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All Cakes Considered: A Year's Worth of Weekly Recipes Tested, Tasted, and Approved by the Staff of NPR's All Things Considered
Melissa Gray is National Public Radio's Cake Lady. Every Monday she brings a cake to the office for her colleagues at NPR to enjoy. Hundreds of Mondays (and cakes) later, Melissa has lots of cake-making tips to share. With more than 50 recipes for the cakes that have been dreamed of and drooled over for a lifetimeincluding Brown Sugar Pound Cake, Peppermint and Chocolate Rum Marble Cake, Lord and Lady Baltimore Cakes, Dark-Chocolate Red Velvet Cake, and Honey Buttercream and Apricot Jam Cake All Cakes Considered is an essential addition to every baker's library.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 21, 2021
Almost went one star on this, but there are a couple of vintage recipes in it that I remember (from other sources) are good, and the photos aren't bad.
I'm looking for a carrot cake recipe. Not just any carrot cake recipe, but one of a a certain style popular in the early 1980s. Given this book has many recipes from old cookbooks, pamphlets, etc., I thought it might be worth a look.
Wrong. Turns out Ms. Grey HATES carrot cake. She says so in no uncertain terms. I kept leafing through it anyway because I did see the whipped cream cake I remembered from childhood church suppers I was dragged to, the fake fruitcake I used to make in junior high, and that infamous Martha Washington cake that I've never quite convinced myself to attempt.
But when it comes right down to it, I hate this book probably as much as Ms. Grey hates carrot cake. It is, very likely, one of the most irritating cookbooks ever published.
The premise had promise. The book is organized from (what she claims are) easiest to most complicated cakes, all of which she had made for her coworkers at All Things Considered. There's the cooking part, then the little chatty stories about their comments or behind the scenes stuff about NPR -- but not quite enough of that last part to make it worthwhile. Maybe if she assumed many of her readers were very likely people who listen to All Things Considered and therefore probably not dumb as bricks, it might have worked. Instead she went for more of a "Forrest Gump rambles" vibe.
The whole "aw shucks, y'all, gosh darn if this ain't complicated" affectation made me cringe from contact embarrassment. There is no reason for exclamation points in recipes. Or the kind of ALL CAPS enthusiasm usually only seen on Twitter by women who are into their third glass of cheap rose while gushing about The Bachelor. Inclusions of inane banter such as "butter is from cows and margarine is not" and "it's dee-licious" or "goooooood"? Not funny, fun, or cute. Maybe the cakes are fine, but the writing in this cookbook is half-baked.
I'm looking for a carrot cake recipe. Not just any carrot cake recipe, but one of a a certain style popular in the early 1980s. Given this book has many recipes from old cookbooks, pamphlets, etc., I thought it might be worth a look.
Wrong. Turns out Ms. Grey HATES carrot cake. She says so in no uncertain terms. I kept leafing through it anyway because I did see the whipped cream cake I remembered from childhood church suppers I was dragged to, the fake fruitcake I used to make in junior high, and that infamous Martha Washington cake that I've never quite convinced myself to attempt.
But when it comes right down to it, I hate this book probably as much as Ms. Grey hates carrot cake. It is, very likely, one of the most irritating cookbooks ever published.
The premise had promise. The book is organized from (what she claims are) easiest to most complicated cakes, all of which she had made for her coworkers at All Things Considered. There's the cooking part, then the little chatty stories about their comments or behind the scenes stuff about NPR -- but not quite enough of that last part to make it worthwhile. Maybe if she assumed many of her readers were very likely people who listen to All Things Considered and therefore probably not dumb as bricks, it might have worked. Instead she went for more of a "Forrest Gump rambles" vibe.
The whole "aw shucks, y'all, gosh darn if this ain't complicated" affectation made me cringe from contact embarrassment. There is no reason for exclamation points in recipes. Or the kind of ALL CAPS enthusiasm usually only seen on Twitter by women who are into their third glass of cheap rose while gushing about The Bachelor. Inclusions of inane banter such as "butter is from cows and margarine is not" and "it's dee-licious" or "goooooood"? Not funny, fun, or cute. Maybe the cakes are fine, but the writing in this cookbook is half-baked.
