Bon Appetit Desserts

by Barbara Fairchild

“A collection of Bon Appetit's most treasured dessert recipes, thoroughly tested . . . beautifully illustrated, and, of course, wonderfully delicious.” (Dorie Greenspan, James Beard award winning chef and author of  From My Home to Yours) For more than fifty years, Bon Appetit magazine has been seducing readers with to-die-for desserts. From quick homestyle cookies to unforgettable special-occasion finales such as spiced chocolate torte wrapped in chocolate ribbons, Bon Appetit showcases meticulously tested recipes that turn out perfectly—every time. Now, culled from Bon Appetit's extensive archives and including never-before-published recipes, Bon Appetit Desserts promises to be the comprehensive guide to all things sweet and wonderful. Authored by Bon Appetit editor-in-chief Barbara Fairchild, Bon Appetit Desserts features more than 600 recipes—from layer cakes to coffee cakes, tortes and cupcakes to pies, tarts, candies, puddings, souffles, ice cream, cookies, holiday desserts, and much, much more. Certain to inspire both experienced home cooks and those just starting out in the kitchen, each recipe is designed to ensure the dessert preparation process is as enjoyable as the finished result.“Beautiful . . . If you were stranded on a desert island with one dessert book . . . .” –Publishers Weekly“Bon Appetit Desserts is filled with exactly the kind of sweets I like to inviting, unpretentious, and easy to love, but also innovative enough to turn a few heads . . . .With chapters on ingredients, equipment, and techniques, plus a slew of tips from the Bon Appetit test kitchens, it's also a mini-education.” —Molly Wizenberg, James Beard award-winning author of A Homemade Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table“This is a must-have for every baker, cook, and sweet freak in your life.” —Elizabeth Falkner, chef and owner of Citizen Cake and Orson

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Canon, Reference

1567 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2010

About the author

Barbara Fairchild is a food journalist who was the editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit from 2000 until 2011.

Reviews

[Manik Sukoco · Rating 5 out of 5]

How fun to have a very large (689 pages) and beautiful cookbook devoted entirely to desserts by one of the premier food magazines, Bon Appetit. There are over 600 recipes in this book, most reprinted from the magazine archives but also some new ones. The photos are gorgeous and inspire me to want to head to the kitchen to create something wonderful.
This is one of those cookbooks that anyone can use no matter what level of cooking experience because the recipes are well-written with plenty of explanation and diagrams. Also included are chapters on what kinds of foods to keep on hand in the pantry, equipment basics, and techniques explained.
Every kind of dessert is covered: cakes and cupcakes; pies, tarts, and pastries; custards and puddings, fruit desserts, frozen desserts, cookies, bars and brownies, candy, and even a chapter devoted to cheesecake. I like that most of the recipes use regular ingredients that are easily found in any grocery store. The traditional recipes for things like classic chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, and chocolate cake can be found alongside unique offerings such as Mai Tai Sorbet, Cherry Creme Brulee, Hazelnut Macaroon and Strawberry Tart, Hazelnut Praline Cheesecake, and Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes.
If you are a dessert lover, then this book is a must have.

[Ineabelle Denise Benítez Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous recipes that will impress any crowd.

Instructions are very clear and very detailed. The only recipe book that you'll ever need. I recommend it to anybody that loves baking.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I've made from this book has been wonderful. Don't be put off by recipes that sound complicated or snooty from the title. The directions are easy to follow and the results are delicious. The only thing that would make this book better is more pictures of the finished product (there are pictures for only about 1/3 or fewer recipes in the book). There are many recipes/variations, so it wouldn't be feasible for all to have a picture (the book is already quite hefty), but I sometimes find myself unsure of what the finished product will look like when examining a recipe and deeming appropriateness for the occasion I'm making it for. This can usually be overcome by descriptors in the editor's notes, however.

[Annie Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon Appetit Desserts is a huge hardcover book with over 600 recipes for all types of Desserts you can think of. Great investment for those that love to bake!

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delectable collection of recipes for any fan of desserts. Though it lacks imagery in relation to content, this cookbook is incredibly thorough—with over 600 recipes!—and could easily become the only kitchen resource one might need to successfully create any sweet treat desired. Baking can be finicky, often demanding some trial and error, but Bon Appetit thoughtfully included all of their expert technique tips and notes, even highlighting the steps that can be made in advance. Not just the how—but the why. And in a way that an even novice can digest and retain, so that you can feel like a pro on the first try. Chef's kiss!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Whole Lot Of Recipes!

