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Wie kommt die Bestsellerautorin Marian Keyes zum Backen? Während einer schweren persönlichen Krise entdeckt sie diese ganz neue, ungeahnte Leidenschaft, die ihr hilft, neuen Lebensmut zu finden. In diesem zauberhaften Backbuch präsentiert sie erstmals ihre Lieblingsrezepte: Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes, Pistazien-Biscotti oder Mams Apfeltarte - alle Rezepte sind auch für Anfänger leicht nachzubacken und machen garantiert glücklich.
Wie kommt die Bestsellerautorin Marian Keyes zum Backen? Während einer schweren persönlichen Krise entdeckt sie diese ganz neue, ungeahnte Leidenschaft, die ihr hilft, neuen Lebensmut zu finden. In diesem zauberhaften Backbuch präsentiert sie erstmals ihre Lieblingsrezepte: Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes, Pistazien-Biscotti oder Mams Apfeltarte - alle Rezepte sind auch für Anfänger leicht nachzubacken und machen garantiert glücklich.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
32 people are currently reading
2911 people want to read
About the author
Marian Keyes
88 books11.7k followersMarian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women's literature. She is an Irish Book Awards winner. Over 22 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 32 languages. She became known worldwide for Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, and This Charming Man, with themes including domestic violence and alcoholism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 13, 2023
OH YES!
I loved this and actually sat down and read it as a book, not only enjoying the pics and just flicking through, contemplating what I 'could' cook. A good majority of these I 'will' cook. I bought my tatty hardcover copy to and from work every day, reading it at lunch eating my daggy sandwich. It was a joy.
'Himself' cleans up and helps do the hard stuff (Husband), like hard to measure patterns, cutting to ensure evenness and generally the annoying stuff.
These recipes are amazing and doable, and funnily enough the chocolate chapter was my least favourite. Everyone assumes chocolate is the best.
The cookies I will tackle first begins like this - I have a tendency to overdo everything and these yummy cookies are packed tight with 'stuff'...I think we are of the same ilk.
Marian has made up a good portion of these recipes herself - some are gifted from friends and relatives, and in all she gives a good back story. The pictures aren't amazing, it looks like they are taken by her, a gal who loves to bake. I mean, they are great, but we aren't looking at Donna Hay's publications. This is a good thing, as it suits the vibe.
She gives a fantastic backstory of the reason she started to bake, and covers everything you will need to get started yourself. Pastry is not scary, and she even gives two methods to choose frome. We are hand held and reassured throughout, being told not to worry if we can't find certain things. And the thrill of home made biscotti! These things are accessible and look devine. Humorous and self deprecating, I was smiling a lot.
Unsurprisingly, this culinary book slash anecdotal laden musings slash peak into Marian Keyes life, is laden with honesty, candour, and wit. It also touches on a serious theme which is real and sadly very prevelant in today's society. This book is more than ten years old, but as relevant as the day it was written. I recommend it heartily.
People have gone terrible litigous.
..don't be alarmed if the pieces remind you of old toenail clippings - they will soften and change during the baking process.
PASTRY. Scares the life out of people. Almost as bad as meringues. But don't be afraid. I'll hold hour hand through this.
Whatever is going to happen is going to happen.. so even if the roof falls in, your pastry will be nice.
*Obviously my mother didn't use such stuff. Any Irish woman found adding flavouring to food in the 1960s could have been stripped of her citizenship.
I didn't feel good about this pecan nut apartheid..
I love her fiction, she's terribly honest, and this shines through here. A jolly, yummy and sweet 5 stars from me. I could become addicted. I told my daughter about it twice. In length. Admittedly she'd been overseas before and after, but she had to gently remind me to stop.
I loved this and actually sat down and read it as a book, not only enjoying the pics and just flicking through, contemplating what I 'could' cook. A good majority of these I 'will' cook. I bought my tatty hardcover copy to and from work every day, reading it at lunch eating my daggy sandwich. It was a joy.
'Himself' cleans up and helps do the hard stuff (Husband), like hard to measure patterns, cutting to ensure evenness and generally the annoying stuff.
These recipes are amazing and doable, and funnily enough the chocolate chapter was my least favourite. Everyone assumes chocolate is the best.
The cookies I will tackle first begins like this - I have a tendency to overdo everything and these yummy cookies are packed tight with 'stuff'...I think we are of the same ilk.
Marian has made up a good portion of these recipes herself - some are gifted from friends and relatives, and in all she gives a good back story. The pictures aren't amazing, it looks like they are taken by her, a gal who loves to bake. I mean, they are great, but we aren't looking at Donna Hay's publications. This is a good thing, as it suits the vibe.