November 13, 2020
Simple recipes for complete baking novices. The author talks down to you like she thinks you're still in grade school. It's filled with dimwitted sentences such as: "Cream of tartar is just fun to say," "Butter comes from the cow. Margarine does not," and "Granulated sugar is also known as table sugar, fine sugar, or simply “sugar.”
If any of this is new or fascinating to you, feel free to proceed.
This has got to be the world's most annoying cookbook.
If any of this is new or fascinating to you, feel free to proceed.
This has got to be the world's most annoying cookbook.
January 29, 2011
I have yet to actually bake a cake from this book, but fun to read. I enjoyed the stories she had about her All Things Considered coworkers, though that may be less interesting for readers unfamiliar with the show. The stories about the histories of the recipes and adventures she had baking and getting them to the table will appeal to anyone who likes cake.
March 27, 2011
Melissa Gray is SUCH a good writer, and I adore her approach to recipe testing and tinkering. This book made me want to bake cake RIGHT NOW (admittedly not that hard to do). I loved the sense of her family and office-mates spurring on her baking passion. This was a great read, and I expect the recipes will be even better. So much fun.
October 3, 2017
This book is awesome. A producer for All Things Considered, she brought in a cake a week for the staff. A lot of these are older recipes; one is from Ina Garten and a few are from Dorie Greenspan.
While the recipes are great, you’re really reading the stories that go with the recipes. She’s a great writer and really pulls you into her life with her anecdotes.
This book is a lot of fun and if you like to bake you’ve got to check it out.
While the recipes are great, you’re really reading the stories that go with the recipes. She’s a great writer and really pulls you into her life with her anecdotes.
This book is a lot of fun and if you like to bake you’ve got to check it out.
May 9, 2021
This is a cute book!
I love NPR and baking and can't believe it took me this long to find this book!
Gray shares recipes along with tips and stories about making cakes and other desserts. She shares the history of some of the cakes, her experiences with the cakes, and fun stories from the NPR office. The instructions are very detailed and helpful, especially for beginning bakers. The cakes are beautiful although I would have liked some more photos.
Overall a fun and nerdy find!
I love NPR and baking and can't believe it took me this long to find this book!
Gray shares recipes along with tips and stories about making cakes and other desserts. She shares the history of some of the cakes, her experiences with the cakes, and fun stories from the NPR office. The instructions are very detailed and helpful, especially for beginning bakers. The cakes are beautiful although I would have liked some more photos.
Overall a fun and nerdy find!
March 19, 2018
New cake bible!
This book has every tip, hint, instruction, and warning compiled into a lovingly constructed manual for cakes (and a little more). Every question I've ever had has been explained and answered. I have a renewed optimism to try, try, again. Thank you, Melissa, for being my new guru!
This book has every tip, hint, instruction, and warning compiled into a lovingly constructed manual for cakes (and a little more). Every question I've ever had has been explained and answered. I have a renewed optimism to try, try, again. Thank you, Melissa, for being my new guru!
May 18, 2020
This an an absurdly delightful cookbook. My aunt gifted me this book years ago and shame on me for not picking it up sooner. The recipes (thus far) are delicious, the writing is witty and hilarious, and the explanations behind the bake are interesting and informative. Loved reading it, and I look forward to continuing to try all the remaining recipes.
March 2, 2017
Lots of tasty looking cakes and plenty of instruction.
June 20, 2021
I loved this book. I originally borrowed it from the library but returned it to buy my own copy.
July 11, 2021
Wonderful recipes, beautiful cakes!
March 6, 2011
A cookbook. Ilsa, are you serious? Uh, yeah. See, I love cooking; I love cookbooks. Cooking is how I relax after a hard day pounding that keyboard. Sometimes, when I’m in intense writer-mode, we eat crap. Most of the time, though, I try to put some care into dinner because it’s the only time I see my husband and–honestly–there are so many interesting cuisines out there. Plus, I live in rural Wisconsin, which means that if I want bim-bim-bap, I got to figure out how to make it myself. So I’ve got a book of medieval recipes as well as Greek, Roman, Korean, a couple Indian, the obligatory Moosewoods . . . all that stuff. Cooking is fun and an adventure and, for me, largely impressionistic. Sure, I follow recipes, but they tend to be a little forgiving.
