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Browse categories
Cake Decorating & Sugarcraft
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 Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...]
A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use!
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...]
A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use!
What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase!
Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both.
I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit!
There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...]
A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use!
What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase!
Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both.
I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit!
There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring.
Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead.
Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!!
Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money.
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...]
A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use!
What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase!
Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both.
I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit!
There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring.
Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead.
Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!!
Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money.
Beautiful and innovative wedding cakes, 28 Nov 2008
This is the fisrt wedding cakes books of Debbie. I love it. You can see the designs on her web page, they are really different compare to the usual wedding cake designs, they are fun and happy. For each designs there are also mini cake examples to go with it. The recepie section is a lot betten then any other DB books because there are a lot more recepies both for the sponges and the fillings. Step by step instruction is excellent and photographs are beatiful.It's a real shame it only holds 12 designs, they are so beautiful I would have liked a lot more!!! Bravo Debbie, as usaul...
Beautiful Book for Special Occasions, 25 Oct 2008
Debbie Brown's Dream Wedding Cakes: Gorgeous Designs for Weddings, Anniversaries and Other Romantic Occasions
I have just received this stunning book with the most beautiful cakes for really lots of occasions and the bonus of small cake versions of the large cake themes - very clever designs and eye catching photography with all the details to creative your own masterpieces and new recipes that I've got to try.
If you are a fan of Debbie's work this book is a must for your collection
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...]
A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use!
What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase!
Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both.
I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit!
There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring.
Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead.
Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!!
Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money.
Beautiful and innovative wedding cakes, 28 Nov 2008
This is the fisrt wedding cakes books of Debbie. I love it. You can see the designs on her web page, they are really different compare to the usual wedding cake designs, they are fun and happy. For each designs there are also mini cake examples to go with it. The recepie section is a lot betten then any other DB books because there are a lot more recepies both for the sponges and the fillings. Step by step instruction is excellent and photographs are beatiful.It's a real shame it only holds 12 designs, they are so beautiful I would have liked a lot more!!! Bravo Debbie, as usaul...
Beautiful Book for Special Occasions, 25 Oct 2008
Debbie Brown's Dream Wedding Cakes: Gorgeous Designs for Weddings, Anniversaries and Other Romantic Occasions
I have just received this stunning book with the most beautiful cakes for really lots of occasions and the bonus of small cake versions of the large cake themes - very clever designs and eye catching photography with all the details to creative your own masterpieces and new recipes that I've got to try.
If you are a fan of Debbie's work this book is a must for your collection
Roast figs, sugar Snow - curl up, keep warm - enjoy!, 31 Aug 2008
Beautiful book based around winter cookery. Diana Henry spent 5 years travelling around various chilly parts of the globe and has come up with a stunning collection of recipes. Just flicking through the book makes me long for snow filled days and family around the table. All the recipes I've tried out have turned out perfectly and friends have asked for the recipes - what more recommendation do you need?!
Recipes include:
Alsation Tarte Flambee
Celeriac and Potato Mash (with stilton and grilled spring onions)
Russian Curd Cheese Pancakes
Pecan and Pear Upside-down Cake
Pumpkin Tarts (with spinach and gorgonzola)
Vermont Baked Beans
Roast Beetroot Salad (with orange and goat's cheese)
Stuffed Quail (with marmalade and whisky)
Roast Squash (with porcini cream)
Seared Scallops (with bacon and jerusalem artichoke puree)
Russian Smoked Fish Pie
Steamed Apple and Marmalade Pudding
Fantastic, 04 Feb 2008
There are not many books that I would cook a whole dinner party from without doing a trial run. This is the only one I can think of. I totally respect Diana Henry for her brilliant, beautiful book and her delicious recipes. Really she is far more reliable than Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and in fact surpasses Delia Smith too in my opinion. Absolutely delicious. Try the roast squash with porcini cream. Very, very easy, sublimely delicious.
