hey guys, any help on some dessert books out there especially cheesecakes and stuff?? i have all of rose’s books except the BB

Rose’s books are by far the best when it comes to desserts.  Nick Malgieri is another great dessert name.  Also, Cookwise by Shirley O’Corriher is great (very presice like Rose’s books).  Southern Living magazines/books have some great desserts too (recipes are sent in by readers and may not be as reliable at the others).  Don’t forget about the internet - allrecipes.com and epicurious.com are a couple of wonderful sites with recipe reviews by members.

Ditto to Patricia’s comments on Rose’s books. Epicurious is a great site. If you like chocolate get Marcel Desaulniers’ books. Maida Heatter has two dessert books as well.

I forgot to mention Baking with Julia.

Great books, Marcel, Maida, and Julia are gods.

But there is/are only one/three bibles:  RLB’s, great reference books, text books, reseach books, where most every type and technique is covered.  Unique type of cookbook style really.

Great suggestions, everyone. I like Carole Walter’s books too, she has one on pies, one on cakes, one on cookies, one on coffee cakes (which I haven’t yet taken a look at).

I also use Bernard Clayton’s Complete Book of Pie and Pastry and Complete Book of Bread a lot.

It was Maida Heatter who first got me hooked on dessert cookbooks…she has written a lot more than just 2 books, actually! I have many of them.

I keep taking Shirley Coriher’s Cookwise out of our library—I think I’d better buy my own copy! It is great for understanding more of the art/science behind cooking.

I agree with Patrincia - Rose’s books are the best by far for desserts and sweets. I love how she gives weights for her recipes, the scale is my best friend.  And the way she pays such attention to detail, giving hints and tips and descriptions of the steps. 

I love her Christmas Cookie Book.  I also like Mrs. Field’s for cookies.  I have Carole Walters Cake, Pie and Cookie books, and I have to say, I am not thrilled with the Cake and Pie book.  Everything I have made from them has flopped, and badly.  I consider myself to be a good baker, so it’s got to be her recipes, not me.  I do like her Cookie book.  I am not going to waste money on the Coffee Cake book, sorry Carole.

Malgieri’s books are good too, Desaulniers definitely has the lock on chocolate desserts.  I also like Baking with Julia, and Dorie Greenspan’s Baking, From My Home to Yours.  I have Rosie’s books, nothing really exciting in those. 

For cheesecake, for my taste, there is none to compare with Rose’s. 

MrsM

Someone I turn to after Rose’s books is Roland Mesnier, the former White House pastry chef.  He has excellent recipes in Dessert University and wonderful cakes in his new book, Basic to Beautiful Cakes.  In the newest, he has three versions of cheesecake: american style, german style, and coeur a la creme.  I haven’t tried any yet, but the recipes seem good.

Thanks Kim - the coeur a la creme cheesecake is enough to send me looking for that book!

Wayne Gisslen is another excellent teacher - his books are pricey!