Baking is another story. I’m always a little intimidated because so many recipes seem so precise. And, truthfully, I’m not that much of a dessert fan. Just never developed a taste for it, although I do like cake. But then there are only so many places to spread those calories, you know?
For the book I just finished, though, a cake was important. So I had to figure out how you might be able to bake one without an oven-oven. That led to all kinds of research, including this cookbook I picked up at Mount Vernon. See, Martha Washington used to make this immense Great Cake, this fabulous Christmas cake with eggs and butter and all sorts of fruit and nuts . . . anyway, I thought, wow, I got to make that someday. So far, I’ve made a couple of the steamed pudding recipes (love persimmons) but never attempted the cake. But I pulled the book out again while writing–and thought, hunh, I got to read a good book on baking, period, something that tells me why I need to cream butter at room temperature and all that. Just curiosity.
So I happened on Gray’s book–and it’s great. Not only that, I discovered that Gray had the same idea I did: bake Martha’s cake (and she includes the recipe in the book). There are over 50 recipes here so you go from easy pound cakes to more complicated layer cakes, with some fun cookies and things like that thrown in for good measure. So, want to do a kind of low-key Julia Child thingamabob? Bake a cake a week, which is what Gray did (and still does) for her NPR pals.
Baking is another story. I’m always a little intimidated because so many recipes seem so precise. And, truthfully, I’m not that much of a dessert fan. Just never developed a taste for it, although I do like cake. But then there are only so many places to spread those calories, you know?
For the book I just finished, though, a cake was important. So I had to figure out how you might be able to bake one without an oven-oven. That led to all kinds of research, including this cookbook I picked up at Mount Vernon. See, Martha Washington used to make this immense Great Cake, this fabulous Christmas cake with eggs and butter and all sorts of fruit and nuts . . . anyway, I thought, wow, I got to make that someday. So far, I’ve made a couple of the steamed pudding recipes (love persimmons) but never attempted the cake. But I pulled the book out again while writing–and thought, hunh, I got to read a good book on baking, period, something that tells me why I need to cream butter at room temperature and all that. Just curiosity.
So I happened on Gray’s book–and it’s great. Not only that, I discovered that Gray had the same idea I did: bake Martha’s cake (and she includes the recipe in the book). There are over 50 recipes here so you go from easy pound cakes to more complicated layer cakes, with some fun cookies and things like that thrown in for good measure. So, want to do a kind of low-key Julia Child thingamabob? Bake a cake a week, which is what Gray did (and still does) for her NPR pals.
October 29, 2015
I actually got this cookbook as an e-book from the library, and I enjoyed READING it. I really like how Melissa Gray made a point of ordering these recipes so that you build your baking skills as you go. She is very clear in her instructions, and is also careful to warn the reader/baker when a particular recipe requires a different technique than was taught earlier (like the order in which you mix wet and dry ingredients). She shares her own experiences, both good and bad, which really helps the reader to feel more confident that making mistakes is all part of the learning process.
I really enjoyed hearing the "gossip" about her colleagues from NPR's All Things Considered, and how each of them responds to the different types of cake. Although silly, one of my favorite things about reading this book was being able to see the spelling of each staff member's name. During the program, the hosts and reporters will say their names aloud, and it is somehow really satisfying to see those names written out, with the strange spelling that you often see in people's last names, and still be able to know exactly how that name should be pronounced.
The recipes themselves were tempting enough, that half way through reading this cookbook, I actually ordered a hard copy of the book (and a cake carrier) so that I could try the recipes.
I really enjoyed hearing the "gossip" about her colleagues from NPR's All Things Considered, and how each of them responds to the different types of cake. Although silly, one of my favorite things about reading this book was being able to see the spelling of each staff member's name. During the program, the hosts and reporters will say their names aloud, and it is somehow really satisfying to see those names written out, with the strange spelling that you often see in people's last names, and still be able to know exactly how that name should be pronounced.