Stunningly beautiful, 31 Mar 2007
This cookbook didn't seem to get the recognition it deserved. As Diana Henry isn't of the "celebrity chef" culture, it's no wonder why. A shame, as it's one of the most beautiful cookbooks I've ever seen and one of my personal treasures. In her wonderful recipes and photos she captures New England, and especially the Vermont of my childhood, perfectly.
Beautiful, 18 Sep 2006
This is a beautiful book , the photography is stunning and all the recipes just make you want to cook everything in the book.
Looking forward to Winter, 22 Jun 2006
`A truly unique collection of wintry recipes which celebrate some of the world's most overlooked cuisines by using produce that can be found on our own doorsteps`.
Although winter cooking seems so far from these BBQ days of mid-Summer, `Roast Figs, Sugar Snow' makes us look towards the winter with real warmth!
`Beef Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Claret`, followed by `Peasant Girls in a Mist', a cake with apples and cinnamon or a 'snow biscuit' - just whets your appetite for winter reading and cooking!
Cooking in winter is about keeping warm on the inside, as you gather friends and family around the kitchen Aga.
The result of five years of travel and research, Diana compiled this book of recipes from `colder climates`, being originally inspired by childhood memories of `sugar snow', a `magic food' from inside a tree that could turn into sweets.
Who isn't intrigued to read this lovely book of 192 high quality pages, split over 12 chapters, interspersed with Jason Lowe's stunning photography and snatches of wintry poetry?
Excellent price, at Amazon, as usual.
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it. good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying... fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book. the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...] A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use! What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase! Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both. I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit! There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring. Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead. Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!! Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money. Beautiful and innovative wedding cakes, 28 Nov 2008
This is the fisrt wedding cakes books of Debbie. I love it. You can see the designs on her web page, they are really different compare to the usual wedding cake designs, they are fun and happy. For each designs there are also mini cake examples to go with it. The recepie section is a lot betten then any other DB books because there are a lot more recepies both for the sponges and the fillings. Step by step instruction is excellent and photographs are beatiful.It's a real shame it only holds 12 designs, they are so beautiful I would have liked a lot more!!! Bravo Debbie, as usaul... Beautiful Book for Special Occasions, 25 Oct 2008
Debbie Brown's Dream Wedding Cakes: Gorgeous Designs for Weddings, Anniversaries and Other Romantic Occasions
I have just received this stunning book with the most beautiful cakes for really lots of occasions and the bonus of small cake versions of the large cake themes - very clever designs and eye catching photography with all the details to creative your own masterpieces and new recipes that I've got to try.
If you are a fan of Debbie's work this book is a must for your collection Roast figs, sugar Snow - curl up, keep warm - enjoy!, 31 Aug 2008
Beautiful book based around winter cookery. Diana Henry spent 5 years travelling around various chilly parts of the globe and has come up with a stunning collection of recipes. Just flicking through the book makes me long for snow filled days and family around the table. All the recipes I've tried out have turned out perfectly and friends have asked for the recipes - what more recommendation do you need?!
Recipes include:
Alsation Tarte Flambee
Celeriac and Potato Mash (with stilton and grilled spring onions)
Russian Curd Cheese Pancakes
Pecan and Pear Upside-down Cake
Pumpkin Tarts (with spinach and gorgonzola)
Vermont Baked Beans
Roast Beetroot Salad (with orange and goat's cheese)
Stuffed Quail (with marmalade and whisky)
Roast Squash (with porcini cream)
Seared Scallops (with bacon and jerusalem artichoke puree)
Russian Smoked Fish Pie
Steamed Apple and Marmalade Pudding
Fantastic, 04 Feb 2008
There are not many books that I would cook a whole dinner party from without doing a trial run. This is the only one I can think of. I totally respect Diana Henry for her brilliant, beautiful book and her delicious recipes. Really she is far more reliable than Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and in fact surpasses Delia Smith too in my opinion. Absolutely delicious. Try the roast squash with porcini cream. Very, very easy, sublimely delicious. Stunningly beautiful, 31 Mar 2007
This cookbook didn't seem to get the recognition it deserved. As Diana Henry isn't of the "celebrity chef" culture, it's no wonder why. A shame, as it's one of the most beautiful cookbooks I've ever seen and one of my personal treasures. In her wonderful recipes and photos she captures New England, and especially the Vermont of my childhood, perfectly. Beautiful, 18 Sep 2006
This is a beautiful book , the photography is stunning and all the recipes just make you want to cook everything in the book. Looking forward to Winter, 22 Jun 2006
`A truly unique collection of wintry recipes which celebrate some of the world's most overlooked cuisines by using produce that can be found on our own doorsteps`.