She gives a fantastic backstory of the reason she started to bake, and covers everything you will need to get started yourself. Pastry is not scary, and she even gives two methods to choose frome. We are hand held and reassured throughout, being told not to worry if we can't find certain things. And the thrill of home made biscotti! These things are accessible and look devine. Humorous and self deprecating, I was smiling a lot.
Unsurprisingly, this culinary book slash anecdotal laden musings slash peak into Marian Keyes life, is laden with honesty, candour, and wit. It also touches on a serious theme which is real and sadly very prevelant in today's society. This book is more than ten years old, but as relevant as the day it was written. I recommend it heartily.
People have gone terrible litigous.
..don't be alarmed if the pieces remind you of old toenail clippings - they will soften and change during the baking process.
PASTRY. Scares the life out of people. Almost as bad as meringues. But don't be afraid. I'll hold hour hand through this.
Whatever is going to happen is going to happen.. so even if the roof falls in, your pastry will be nice.
*Obviously my mother didn't use such stuff. Any Irish woman found adding flavouring to food in the 1960s could have been stripped of her citizenship.
I didn't feel good about this pecan nut apartheid..
I love her fiction, she's terribly honest, and this shines through here. A jolly, yummy and sweet 5 stars from me. I could become addicted. I told my daughter about it twice. In length. Admittedly she'd been overseas before and after, but she had to gently remind me to stop.
March 31, 2012
I know I usually review fiction and this is a cookery book, but I have a weakness for cookery books – a passion, actually – with the emphasis being on delicious baked goods. When I’m stressed, I bake. And so I was intrigued to learn that the bestselling fiction author, Marian Keyes, actually used baking to haul herself out of a deep depression. And be honest. Who could possibly resist a pink-covered cookery book titled
Saved By Cake, over 80 ways to bake yourself happy.
When I buy cookery books, I like to have a bit more than recipes and pictures to go at. Memoirs, funny tales, explanatory notes – they all add to the experience and the pleasure aspect of simply being able to read a cookery book. Some of my favourite food writers are Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater for that very reason. You can imagine my delight when I found Saved By Cake to include all sorts of delightful insights into MK’s life.
Medically speaking, there’s no such thing as a nervous breakdown. Which is very annoying to discover when you’re right in the middle of one.
Most of the recipes are prefaced with a little bit extra, and some had me laughing aloud. Marian is talking cake, cake, cake to her long suffering husband:
Somehow the conversation strayed onto Millionaire’s Shortbread and how hard it would be to make. To my great surprise, he suddenly became very animated and stopped looking like a man considering setting himself on fire, sat up straight and said, “No, it’s really easy! I used to make it when I was a teenager.”
I can’t tell you! It was like discovering he was secretly Argentinian and had enjoyed a moderately successful career as a polo player in his twenties.
And in this extract, she’s explaining the lengthy ritual of baking the Christmas Cake:
My poor mother, the stress of it was terrible for her. The whole deal was TCMNF (The Cake Must Not Flop). And apparently anything – anything – could make the cake flop. Any loud noise. Any sudden movement. Any bad news. My memory is that we spent hours and hours and hours tiptoeing around a darkened house, conversing in whispers, the tv and radio silenced. Under no circumstances must a shoe fall on the floor or a person burst into song (highly unlikely, given the tension). And if anyone opened the oven door, there was no telling, simply no telling, what awful consequences would ensue.
Then there was the year it didn’t happen:
One year she was just so overwhelmed by the responsibility of Making the Christmas Cake that she gave up entirely and my brothers Niall and Tadhg came home from school to find her lying limp in an armchair, the cake half mixed and they – entirely clueless – had to take over. She says all she can remember from that terrible day is overhearing Tadhg saying, “feck in another egg.” Then a while later Niall saying, “feck in more flour.” She has no memory of how the cake eventually turned out.
So there you go. Heavenly looking cakes, desserts and biscuits, all with beautiful, almost edible, photographs – including yummy little cookies shaped like shoes and dresses. I want some! NOW!!!
On that note, I’m finishing my review so that I can go and investigate my larder. I must have the basics in there, enough to whip up a tray of cupcakes… Now where did I put those paper cake cases?
5 glorious, sweet and delicious stars out of 5.
When I buy cookery books, I like to have a bit more than recipes and pictures to go at. Memoirs, funny tales, explanatory notes – they all add to the experience and the pleasure aspect of simply being able to read a cookery book. Some of my favourite food writers are Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater for that very reason. You can imagine my delight when I found Saved By Cake to include all sorts of delightful insights into MK’s life.
