Pretty Party Cakes: Sweet and Stylish Cakes and Cookies for All Occasions

by Peggy Porschen

A romantic Three-Column Wedding Cake adorned with fresh roses; eye-catching Kalei-doscope Cakes iced in geometric designs; glittering Bollywood-inspired lollipop cookies—you don’t have to go to a high-end bakery to be able to serve these beautiful desserts at your next party. Master cake decorator Peggy Porschen shares her designs for the gorgeous cookies, cupcakes, and cakes that have graced some of the world’s most discriminating tables—and they’re as easy to create as they are spectacular. Written for everyone from beginning bakers to seasoned pros, each design in Pretty Party Cakes is broken down into basic steps that turn even complicated cake sculptures into rewarding, accessible creations.

Pretty Party Cakes is brimming with dozens of innovative designs that are all based on fundamental recipes provided in Porschen’s introduction to the basics. This section also covers the equipment and techniques needed to make her luscious creations. Once you’ve mastered the key skills, you can confidently move to chapters on cookies, cupcakes, miniature cakes, and large cakes. Designs range from sparkling heart cakes and butterfly-topped pastel cupcakes to enchanting, edible Treasure Boxes that can be used to present gifts. Ambitious bakers can create stunning desserts such as the Romantic Rose Tower cake and Gift Box Cake, and even simpler sweets such as Alphabet Cookies and Chocolate Canapés will wow your guests with their alluring presentation.

Packed with tips, step-by-step images, and striking photographs to accompany every design, Pretty Party Cakes brings together everything you need to re-create Peggy Porschen’s delicious masterpieces. Whether you’re preparing a wedding cake for dozens of guests or creating a showstopping dessert for an intimate dinner party, these stunning designs will be sure to rival the cakes that line the windows of the chicest designer bakeries.

An all-encompassing guide to creating shockingly simple—yet stunning—cakes, cookies, and cupcakes that rival those from even the most fashionable designer bakeries.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[BluMoon Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peggy continues to inspire me!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cookbooks or baking books that give step-by-step instructions so that difficult looking techniques are broken down and completely do-able by a home chef or baker. This book is filled with fantastic and creative cookies, cupcakes, mini cakes, and large cake ideas. It details the making of different types of icing, fillings, and fondants. And it also includes useful tools you will need and where you can find them (websites or stores listed in the back of the book). The author was kind enough to include templates for some of the more intricate designs, making beautiful desserts even simpler for the everyday cook.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautiful book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is 5+ stars for lovely ideas...but I've tried 3 of the recipes with no love. Still very worthwhile.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

whew, I couldn't actually make anything in this book if I wanted to but the pictures sure are pretty :)

[Melanie Cook]

These Pretty Party Cakes sure are! What an absolutely stunning collection of cakes.

Makes me hungry just thinking about them! The really are divine.

[swezna · Rating 5 out of 5]

oook that book is like a must read book for me i love ckaes..... GOOOOOOOOOOOO CAKESSSSSSSSSSS