Although winter cooking seems so far from these BBQ days of mid-Summer, `Roast Figs, Sugar Snow' makes us look towards the winter with real warmth!
`Beef Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Claret`, followed by `Peasant Girls in a Mist', a cake with apples and cinnamon or a 'snow biscuit' - just whets your appetite for winter reading and cooking!
Cooking in winter is about keeping warm on the inside, as you gather friends and family around the kitchen Aga.
The result of five years of travel and research, Diana compiled this book of recipes from `colder climates`, being originally inspired by childhood memories of `sugar snow', a `magic food' from inside a tree that could turn into sweets.
Who isn't intrigued to read this lovely book of 192 high quality pages, split over 12 chapters, interspersed with Jason Lowe's stunning photography and snatches of wintry poetry?
Excellent price, at Amazon, as usual. brilliant, 21 Jul 2007
This is the second book of the series, and as ever is fantastic. The book is slighty more advanced than the first is is packed full of very useful and help step by step tips. There are sections all about chocolate, embroidery, making flowers, recipes, runouts, figure piping, bas relief, marzipan....I could go on because the techniques are endless. A must have for a cake maker or someone who just wants to try different methods and styles. Helpful for the Cakemaker, 28 Oct 2000
"Sugarcraft" is a book which will inspire you to try out new ideas in your cake-making. I especially enjoyed the section on making marzipan figures and chocolate objects, including eggs. Recommended for anyone with an interest in doing something different with sugar!
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it. good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying... fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book. the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...] A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use! What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase! Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both. I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit! There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring. Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead. Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!! Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money. Beautiful and innovative wedding cakes, 28 Nov 2008
This is the fisrt wedding cakes books of Debbie. I love it. You can see the designs on her web page, they are really different compare to the usual wedding cake designs, they are fun and happy. For each designs there are also mini cake examples to go with it. The recepie section is a lot betten then any other DB books because there are a lot more recepies both for the sponges and the fillings. Step by step instruction is excellent and photographs are beatiful.It's a real shame it only holds 12 designs, they are so beautiful I would have liked a lot more!!! Bravo Debbie, as usaul... Beautiful Book for Special Occasions, 25 Oct 2008
Debbie Brown's Dream Wedding Cakes: Gorgeous Designs for Weddings, Anniversaries and Other Romantic Occasions
I have just received this stunning book with the most beautiful cakes for really lots of occasions and the bonus of small cake versions of the large cake themes - very clever designs and eye catching photography with all the details to creative your own masterpieces and new recipes that I've got to try.
If you are a fan of Debbie's work this book is a must for your collection Roast figs, sugar Snow - curl up, keep warm - enjoy!, 31 Aug 2008
Beautiful book based around winter cookery. Diana Henry spent 5 years travelling around various chilly parts of the globe and has come up with a stunning collection of recipes. Just flicking through the book makes me long for snow filled days and family around the table. All the recipes I've tried out have turned out perfectly and friends have asked for the recipes - what more recommendation do you need?!