Medically speaking, there’s no such thing as a nervous breakdown. Which is very annoying to discover when you’re right in the middle of one.
Most of the recipes are prefaced with a little bit extra, and some had me laughing aloud. Marian is talking cake, cake, cake to her long suffering husband:
Somehow the conversation strayed onto Millionaire’s Shortbread and how hard it would be to make. To my great surprise, he suddenly became very animated and stopped looking like a man considering setting himself on fire, sat up straight and said, “No, it’s really easy! I used to make it when I was a teenager.”
I can’t tell you! It was like discovering he was secretly Argentinian and had enjoyed a moderately successful career as a polo player in his twenties.
And in this extract, she’s explaining the lengthy ritual of baking the Christmas Cake:
My poor mother, the stress of it was terrible for her. The whole deal was TCMNF (The Cake Must Not Flop). And apparently anything – anything – could make the cake flop. Any loud noise. Any sudden movement. Any bad news. My memory is that we spent hours and hours and hours tiptoeing around a darkened house, conversing in whispers, the tv and radio silenced. Under no circumstances must a shoe fall on the floor or a person burst into song (highly unlikely, given the tension). And if anyone opened the oven door, there was no telling, simply no telling, what awful consequences would ensue.
Then there was the year it didn’t happen:
One year she was just so overwhelmed by the responsibility of Making the Christmas Cake that she gave up entirely and my brothers Niall and Tadhg came home from school to find her lying limp in an armchair, the cake half mixed and they – entirely clueless – had to take over. She says all she can remember from that terrible day is overhearing Tadhg saying, “feck in another egg.” Then a while later Niall saying, “feck in more flour.” She has no memory of how the cake eventually turned out.
So there you go. Heavenly looking cakes, desserts and biscuits, all with beautiful, almost edible, photographs – including yummy little cookies shaped like shoes and dresses. I want some! NOW!!!
On that note, I’m finishing my review so that I can go and investigate my larder. I must have the basics in there, enough to whip up a tray of cupcakes… Now where did I put those paper cake cases?
5 glorious, sweet and delicious stars out of 5.
June 12, 2013
This is some of the most entertaining food porn I've ever read, which considering it was written by someone struggling with severe depression is quite an achievement. (Incidentally, I don't eat sweets, so this really is food porn for me.) Keyes took to baking as a way to get her mind off the Unbearable Meaninglessness of It All, so although some of these recipes get quite gourmet and complicated, she's coming at it from the ordinary person perspective, and explains all the little fiddly bits so that you know what to expect. And she's just fun to read.
"1 vanilla pod. *
*Or if that's a bit too exotic and scary, a teaspoon of vanilla extract. But preferably not imitation vanilla, which is just a load of chemicals. Unless you're really stuck, and then work away. God knows, what harm can it do? I mean, they used to give babies gripe water, which is basically alchohol, and the human race has survived thus far."
Keyes gives you a great sense of what each recipe is like. For example, her Orange and Fennel Tuiles are described as melt-in-the-mouth, sort of like orange-and-fennel-flavored-air. The recipe ends: "Serve to people who don't really believe in eating." At the other extreme is the "Black Hole" Chocolate Cheesecake: "so called because it's so dense it seems to collapse under the weight of its own fabulousness. Eating a slice of this is like being punched in the stomach with a chocolate-flavored fist."
Each recipe includes a color photograph and most fit on one page. (A few scarier ones go over.) The edition I read uses standard U.S. measurements, but some of the ingredients are a little less common here. Substitutions are often given though (molasses for treacle) and probably everything can be ordered on the Internet. I'm kind of thinking of ordering some edible blue glitter to try the Blueberry Mess -- "I say optional, but to me it's vital."
"1 vanilla pod. *
*Or if that's a bit too exotic and scary, a teaspoon of vanilla extract. But preferably not imitation vanilla, which is just a load of chemicals. Unless you're really stuck, and then work away. God knows, what harm can it do? I mean, they used to give babies gripe water, which is basically alchohol, and the human race has survived thus far."
Keyes gives you a great sense of what each recipe is like. For example, her Orange and Fennel Tuiles are described as melt-in-the-mouth, sort of like orange-and-fennel-flavored-air. The recipe ends: "Serve to people who don't really believe in eating." At the other extreme is the "Black Hole" Chocolate Cheesecake: "so called because it's so dense it seems to collapse under the weight of its own fabulousness. Eating a slice of this is like being punched in the stomach with a chocolate-flavored fist."