The recipes themselves were tempting enough, that half way through reading this cookbook, I actually ordered a hard copy of the book (and a cake carrier) so that I could try the recipes.
November 22, 2009
I have a self confessed sweet tooth that is most partial to cakes - rather than just sweets -candy or cookies do not hold as much appeal for me as does an ohlalala cake! Maybe I shared some cake with Marie Antoinette in a past life?! Well at any rate this is one of those cake cookbooks that you absolutely must not miss out on owning. Hurry to you local book store - or if you are isolated as I am - to your favorite on line book purveyor - and order this one up! you will not be disappointed.
This book came about as producer Melissa Gray wends her way through a year full of cakes that pleased her fellow NPR work mates. I think that this book is notable in it's appeal not just to the seasoned cake baker but to the budding cake aesthete as Ms. Gray shares cake secrets that she has learned along the way. Interesting anecdotes, recipes culled from lots of places & many people. This book is exceptional and won't fail to please those of us that adore cake in all of it's sublime shapes & sizes (and who may try to hide that extra 'sliver' we ferret out the door without anyone noticing!)
This book came about as producer Melissa Gray wends her way through a year full of cakes that pleased her fellow NPR work mates. I think that this book is notable in it's appeal not just to the seasoned cake baker but to the budding cake aesthete as Ms. Gray shares cake secrets that she has learned along the way. Interesting anecdotes, recipes culled from lots of places & many people. This book is exceptional and won't fail to please those of us that adore cake in all of it's sublime shapes & sizes (and who may try to hide that extra 'sliver' we ferret out the door without anyone noticing!)
February 13, 2011
I finally got around to reading through all the recipes in this book, not just the Naughty Senator Cake, which I made last week for the lovely people who work in my Library. The cake was a hit, and I’m always on the look out for more interesting ideas.
This book was great. My only criticism would be the dearth of pictures. I like cookbooks, especially when I’m baking, that show me what the cake is going to look like. Sometimes I won’t make a recipe if it doesn’t look good on the back end. But since only about 1 in 4 cakes had a picture, it was hard to tell what things would look like. Also, some of the cakes that were pictured weren’t cut, so you only saw the outside of the cake–sometimes that’s more misleading. I almost got excited about this Martha Washington-type cake, but later found out it was a spice cake. Not my cup of tea.
The only other criticism? The author doesn’t like Carrot Cake. How can anyone not like Carrot Cake!!! If you love to bake cakes, get this book–if for only the fried pie recipe. I have yet to find another book with a comparable recipe of fried pie…Delish!
This book was great. My only criticism would be the dearth of pictures. I like cookbooks, especially when I’m baking, that show me what the cake is going to look like. Sometimes I won’t make a recipe if it doesn’t look good on the back end. But since only about 1 in 4 cakes had a picture, it was hard to tell what things would look like. Also, some of the cakes that were pictured weren’t cut, so you only saw the outside of the cake–sometimes that’s more misleading. I almost got excited about this Martha Washington-type cake, but later found out it was a spice cake. Not my cup of tea.
The only other criticism? The author doesn’t like Carrot Cake. How can anyone not like Carrot Cake!!! If you love to bake cakes, get this book–if for only the fried pie recipe. I have yet to find another book with a comparable recipe of fried pie…Delish!
March 15, 2012
When I heard the All Cakes Considered segment on NPR, I immediately added the book to my holiday wish list. Of course once Santa delivered it to me, and I sat and devoured it while sipping my Christmas morning coffee, I realized many of the recipes I'd most like to try required a baking implement I still don't have: a 10-inch tube pan. And my tiny kitchen really doesn't have room for another baking dish of any size. So the Brown Sugar Pound Cake and Drunken Monkey Banana Bread and all those fabulous coffee cakes will have to wait until I move into a place with a pantry. Oh well.
:)
I must admit that this book has thus far just been eye candy for me; I have yet to attempt any of the recipes. They typically involve ingredients that I don't regularly have on hand, and there are so few occasions whereby you can tempt folks to actually eat some cake these days (I blame all the South Beach dieters.) But even just as eye candy, with all the tips I've consumed, I think I'll be a more confident cake and cupcake baker in the future.
