Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 just one more... November 6, 2008
Colin J. Herd (Edinburgh)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
No matter how many pounds you expend on this book you will get them all back, and more! They may not be the kind of pounds you want, but as you're standing on the scales seeing another stone clock up, you will, at least, be happy! These recipes are so feel-good! I mean, I never had 'Oatmeal Muffins' before but I feel like I've been eating them all my life, so nostalgic i feel munching into one. The recipes are fairly simple, and they always seem to work. The cakes are invariably FANTASTIC. Try the apple and walnut butterscotch layer cake. gee, that sure is the kind of cake momma used to make. What am I talking aabout? I don't speak like that.... but this book makes me, so good are these cakes.
 I've been spoilt September 26, 2008
K. Man (London)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not entirely sure about this book - it arrived in the post and it was the pricest cook book I've bought in a long time because it's not discounted. Admittedly I bought it to meet the free delivery amount and reached for a brand (I really wanted to make the big coconut cake on the cover.)
If you are used to new cookbooks with pretty pictures, this isn't for you. It's old school american format, a few pics in the middle. (It's printed 1999?) This one doesn't have the cupcake focus but since I didn't love the cupcakes in NY I'm not fussed. Plus the vanilla and red velvet recipes are widely available on the internet, including a video guide somewhere! (If you are ever there, the red velvet cake is gorgeous, plus you'd have to be very open minded about food colouring to make it at home). In debate about whether to send it back or not, mainly because price to love ratio is lacking. Then again, that chocolate cake looks nice on the cover...
Brilliant! November 20, 2007
ScrummyDoDa (Berkshire, England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was so excited when I received this book, all the recipes are amazing! I have made two of the cakes within this book, and I have to say I have never made such delicious and rewarding (let alone massive) cakes! Thank you Magnolia for this book it is lovely.
Mmmmm mmmmmm gooood!!!!! October 8, 2007
G. Kelly (Scotland)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought this book after having been to the shop earlier this year. It's amazing! I would agree with one of the previous people...you certainly don't need the amount of frosting they suggest. I made half the amount suggested for 20 or so cupcakes and was left with loads spare. Everything you make is so easy. My favourites so far have been the chocolate chip cookies. I would defo recommend this book, and I'll soon be buying the follow up to this!
HOW Sweet?!!! August 26, 2007
D. Robinson (Cheshire)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I bought this book and the Buttercup Bake Shop one about 2 weeks ago but have only just got around to making things. I chose the Caramel Pecan Cheesecake and the Vanilla Birthday cake which you can use for fairy cakes or a big cake. I made fairy cakes.
The recipes are sooo easy to follow. I was a little confused with the cheesecake one tho', it says to leave the cheesecake to cool down for an hour in the oven, holding the door open with a wooden spoon, which I did, and then put it into the fridge for 12 hours.
I was always always told by my mum not to put food that's still warm in the fridge but I did it anyway with this Cheesecake because it didn't say otherwise, and it's turned out really well.
When I decided to make these things, I quickly checked up on my ingredients and went off and bought what I thought would surely be enough, based on British recipes you see, I honestly didn't think there would be that much diffence between the UK & US measurements. Turned out my estimate for the cream cheese was waaaaay off, I bought 3 200g tubs and in the end needed nearly 1kg and as for the icing on the fairy cakes,......HOW much?!!!,....I had a little bit left in the cupboard and thought I'd buy a 1kg bag of Icing sugar so I would have some left for future cakes.
After sitting down and working out how much 8 cups were, after I'd bought the sugar,......It worked out to be 1.8kg of Icing sugar!!!!!! I had to improvise and half the quantities and I'm glad I did. I made 23 fairy cakes and the halved icing (900g Icing Sugar, 110g Butter, 1/2 cup of milk, tspn Vanilla Essence)made enough to cover them twice over. Looking at the cakes now, it's at least 50/50 cake/Icing. Can you imagine what they'd have been like had I made the full amount?!
Overall, the books are fabulous, the recipes are so easy to follow and they are divine. The cakes taste lovely, properly American if you get me?
I would recommend them to anyone but personally I'll be keeping these recipes as special occassion jobbies!
Oh, and one other thing, get yourself a set of US measuring cups. I had to keep Delia's website up on the computer the whole time I was baking so I could convert!.
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