Each recipe includes a color photograph and most fit on one page. (A few scarier ones go over.) The edition I read uses standard U.S. measurements, but some of the ingredients are a little less common here. Substitutions are often given though (molasses for treacle) and probably everything can be ordered on the Internet. I'm kind of thinking of ordering some edible blue glitter to try the Blueberry Mess -- "I say optional, but to me it's vital."
May 20, 2012
I adored this cookbook. Yes, it's a cookbook and I read it in one sitting as if it were a novel!
Cookbooks are strange little beasts - you usually buy one for a specific reason ~ you need a new idea for how to cook chicken for instance, but you're not normally buying it to read from cover to cover, and honestly, when I checked this book out of the library, I had no clue it was a cookbook. I had just put the authors name into the search engine (she's one of my favourites) as I wanted to see if she perhaps had a book that I missed, and lo and behold, this popped up!
But this is more than a cookbook. This is a journey through the depression that Marian has faced for the majority of her life. She is unapologetic about her journey and the reasons that have brought her to write this book ... and that makes me love it, and her all the more.
Every recipe comes with more than just the recipe - there are points of adivice, little jewels to tickle your fancy.
As someone who has also suffered from depression for the majority of her life, I love the honesty with which Marian approaches this book.
Now that I have read the libraries version - I will certainly be visiting my local bookstore to get my own copy.
Cookbooks are strange little beasts - you usually buy one for a specific reason ~ you need a new idea for how to cook chicken for instance, but you're not normally buying it to read from cover to cover, and honestly, when I checked this book out of the library, I had no clue it was a cookbook. I had just put the authors name into the search engine (she's one of my favourites) as I wanted to see if she perhaps had a book that I missed, and lo and behold, this popped up!
But this is more than a cookbook. This is a journey through the depression that Marian has faced for the majority of her life. She is unapologetic about her journey and the reasons that have brought her to write this book ... and that makes me love it, and her all the more.
Every recipe comes with more than just the recipe - there are points of adivice, little jewels to tickle your fancy.
As someone who has also suffered from depression for the majority of her life, I love the honesty with which Marian approaches this book.
Now that I have read the libraries version - I will certainly be visiting my local bookstore to get my own copy.
May 26, 2012
This is not a novel. It's a cookbook which (unsurprisingly, given the title) is full of recipes for cake. Marian Keyes has a great 'voice' as a writer and that is evident in this work. The recipes were all stuff that home cooks of various skill levels could make, which is great because although aspirational cook books are nice to look at sometimes I resent all the shelf space that is taken up by beautifully photographed, gorgeously presented, probably wonderful-tasting food that I will never ever make due to a) the cost of ingredients b) the requirement for specialist equipment c) an excessive number of steps and d) basic unwillingness to become a food wanker.
This is a good cook book with lots of yummy-looking recipes that range from simple to complicated, but none of them too complicated.
This is a good cook book with lots of yummy-looking recipes that range from simple to complicated, but none of them too complicated.
August 26, 2012
Sweet, simple - and nothing new. It's a shame: I think if Marian's voice had come through more, or this had been a blend between anecdotal stories, short fictions and the actual recipes, it would have been a far better book. As it was I found myself skimming through the bland writing, although the pictures of the finished products were definitely inspiring - I may even make a few of them, which is saying something! (I am a terrible baker.)
All in all, not a bad book as such, just unoriginal and not equal to the sum of its parts.
All in all, not a bad book as such, just unoriginal and not equal to the sum of its parts.
June 30, 2012
Beautifully designed book, gorgeous photographs- but unfortunately the recipes just don't work very well. I tried three out; and only one turned out edible- and I'm a very experienced baker.
The cupcakes were thick and gluggy, the caramel frosting could have broken my teeth, the cakes don't rise well and the upside down cake is just uninspired.
And while some of the flavor combinations, like the white chocolate and wasabi, sound fun and creative, the recipes were poorly balanced and you just ended up with a mish-mash of overpowering, sickly sweet flavors.
I think Ms Keyes should stick to fiction, but whoever did the photography deserves a high five.
The cupcakes were thick and gluggy, the caramel frosting could have broken my teeth, the cakes don't rise well and the upside down cake is just uninspired.
And while some of the flavor combinations, like the white chocolate and wasabi, sound fun and creative, the recipes were poorly balanced and you just ended up with a mish-mash of overpowering, sickly sweet flavors.
I think Ms Keyes should stick to fiction, but whoever did the photography deserves a high five.
June 28, 2013
If you love Marian Keyes (and who cannot?) you will love this book. She knows her stuff so it is a great guide for beginners, but also has different from the norm recipes, lots of tips, lots of giggles in the introductions, and all in all a JOY. Just also bought Dan Lepard's 'Short and Sweet' also lovely and recommended but with quite a serious tone. If you need a baking book to encourage you, that feels like it's giving you a hug as you peruse it - this is the one for you!