Recipes include:
Alsation Tarte Flambee
Celeriac and Potato Mash (with stilton and grilled spring onions)
Russian Curd Cheese Pancakes
Pecan and Pear Upside-down Cake
Pumpkin Tarts (with spinach and gorgonzola)
Vermont Baked Beans
Roast Beetroot Salad (with orange and goat's cheese)
Stuffed Quail (with marmalade and whisky)
Roast Squash (with porcini cream)
Seared Scallops (with bacon and jerusalem artichoke puree)
Russian Smoked Fish Pie
Steamed Apple and Marmalade Pudding
Fantastic, 04 Feb 2008
There are not many books that I would cook a whole dinner party from without doing a trial run. This is the only one I can think of. I totally respect Diana Henry for her brilliant, beautiful book and her delicious recipes. Really she is far more reliable than Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and in fact surpasses Delia Smith too in my opinion. Absolutely delicious. Try the roast squash with porcini cream. Very, very easy, sublimely delicious. Stunningly beautiful, 31 Mar 2007
This cookbook didn't seem to get the recognition it deserved. As Diana Henry isn't of the "celebrity chef" culture, it's no wonder why. A shame, as it's one of the most beautiful cookbooks I've ever seen and one of my personal treasures. In her wonderful recipes and photos she captures New England, and especially the Vermont of my childhood, perfectly. Beautiful, 18 Sep 2006
This is a beautiful book , the photography is stunning and all the recipes just make you want to cook everything in the book. Looking forward to Winter, 22 Jun 2006
`A truly unique collection of wintry recipes which celebrate some of the world's most overlooked cuisines by using produce that can be found on our own doorsteps`.
Although winter cooking seems so far from these BBQ days of mid-Summer, `Roast Figs, Sugar Snow' makes us look towards the winter with real warmth!
`Beef Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Claret`, followed by `Peasant Girls in a Mist', a cake with apples and cinnamon or a 'snow biscuit' - just whets your appetite for winter reading and cooking!
Cooking in winter is about keeping warm on the inside, as you gather friends and family around the kitchen Aga.
The result of five years of travel and research, Diana compiled this book of recipes from `colder climates`, being originally inspired by childhood memories of `sugar snow', a `magic food' from inside a tree that could turn into sweets.
Who isn't intrigued to read this lovely book of 192 high quality pages, split over 12 chapters, interspersed with Jason Lowe's stunning photography and snatches of wintry poetry?
Excellent price, at Amazon, as usual. brilliant, 21 Jul 2007
This is the second book of the series, and as ever is fantastic. The book is slighty more advanced than the first is is packed full of very useful and help step by step tips. There are sections all about chocolate, embroidery, making flowers, recipes, runouts, figure piping, bas relief, marzipan....I could go on because the techniques are endless. A must have for a cake maker or someone who just wants to try different methods and styles. Helpful for the Cakemaker, 28 Oct 2000
"Sugarcraft" is a book which will inspire you to try out new ideas in your cake-making. I especially enjoyed the section on making marzipan figures and chocolate objects, including eggs. Recommended for anyone with an interest in doing something different with sugar!
Incredible!, 07 Dec 2008
I've have only just got into flower making and have been told that Alan is the god of sugarcraft flowers so thought it would be a good idea to get one of his books. He didn't let me down! His flowers are more unusual than some other authors and he explains things well with stage by stage pictures and some great tips. My husband paid for me to go to one of his one day workshops which was amazing and great fun too. With the right equipment and patience you will easily produce some very realistic flowers. This book is great value for money. Thankyou Alan your an inspiration!!
Sugar Flowers for Cake Decorating, 06 Dec 2008
Another superb book from the talented Alan Dunn. it has an excellent introduction detailing flower-making equipment, techniques and recipes which are particularly useful to less experienced sugarcrafters. As in his other books, the detailed instructions are excellent. He shows how to make 32 flowers, some of which are very unusual indeed and it is tempting to try all of them.
I thoroughly recommend this book to all sugarcrafters; there is something for everyone and apart from being a very useful 'textbook' it is a beautiful book just to look at. Do add it to your collection.
