Cake Decorating
 Bake & Decorate
Fiona Cairns
How can you not trust a woman who supplies Sir Paul McCartney with his Christmas Cake every year? Fiona Cairns is a renowned British cake master and offers a beautiful but non-fussy method of preparing and decorating cakes both big and small, as well as tempting cookies (including the popular french macarons). True to its name the first half of the book focusing on baking the cakes, while the second half walks you through attracting but simple decorated cakes. Colour photos. Hardcover, 208 pp. $39.95.
 Wedding Cake Art and Design
Toba Garret
Subtitled 'A Professional Approach', this book gives clear and concise directions on both classic and modern wedding cake techniques, as well as recipes that provide you with a variety of structural bases for the cakes. Colour photography. Hardcover, 280 pp. $60.00.
The Whimsical Bakehouse
Kaye Hansen & Liv Hansen
Don't feel intimidated by the thought of such artistry; even though you might
not be a wunderkind in the kitchen, these fun recipes can happen. Each Dr. Seuss-ian
recipe is constructed with ingredients that are readily available
from your neighbourhood grocer. Full colour photos you can't miss. Hardcover,
160 pp., $38.95.
 Party
Cakes for Kids
Attention all you mothers who have shed tears over your childís birthday
cake. With easy instructions and templates for cakes ranging from a ladybug to
the entire Simpson family, this book will keep you in kid-pleasing cakes from
ages one to 10. Softcover, 160 pp, $19.95.
Neoclassic View of Plated Desserts
Tish Boyle& Timothy Moriarty
This book should probably come with a warning: Help required. Their "Trio
of Apples" requires 12 recipes to complete! Simpler ones have only
three or four. However, for the professional it is inspirational.
There is a chapter on sugar work - pulled sugar, sugar cages, spun
sugar and thread. Hardcover, glamorous photos. Hardcover, glamorous
photos. $65.99
 Cakes to Dream On
Colette Peters
A masterclass in decorating extraordinary cakes. If she can dream it celebrated
cake artist Colette will create it, even better she's will to share her techniques
and methods with you. Stunning pictures of these wonderful wacky cakes and instructional
drawings make this book a must for the serious cake decorator. 260 pp. $51.99.
 Torten Artistik
Louise & Othmar Fassbind
Beginning with the history of the fruitcake, the 39 lessons in
this book show you the path to magnificent cakes from perfectly
smooth bases to blown sugar ornaments to grace the top. Step-by-step
photos. Hardcover, 199 pp, $179.95.
 Wedding
Cakes You Can Make
Dede Wilson
It may be a small book, but it is packed with everything you need
to know to create a professional –looking wedding cake for yourself
or someone near and dear. The emphasis is on cakes and frostings
that are as good to eat as they are beautiful to view. Much of
the work can be done
ahead. Colour photos. Hardcover, 168 pp, $38.95.
 Romantic
Cakes
Peggy Porschen
Subtitled Cookies and Cakes to Celebrate Love, this is Valentine's
Day in the shape of a cake decorating book. The designs range from the simple & sweet
to the sickly sweet, and most involve royal icing and gum paste. Though the instructions
are detailed this may be a bit overwhelming for beginners. The cookies are quite
innovative, with butterflies that are strung up on ribbons and Venetian Carnival
masks that can actually be used as masks. Colour photos. Hardcover, 144 pp. $39.95.
 Pretty
Party Cakes
Peggy Porschen
Pretty party cakes indeed! Romantic, whimsical, simple, whatever your style (as
long as it is fairly feminine) there are great ideas here, along with gorgeous
petit fours and cookies. The instructions are quite detailed, and gum paste,
fondant, marzipan, royal and buttercream icing are all covered. Colour photos.
Hardcover, 144 pp. $42.00.
 The
Confetti Cakes Cookbook
Elisa Strauss
One look at the incredible handbag cake on the cover and any baker
or cake decorator is sure to crumble. Wonderfully inventive cakes like the
stilleto shoe and box ensemble, the popcorn bag, and the sushi platter will
wow you and induce crippling envy and desire. The crystal cupcakes, covered
with rock candy, is just one of the creative ideas and solutions Strauss
has come up with since opening her New York bakery. There is a very helpful
techniques section and the instructions are clear enough for even novices
to follow. Colour photos. Hardcover, 224 pp. $37.99.
 Fantastic
Party Cakes
Allison Wilkinson
Beautiful, creatively decorated cakes for a variety of occasions (or none at
all). The cakes are decorated with fondant (sugar paste), marzipan, and gum paste
(flower paste) so no piping skills are required. Each cake comes with detailed
instructions, a list of needed ingredients, and the required tools. The butterfly
cake is absolutely lovely. Colour photos. Hardcover, 80 pp. $27.95.
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