This book has so many recipes that it makes your head spin! It's definitely a book to keep handy because you'll be using it for a long time. With that being said, I do have some complaints. One is that that the recipes are squeezed together like one run-on. Another is that for Bon Appetit I expected to see pictures, a lot of them. Sorry your in for a BIG disappointment! Very few.

[Kristi Lindzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially bought this because a friend told me it had a really good homemade ice cream section. It does! Plus, puddings, cookies, cheesecake... my sweet tooth is in heaven! Only disappointment is how few pictures of the finished products that it has...

[Ryan Juno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not enough pics for me, and not really my cup of tea overall

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at just how hefty this book was. Some nice recipes, but it could definitely use a lot more pictures.

[Natasha A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Please go to my blog to see the whole review - this does not contain my attempts at some of the recipes***

Who do I recommend to?
ANYONE who loves to bake and make delicious sweet treats!
OR anyone who wants to learn how to!

Why did I read it?
It's a dessert cookbook. Need I say more?


My Rambles:

Wow!! There is so much in this book, and at over 700 pages I mean soo much! I've gone through the book cover to cover and I drooled over all the possibilities. I even got to make a couple of the recipes this weekend (I'll get to those in a minute). I really am impressed with this book. It has so much, and I can see the ability to mix and match some of the recipes. There is everything in here - cakes, cheesecakes, pies, tarts, pastries, custards, puddings, fruit desserts, frozen desserts, cookies, bar cookies, brownies, and candy. There is a great section on equipment and another on techniques. I could see this book being used in a baking class. It has some great tips and techniques in it. All of the recipes are coded for ease of completion.

* I whisk - Very easy to make, with no special techniques required. Perfect for the novice.
* II whisks - A little more challenging. For the beginner with confidence.
* III whisks - Sophisticated, requiring more mastery of techniques, such as carmelizing sugar. For the experienced cook.
* IV whisks - A showstopping dessert with many steps and components. For the expert baker.

If I had to say something negative?

1. There are not enough pictures. I LOVE pictures in cookbooks. I love seeing what it's supposed to look like. It helps me when I bake. It allows me to know if I am on the write track or not.
2. The book is huge. Have I mentioned the over 700 pages??? It makes it difficult for the book to stay open on the recipe if it is at the front or back.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bon Apetit Desserts is a big, huge, beautiful book packed with recipes for every type of dessert you could ever want to make. More than 600 recipes are included, most from the archives of the magazines, but a few new ones as well. With that many recipes all in one place you will find every kind of cake, pie, pudding, tart, cookie, candy and cheesecake. Here are a few of the ones I tried out:

Chocolate -Peanut Butter Cake with Cream Cheese and Butterfinger Frosting
Wow! This is an over-the-top indulgent, special occasion cake. I made the cake 1 day ahead, then filled and frosted it the next day. It was everything I wanted, rich, pretty, and absolutely delicious.

Cranberry-Lime Tart

This pretty tart is the perfect ending to a Thanksgiving dinner. The cranberry and lime give it a nice, light flavor and the white chocolate cream sweetens it up a bit. It does require some planning ahead, so be sure to read the recipe carefully.

Lime Snowball Cookies

These are one of my all-time favorite cookies. They look just like regular snowball cookies, so the hit of lime comes as a surprise. You can make them with any kind of citrus. They always end up on my cookie trays because they are so unique and easy to make.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumble Squares

These were another big Thanksgiving dinner hit. They are four layers but really pretty quick and easy to put together. I loved everything about these bars, the crispy pecan crust, the sweet pumpkin filling, and the tangy topping. I will make these over and over!

I love this cookbook! Unlike many compilations that have mostly standard recipes with a few interesting ones thrown in, this book is packed with creative, unusual desserts and lots of beautiful photos. I have some many marked to try - Fig and Rum Squares, Chocolate Stout Cake, Pear-Cardamom Pie with Almond Crust, and Mexican Chocolate Cherry Rounds.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home...

