Love, Bake, Nourish: Healthier cakes and desserts full of fruit and flavor

by Amber Rose, Ali Allen (Photographs)

In an ocean of baking books this book is something new. It is an aspirational, yet very achievable, collectionof recipes to guide you through baking in a more nourishing way. Food stylist Amber Rose found a lot of the baking recipes out theretend to have the same flavor combinations used over and over again with refined white flour and whitesugar as a staple.The heroes of her recipes are the seasonal fruits andancient flours (spelt, rye, buckwheat and nut flours) used as an alternative to so much refined sugar andgluten, to bring more depth of flavor and texture and to create a healthier baked good. Thisis a book that covers all occasions, all seasons and all moods, bringing heritage ingredients into themodern kitchen. Using readily available fruit, honey, nuts and flowers to give a more natural kind of baked good, some of the recipes are sugar- and wheat-free and in some instances even dairy-free. Other recipes call forsugar and flour but it's always in a way that brings to the life the ingredients being used.Learning to cook and bake with the seasons helps to support our natural rhythmsand brings endless delight to the taste buds as well as helping us to be a little more thrifty, which is animportant part of feeding ourselves and our families.Enjoy baking a Spiced Carrot Cake with a crumbly topping; make Berry Good Fairy Cakes for the kids, create a Coconut & Passionfruit Tart for a dinner party, or try the healthy Zesty Oat Cookies with an orange zest pastry. Baking is always indulgent and comforting but, with Amber, it can be nourishing too."

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Amber Rose grew up in New Zealand, surrounded by heritage fruit and vegetables. She has travelled the world, cooking in cafes and restaurants. She was a private chef before becoming a doula and cook to new mothers. She is also a food stylist, based in London.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baking cakes with healthier (or at least, less unhealthy) ingredients is a great idea, and the author provides many recipes using alternative flours, nuts, fruits, and non-refined-sugar sweeteners. The photography is lovely and this book would make a very nice gift to someone who bakes. I made the hazelnut cake on p. 22 and it turned out surprisingly well--a little dry, but I probably put too much nut flour in it.

The only thing I didn't like was the author's vague, unscientific, and unproven nutritional advice sprinkled throughout the book: heritage apples contain 8x the nutrition of conventionally grown apples (they don't), coconut oil "balances the metabolism" (what does that mean??), etc. The worst is when she promotes raw milk, which is now pasteurized precisely because it sickened so many people in the late 1800s (contaminated with Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter). A similar but more fact-based book on the very same topic is "Nourish Cakes" by Marianne Stewart, written cooperatively with a qualified dietician.

Also, beware the cake recipe on page 51--other than 4 TB of nut flour, it contains all liquids. An ingredient was somehow omitted from the list.

[Emma Codd · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no doubt in my mind that Love, Bake, Nourish, by New Zealand's Amber Rose, is one of the most beautifully presented cookbooks currently on the market. Better yet, the author's fresh twist on baked goods means not only can you bake your cake, but you can eat it too. Relying on fresh seasonal produce, these recipes will satisfy your sweet tooth without over-indulging your waist-line, and with its elegant design, and air of nostalgia, it is sure to satisfy all of the senses.

Growing up in rural New Zealand, and daughter to Kay Baxter, the legendary pioneer for organic and sustainable agriculture, Rose knows a thing or two about living off the land and cooking with nature's delicious bounty. Since relocating to London, she has worked as personal chef, food stylist and baker to some of the cities biggest celebrities, so healthier cooking options have been an important focus for her. When seeing the picture of good health that is Amber Rose, it is not difficult to believe that Love, Bake, Nourish is a recipe book devoted to "healthier cakes, bakes and desserts."

Much to any baker's surprise, two ingredients you won't find in these recipes are white sugar or white flour. Instead, more natural and unrefined ingredients are included, from honey and nectars, to ancient grains like spelt and buckwheat. Throw in a delectable mix of fresh or dried fruits, nuts, and vegetables, and you'll be delighting in the wholesome flavours in no time. Including recipes for seasonal cakes, puddings, tarts, meringues, small bakes, creams, custards, and even herbal teas, there is something in here for everyone, and for every occasion.

These recipes are very accessible, combining a variety of simpler recipes with those that require a little more practice. As you experiment with these new plants, grains and sugars, you'll soon notice that the cakes and bakes in Love, Bake, Nourish do not rise and "fluff up" like those we have been used to. Most are more like a tart in appearance. For many of us less expert bakers, this instantly eases the pressure. You'll also discover that after a day or two the flavours become more enhanced, so there is no rush to get them eaten - and you can enjoy them for days.

With so many delectable cookbooks on the market, one can be hard-pressed to find one that offers both unique recipes and stand-out presentation. Love, Bake, Nourish, is that book! So, tune into your intuition, feel your way through these recipes, and enjoy your creations with a cup of herbal tea, while poring over the exquisite images and deciding "what next?"

[HyggeBok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Rose inspired me a lot with this book.

It's not only a baking book with lovely recipes, but a lot more.
I like that it is not only about how to bake some delicious pastries, but also about where to get the healthiest and most delicious ingredients.

With all the little information boxes about the basic ingredients Amber Rose manges to teach the reader a lot about eating and baking more conciously - but still focuses on the most important thing: the joy of baking and eating

I tried already some of the recipes and was happy about the results.
What I also really liked were the photos of the pastries, which are as lovely arranged as the whole book is written.

[Mari McR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos accompany the recipes, and the author includes a charming section on exotic teas that go well with the pastries. Doesn't Elderflower & Lemon Tea, or Lavender & Pineapple Sage Tea sound delightfully appealing?

[Stitchette Popotin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonder to cook marvellous desserts and sweets :)

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up cheap in charity. It's lovely to browse. Haven't baked yet as it's too warm but the tea and cordial ideas are lovely

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recipes with a lot of fruit and honey. Lots of summer cakes

Easy for the kids to use

[Shannon (Winchella) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This baking book is full of lovely cakes.