March 28, 2012
Most entertaining cookbook I've ever read! My bet is Marian's changed the way recipes will be written forever, have never before seen a recipe where you laugh out loud while reading the instructions.
The recipes are also mouth-wateringly lovely with a lot of challenges in amongst them for the bakers amongst us.
Highly recommend to everyone that loves to bake, and especially to all fans of Ms Keyes.
The recipes are also mouth-wateringly lovely with a lot of challenges in amongst them for the bakers amongst us.
Highly recommend to everyone that loves to bake, and especially to all fans of Ms Keyes.
August 25, 2013
Over a year ago I saw a fellow blogger’s review of Marian Keyes’ Saved by Cake, and I knew I wanted to read it posthaste. After all, the cookbook featured baked goods (my purview!) exclusively, and the author’s voice was straight-up hilarious in the short excerpt. However, I couldn’t find a listing for the US release date, and when I looked into purchasing an international edition, I realized I wouldn’t do well with the metric weights and measurements.
So I put it on my wishlist and waited. And waited. And then! It was finally available in April. I bought it immediately and it sat on my bookshelf for far too many months. A few weeks back I finally picked Saved by Cake up again, and here we are today, with cake. All is right with the world.
I’ve never read Marian Keyes’ novels, but based on the dark humor and honesty in her cookbook, I’d say she’s got a flair for the descriptive, a thing for cookie cutters, and is also dealing with a really troubling bout of depression. Oh, and she’s not-so-mildly obsessed with cake! This cookbook struck a personal chord for me – I too have baked myself through rough spots. It’s rather special to see someone else, quite accomplished at writing, struggle and come through with the same sort of ‘therapy.’
As for the recipes themselves, Keyes has a bit of a fussy bent, so many include unique flavor combinations, unexpected ingredients, and long-ish prep times. Keyes has a good knack for describing baking tips that you may not have thought of before, and I will incorporate several of these into my usual routines. My favorite section of the cookbook was the one on ‘Classics,’ though I look forward to also trying recipes from the ‘Fruit and Veg’ section as well. I made Keyes' recipe for the Victoria Sandwich, which I’d make again (it was a snap!) but vary the filling. My favorite THINGS about the cookbook at large were the introductory paragraphs and the beautiful photos accompanying each recipe. This is where Keyes shines – in her conversational writing style and self-deprecating humor.
In all, Keyes’ book is fun, funny and personal, with drool-worthy photography and delicious recipes. It’ll stay on my shelf, and come down for many rereads in the future.
Recommended for: Marian Keyes fans, those who would appreciate a funny, slightly irreverent take on food and mental health, and anyone with a ken for cake. Especially making it (and devouring it afterward!).
So I put it on my wishlist and waited. And waited. And then! It was finally available in April. I bought it immediately and it sat on my bookshelf for far too many months. A few weeks back I finally picked Saved by Cake up again, and here we are today, with cake. All is right with the world.
I’ve never read Marian Keyes’ novels, but based on the dark humor and honesty in her cookbook, I’d say she’s got a flair for the descriptive, a thing for cookie cutters, and is also dealing with a really troubling bout of depression. Oh, and she’s not-so-mildly obsessed with cake! This cookbook struck a personal chord for me – I too have baked myself through rough spots. It’s rather special to see someone else, quite accomplished at writing, struggle and come through with the same sort of ‘therapy.’
As for the recipes themselves, Keyes has a bit of a fussy bent, so many include unique flavor combinations, unexpected ingredients, and long-ish prep times. Keyes has a good knack for describing baking tips that you may not have thought of before, and I will incorporate several of these into my usual routines. My favorite section of the cookbook was the one on ‘Classics,’ though I look forward to also trying recipes from the ‘Fruit and Veg’ section as well. I made Keyes' recipe for the Victoria Sandwich, which I’d make again (it was a snap!) but vary the filling. My favorite THINGS about the cookbook at large were the introductory paragraphs and the beautiful photos accompanying each recipe. This is where Keyes shines – in her conversational writing style and self-deprecating humor.
In all, Keyes’ book is fun, funny and personal, with drool-worthy photography and delicious recipes. It’ll stay on my shelf, and come down for many rereads in the future.
Recommended for: Marian Keyes fans, those who would appreciate a funny, slightly irreverent take on food and mental health, and anyone with a ken for cake. Especially making it (and devouring it afterward!).