:)
I must admit that this book has thus far just been eye candy for me; I have yet to attempt any of the recipes. They typically involve ingredients that I don't regularly have on hand, and there are so few occasions whereby you can tempt folks to actually eat some cake these days (I blame all the South Beach dieters.) But even just as eye candy, with all the tips I've consumed, I think I'll be a more confident cake and cupcake baker in the future.
June 26, 2013
Melissa Gray makes this book fun to read and you will become a bit envious of her office companions who were extremely well fed for a year.
She works through the recipes as if the reader is a beginning baker. This was a bit annoying but at least you knew the cakes at the end of the book would take longer to make.
I like to see a recipe take up one page and several of her recipes take up 3-4 pages this is also annoying when you are trying to follow her recipes.
All of her cake recipes sound great. I've only made two so far the Argroves Manor Coffee Cake and the Spanish Meringue.
They are both 5 star recipes though I do think the Argrove's manor coffee cake was too sweet (and I didn't have vanilla yogurt so I used plain and teaspoon of vanilla). If you make this I'd say skip all of the sugar in the stewed fruit.
The Spanish Meringue came out perfectly beautiful and tasted great as well. Make this cake if you want to show off.
She works through the recipes as if the reader is a beginning baker. This was a bit annoying but at least you knew the cakes at the end of the book would take longer to make.
I like to see a recipe take up one page and several of her recipes take up 3-4 pages this is also annoying when you are trying to follow her recipes.
All of her cake recipes sound great. I've only made two so far the Argroves Manor Coffee Cake and the Spanish Meringue.
They are both 5 star recipes though I do think the Argrove's manor coffee cake was too sweet (and I didn't have vanilla yogurt so I used plain and teaspoon of vanilla). If you make this I'd say skip all of the sugar in the stewed fruit.
The Spanish Meringue came out perfectly beautiful and tasted great as well. Make this cake if you want to show off.
June 1, 2011
First of all, this book is just so pretty. Secondly, there are several surprising recipes, which is always welcome - especially when they turn out to be delicious like they do in this book. Finally, Annabelle's stories bring warm personal and historical context as well as mirth to the process that you are about to undertake. The main drawback is that she doesn't give enough descriptive details about the visual and tactile clues that can keep you on the right track in the baking process or let you know if you've gone astray. You just have to plow ahead and make the best of the sometimes minimalist directions - which is true for a lot of recipe books. You just might want to make sure you trial run recipes before you use one of hers for a special occasion. (Again, probably good advice for most recipe books).
January 13, 2011
This was a most entertaining cookbook. The author is a producer of All Things Considered on NPR. I am a mostly regular listener to that program, so knowing which NPR personality likes which cake is very interesting to me. Not to mention Melissa Gray has a very witty sense of humor which comes through very easily throughout the whole book. Then there are the recipes and pictures themselves. Very appealing pictures and easy to follow directions make me want to try every cake (With substitutions for the ingredients containing alcohol :-)
Even if you don't like to bake, it is an entertaining and worth your time book.
Even if you don't like to bake, it is an entertaining and worth your time book.
May 23, 2010
The cakes in this book are delicious! I've only made the Argroves Manor Coffee Cake and the Sweet Potato Pound Cake, but both were so good-- especially if eaten while still warm.
I also appreciated the baking tips, such as how to get bundt or tube cakes out of the pan.
One thing I don't like about it is that Gray will include things like "maple flavoring" in her recipes. I don't quite get using maple flavor when you can use real maple syrup! I just substituted the real thing in those cases.
I also appreciated the baking tips, such as how to get bundt or tube cakes out of the pan.
One thing I don't like about it is that Gray will include things like "maple flavoring" in her recipes. I don't quite get using maple flavor when you can use real maple syrup! I just substituted the real thing in those cases.
September 27, 2010
The book is loosely in the relm of books like Julia and Julia and The Sweater Quest. The author makes a cake to bring to her NPR co-workers every Monday. So there is the quest or adventure aspect. The big difference is that this is a very GOOD book (as opposed to the other two mentioned). The author cannot only tell a good story, she can break down a recipe. The recipes are intreguing as are the stories. I'm looking forward to making a few cakes before I take this one back to the library. It definitely goes on my Amazon Wish List.
