Piece of Cake! One-bowl, no-fuss, from-scratch cakes by Camilla V. Saulsbury
Published by Robert Rose 2011
Piece of Cake is what I like to call a basic, no frills cookbook. Its recipes are precise, simple and none of them needs ingredients that you can’t find in your local markets or grocery stores. Cake should always be like that; not pretentious, not with unknown flavors or random textures throughout it. When it reaches that point, you lose what cake is really about: comfort and happiness. That’s the reason you serve birthday cakes at parties, and it’s basically what you crave at times. A good, moist slice of cake (with or without icing is your call).
The basic chapters of Key Ingredients and Equipment show up early to the party, and thrown in the mix is literally that: a collection of “Homemade, All-Natural Cake Mixes”. Perfect for the holidays, think what a great gift idea cake mixes would be? Layered in a mason jar, tied with a gorgeous ribbon, and with a lovely recipe card with instructions, cake mixes might just be the canning/jamming of the winter!
Each recipe reads quickly and easily, as well as has recommendations on the sidebars whether it’s about storage or other tips. Chapters in the book include: So-Good Single-Decker and Loaf Cakes, Crowd-Pleasing Sheet Cakes, Blissful Bundts, Luscious Layer Cakes, Perfect Pound Cakes, Frostings, Icings, Glazes, and Other Extras. It’s a spiral-bound hardcover book, which allows it to lay nicely on your counter and even stands without support!
This book would make a perfect holiday gift, but make sure to bake a cake from the book first and have a double-gift treat! Great for young teenagers interested in baking, as well as home bakers that need new, but simple ideas and inspiration for their cakes. Flavor is a major component of this book, while decoration does not play a part in it. Cakes are simply decorated with dollops of “Orange Mascarpone Cream” or slathered with “Salted Caramel Buttercream”.
What’s YOUR favorite cake?
You can purchase your own copy of Piece of Cake! by Camilla V. Saulsbury here.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on Cooking with Books are my own and based on testing and personal experience. I was sent the book free of charge, although not monetarily compensated for a positive review.
Yum!!! I love recipe books that have colorful, big pictures. This book sounds wonderful, AND dangerous, he he he:-) Beautiful, Hugs, Terra
German Chocolate Cake is my all time favorite. That, and a nicely iced Texas sheet cake. So yummy!
My favorite cake ever is probably white wedding cake that a friend of my family makes…it’s truly the best ever!
Slathered with salted caramel buttercream? Those words alone would sell me, if not the photo of the Rose Water Pistachio Pound Cake 😉 Gorgeous.
Great review and love the ideas for Christmas gifts!
My favourite cake would have to be carrot or coffee cake. Classics and oh so comforting.
My fave cake is CHOCOLATE. Just a basic, two layer fudgy cake, with chocolate filling and an even fudgier chocolate icing all over. No nuts, just basic fudgy Chocolate Cake.
Now, my fave fruit-flavored cake is MANGO. Just basic Mango-chiffon, with a creamy Mango-flavored icing.
Love this cookbook! Must get hold of one soon!
Looks like it could be an interesting book and probably as you stated – would be great for a beginning baker. My fave cake is Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Mmmmmm