May 5, 2023
Marian Keyes is a charming and funny novelist. In this cookbook she is all that, plus she is disarmingly honest and open about her struggles with depression. Along with wonderful recipes and beautiful color photos, it makes for a powerful combination.
Boo hiss to the editors or graphic designers who used purplish pink text on a slighter lighter purplish pink background for the narrative sections of this book. Maybe it was Lens Crafters! Because two paragraphs in, you are struggling and thinking my gosh, I can barely see this. Only when turning to the next recipe, in black text on white background, which you can see fine, even without your reading glasses, do you realize it's not you, it is the pink lettering on the pink page. A shame.
Boo hiss to the editors or graphic designers who used purplish pink text on a slighter lighter purplish pink background for the narrative sections of this book. Maybe it was Lens Crafters! Because two paragraphs in, you are struggling and thinking my gosh, I can barely see this. Only when turning to the next recipe, in black text on white background, which you can see fine, even without your reading glasses, do you realize it's not you, it is the pink lettering on the pink page. A shame.
January 20, 2019
This is the one cookbook that I’m going to attempt every recipe. And I’m going to smile as I’m baking with the little notes from Marian accompanying each recipe. And all the cakes and cookies I’ve baked so far have been a hit!
April 30, 2016
If you've got this book in your hands then I'd like to make this recommendation: Go to Marian's website and watch some of the amusing baking demonstrations. That way you'll have Marian's delightful irish voice in you head when you follow her witty baking instructions.
Apart from the humour I'd also recommend this book for its wide variety of recipes. It is not an all encompassing baking manual, although it does include lots of useful tips and instructions aimed at beginners. If you haven't been baking recently, you are likely to feel inspired and might want to rush out to invest in cooky cutters and edible glitter.
What a wonderful book this is. From a frightening bout of depression came something so beautiful and lovely. In the introduction Marian gives a chilling description of her dark period during which she stumbled upon baking as a means of distracting herself. It is hard to imagine that someone who seems to have such a zest for life could be suffering from depression. May her personal account bring consolation and hope to many others in the same boat.
I would give this book 5 stars but feel that I cannot do that until I've actually tried out some of the deliciously looking recipes. However I feel qualified to review it because I somehow managed to read this book cover to cover! Yes, I didn't only look at the delicious pictures, I even read through many of the recipes. (I meant to buy this as a gift to someone else, but now I'll have to go and buy another one.)
Apart from the humour I'd also recommend this book for its wide variety of recipes. It is not an all encompassing baking manual, although it does include lots of useful tips and instructions aimed at beginners. If you haven't been baking recently, you are likely to feel inspired and might want to rush out to invest in cooky cutters and edible glitter.
What a wonderful book this is. From a frightening bout of depression came something so beautiful and lovely. In the introduction Marian gives a chilling description of her dark period during which she stumbled upon baking as a means of distracting herself. It is hard to imagine that someone who seems to have such a zest for life could be suffering from depression. May her personal account bring consolation and hope to many others in the same boat.
I would give this book 5 stars but feel that I cannot do that until I've actually tried out some of the deliciously looking recipes. However I feel qualified to review it because I somehow managed to read this book cover to cover! Yes, I didn't only look at the delicious pictures, I even read through many of the recipes. (I meant to buy this as a gift to someone else, but now I'll have to go and buy another one.)
June 2, 2012
Marian Keyes's SAVED BY CAKE is one of those cookbooks that's so delightfully written and so beautiful as a physical object filled with lush photography, it almost doesn't even matter whether the recipes actually work! I don't know yet whether they do work, because I haven't had a chance to try them. But I spent my free time today devouring the whole book with pure pleasure. I already know (after reading a library copy) that I want to buy myself a copy to keep - not just to try out all the yummy-looking recipes, but as a comfort read. (The way she talks about each recipe is just delicious!)
It's also laced with elements of a memoir, particularly in the introduction to the book, because she turned to baking in desperation, when she was going through severe depression. Her descriptions of that depression, the suicidal impulses that went along with it, and the strategies she finally figured out for how to cope and endure throughout, are incredibly honest, personal and moving.
A genuinely lovely book - and oh, do those desserts look good.
It's also laced with elements of a memoir, particularly in the introduction to the book, because she turned to baking in desperation, when she was going through severe depression. Her descriptions of that depression, the suicidal impulses that went along with it, and the strategies she finally figured out for how to cope and endure throughout, are incredibly honest, personal and moving.
A genuinely lovely book - and oh, do those desserts look good.
