Nothing matches the joy and taste of a good homemade layer cake, although many home cooks rely on boxed mixes. This volume of the How to Cook Master Series shows you how to make from-scratch cakes in not much more time than it takes to make a boxed mix. One of a unique collection of beautifully hardbound, single topic cookbooks from the editors of Cook's Illustrated, the publication legendary for perfecting a recipe through years of fanatical kitchen testing. You will learn the basics of preparing layer cakes, frostings and fillings plus step-by-step decorating tips and techniques. We share with you secrets like how to prevent the cake from shrinking and cracking and why you should use shortening instead of butter to grease pans. This timeless classic is a perfect reference for anyone who loves to bake.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her first cookbook, Bon Appétit and YouTube star of the show Gourmet Makes offers wisdom, problem-solving strategies, and more than 100 meticulously tested, creative, and inspiring recipes. IACP AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • Bon Appétit • NPR • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution • Salon • Epicurious “There are no ‘just cooks’ out there, only bakers who haven't yet been converted. I am a dessert person, and we are all dessert people.”—Claire Saffitz Claire Saffitz is a baking hero for a new generation. In Dessert Person, fans will find Claire’s signature spin on sweet and savory recipes like Babkallah (a babka-Challah mashup), Apple and Concord Grape Crumble Pie, Strawberry-Cornmeal Layer Cake, Crispy Mushroom Galette, and Malted Forever Brownies. She outlines the problems and solutions for each recipe—like what to do if your pie dough for Sour Cherry Pie cracks (patch it with dough or a quiche flour paste!)—as well as practical do’s and don’ts, skill level, prep and bake time, step-by-step photography, and foundational know-how. With her trademark warmth and superpower ability to explain anything baking related, Claire is ready to make everyone a dessert person.

How can you make cakes, cookies, and candy even MORE fun? Award-winning blogger Heather Baird, a vibrant new voice in the culinary world, has the answer: Cook like an artist! Combining her awesome skills as a baker, confectioner, and painter, she has created a gorgeous, innovative cookbook, designed to unleash the creative side of every baker. Heather sees dessert making as one of the few truly creative outlets for the home cook. So, instead of arranging recipes by dessert type (cookies, tarts, cakes, etc.), she has organized them by line, color, and sculpture. As a result, SprinkleBakes is at once a breathtakingly comprehensive dessert cookbook and an artist's instructional that explains brush strokes, sculpture molds, color theory, and much more. With easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful step-by-step photographs, Heather shows how anyone can make her jaw-dropping creations, from Mehndi Hand Ginger Cookies to Snow Glass Apples to her seasonal masterpiece, a Duraflame(R)-inspired Yule Log..

Learn Pastry Recipes from Professional Cook Baker Bettie “I wish I had this book when I started baking! It’s not only a collection of amazing recipes, but it answers the ‘why’ to your baking questions.”―Gemma Stafford, chef, author, and host of Bigger Bolder Baking #1 Bestseller in Professional Cooking, Pastry Baking, Cake Baking, Pies, Desserts, and Cookies Do you find baking difficult, or are you just not sure how it works? This cookbook is your new go-to baking book full of pastry recipes and more. Baking from scratch can be hard. The science of baking is a particular science that requires precise measurements and steps. But with professional cook Kristin Hoffman, aka Baker Bettie, the science behind baking becomes second nature! Baker Bettie’s Better Baking Book is like a lifetime’s worth of baking classes. This baking book lays a foundation of basic baking skills and tools for mastering cake, cookie, pie, and pastry recipes that are sure to boost your baking confidence. Learn top tips from a professional cook. Consider Baker Bettie’s Better Baking Book your at-home culinary and baking classes guide. This baking book goes beyond the recipe by teaching the science behind baking, from measurements, techniques, and step-by-step processes, to directions on how to use base recipes to create endless drool-worthy baked goods. This book ensures that you are able to tackle any baking task, such as pastry recipes, making cakes, baking pies, making cookies, and cake decorating with confidence! In this baking book, learn more about: The science of baking from a professional cook Foundational baking techniques and mixing methods How to bake from scratch How master formulas are used to bake a ton of delicious and easy recipes! If you enjoyed books like Beginner's Baking Bible, Small Batch Baking, or Nadiya Bakes, you’ll love Baker Bettie’s Better Baking Book!