EXPRESS REVIEWS – Dec. 9, 2010

Fairchild, Barbara (text) & Con Poulos (photogs.). Bon Appétit Desserts: The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful. Andrews McMeel. 2010. 689p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780740793523. $40. COOKING
Bon Appétit magazine has been a tried-and-true classic for over 50 years and still manages to stay relevant today. Fairchild, editor in chief since 2000, has gathered over 600 recipes from the magazine's archives into one gargantuan volume. Fans of the magazine as well as all levels of bakers are going to love the variety and depth of coverage. Recipes from the traditional (cakes, pies, and cookies) to the original (ice creams, flans, and soufflés) insure that there's something here for everyone. Especially useful are the extras like how to stock your pantry, techniques, conversion charts and equivalents, and two indexes: the traditional alphabetical index and one organized by difficulty rating.
Verdict This all-inclusive volume is practical, pretty to look at, and well constructed with thick, durable paper that should be suitable for a busy circulating collection.—Jane Hebert, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited when I saw this available for eBook download from my library. I browsed the recipes, while the instructions were quite clear and fairly easy to follow for any level of baker, the recipes themselves left a lot to be desired. The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful seems to be an odd smattering of desserts...none of which I have the desire to bake. I guess I was hoping for more modern, fun recipes with some classic favorites, but I didn't quite get that with this book. It did have some nice pictures, which I always like (of course it could always have more). It's a good book if these types of recipes are what you're looking for, just wasn't what I was hoping for.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Weeded" at the library, brought home for 2$ and really wondering if that was a WISE idea.

But oh god, some of the desserts in here not only look fabulous, but creative - baklava cheesecake? sign me up!


Edit - I sat for half an afternoon just pouring over this. I'm ashamed to say I might make 2 recipes out of the book (I have to make that cheesecake one of these days...and the chocolate pound cake looks tasty!)...but it doesn't make it any less eye-candy for the appetite!

[Yasmeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite varied and exhaustive. If you don't know what kind of dessert you'd like to make, this has it all (almost). Simple cakes, layered cakes, cookies, bars, cheesecakes, fruit desserts.. Etc. I've made a couple of recipes and they turned out great. I based my KILLER recipe for Millionaire's Shortbread on theirs. I think most of the recipes were previously published in their magazines, but I don't collect them anyway, plus this is more organized.

[Rada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to have if you love making desserts like I do. Surprisingly most of the recipes are accessible to make if your level of cooking skill is intermediate. But if not, there are plenty of "easy" recipes as well and a few difficult ones that provide a sense of accomplishment when mastered. I will be enjoying this book for a long time. Hopefully those lucky people who get to eat what I have made with feel lucky as well.

[Ronda Tutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Illustrated and Very Informative on the How To.

The recipes in the book are not only beautifully illustrated but the author is very informative in sections of the how to by giving techniques and equipment to use. A great addition to the cookbooks I already have. There were many great desserts that will have your mouth watering before they are even done.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific resource for all things dessert. The only reason that I did not rate this book a 5 is because I think there should be a picture of every recipe. Only about 1 in 10 recipes include a picture.

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't made anything from it yet, but my toddler niece and I like to flip through and pretend to eat the delicious desserts in the photos. Edit: I have made something in here! Although not from the cookbook itself, actually from the magazine. But whatever. The key lime cupcakes are delicious.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding cookbook. Has everything from quick, simple desserts to more elegant desserts for entertaining. All are presented in an easy to follow manner. Highly recommended for anyone who likes to try a variety of desserts!

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cookbook. [reviewed from e-galley.] A slew of sweet recipes accompanied by delectable photos, and tons of step-by-step instructions for mastering the trickier techniques.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

My culinary school friend, Kate, put me on to this deliciously awesome book...Thanks Kate!

[Alyssabenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made 2 things so far and both were Fabulous! Wish there were more pictures though, but I'm finding them online and pinteresting them.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many of the recipes sounded good but this is not a book for the beginning baker.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know this is amazing when you open it randomly and the first thing you see is a recipe for Pumpkin and Brown Sugar Créme Brûlée. I could live in this book!

[September Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually buy the magazine so I knew the book would be great as well. A big book full of delicious recipes.

[Bee☕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dessert bible!!

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures. Have yet to try a recipe I don't like.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure many of these are very tasty, but I'm not seeing anything so new and different to try.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. Great recipes. A bible of dessert recipes.