Muffins & Cakes

Roland Mesnier's Basic to Beautiful Cakes
Roland Mesnier
People, fill your pastry bags. Former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier lays on the buttercream, meringue, and marzipan for those occasions when nothing but an over-the-top dessert will do. Using variations on Paris brest, buche de Noel, Coeur a la crème and other favorites, Mesnier creates desserts you will never forget. Colour photos. Hardcover, 290 pp. $34.99.

Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins & More
Carole Walter
As the subtitle suggests these are treats for morning to midnight. The Rhubarb upside-down muffins look particularly tempting, as well as whole chapters on pound cakes, strudel, what's not to like! Hardcover, 408 pp. $40.95.

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.

Baker & Spice Exceptional Cakes
Dan Lepard
The title is somewhat misleading as the recipes cover everything from chocolate pecan cake to oatmeal raisin cookies to croissants. There are even doughnuts and fritters. These recipes were published in Baker & Spice Baking (out of print). Colour photos. Softcover, 160 pp. $14.95.

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.

Cupcakes
Susannah Blake
Lemon meringue, rocky road, pistachio, banoffee and fresh fruit are among the flavours that will enchant adults and children alike. Photos accompanying every recipe serve up creative presentation ideas. Makes a charming hostess gift. Colour photos. Hardcover, 64 pp. $16.95.

500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly Hardcover, 360 pp $17.95.
500 Cookies  by Philippa Vanstone Hardcover, 360 pp $17.95.
These chunky, and we mean this in a good way, little books (six inches square, an inch thick) combine great value for your money with a charming package. Each features a photograph with almost every recipe, some sophisticated, some simple, all in an easy-to-read format.

Cook's Own Muffins and More
Elizabeth Baird
Wonderful (and sometimes healthy) goodies from Elizabeth Baird and the dependable team at Canadian Living. You can trust these recipes for muffins, quick breads, cakes, and other treats from the oven. Other titles in this series (previously known as Canadian Living's Best) include Cookies and Squares and Fruit. Hardcover, 94 pp. $16.95.

Coffee Cakes
Lou Seibert Pappas
Simple, sweet and savory gems to tantalize your taste buds and match up with your favorite cup of coffee, or hot chocolate. Yummy recipes for more than 50 quick cakes and yeast breads perfect for breakfast, brunch, picnic or dessert! Softcover, 131 pp. $23.95.

Cupcakes!
Elinor Klivans
Everyone loves cupcakes and this is a great little book to get the kids involved in baking. With 50 great recipes you’re sure to find new family favorites for parties, bake sales, potlucks or just delicious snacking anytime of day. Softcover, 143 pp. $22.95.

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.

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.

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. Hardcover, 260 pp. $51.99.

Simple Cakes
Mary Berry
First published in 2004 as Foolproof Cakes, Simple Cakes takes you through the art of making the ultimate comfort food, from cakes, biscuits and pastries, to meringues and much much more. Softcover, 128 pp. $24.95.

Gorgeous Cakes
Annie Bell
Annie Bell’s definition of "cake" encompasses everything from scones to fig custard tart. Pies, cakes, whatever you may call them, these simple recipes are visual and taste treats. Colour recipes. Softcover, 192 pp, $24.95.

125 Best Cheesecake Recipes
George Geary
Maine lobster and three-tier wedding cheesecake are among the surprises in this compendium of cheesecakes for every occasion. Softcover, 192 pp, $19.95.

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, $42.99.

250 Best Cakes & Pies
Esther Brody
Easy to follow recipes for any occasion containing east to find ingredients can inspire even the timid to create luscious baked goods. Colour photos. Softcover, 192pp., $19.95.

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