favourite cake books?

[LukesBride]

I'm kind of obsessed with cake.

I want to know, what are your favourite books about cake?

Recipe books, cake design books, books that just have great pictures or unique ideas.... what is YOUR favourite cake book?

[roxlet]

RLB's books for sure, but I also have a little paperback that I love called "Southern Cakes." It has multiple recipes for coconut cake as well as strawberry cake. It's a little gem.

[souschef]

Strictly speaking it's not a cake book, but I like "Dessert Circus" by Jacques Torres. Nice pictures, but I have yet to make something from it.

[chowser]

Nice techniques, fun read, recipes look great, I love Jacques Torres...and I've yet to make something from it, either.:-)

[Chocolatechipkt]

In addition to RLB and Alice Medrich, Marcel Desaulnier's Death by Chocolate (and Death by Chocolate Cake) is fabulous. Even if you don't make the cakes as is--and most are involved--the recipes and ideas individually are great, as are just the pictures to drool on.

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Chocolate-Last-Consuming-Passion/dp/0847825574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274230378&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Chocolate...

[souschef]

One book I have never seen mentioned on CH is "The Chocolate Bible" by Christian Teubner. I have made a few things from it, and quite like it.

[LukesBride]

I bought this one for a chocolate loving friend for her birthday...i wonder if it would be rude to ask to borrow it! lol.

[alexthepink]

I really like Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman and Peter Wynne. The chocolate gingerbread cake with bittersweet chocolate frosting always goes down a storm and the other cakes I've tried have also been very successful (despite me converting to UK measures). They're not simple cakes, but great for special occasions.

I also really like Claire Clark's dessert book, Indulge. Not a cake book per se, but great for the more advanced baker with a sweet tooth!

[chowser]

I think Sky High is a great book for someone who just wants to follow recipes. It doesn't get into the geeky details but has mouthwatering recipes, as is.

[JoanN]

James Beard said of Paula Peck’s “The Art of Fine Baking,” “In my opinion, this book is as complete a treatise on the art of baking as you will find in the English language.”

Okay. That was written nearly 50 years ago. But I think there are many who would agree that it still holds true. The book is about more than just cakes and it has no photos. But this was the book that not only taught me how to bake, but taught me that once you understand the components, you can make any cake you want: This base, that filling, another frosting or glaze, some other garnish and voila—your own creation. It was freedom incarnate. Over the years I’d gone through two paperback copies of the book and was just thrilled a few years back to find an almost new hardbound at a library sale.

You can find used copies on Amazon.com for a buck. How can you go wrong?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...

[chowser]

If you love the geeky details, I agree w/ RLB's Cake Bible. If you want nice recipes w/ great pictures, Heavenly Cakes. Although not a cake book, I also like Shirley Corriher's Bakewise.

[souschef]

I guess I'm a true geek - my copy of The Cake Bible has been used so much (more than any other book I have) that it is falling apart. Anyone know where I can get the binding redone ?

[chowser]

Every time I read it, I learn something new. Maybe that speaks more to my memory these days... Good luck getting it rebound. My copy is headed that way.

[Indirect Heat]

Heh, I have cake batter splattered on the pages. It's been heavily used.

[Kelli2006]

I like RLB's cake bible and Shirley's tome, but I also like Bo Fribergs and Wayne Gisslen's baking texts.

[souschef]

Aye to the RLB books.

Alice Medrich's books as well....Cocolat, Bittersweet, etc

"Finest Desserts" by Michel Roux.

"Chocolate Desserts" by Pierre Herme

[jeniyo]

i third the RLB books.

I've made several cakes from Flo Braker and they are very good also.
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Art-Perf...

[housewolf]

I'll second Indirect Heat's picks - RLB's "Cake Bible" and "Heavenly Cakes".

BTW, if you get your hands on a copy of "Heavenly Cakes", be sure to try Rose's "Whipping Cream Cake" with some really good whipping cream - it's out of this world!

Many libraries have these books if you want to check them out before buying.

[Indirect Heat]

The Cake Bible and Rose's Heavenly Cakes by Rose Levy Beranbaum are both excellent.