Wonderful!, 28 Aug 2008
This is a beautiful book packed with both clear and concise instructions for creating both familiar and unusual blooms in sugar. The familiar rose, iris, magnolia and orchid all appear in fantastic detail alonside a range of succulents and wonderful plants with names such as akebia, rothmania and tweedia to name only a few! Trust me they might not be instantly recognisable but their colour shape and form make welcome additions to accompany our well loved favourites. Alan Dunn fans will certainly not be disappointed. There is plenty of new material to enjoy and marvel at. Sections on creating wonderful arrangements are a welcome addition to give ideas for displaying all the flowers and foliage. There are of course some wonderful cakes too.
Beginners do not be put off, there are simple flowers to get you started.
Alan's instructions, hints and tips are clear and concise. He is realistic too, on producing the much used rose he states "they often prove to be difficult for both the novice and experienced flower maker to produce consistently." I couldn't agree more and would advise that if you are in the early years of starting out on making sugar flowers never give up or be put off by first attempts. It takes time and patience. It helps if you have a passion because you strive to produce better results each time. Do look at Alan's other books they are the best at giving an all round approach to making and displaying sugar flowers and foliage.
Alan fans, this book should not be missing from your collection.
I loved it just as much as all his other titles. He has taught me so much through his books and my cakes wouldn't be the same without him!
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it. good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying... fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book. the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. great tips too.very useful for anyone who wants to learn the art of baking and icing cakes.
[...] A bible for sugarcraft !, 26 Jul 1999
I was given the first hardcover edition of this book in 1988 as a Christmas present and I have stayed loyal to it ever since. The basic cake recipes are highly reliable - the rich fruit cake one of my staples come Christmas. The sugarcraft techniques are taught in such a way that has provided a foundation for further exploration. It's a great introduction to sugarcraft for the novice and provides a clear structure and overview for those who have struggled aimlessly in the dark thus far. I also have Book 2 and it is equally highly recommended. Both of my books are now ready for replacement after much wear, tear and intense use! What a fabulous book!, 11 Sep 2008
This book is really great. It caters for beginners in cake decorating as well as more advanced sugarcrafters. It is a comfy size with gorgeous colourful pictures and fantastic advice throughout. I am thrilled to bits with my purchase! Brilliant cake book , 15 May 2008
I very rarely feel compelled to write book reviews but this book is fantastic. Brilliant illustrations, straight forward practical steps to achieving great results and the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried.
Needless to say my friends and family are seriously impressed with the cakes I have produced since reading it.
One Warning......, 10 Apr 2008
This is a great book for starters who need to know everthing about cake making. I love how this book has recipes for gateaux's and layer cakes etc as well as cakes recipe's as well (ideal for icing). The other books I have bought contain tips on decorating cakes, but not on actually making the cake itself.
My one warning would be that there is a duplicate of this book being advertised on Amazon:
"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" by Merehurst Ltd. I ordered both these books assuming they were different, they both have largely the same content. However, having bought both, I recommend "The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating" as a sturdier, easier to use and much broader book.
Whichever one you choose, I can recommend them both. I'm a self made cake decorator!, 25 Feb 2007
I have always enjoyed baking but I was not fantastic at decorating cakes, This tells you everything you need to know especially for the beginner. The cake recipes at the back of the book are fantastic, I followed them and produced my best cakes ever! Made my first wedding cake from this book and judging by the comments from the guests it was a big hit! There is more to this book than the title suggests, 13 Nov 2006
This book is excellent value for money and covers far more than just decorating cakes. The parts of the books devoted to decorating are inspirational. Not all the cakes are to my personal taste but with so many cakes shown this book must come close to catering for all tastes. There are traditional birthday and wedding cakes, novelty cakes, simple cakes and some that would be tricky if you were a beginner. There is also a large selection of dessert cakes which look good enough to use on a special occasion if a sugar paste creation is not your cup of tea.
