Product Description

Scrumptious delights to bake at home.

Cupcake bakeries are a welcome development that is meeting the enthusiastic delight of everyone. The reason is quite simple -- they allow us to indulge in an old-fashioned favorite treat.

Julie Hasson, baker extraordinaire, brings her expertise to the 125 Best Cupcake Recipes. These are the cupcakes of our mothers and grandmothers, but with a modern twist. Easy-to-execute, these recipes are guaranteed to fill your home with tantalizing baking smells and sweet satisfaction.

Recipes include: - Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes - Carrot Zucchini Cupcakes - Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes - Malted Espresso Cakes with Malted Milk Icing - Peanut Butter Cupcakes.

Also included are dozens of icing recipes, from Chocolate Fudge Frosting to Buttercream and White Chocolate Glaze. Invaluable baking tips and techniques will appeal to both the novice and experienced baker. Once served these cupcakes will be in serious demand by the whole family.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33417 in Books
• Brand: Julie Hasson
• Published on: 2005-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780778801122
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
Spicy to sweet, simple to sumptuous... dozens of fabulous frostings. (Home Cooking 200605)

Cupcake... officially a grown-up food... the perfect compromise -- decadent enough to satisfy, small enough to minimize the regret. (Jennifer Biggs Memphis Commercial Appeal )

About the Author
Julie Hasson is a master baker and has worked as a pastry chef, caterer and recipe developer. Her articles and recipes have appeared in Cooking Light, Bon Appetit and Vegetarian Times magazines. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction

Cupcakes are the perfect dessert. They can be savored privately or shared enthusiastically. They can be dressed up as a wedding cake or neatly tucked into a lunch box. And it doesn't matter if you're four or 40 -- cupcakes are fun and delicious.

Then there's the subject of beauty. You have to admire the splendor of cupcakes. They are delectable miniature cakes with soft interiors, tapered sides and sweet frosting crowns. And the flavor combinations for both cake and frosting are limited only by your imagination.

While writing this book, I baked a mammoth number of cupcakes. As I ventured out to my neighbors' homes -- feeling a lot like Donna Reed as I carried huge trays of cupcakes -- I heard a frequent and familiar question: "What makes a cupcake a cupcake and not a muffin? They look the same." It's a good question, and I answered without hesitation. A muffin is dense and hearty and doesn't have a frosting. A cupcake, on the other hand, is light and cakelike, and is usually topped with a mound of frosting or a drizzle of icing.

As far as I'm concerned, cupcakes are delightful and not just for their versatility. They remind us of childhood, when we could eat a whole cupcake and not have to share. As adults, we can eat the whole thing and feel satisfied without guilt or calories (not too many, anyway!). Is it any wonder that cupcakes are making a timely resurgence into our homes and local bakeries? It's because they're adored by all. And, as I said, they're the perfect dessert.

- Julie Hasson

Customer Reviews

Yummy recipes
The recipes in this book are very easy to bake, yet really delicious. I definetely recommend to buy it if you like to vary every now and then the little treats for the familly and friends.
Although I must give the readers a hint. I tried the "Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes" and let's get real, the recipe is NOT FOR CUPCAKES. I swear no cupcakes will come out of it. They totally stuck to the paper liners, never rose, actually they sunk and left a hole in the middle, and looked like the result of an oven catastrophe. But don't get me wrong, it was still delicious. After that, I've used the recipe as what it actually is: a brownie recipe, a very good brownie recipe. So, I've made brownies quite a few times now, in a regular 9X13" cake pan, and cut them into squares, and I'm happy to have a good unexpected brownie recipe at hand.
Most of the other recipes I've tried are indeed very tasty, specially the "Best Chocolate Cupcakes" recipe, which is absolutely excellent. Bake these cupcakes and the compliments won't stop coming your way.
Don't expect a lot of pictures of beatifully decorated cupcake pictures, since this is a RECIPE book. Just do what I do, bake this delicious recipes and decorate them using your own creativity and/or get ideas from other books.
A definete must-have in any kitchen, whether you're an occassional baker or almost a pro-baker.

Just the Right Amount
This is a wonderful book for when you want to make just a pan of cupcakes. Although, I must say I usually make 48 mini cakes and bake them for 10-14 minutes. My favorite by far is the White Chocolate Chip with the Coffee Buttercream frosting. The recipes have simple ingredients. The print is easy to read. The frosting suggestions are helpful, as are other tips and comments, printed on each recipe. I did add 1-2 tablespoons meringue powder to the buttercream frosting just to help it hold up better

125 Best Cupcake Recipes
I love to cook and tried several receipts in Julie Hasson's book.
I found the directions very easy to follow and the receipts turned out yummy. I especially liked the Chocolate Expresso Cake. I made it for my girlfriends birthday and it was a big hit. My daughter had some friends over for a slumber party and I made the Vancouver Bars. I think they were gone before I left the room.
I would recommend this book for everyones collection.