Professional baker Malek Binns has put together his new cookbook, Celebrate with Baking, to show how you can make sweet treats (and maybe a couple of savory ones) for your celebrations all year long. From the Conversation Hearts Cookies to the Easter Bunny Carrot Cakes, from the Pumpkin-Swirl Brownies to the Candy Cane Chocolate Bundt Cake, these recipes will keep you grinning from January through December with sweet and savory treats to enjoy with family and friends.
Binns starts with the basics of baking, from the tools you need to bake and decorate to the ingredients and a glossary of baking terminology, so you can understand the recipes before you start baking. And then there are a bunch of helpful articles on things like how to measure ingredients effectively, how to work with dough, how to melt chocolate, how to assemble and frost a layer cake, how to fill and use a decorating bag, and how to bake for those who have food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Then, there are the recipes. Divided by season, spring starts us off with a Cinnamon Swirl King Cake, a Bouquet of Cupcakes, Meyer Lemon Pound Cake, and Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding. For April Fools’ Day, there is a Pasta and Meatballs Cake; and if you’re looking for something a little less sweet, you can try the Quiche Three Ways.
Summer brings Peach Upside-Down Cupcakes, Fire Up the Grill Cookies, Jalapeno-Cheese Corn Muffins, Focaccia with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil, S’mores Sandwich Cookies, and even a Red, White, and Blue Layer Cake. Celebrate fall with the Spooky Graveyard Cake, Pumpkin Swirl Brownies, Baked Apple Cider Donuts, Black Friday Black Forest Cake, or Bacon Cheddar Biscuits.
Winter offers Gingerbread Cookies, Hot Cocoa Cupcakes, Frosted Football Brownies, Candy Cane Chocolate Bundt Cake, Salted Caramel Pecan Tart, New Year’s Morning Strata, or the Spinach-Parmesan Puff Pastry Christmas Tree. And for special occasions throughout the year, there are also recipes for a Red Velvet Birthday Cake, Confetti Rainbow Cake, Sprinkledoodles, Caramel Corn Brownies, Unicorn Cookies, Garlic-Parmesan Knots, and Homemade Pretzels.
Celebrate with Baking has over 50 recipes for all your special occasions (for those who are counting, that’s more than one a week for an entire year!). Author Binns said he wanted to create recipes that are easy to follow, delicious, and that make you smile, and I think he has definitely achieved that in Celebrate with Baking!
A copy of Celebrate with Baking was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.
