Showstopping Cakes: Mastering the Art and Science of Baking

by Rahul Mandal

The Times Best Food Books of 2022

"Rahul Mandal is a brilliant baker with the eye of an artist." - Nigella Lawson

"Rahul is a scientist of extraordinary talent, both in baking and explaining how it's done." - Dame Prue Leith

"Rahul's book is an absolutely spectacular one with so much detail and knowledge behind every recipe. So many delicious frostings, fillings, sponges and everything you need to make a showstopping cake! I can't wait to try something out!" - Jane Dunn, author of Jane's Patisserie

"Impressive, phenomenal, and magical! Rahul takes cakes to another level in this book. I'm always blown away by his work!" - Eloise Head, author of Fitwaffle's Baking It Easy

"The hardest part of opening up this stunning book is remembering that I'm already married so Rahul can't make my wedding cake. It's a truly inspiring collection of recipes that will become staples in any baker's kitchen, whether novice or seasoned." - Jake Cohen, author of Jew-Ish

Create sensational showstopping cakes with this collection of dazzlingly delicious bakes from GBBO winner Rahul Mandal.

From advice on stacking a tier cake to piping flowers, creating the perfect flavour pairing and avoiding a curdled cake batter or buttercream, Rahul shares his scientific knowhow on achieving sublime bakes - as well as advice on how to fix things when they go wrong. Featuring everything from mirror glaze, meringue, genoise and caramel to drip, fault-line and geode cakes, these are jaw-droppingly beautiful bakes that will wow family and friends every time.

Winner of The Great British Bake Off 2018, Rahul won hearts as he quietly baked his way to glory with some of the most spectacular creations the show has ever seen. A research scientist at the University of Sheffield, he continues to spend his spare time baking and writes a regular column for The Times magazine.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

Reviews

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised that I didn't like this book more because Rahul is a family favorite of all the Great British Bake Off contestants. I learned a lot about baking techniques and baking science in the introduction and the cake decoration was cool but the flavor combinations fell flat for me. I just didn't want to bake anything out of this cookbook. (And I bake! I have madeleines and quiches in prep at this very moment.) I was annoyed at all the grammatical errors. That said, the photography is beautiful and the author is adorable. There's a lot to learn here.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some delicious-sounding recipes, and the technique sections seem sound enough. I wasn't wowed by the photography in this book, nor the decorating styles chosen. We know Rahul from his amazing decoration skills on GBBO, but here, he's chosen very plain designs. It's a bit perplexing that there wouldn't at least be a little more variety in style. I'm definitely going to try some of the recipes, though - the whipped caramel sounds right up my alley.

[TKD · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can hear Rahul's voice in the writing and I love it. He is an absolute gem. However, the recipes are exceedingly intricate and not for beginners.

[Amanda Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a fun cake textbook, this is it! Rahul is great at explaining more advanced techniques and his flavour combos will never fail you.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful, unmanageable (for my skill set!) cakes! I can't wait to see his next cookbook

[Beth E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very thorough and comprehensive look at cake baking and different components, such as icing. I would go as far as to call it scientific. A very good resource for serious bakers.