June has been the most popular month to get married for many centuries. I can say that it is a fantastic month to get married. It isn’t too hot or cold and the flowers are still in bloom. It’s basically a free venue in our backyards.
One thing that I wish I had the opportunity to do was make my own wedding cake. I know, that sounds crazy, but it would have been cheaper and made precisely to order. I also love baking, so I know I would have enjoyed doing this. Perhaps when my sister gets married she will let me gift her, her wedding cake!
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If you or one of your loved ones is having an intimate wedding at a small venue like your home, perhaps you’ll want to indulge in making your own elegant cake. With these cookbooks, I guarantee people will ask “who did you go to for your cake?” These cookbooks all offer stunning bakes that are perfect for weddings and other gatherings.
How to Cook That: Crazy Sweet Creations
Ann Reardon is the creator of How to Cook That on YouTube. She has compiled some of her recipes in her newest cookbook How to Cook That: Crazy Sweet Creations for us to try.
What I love most about Reardon is how she approaches baking exactly like science. She makes it palatable for us to understand these techniques and learn from our mistakes. She has broken recipes down so we understand what each ingredient actually does. An example of this is butter in cakes and cupcakes. She explains how too little or too many affects the bake and the visual signs that something has happened.
This is perfect for those who want to learn more about the science of baking. If you want the perfect bake, this cookbook will accomplish that.
These desserts will astound your guests with how delightfully lavish they are. The recipes range from traditional flavors to unique creations. You will find recipes such as lemon curd meringue, cherry red velvet cupcakes, best chocolate cake, moist carrot cake, and so much more.
One of my favorite features in this cookbook is that she has provided a link at the end of some recipes for a video tutorial. I like that we have extra help and explanation as we cook along with Reardon!
Check out her website How to Cook That for more recipes and videos. These desserts will wow you!
Zoë Bakes Cakes: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Favorite Layers, Bundts, Loaves, and More
It’s hard to not look at the cover of the Zoë Bakes Cakes: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Favorite Layers, Bundts, Loaves, and More cookbook and not drool. This applies to the cookbook as a whole. Many of the desserts are showcased in this cookbook, plus the techniques are mostly illustrated. There are 245 photos throughout!
This is a cake cookbook, but it offers a whole array of different kinds of cakes. Some of the chapters include:
1)Pound Cake, Quick Breads, and Bundts
2)Fruit Studded Cakes
3)Soaked Cakes
4)Cakes Layers, Loaves, and Sheets
5)Light-As-Air-Cakes
6)The Layered Cakes
7)Rolled and Fancy Cakes
8)Icings, Frostings, Buttercreams, and Ganaches
9)Fillings and Flourishes
For those who love compartmentalizing, the chapters are further broken down into the actual recipes (with page numbers) so you can flip to the exact cake you want to make.
The author, Zoë François, gives us the ultimate cake baking cookbook. She identifies the key elements to the perfect cake (this is a must-have for a wedding!) There are 100 recipes we can draw from or use a lot of her concepts to make our own dream cake.
Before we even attempt to bake cakes throughout this cookbook, there is a whole Cake Academy chapter that breaks down all the ingredients. This isn’t as visual as the How to Cook That: Crazy Sweet Creations cookbook, but it is very thorough. That includes specific details like fruit, different kinds of dairy, nuts, and much more.
Zoë Bakes Cakes: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Favorite Layers, Bundts, Loaves, and More cookbook is informational just as it is beautiful. Perfect for large events or little gatherings at home.
Peggy Porschen: A Year in Cake: Seasonal recipes and dreamy style secrets from the prettiest bakery in the world
If you’re at all familiar with Peggy Porschen, you know she is the queen of desserts! Her desserts have been featured at many weddings including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss. She knows how to stun her guests with fantastic desserts packed with flavor.
Peggy is all about “prettiness”. The desserts are typically covered with edible flowers and stunning decorations – including simple recipes like cookies. The colors she utilizes are so vibrant, it will be difficult for your guests not to avert their eyes. Truly, if you’re looking for sophisticated bakes for a wedding or any other glamorous event – Peggy Porschen: A Year in Cake: Seasonal recipes and dreamy style secrets from the prettiest bakery in the world cookbook is a must-have.
What I adore about this cookbook is how everything is divided into seasons. That includes fairly popular U.S. holidays (surprisingly there is a section for Valentine’s Day!)
Take a look at her website to see what kind of recipes you can make with this cookbook!
Don’t be afraid, the bakes range from easy to very difficult. The best part? Almost all of her difficult bakes include photos to break down each step for us. That means Peggy will be with us every step of the way.
You will be amazed by how easily you will bake these stunning desserts. If you’re all about elegance in your bakes, this is the cookbook that should be on your shelf.
Frosted: Take Your Baked Goods to the Next Level with Decadent Buttercreams, Meringues, Ganaches and More
The Frosted: Take Your Baked Goods to the Next Level with Decadent Buttercreams, Meringues, Ganaches and More cookbook is full of possibilities. Specifically, we learn how to frost our cakes/cupcakes/desserts.
The chapters include some of the typical things you would see in a baking cookbook: brownies, sheet-pan cakes, cupcakes, tarts, etc. I really enjoy the “Frosting 101” chapter the most, because we learn so much!
This includes 14 basic frostings (I had no idea there were so many) such as German buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, lots of buttercreams, plus Bavarian cream, Diplomat cream, cream cheese, and more.
Bernice Baran shares her bakery secrets in this cookbook. These are bound to be delicious! Some of the flavors you find are to die for. We have a butterscotch chocolate chip cake, browned butter birthday cake, little mocha cake, and more!
It’s perfect for beginner bakers and buttercream connoisseurs alike.
I love the design of this cookbook. It’s a very modern and clean look – no frilly designs. This means it doesn’t take away from how amazing all the desserts look. Everything is beautifully spotlighted.
Definitely check out the endless potential the Frosted: Take Your Baked Goods to the Next Level with Decadent Buttercreams, Meringues, Ganaches and More cookbook have!
Bake It Vegan: Simple, Delicious Plant-Based Cakes, Cookies, Brownies, Chocolates and More
I know for my wedding, I had to find someone who had gluten-free options. This ended up being the most difficult process (and a reason I wanted to make my own cake!) For those who are vegan, the Bake It Vegan: Simple, Delicious Plant-Based Cakes, Cookies, Brownies, Chocolates and More cookbook is going to be a godsend.
First of all, this cookbook has one of the most gorgeous covers on the list! The bright purple really pops against the white background – wow!
There are over 65 amazing vegan recipes from classic desserts to unique twists. Plus, they’ve offered some gluten-free, nut-free, and other dietary options for those with finicky tummies.
This cookbook is fantastic for more than just cakes, but other desserts. We learn how to make decadent cakes, cookies, breakfast sweets, crumbles and galettes, chocolates, and no-bake desserts.
For those who have already have a vegan-friendly kitchen. The ingredients used are fairly typical vegan staples like flaxseed, nut/oat milk, spelt, and more. Otherwise, some of the recipes seem intimidating for non-vegan bakers.
For the perfect bake, many of these are a bit involved but guarantee you won’t know it is vegan. There are many steps in most of the desserts – there is a lot of prep time. But the results are worth the hard work. It’s moist, flavorful, and fluffy. For avid vegan bakers, this is a cakewalk.
Would you consider baking a cake or dessert for your own wedding? What about a relative who loves to bake? It saves a lot of money and you won’t necessarily be confined to limited flavors. All of these cookbooks are going to help get you that showstopper cake!
~Kaiti