March 20, 2012
Marian does it again !!. Another great book by Marian Keyes this time cooking.. Not her usual genre but great all the same. At the beginning of the book marian talks a little about her struggle with depression and how cooking amongst other things helped her manage that. The book is easy to follow and the way Marian writes the recipes is with her normal quirkiness and it will not fail to put a smile on your face.The pictures are great inside and the cover picture is adorable. This book would be a nice gift for someone in your life who likes baking or just keep for yourself for some tasty recipes.
March 29, 2012
I can't even begin to describe how much I love this book. I love cake - of course - and I am - I have to confess - a good baker - which means that I hate most formal recipe book because they make the whole thing seen so convoluted and complicated. Keyes not only introduced me to recipes that I actually wanted to make, but her witty, friendly style guided me through them in a way that made even the most complicated thing - macaroons - like I would NEVER have attempted them before this book - seem simple and straightforward. I am not baking every other day and don;t plan to steop until I have tried every recipes in this fabulous book.
May 13, 2012
I was a mite disappointed that this was a straight up recipe book, but only in as much as I miss Marian Keyes' books so much, not that I don't wish her the very best on her journey to get well. The recipes look gorgeous, and I'm very glad that she has found something that helps so much. The intro was very well written, and it made me pine for more. Even better than some of the short stories I've read in multi author compilations! An introduction or a short story is much less demanding than a novel and I (along with her legions of fans) hope that she will one day return to the novel. And if she never does, we have had a great time reading her work. Good luck Marian!
April 29, 2013
I loved the forward and find it oddly disconcerting that I prefer cookbooks with story rather than just a whole jumble of recipes. I don't know how she stayed so slim whilst baking all those delicious treats. Although I didn't bake any of the recipes myself (as it was a library book it had to go back before I had an opening in my baking schedule) there were quite a few I already had recipes for that I agreed wholeheartedly with the authors views of these dishes, ie espresso and walnut cake etc...
February 28, 2020
How can you not want to know more with a title like this? Marian Keyes talks quite candidly about her experience with depression and how by diving into baking (without a great deal of prior practice), she came out from the black cloud. The recipes I’ve tried so far have been delicious and just that little bit different. I can definitely recommend the chocolate cheesecake cupcakes—as she says, not the most beautiful cakes to look at, but the taste!
July 15, 2012
Ha! Finally bought this book. And I LOVE IT. Point.
And I'm going to make EACH cake, each muffin, one by one. Point.
I have already a better mood, just looking at the pictures made me feel better:) And I need a lot of positive things in my life now.
Thank you, Marian:))))
And I'm going to make EACH cake, each muffin, one by one. Point.
I have already a better mood, just looking at the pictures made me feel better:) And I need a lot of positive things in my life now.
Thank you, Marian:))))
September 20, 2012
Para ver una reseña, entren en el blog www.conociendoamariankeyes.blogspot.com
Es que no me gusta repetirme, pero diré que es un libro de recetas peculiarmente divertido.
Es que no me gusta repetirme, pero diré que es un libro de recetas peculiarmente divertido.
November 8, 2012
Lean una reseña del libro en mi blog www.conociendoamariankeyes.blogspot.com
May 23, 2020
Keyes's humour is great. You can really hear her voice in this cookbook. And the two cakes I've made so far using these recipes turned out nicely.
February 22, 2021
I saw this available among the ebook selections from my library. I do reading challenges and I have several that I’m very far so far behind that I get embarrassed when I post a book read for a challenge who’s deadline was in 2019! Lol! There are always a few specific tasks that require me to read way outside of my “comfort zone”, but a cookbook isn’t out of my “comfort zone”. It’s a book outside of anything I want to actually sit down, read, and review! To me, a cookbook is just something I grab when I can’t remember all the spices that go into the jambalaya or to check how many cups of broth I need for my chicken and rice soup. A cookbook isn’t something to read, it’s something to use. It’s a tool. Yet I have challenges that require reading a cookbook. So I ask myself “Should I post ‘20 Easy Chicken Recipes for the Busy Family’”? It doesn’t make sense to me because there isn’t any narrative in my Easy Chicken cookbook. It’s just a cookbook. All recipes and pictures of food. Nothing to sit and read. Does anyone understand my dilemma? Any challenge requiring me to read a cookbook goes unfinished forever. So when I saw this book listed as available immediately I borrowed it because I have read older fiction books by Marian Keyes. And they were books that I liked! Rachel's Holiday.Watermelon. Great books!