The great thing about the book is the vast range of techniques shown and the number of delicious recipes. Normally books with the level of detail for decorating cakes that Jane Price has provided don't focus on making the actual cake but this book is different. There are clear and easy to follow instructions for all of the cakes and more detailed information for working with sugar paste and royal icing including making flowers, figures and animals. There are 50 pages devoted to gateaux which all look stunning. There is the peach and orange mouse cake made with white chocolate mousse, cappuccino truffle cake with instructions on how to make homemade cappuccino truffles coated in white chocolate, pears baked in Madeira cake with a spun sugar halo. The section on working with chocolate was a bonus I hadn't been expecting, it isn't very in-depth but there is enough information to make me want to have a go.
Everything I have tried so far has turned out really well. I am really glad I bought this book.
A bit dated, 11 Oct 2008
I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The designs are a bit basic. There are one or two designs that I might copy but that's all. Many of the cakes are finished in butter cream which is vey messy for children
and I think the British are more likely to prefer an icing finish. This might be suitable for someone who's never made a cake before but I found it uninspiring. Try it yourself, 29 Jun 2008
This was the first book I bought before starting classes in cake decorating. Although I am more advanced now I found I could acheive really good results with this book when I had limited skills and knowledge. They are simple enough to do when you have young children around that want to help. My grandchildren all helped decorate their own birthday cakes chosen from this book, we started with the pirate ship with chocolate bar gang planks. Although sometimes you have to be a little inventive and substitute some of the sweets that are not readily available here, part of the fun is thinking up alternatives to use in the planning stage with the children, and they were very good at coming up with ideas of what to use instead. Fantastic value and easy to make cakes!, 15 Apr 2006
When a child, I remember that my mother had an older edition of this cookbook which my brothers and I used to look through and choose our birthday cakes from every year. We loved the cakes, all of which are reproduced in this more up to date book, now appearing more colourful and just as yummy looking as ever.
This new edition is fantastic value, containing easy to follow recipes for lots and lots of cakes.
If you have young children and like to make you own cakes for their birthdays (and home made cakes always taste better!), you will not find a book with as many simple recipes as this one. I find the Australian women's weekly cookbooks really helpful and down to earth. The cakes vary from super quick and simple to more time and consuming and elegant (and even these are relatively easy).
Most recipes use everyday confectionary which is easy to get hold of in your local supermarket - there are barely any ingedients that you will find difficult to obtain.
I have given this book 5 stars for its easy, accessible style and simple to make cakes which really do taste good and look impressive for both children and adults. There are great categories of cakes, including seperate ones for boys and girls, and also number cakes which can be adapted and personalised for all birthdays (not just children's!)
I highly recommend this book, for cakes to make and also as a reference for inspiration!!! Cute cakes, easy to follow, 02 Feb 2004
Good rating though there are some books out there far more advanced and impressive. This book gives you ideas while you are checking it out and also the cakes look delicious, especially for a small kid who need to feast its eyes on a simplier design easy enough to understand and good enough to eat! But depending on the age of the children you have to exchange the non eatable decorations to candy etc. Well worth the money. Beautiful and innovative wedding cakes, 28 Nov 2008
This is the fisrt wedding cakes books of Debbie. I love it. You can see the designs on her web page, they are really different compare to the usual wedding cake designs, they are fun and happy. For each designs there are also mini cake examples to go with it. The recepie section is a lot betten then any other DB books because there are a lot more recepies both for the sponges and the fillings. Step by step instruction is excellent and photographs are beatiful.It's a real shame it only holds 12 designs, they are so beautiful I would have liked a lot more!!! Bravo Debbie, as usaul... Beautiful Book for Special Occasions, 25 Oct 2008
Debbie Brown's Dream Wedding Cakes: Gorgeous Designs for Weddings, Anniversaries and Other Romantic Occasions
I have just received this stunning book with the most beautiful cakes for really lots of occasions and the bonus of small cake versions of the large cake themes - very clever designs and eye catching photography with all the details to creative your own masterpieces and new recipes that I've got to try.
