The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Book of Desserts by Ellen Levine (2001, Hardcover)

My bookshelves are full and my kitchen doesn't have a lot of space. So when I set out to find good dessert cookbooks to keep on hand, I knew I was going to have to limit myself to one or two really good ones. Well, after I bought and perused this book closely, I sold most all of my other dessert cookbooks on Half.com and eBay.

If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I'm really big on pictures, especially step-by-step photographs. I really need to see how the finished dessert is supposed to look, and it helps me extremely to have pictures of the desserts at various steps in their creation. The photographs are gorgeous and well lit. Every time I look through this I get inspired to run into the kitchen and go cook something tasty and beautiful!

The recipes here are easy to follow - the ingredients are clearly spelled out, numbered steps guide you logically through the baking, assembly and decorating process, and the final picture of the dessert gives you ideas on attractive ways to serve and present it.

The recipes are split into sections - Special desserts (Mousses and souffles, custards and creams, meringues, crepes and blintzes, fruit desserts, puddings); Cakes (Cakes and tortes, cheesecakes, fruitcakes); Pies, Tarts, Pastries and hot fruit desserts; cookies; and lastly frozen desserts.

I love the range of desserts in this book. There are simple ones, desserts for teas and brunches, fancy cakes, simpler cakes, easy cookies, prettier (and more difficult) cookies. You can make something for any occasion using this reference book. Whether I'm throwing an elegant dinner party, a backyard barbecue I need a dessert for, a birthday party or just a quiet night at home with a treat for my husband, I know I can turn to this book for inspiration and a quick recipe.

THIS IS AN AMAZING COOKBOOK. IT HAS DIFFERENT TYPES OF IDEAS, WHICH ARE PICTURED PERFECTLY!
IT SHOWS HOW TO INCORPORATE FLOWERS, CANDY DESIGNS, AND MANY MORE GREAT SWEETS. I HAVE LOOKED FOR THIS FOR A WHILE NOW, AND BOUGHT 2 OF THEM FOR MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAWS...AND 1 FOR MY SISTER!

This is one of the best dessert cook books I've bought. The illustrations are tremendously helpful and the recipes are very easy to follow. Everything turns out exactly as pictured.