Death by Chocolate Cakes: An Astonishing Array of Chocolate Enchantments

by Marcel Desaulniers, Brett Bailey, Kelly Bailey

For the chocolate lover, there is nothing like biting into a rich, dark slice of chocolate cake. More than a mouthful of something wonderful, it's a chocolate celebration. And nobody knows how to celebrate chocolate cakes better than the "guru of ganache," chef Marcel Desaulniers. In Death by Chocolate Cakes, Marcel serves up some of his most inventive, most sinful, most seductive chocolate creations ever. His Chocolate Heart of Darkness cakes are the ultimate cupcakes. The secret--a melted chocolate truffle center. For an unforgettable birthday cake, serve the one he created for Julia a ganache-covered chocolate almond cake with red raspberry mousse. Have the desire for something that towers over ordinary chocolate desserts? Look up Excessively Expressive Espresso Ecstasy or Chocolate Strawberry Teardrop Cake. These are exactly the things when "over the top" is what you want. And for an elegant taste of Paris, try Marcel's Chocolate Pistachio Madeleines. When you just can't wait for that chocolate fix, Marcel has plenty of quick-and-easy recipes, some of which come from Marcel's mom's circle of chocolate-lover friends. Pour yourself a cold glass of milk and dig into Margie's Golden Raisin Heavy Fudge Cake, Virginia's Cocoa Pound Cake with Warm Buttered Brandy Berries, or Mimi Montano's Chocolate Zucchini Cake. As a bonus, there is a collection of ice creams, sauces, beverages, and other delectables that are the perfect partners to Marcel's creations and an informative section on equipment, ingredients, and techniques. Death by Chocolate Cakes truly takes the cake and then takes it to where it's never been before.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Reference, Food

228 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a fun read. These recipes are decadent, over the top and incredibly labor intensive. I enjoyed reading it without doing the work or clean up. I don't think I'd attempt a complete cake, but there were bits and pieces I'd like to try, like the white chocolate glaze (a white choco ganache? sounds great!), the chocolate raspberry mousse (used as topping rather than filling), and the almond cake minus the chocolate gratings. Really enjoyed the Chef Touch at the end of each recipe which included background stories or recipe tips. I gave this book only 3 stars because I'm not a professional pastry chef with time, tools, and washboy at my disposal.

[Melissa Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

With mouth watering illustrations, and recipes just as amazing - I found several I can't wait to try. These are great for bakers who are obsessed with chocolate, and want to bake outside of the box. Just add a little patience to each recipe, and you will be a legend to anyone who tastes these wonderful creations.

[Kathy Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new hobby. I'm determined to make EVERY recipe in this book. I love chocolate cake and don't mind taking food out to the neighbor teenage boys.

[Ghira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains the BEST chocholate cake recipie I've ever tasted.