If you are a fan of Debbie's work this book is a must for your collection Roast figs, sugar Snow - curl up, keep warm - enjoy!, 31 Aug 2008
Beautiful book based around winter cookery. Diana Henry spent 5 years travelling around various chilly parts of the globe and has come up with a stunning collection of recipes. Just flicking through the book makes me long for snow filled days and family around the table. All the recipes I've tried out have turned out perfectly and friends have asked for the recipes - what more recommendation do you need?!
Recipes include:
Alsation Tarte Flambee
Celeriac and Potato Mash (with stilton and grilled spring onions)
Russian Curd Cheese Pancakes
Pecan and Pear Upside-down Cake
Pumpkin Tarts (with spinach and gorgonzola)
Vermont Baked Beans
Roast Beetroot Salad (with orange and goat's cheese)
Stuffed Quail (with marmalade and whisky)
Roast Squash (with porcini cream)
Seared Scallops (with bacon and jerusalem artichoke puree)
Russian Smoked Fish Pie
Steamed Apple and Marmalade Pudding
Fantastic, 04 Feb 2008
There are not many books that I would cook a whole dinner party from without doing a trial run. This is the only one I can think of. I totally respect Diana Henry for her brilliant, beautiful book and her delicious recipes. Really she is far more reliable than Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and in fact surpasses Delia Smith too in my opinion. Absolutely delicious. Try the roast squash with porcini cream. Very, very easy, sublimely delicious. Stunningly beautiful, 31 Mar 2007
This cookbook didn't seem to get the recognition it deserved. As Diana Henry isn't of the "celebrity chef" culture, it's no wonder why. A shame, as it's one of the most beautiful cookbooks I've ever seen and one of my personal treasures. In her wonderful recipes and photos she captures New England, and especially the Vermont of my childhood, perfectly. Beautiful, 18 Sep 2006
This is a beautiful book , the photography is stunning and all the recipes just make you want to cook everything in the book. Looking forward to Winter, 22 Jun 2006
`A truly unique collection of wintry recipes which celebrate some of the world's most overlooked cuisines by using produce that can be found on our own doorsteps`.
Although winter cooking seems so far from these BBQ days of mid-Summer, `Roast Figs, Sugar Snow' makes us look towards the winter with real warmth!
`Beef Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Claret`, followed by `Peasant Girls in a Mist', a cake with apples and cinnamon or a 'snow biscuit' - just whets your appetite for winter reading and cooking!
Cooking in winter is about keeping warm on the inside, as you gather friends and family around the kitchen Aga.
The result of five years of travel and research, Diana compiled this book of recipes from `colder climates`, being originally inspired by childhood memories of `sugar snow', a `magic food' from inside a tree that could turn into sweets.
Who isn't intrigued to read this lovely book of 192 high quality pages, split over 12 chapters, interspersed with Jason Lowe's stunning photography and snatches of wintry poetry?
Excellent price, at Amazon, as usual. brilliant, 21 Jul 2007
This is the second book of the series, and as ever is fantastic. The book is slighty more advanced than the first is is packed full of very useful and help step by step tips. There are sections all about chocolate, embroidery, making flowers, recipes, runouts, figure piping, bas relief, marzipan....I could go on because the techniques are endless. A must have for a cake maker or someone who just wants to try different methods and styles. Helpful for the Cakemaker, 28 Oct 2000
"Sugarcraft" is a book which will inspire you to try out new ideas in your cake-making. I especially enjoyed the section on making marzipan figures and chocolate objects, including eggs. Recommended for anyone with an interest in doing something different with sugar!
Incredible!, 07 Dec 2008
I've have only just got into flower making and have been told that Alan is the god of sugarcraft flowers so thought it would be a good idea to get one of his books. He didn't let me down! His flowers are more unusual than some other authors and he explains things well with stage by stage pictures and some great tips. My husband paid for me to go to one of his one day workshops which was amazing and great fun too. With the right equipment and patience you will easily produce some very realistic flowers. This book is great value for money. Thankyou Alan your an inspiration!!