IACP AWARD FINALIST • The expert baker and bestselling author behind the Magnolia Network original series Zoë Bakes explores her favorite dessert—cakes!—with more than 85 recipes to create flavorful and beautiful layers, loafs, Bundts, and more. “Zoë’s relentless curiosity has made her an artist in the truest sense of the word.”—Joanna Gaines, co-founder of Magnolia NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME OUT Cake is the ultimate symbol of celebration, used to mark birthdays, weddings, or even just a Tuesday night. In Zoë Bakes Cakes, bestselling author and expert baker Zoë François demystifies the craft of cakes through more than eighty-five simple and straightforward recipes. Discover treats such as Coconut–Candy Bar Cake, Apple Cake with Honey-Bourbon Glaze, and decadent Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake. With step-by-step photo guides that break down baking fundamentals—like creaming butter and sugar—and Zoë’s expert knowledge to guide you, anyone can make these delightful creations. Featuring everything from Bundt cakes and loaves to a beautifully layered wedding confection, Zoë shows you how to celebrate any occasion, big or small, with delicious homemade cake.

Updated with a brand-new selection of desserts and treats, the fully illustrated Sally's Baking Addiction cookbook offers more than 80 scrumptious recipes for indulging your sweet tooth—featuring a chapter of healthier dessert options, including some vegan and gluten-free recipes. It's no secret that Sally McKenney loves to bake. Her popular blog, Sally's Baking Addiction, has become a trusted source for fellow dessert lovers who are also eager to bake from scratch. Sally's famous recipes include award-winning Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies, No-Bake Peanut Butter Banana Pie, delectable Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Cupcakes, and yummy Marshmallow Swirl S'mores Fudge. Find tried-and-true sweet recipes for all kinds of delicious: Breads & Muffins Breakfasts Brownies & Bars Cakes, Pies & Crisps Candy & Sweet Snacks Cookies Cupcakes Healthier Choices With tons of simple, easy-to-follow recipes, you get all of the sweet with none of the fuss! Hungry for more? Learn to create even more irresistible sweets with Sally’s Candy Addiction and Sally’s Cookie Addiction.

More than 100 accessible, flavor-packed recipes, using only common ingredients and everyday household kitchen tools, from YouTube celebrity Gemma Stafford

100 easy and essential recipes for cookies, pies and pastry, cakes, breads, and more, with photographic step-by-step how-to instruction, plus tips, variations, and other information

What could be better than a phenomenon? The return of a phenomenon. Ten years ago Anne Byrn's The Cake Mix Doctor began its extraordinary run as one of the most popular baking books of all time. Now Anne Byrn is back with the all-new Cake Mix Doctor Returns! From the beloved author who showed home bakers how adding a touch of sweet butter or a dusting of cocoa powder, a dollop of vanilla yogurt or flurry of grated lemon zest could transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Here are 160 brand-new recipes—that’s right, 160 amazing cake mix recipes—for luscious layer cakes, sheet cakes, brownies, bars, cookies, and more. And the book is needed more than ever. Today 90 percent of home cooks use prepackaged mixes, while the economy is creating a perfect excuse to let them eat cake—cake equals happiness. And what cakes! 40 layer cakes, from Tiramisu Cake to The Best Red Velvet Cake, Strawberry Refrigerator Cake to Chocolate Swirled Cannoli Cake. 35 sheet cakes. 38 bundt and pound cakes. 16 cupcakes and muffins, plus the cult classic Whoopie Pie. And brownies, bars, and cookies, including Spice Drop Cookies, Angel Food Macaroons, and Chocolate Espresso Biscotti. There's even a wedding cake, a frequent request from the author's passionate online community. The Cake Mix Doctor is back—just say ahhhhh!

The cake mix doctor...doctors cake mixes to create more than 200 luscious desserts with from-scratch taste.