So I opened my cookbook ready to read and was pleasantly surprised. Yes there are plenty of recipes, but Keyes told stories around each recipe, when she made the dish, how it helped or didn’t help how she was feeling. The narrative for each recipe was exactly like what I remembered from Keyes’s fiction books from the 90’s. Humorous and Irish Catholic Guilt flowing from the pages. I’m not Irish, but I do know good old Catholic Guilt and I could relate to her feelings and personal stories that accompanied each recipe. This isn’t a long book, only 225 pages or so, and it does have recipes, which to be honest I didn’t read. I only read the stories. Now I have at least one cookbook read and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! I guess I would recommend it. I liked her writing and the recipes looked good. I didn’t try one because I am a terrible baker and it frustrates me to no end. I will always be the mom who uses the Betty Crocker cake mixes. But to be honest, this mom’s baked goods usually come from the grocery store bakery. 😊 My rating on the narrative only is 3.5 stars, round up to 4. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
So I opened my cookbook ready to read and was pleasantly surprised. Yes there are plenty of recipes, but Keyes told stories around each recipe, when she made the dish, how it helped or didn’t help how she was feeling. The narrative for each recipe was exactly like what I remembered from Keyes’s fiction books from the 90’s. Humorous and Irish Catholic Guilt flowing from the pages. I’m not Irish, but I do know good old Catholic Guilt and I could relate to her feelings and personal stories that accompanied each recipe. This isn’t a long book, only 225 pages or so, and it does have recipes, which to be honest I didn’t read. I only read the stories. Now I have at least one cookbook read and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! I guess I would recommend it. I liked her writing and the recipes looked good. I didn’t try one because I am a terrible baker and it frustrates me to no end. I will always be the mom who uses the Betty Crocker cake mixes. But to be honest, this mom’s baked goods usually come from the grocery store bakery. 😊 My rating on the narrative only is 3.5 stars, round up to 4. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 21, 2020
OMG. Keyes' fiction is a lot of fun, but I really adore her non-fiction. She's so upfront and funny, and really incredibly likeable - it's like a one-sided conversation with a delightful friend. And I really appreciate how she's been straightforward about her struggles with alcoholism and sanity - I feel like she makes others more comfortable confronting their conditions, knowing they can come out the other side and still be themselves.
Each recipe has a little backstory, which is entertaining. And the recipes themselves are great! A few are pretty complicated, but most of them are perfect for stress baking. The best chapter was the last, where she includes some healthy-ish recipes. The only thing worth noting her is that Keyes is Irish - the cupcakes and muffins in here aren't standard American size (huge). That's fine - they're tasty, and a little smaller is actually fine.
If you love to bake or are a fan of Keyes', this is a must read.
Each recipe has a little backstory, which is entertaining. And the recipes themselves are great! A few are pretty complicated, but most of them are perfect for stress baking. The best chapter was the last, where she includes some healthy-ish recipes. The only thing worth noting her is that Keyes is Irish - the cupcakes and muffins in here aren't standard American size (huge). That's fine - they're tasty, and a little smaller is actually fine.
If you love to bake or are a fan of Keyes', this is a must read.
October 4, 2018
How do you review a cookbook if you haven't made all the dishes!!??
The styling and photography in Saved by Cake gets 4 stars
The chatty and humorous introduction to the book and the individual recipes I also thought were great.
So far Iv'e baked 4 things from the book:
The scones were fantastic
B grade cupcake- very good
Strawberry cupcakes-good but would be better with a different berry
Snickers Cheesecake Loaf- Went down well with my friends, I don't personally like the cheesecake/choc flavour combo. Also, use a loaf tin slightly bigger than in the recipe!
I will add more to the review as I cook more from the book.
The styling and photography in Saved by Cake gets 4 stars
The chatty and humorous introduction to the book and the individual recipes I also thought were great.
So far Iv'e baked 4 things from the book:
The scones were fantastic
B grade cupcake- very good
Strawberry cupcakes-good but would be better with a different berry
Snickers Cheesecake Loaf- Went down well with my friends, I don't personally like the cheesecake/choc flavour combo. Also, use a loaf tin slightly bigger than in the recipe!
I will add more to the review as I cook more from the book.
December 13, 2020
I read this like a book, not a cookbook. Refreshing to have recipes from an “everyday“ person, not a chef, in words I would use myself. Thoroughly enjoyed the reason behind the book as well. Kudos to the author for finding her thing!
January 4, 2022
One of my favourite cookbooks ever! (and I have a LOT of cookbooks). Written concisely and wittily in true Marian Keyes style. Makes smaller amounts so you can bake your way through the book without becoming completely overwhelmed with baking :)
A true joy to read and use!!
A true joy to read and use!!
January 6, 2018
This was so much fun to read! I never read baking books from beginning to end, but this was an exception. Loved it! Recipes are great!
October 16, 2019
I have borrowed this book from the library three times. I really should buy my own copy.
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