Sugar Flowers for Cake Decorating, 06 Dec 2008
Another superb book from the talented Alan Dunn. it has an excellent introduction detailing flower-making equipment, techniques and recipes which are particularly useful to less experienced sugarcrafters. As in his other books, the detailed instructions are excellent. He shows how to make 32 flowers, some of which are very unusual indeed and it is tempting to try all of them.
I thoroughly recommend this book to all sugarcrafters; there is something for everyone and apart from being a very useful 'textbook' it is a beautiful book just to look at. Do add it to your collection.
Wonderful!, 28 Aug 2008
This is a beautiful book packed with both clear and concise instructions for creating both familiar and unusual blooms in sugar. The familiar rose, iris, magnolia and orchid all appear in fantastic detail alonside a range of succulents and wonderful plants with names such as akebia, rothmania and tweedia to name only a few! Trust me they might not be instantly recognisable but their colour shape and form make welcome additions to accompany our well loved favourites. Alan Dunn fans will certainly not be disappointed. There is plenty of new material to enjoy and marvel at. Sections on creating wonderful arrangements are a welcome addition to give ideas for displaying all the flowers and foliage. There are of course some wonderful cakes too.
Beginners do not be put off, there are simple flowers to get you started.
Alan's instructions, hints and tips are clear and concise. He is realistic too, on producing the much used rose he states "they often prove to be difficult for both the novice and experienced flower maker to produce consistently." I couldn't agree more and would advise that if you are in the early years of starting out on making sugar flowers never give up or be put off by first attempts. It takes time and patience. It helps if you have a passion because you strive to produce better results each time. Do look at Alan's other books they are the best at giving an all round approach to making and displaying sugar flowers and foliage.
Alan fans, this book should not be missing from your collection.
I loved it just as much as all his other titles. He has taught me so much through his books and my cakes wouldn't be the same without him!
Excellent resource, 19 Dec 2008
Regardless of the other review I bought this book, and I am glad I did. It has provided me with some information I didn't consider in the starting of a cake decorating business, and further ideas in the areas I had considered. I don't think there not being any information on websites was detrimental to this book. Cake decorating from home is usually aimed locally and although a website is relevant, I don't think it is the ain marketing tool.
very yesterday very basic very obvious, 01 Apr 2008
An easy coffee table type of book to read over a couple of evenings.
Anyone with a bit of basic commonsense will find this book very much states the obvious throughout - if you've already got this far contemplating this type of business then this book won't tell you much (if anything) you haven't considered already.
For me, the main disappointment was the only very slight mention of the web/internet and mail order. The author talks extensively about creating 'brochures', but fails to understand and therefore mention, the power of internet selling and how this affects most businesses nowadays. I came to the fast conclusion the author was probably baking in 1950 and this critical technology has passed her by. She even says something like 'everyone nowadays has a website!' but that's about it. Yes - 'efficient' businesses do, because its a critical influential thing to have with an ever increasing number of customers buying online.
Save your money - buy a book that understands 'modern day' business.
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Customer Reviews
Just the beginning......, 02 Aug 2008
I bought this book on a whim and have just completed my fifth cake and am in the process of devising my sixth cake - the pictures and instructions are brilliant, I had never iced a cake before and now feel competent enough to make them for people other than family! Would highly recommend this, and looking at other peoples reviews am going to buy book 2! Well worth it.
good book for the beginners..., 12 Jun 2008
this book was recommended by a dear friend it is a good book for beginners..worth buying...
fantastic, 13 Jun 2007
What can I say ...except this book is a must have for learning everything about making cakes through to how to decorate in various ways. It is very infromative with easy to follow instructions...a complete must for the beginner right through to the more experienced. It was so good that I bought book 2 also, another great book.
the international school of sugarcraft:beginners bk.1, 18 Oct 2006
summary:this is the most brilliant book i have every come across
good illustrations and very explanatory. gre | | |