60 recipes are not the 7 cupcakes with each different frosting. Though it is true that some of the main recipes are used much more often than the others, there is a wide variety and most recipes have something added in which makes them more than just a basic cupcake. The master recipes are utilized as follows: sometimes a main recipe will call for "12 yellow cupcakes" in which case you simply follow the master recipe for the yellow cupcakes and then proceed as follows. Other times the main recipe will just call for "1 batch batter from yellow cupcakes" in which case you make the batter but then are probably stirring something in. Please trust me that this format does not in anyway get tedious. You probably have 20 shirts in your closet which are all variations on the basic T-shirt but which are all different enough to give you a reason to buy them, right? Well the cupcakes in this book are definitely all very different.

Layout:
This book is spiral bound which is a feature that I think more books could do with. The recipes are divided by holiday/main event. For each recipe includes a photo, description, field note (usually a note about the inspiration for the cupcake, a tip on where to find certain ingredients or tools used), or decorating advice), lifespan guide, yield, ingredients (including any decorating items you may need) and directions. Many recipes also include a tip, maybe about how to vary the recipe or a note about which ingredients to increase/decrease to get the taste you like).

Will I make the recipes:
Out of the master recipes I have made 4/7 of the cupcakes and 4/8 of the frostings. I have plans to make one more of the cupcake recipes (I would have made it already but it requires sour cream which I never have in) but the other two I probably will never make (carrot cake and pound cake) but that is simply based on personal taste rather than on the recipes themselves. For the master frosting recipes I'll probably try all of them at some point and I will say that I can't really see you needing any other recipes than those included.

Out of the 60 main recipes there is probably an even mix between those I will make and those I won't. Some of them are delicious sounding and looking and those I have made have come out really well. Some of them are just not for me (I don't like coconut/fruit/nuts in my cupcakes) but again I'm sure everyone would find a ton of recipes that suit them (unless for some reason you don't like cupcakes in which case don't buy this book).

Other notes of interest:
One of the most useful things about this book is it has a very nice introduction section about how to make cupcakes. This includes how to measure flour (or rather how the author measured the flour for the recipes in this book), when to take out the cupcakes (when a toothpick comes out with few moist crumbs, not when it comes out clean), and when to use paper liners and when not to (paper lines give a better dome, not always what you want).

I have found that the recipes generally fall into two categories: either they are a very good adaptation of a master recipe (Lemon Meringue Cupcakes) or they are simple adaptation but with a clever decoration (Easter Basket Cupcakes or Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcakes).

There are a few items which may be hard to find (square cupcake wells, certain candies) but the author does a great job of telling you where she got the items and other places to find them.

The other thing that should be noted is that the author is incredibly honest. If you'll have frosting left over then she lets you know and gives you advice about how to store it. When you'll have extra cupcakes leftover for some reason, she'll let you know.

Details: 164 pages covering Intro; Master Recipes; New Year's Eve; Valentine's Day; St. Patrick's Day; Easter; April Fool's Day; Mother's Day; Memorial Day; Father's Day; Fourth of July; National Chocolate Cupcake Day; Halloween; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Bridal Showers; Weddings; Baby Showers; Graduations; Adults' Birthdays; Kids' Birthday; and Kids' Bake Sales.

PROS: Spiral bound, master recipes make it easy to make your own creations, easy to follow instructions, tons of ideas for any occasion, and photos of every recipe.

CONS: If you don't have any basic decorating tools (icing bags, nozzle, etc) or are not interesting in decorating cupcake then just under half the the main recipes in this book would be of no interest to you. (The other half are all nicely decorated but the main selling point is the flavors so would be easy for anybody to love).

My Rating: 5/5. There is nothing I would realistically change about this book. (In my ideal world I would of course remove all recipes with ingredients that I don't like and add in more chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes. But I don't have that high of exceptions for a recipe book). I love the layout, the cupcakes, and the inspiration this book gives me (for a recipe book, I find myself "reading" it surprisingly often, but then again I always did love picture books and the pictures in this book are fantastic). If you love to bake cupcakes or want to learn I would highly recommend this book.

Comments

No comments yet. You can be the first!

Leave comment