Rating: 
Summary: A Cookbook to treasure!
Review: Beware of the calories you can end up creating in some of the the most delicious cakes I have ever made, and I am already an experienced baker....
This book is so good, the cakes are beautiful-- the recipes are well written, obviously tested, and just superb. The problem is that because they are good and easy cakes to bake-- some of us who may be better served with less sugar may throw that advice out in favor of say, the Fresh Fruit Pound Cake?
And as a plus, you can play with the recipes-- add your own personal touches or flavors and not ruin, but rather enhance these cakes.
Rating:
Summary: great book, easy to follow
Review: Coveres: ingredients, equipments, procedures, pound cakes, buter cakes, nut cakes, cheesecakes, chiffon cakes, sponge cakes, fancy cakes, and low-fat cakes.Overall, this is a wonderful book. There are pages and pages of terrific explanations of ingredients and equipment and things to look out for. The explanations are all very clear. This is a great book for the beginnning cake baker. Even if you're intermediate, you can learn a lot from this book. I feel this is at a slightly lower level than "the cake bible". Many of the cakes are really easy and fast, and I don't think that, in general, the decorating taught here is that fancy. On the other hand, I really like the parts on "what can go wrong" which are comprehensive for each type of cake. So it's a different type of book. There is a much bigger cheesecake section here than in the "cake bible" and low-fat cakes that aren't included there. Like "the cake bible" there aren't that many pictures - if you're looking for a coffee table book go elsewhere. This book deserved its James Beard award.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Thank Carole More!
Review: Growing up in Asia, I never had the experience of watching my Mom bake. I never saw a family that had an oven in the kitchen. I didn't expect too much when I bought this book to begin my baking expedition. I read the introductory instructions to begin with. From there, I sailed on a pleasant trip to the world of cake baking. Ninety percent of the times, the results are good; and I have to blame the other ten percent on my lack of following the instruction to letters.
I'd like to thank Carole for opening up the world of baking to me. This is the best and mostly used book I have.
Rating:
Summary: Can it get any better?
Review: I love this book! I recently purchased this great book to improve my knowledge of cakes. Was I in for a terrific surpriseor what? This is the Best Cake book ever. First, Carole Walter gives us excellent and specific instructions on Ingredients, Equipment, Procedures and Techniques. She goes into precise but interesting detail on these subjects. The benefits of scales, sifters, cake pans and electric appliances are just to name a few. We learn how to melt chocolate, plump raisins and currants, and how to grate fresh citrus rinds, and much more. Honestly there were things I did not know about, and I was thankful that they were included. We are then taken into her vast world of Cakes. I never knew this many cakes existed. There are over a dozen different kinds of Pound Cakes. Tons of recipes for Plain Butter Cakes (my favorite). She also includes many recipes for Cakes w/Crunch, Cakes from the Garden (types of fruit cakes), 5 different Upside Down Cakes, Sponge Cakes, Chiffon Cakes, Cheese Cakes and the fanciest of all European Tortes and Gateaux. (You must try the Chocolate Genoise, it is to die for). Of course that is not all. She then gives us fillings, 16 different frostings, sauces, glazes, toppings and whipped creams. And if that is not enough, she even has cakes with reduced fat, and reduced cholesterol and the same for the frosting, sauces and syrups. This book has it all. This is a cake lovers dream. Ask my family. I have made approx. 20 different cakes, and each one has received a standing ovation. Ms. Walters recipes are simplistic and easy to follow. So kiss those cake mixes goodbye, and become a the Cake Master today!
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Book
Review: If you only buy one book on cakes, make it this one. Read the author's invaluable instructions on technique, ingredients, equipment etc. before you begin baking. No matter what level of baker you are you will learn something new. One caveat: while this is not a "fussy" book, it certainly is not for "cake doctors"--be methodical and follow the recipes to a "T"--you will be thrilled with the results!
Rating:
Summary: "Great Cakes" is a James Beard Award winner.
Review: Kudos to Carole Walter. "Great Cakes" is a desserting and deserving winner of the James Beard Award. "Great Cakes" is much more user friendly than "The Cake Bible" and stands on its own among The Best of the Best
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: My favorite part is the first 80 pages. I've been cooking all my life, but this book taught me techniques like folding that have made all the difference. The instructions are extreemely detailed, so there's very little room for failure. I only wish there were more pictures, but the book's huge as it is.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: So far I've made the Browned Butter Cake and the Chocolate Sour Cream Cake, and they both came out great. I was about to give up on baking, until making these recipes. Her detailed instructions for every recipe, guarantees goodness.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed instructions and great results!
Review: So far I've made the Browned Butter Cake and the Chocolate Sour Cream Cake, and they both came out great. I was about to give up on baking, until making these recipes. Her detailed instructions for every recipe, guarantees goodness.
Rating: 
Summary: Good recipes, badly constructed book
Review: The publishers of this book must have used inferior materials to construct this book. The color photos eventually fall out. I wouldn't have said anything except that I experienced the same thing with Carole Walter's "Pies & Tarts" cookbook. I even bought a 2nd copy of Pies & Tarts because of this, and the color photos fell out of that one too. Just today I was researching cake recipes from Great Cakes, and the color photos fell out--I've had it!
|