August 17, 2016
I am not a baker, but think I can fake being one with this book. Not only are the range of recipes broad and the photographs fabulous, but this is a fun, informative read. Melissa Gray has an easy to read style. She starts with the basics and as she tells you what to do, she explains why you do it. She never assumes you know how to do something, yet is not in the least patronizing about it. In addition, she sprinkles in stories about her work and her co-workers. Just a fun, yummy book. Though it makes me want to buy a stand up mixer.
January 9, 2015
I want to make EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK.
Baking is a favorite hobby of mine, and I don't think it would be too immodest to say that I'm not bad at it. I appreciated Melissa Gray's easy, humorous approach to baking, and her persistence in succeeding with each cake (she calls it "re-caking"). I am adding a copy of this book to my wish list so that I can tackle each of these appealing recipes :)
I wish there were pictures for every cake but, honestly, for my waistline's sake I'm glad there aren't.
Baking is a favorite hobby of mine, and I don't think it would be too immodest to say that I'm not bad at it. I appreciated Melissa Gray's easy, humorous approach to baking, and her persistence in succeeding with each cake (she calls it "re-caking"). I am adding a copy of this book to my wish list so that I can tackle each of these appealing recipes :)
I wish there were pictures for every cake but, honestly, for my waistline's sake I'm glad there aren't.
March 20, 2012
This book orders cake recipes by difficulty, which was really nice as I've never read a cookbook that does that before. Something really upset me though: most recipes in this book do not belong to the author. She basically took other people's recipes, some of them professional cooks, some aren't, and reprinted them. Which is a huge disappointment for someone looking for completely NEW content. It'd still be nice for beginners though who haven't seen a lot of recipes.
I'll try a few.
I'll try a few.
November 20, 2013
The premise of this book: bring a different cake to work every week. (sounds like a place I'd love to work at!) I didn't try any of these cakes because I don't eat a lot of cake and the recipes were to large for me. My other issue with this recipe book was how chatty it is. I don't mind a behind-the-scene story beside the recipe but this one would go on and on. Also, almost every recipe in here is for a Bundt or tube pan rather than a cake pan.
January 25, 2016
I love the nerd factor of this book- the author is a snarky producer on NPR's All Things Considered, so there are little anecdotes about the well-known newscasters cake preferences. She's a good enough writer that this is a book that you can actually read, and there are lots of carefully explained techniques.
I just made the Naughty Senator Cake, which was a marbled mint and chocolate bundt. It was good, but not one that will turn into a go-to.
I just made the Naughty Senator Cake, which was a marbled mint and chocolate bundt. It was good, but not one that will turn into a go-to.
August 17, 2019
Great read - AND it's a cook book! I read through all the anecdotes, tips, techniques, and most ALL the step-by-step for each recipe. I have a shopping list ready to go so I can start at the beginning - as the author suggests: 1-10" tube pan and a Bundt pan. I didn't think she was serious about starting at the first cake and working the recipes in order, but when I finally got to the final, ultimate, cake, I understood. Funny, witty writing. delicious sounding recipes!
February 2, 2010
I haven't baked my way through this book yet, but I love Gray's tone and approach. She's created a book for enthusiastic bakers who are still perfecting techniques and explains — in enjoyable ways — all the things other cookbooks assume you already know. Let's just hope I do as well with the cakes as Gray has done with her book.
January 5, 2011
Since this book got me into the kitchen I have to give it 5 stars. It was easy to read and it got me over my dislike of the kitchen. I have baked my way through just over half way and I'm looking forward to continuing my baking adventures. Melissa is a lot of fun to read and her directions are clear and easy to follow. Thank you Melissa Gray for curing me of my kitchen-phobia!
August 11, 2010
A great book on just cakes, and fine for a beginner. The author goes over several necessities for successful cake baking, as well as dishing up the goods on the various NPR staffers. Try the Mancatcher -- it's a winner! I hope to get a longer, more comprehensive review up soon. In any case, this book is a winner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews