Cake baking used to be the exclusive preserve of master bakers, but all that changed with the introduction of some of the best cake cookbooks. In the past, you had to attend a baker’s workshop or get a tutor to put you through. However, when bakers started putting their recipes and instructions into words, interested persons began to practice on their own. You can improve your cake baking skills with the right cookbooks at your disposal.
The only concern many like you have is finding the right book that contains detailed and accurate information. Due to the significant number of cake cookbooks on sale today, identifying the right one for you is not as easy as it should be. We have compiled a very conscice review and buyer guide to aid your search. We also reviewed five of the best cake cookbooks money can buy.
Table of Contents
Best Cake Cookbooks
| Image | Best Cake Cookbooks | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. The Perfect Cake Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen | 99% |
 | 2. Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi | 96% |
 | 3. Martha Stewart's Cake Perfection | 92% |
 | 4. Cake Confidence by Mandy Merriman | 89% |
 | 5. The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our cake cookbook reviews.
1. The Perfect Cake Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen
The Perfect Cake Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen is the ultimate guide for anyone looking to brush up their cake baking skills. This cookbook has been featured by The Washington Post, Tasting Table, and QVC. These reputable media outfits have reviewed The Perfect Cookbook because it is a book that is worth reading. It covers different types of cakes, from individual-sized desserts to multilayered cakes. There are so many cake varieties to last you a summer’s worth of practice.
Besides the cake varieties, this cookbook will also show you different backing techniques you can adopt to achieve the desired outcome. The major steps required to bake a complete cake from start to finish are also highlighted, namely,
- Ingredient measurement
- Pan preparation
- Ingredient mixing
- Dough transfer to the baking pan
- Baking
- Cake cooling
This cookbook also features recipes with attractive photos to give you a fair idea of what the final work will look like. Do you want to bake a cake for an upcoming birthday, a wedding or a dinner party? This book by America’s Test Kitchen has got you covered. It is a definitive guide for all things cake and more. A book worth acquiring.
Why do we like it?
- The recipes in the book are foolproof
- So many cake varieties to pick from
- Helpful tips and tricks to help you improve your baking skills
2. Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi
Cake lovers generally do not have a special preference for any type of cake, and if you are the type who develops strong cravings for cakes at odd hours of the day, you need a recipe that is easy to bake in an hour or less. Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi is a collection of cake snacks loved by both the old and the young. The simple cake treats in this cake cookbook will satisfy your cravings along with that of your kids.
The author focuses on single-layered cakes that can be prepared using a single bowl. The recipes contained in this book do not require electric mixers or high tech gadgets. As for the ingredients, they are easy to buy at grocery stores and baking shops. With modest adornments, baking powder and flour, sugar, and some whipped cream, you can bake tasty cake snacks in the comfort of your home.
The cookbook also contains different cake recipes like Ginger potato cakes, Caramel peanut butter cake, Chip Hazelnut cake, and lots more. With information about intriguing flavors included in the general data section, you can experiment with different varieties or even come up with your own recipe.
Why do we like it?
- This cookbook is both educative and Inspiring
- It offers insight into alternative baking techniques and ingredients
- The cake recipes are easy to bake
- Recipes do not require high-end baking tools
3. Martha Stewart’s Cake Perfection
Martha Stewart is a celebrated professional baker with years of cake baking experience. In her book, Cake Perfection, she reveals more than 100 cake recipes for home and professional bakers in great detail. Her cookbook is one of the best cake cookbooks you will ever read because it contains so much information. There are classic and modern cake recipes you can prepare with minimal investment.
Named as one of the best cake books of the year by Food Network, there is so much you can learn about cakes. Cake Perfection has cake recipes for all occasions numbering 125 in total. The book features simple baking techniques, captivating cake designs, and varieties of modern and classical flavors. There are also collections of tortes and tiers, sheet cakes and buttercreams and batters. Martha takes it a step further by introducing extraordinary techniques to improve your baking skills to ensure that your cake comes out right every time you bake.
You don’t need to pay a tutor an exorbitant training fee to learn cake baking. This book reveals all the tips and tricks you need to become a master baker yourself. Cake Perfection has it all the baking information you will ever need.
Why do we like it?
- A book written by an expert who knows what she is talking about
- The instructions are easy to follow
- Perfect indexation of ideas
- Contains classic and modern cake recipes
4. Cake Confidence by Mandy Merriman
If you come from a large family, there is always something to celebrate, and what better way to do so than with delicious cakes and snacks. Mandy Merriman’s book was written to help you do one thing; to bake your cakes with confidence like a pro. The recipes and cake styles featured in this book come from her popular blog, Baking with Blondie. This book is thought-provoking and will inspire you to think outside the box during your baking sessions.
The problem with most cake cookbooks is that many of them recycle the same kind of information repeatedly in different editions. Such books offer nothing new, but Cake Confidence is a breath of fresh air, and that is why we recommend it because it is one of the best cake cookbooks around.
Mandy goes deep into the step by step process of baking different types of cakes, and she also offers the reader helpful tips on how to bake complex designs. The book also contains decorating and frosting techniques in an easy to follow set of tutorials. Reading this book is like being taken by the hand and led by Mandy herself from one stage to the next.
Why do we like it?
- This book is ideal for beginners with little or no knowledge about cake baking
- The steps and techniques are perfectly chronicled for a clear understanding
- The texts in the book are written in a lighthearted and funny way
5. The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum
As the name suggests, this cake cookbook by Rose Beranbaum is a bible of cakes containing all the necessary tips, tricks, and suggestions you need to bake different types of cakes from start to finish. If you have ever needed a companion in your kitchen during your baking session, this is one of the best cake cookbooks you need by your side. This is because this classic cake book contains some of the most amazing cake designs you will ever see.
The author has a wealth of experience writing for women’s magazines and notable newspapers like The New York Times. So, you see, Madam Rose is a walking encyclopedia of cakes, and she shares her wealth of knowledge with her readers in this classic book, The Cake Bible. Her writing style is easy to digest, and she simplifies complex techniques in the most simplistic of ways. Hence her induction into the International Association of Culinary Professionals Hall of Fame in 2017.
This book has so much to give. For instance, you will learn how to mix your ingredients properly, make the most with little resources, bake healthy cakes that are low in fat with little or no cholesterol, and so much more.
Why do we like it?
- One of the best cake cookbooks for those looking to eat healthily
- Teaches the reader how to make economic use of baking ingredients
- Contains recipes for cakes for different social events
- Teaches cake baking from the beginner stage to the professional stage
Cake Cookbook Buyer’s Guide
Cookbooks come in different varieties and are written to cater to a specific audience. These books cover a particular focus, and cake cookbooks are not different. If you want to improve your cake baking skills, you need to find a book that will lead you every step of the way. The best cake books contain a lot of information about cake varieties, baking techniques and general information and these are the kind of cookbooks you should be looking to buy.
To find a very good cake baking guide, here are some things to keep in mind.
Number of Recipes
The number of recipes contained in the cookbook matters. The last thing you want is to buy a cookbook with only a few recipes that will last you for a month or a week. Fair enough, you may not exhaust all the recipes in the book, but it is better to have hundreds of recipes at your disposal than to have just a few. Owning a book that contains so many recipes in one volume is better than having different volumes addressing the same subject.
Does the book meet your need?
If you are looking for the best cake cookbook that provides baking instructions for single-layered cakes and simple snacks, it makes no sense to buy a book that teaches complex recipes and designs. Firstly, such a book does not meet your needs. Secondly, complex cake designs require more ingredients and complex baking tools that you may not have. Spending more money on tools and materials for cakes you do not have the time or means to bake regularly should be avoided. Make sure you go for a cookbook that contains the recipes you wish to bake.
Are ideas fresh or recycled?
Reading the reviews posted by people who have read the book is the easiest way to find out. The best cake cookbooks are those that contain new and fresh ideas about designs, baking techniques, and suggestions.
Text
Are the texts easy to read, or are they complicated? No matter how loaded with information a cookbook may be, you will find it hard to digest the information it discusses if it is written inappropriately. We recommend that you only buy cookbooks written in lay man’s text with numbered indexation and tips itemized in chronological order.
Pictures
It pays to buy a cookbook that contains nice-looking pictures. Pictures tell a thousand words, and they inspire you to improve your skills as you read them. Besides, the pictures in the book will show you what the finished product should look like.
Cake-focused cookbook
Avoid the temptation of buying a cookbook that provides random information. What you need is a cookbook that talks about cakes and cakes alone.
Price
Cake cookbooks are sold at different prices depending on the author, the text volume, and the format. Some of the best cake cookbooks are sold in a hardcover format, which is more expensive. You have the kindle or eBook format containing the same information but sold at a lesser price. Cookbooks with pictures also cost more.
Above all, the author of the book is the major determinant. Cookbooks written by celebrated authors and chefs cost more, but they represent value for money because they bring their wealth of experience to bear in their book. Just make sure you only go for a book that meets your needs and one whose price you can afford.
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