I was one of Joy the Baker’s enthusiastic fans long before I signed up for the Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-Off hosted by Heather at girlichef that celebrates the launching of Joy’s new cookbook. Her blog is one of the many I visit on a regular basis and I have always loved her recipes so I knew that her book would be a excellent addition to my cookbook library. The first three weeks of the cook-off we prepared recipes from the book and now, the fourth week, it’s review time. Joy calls her book a “celebration of butter and sugar” and that is the best description I can think of to summarize it. You will find a complete list of cook-off participants and their recipe selections at girlichef.
The Joy the Baker Cookbook is a compilation of 100 of Joy’s favorite recipes. Its 241 pages contain beautiful photographs (I always make the recipes with photos first, don’t you?) and a broad range of recipes from peanut butter bacon cookies, chocolate avocado cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting to cocoa almond granola and zucchini and potato pancakes. And I want to make them all! Joy introduces each recipe with comments about her baking philosophy and a glimpse into her charming personality and delightful sense of humor. By the end of the book I feel that I know Joy and understand her passion for baking. She has even included a chapter of kitchen tips such as how to make buttermilk and brown sugar and how to season a cast iron skillet. Joy loves cream cheese frosting as much as I do and includes recipes for chocolate, brown sugar and peanut butter versions. Yum!
If you read the posts I have included in this Cook-Off you know that I loved the recipes I tried and look forward to baking many more in Joy’s book. The recipes are straight forward and easy to follow and for the most part use ingredients that I always have in the pantry. They are everyday recipes with special twists and additions that make them very special. The Verdict… I give this cookbook two very enthusiastic thumbs up and recommend that you add it to your cookbook collection if you love to bake.
Week 1 – Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Week 2 - Whole Wheat, Honey and Goat Cheese Drop Biscuits
WHOLE WHEAT, HONEY AND GOAT CHEESE DROP BISCUITS
Vanilla Bean Snickerdoodles
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
You know I love to bake, so this is the cookbook for me!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles
What a wonderful, comprehensive review of the cookbook. I haven’t seen any of Joy the Baker’s stuff yet so I’ll have to check her out. The goods you’ve made look delicious, especially those brownies. What a gorgeous buttercream you made!
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time recently posted..Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo from Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine, March 2012
Awesome review, Cathy. I’m so happy that you enjoyed this book as much as I did and that you were a part of this Joy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off!
Heather @girlichef recently posted..Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sauce {Joy the Baker Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off}
I’m sold; everything looks awesome and sounds so different, yet delicious.
Lynda recently posted..Classic Coconut Cream Pie
I have seen this cookbook several places and wondered if it was good. Thanks for the recommendation.
Ohh Looks like a lovely book full of fantastic treats – love those brownies with the buttercream!!
mary x
I loved cooking and baking along with you in the JTB challenge. Loved your review and am still thinking about your snickerdoodles.
Kim recently posted..Garides Saganaki (Shrimp with Feta and Tomato)
I’ve been visiting her blog for a while too.
I’m wishing her great success with the cookbook.
Ramona recently posted..His Girl….
Cathy, everything you’ve made from this book looks fantastic! I will be looking for it!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts
This sounds like a great addition to my cookbook library. I am really anxious to make the whole wheat, honey and goat cheese biscuits!
Kate recently posted..Hasselback Potatoes
Wow, everything you made looks outstanding! Amazon, here I come!!!
Liz recently posted..Filet Mignon with a Red Wine Balsamic Sauce~
Great review; it seems everyone is talking about The New Joy the Baker Cookbook. When we travel. I love to come home with a new cookbook; this might be the one this year.
Rita
Another cookbook I Must have. Can one have too many cookbooks? Nope!
Wow—I am so glad I stopped by to read this review and I had missed the snickerdoodles and goat cheese biscuits. (I am loving those biscuits really!) Great review. I may have to sneak this in my cookbook library—even though I am on a self-imposed cookbook-buying hiatus.
Eliot recently posted..Tropical Waffles
Mmm those brownies look fabulous! It takes a great recipe but even more so it takes a great cook/baker and that you are! Luscious!
Jamie recently posted..CHOCOLATE CINNAMON PANNA COTTA & CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT FINANCIERS
Yes, I always make the recipes that have photos first, and yours are always so enticing. I’m going to put this on my Amazon.com wish list, Cathy! It sounds like a wonderful cookbook, and once my daughter gets married this spring and I can go off this darn, diet I’ll be happily baking again
Pat recently posted..The Barclays Center–Basketball is Coming To Brooklyn!
Everything that you made looked so good and sounded great. I’m sure the whole cookbook is just filled with wonderful recipes.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Louisiana Soul Food…Call It Gumbo
As most foodies would agree, there always room for another good cookbook and this one does sound great. What a delicious array of goodies!
Susan recently posted..An Irish Roundup and a Winner!
A cook can never have enough cookbooks and this one sounds great. The goodies all look delicious and I appreciate the great cookbook review! Love those Snickerdoodles!
Great review, We were so lucky to have this stinkin’ book review job
Awesome fun..
Take care..
Gerry @Foodness Gracious recently posted..Zucchini and Cream Cheese Bundt Cake, and A Special Giveaway…
how did i miss your snickerdoodle post? i love those and so glad hers are as good as my childhood memories. great review of the book!
christy recently posted..Joy the Baker {cookbook review}
Great review!!!It was nice to be part of this event with you!
Erica recently posted..Cocadas de Arequipe (Dulce de Leche and Coconut Bars)