Duff Bakes Think and bake like a pro at home

Goldman's follow-up to his successful Ace of Cakes cookbook is just as appealing as its predecessor. Goldman, a TV personality and owner of Baltimore's Charm City Cakes, and Gonzalez, the head baker at Goldman's Charm City Cakes West in L.A., team up to offer readers a litany of tips and practical recipes for all things flour based (as well as an entire chapter that focuses exclusively on vegan and/or gluten-free fare). The duo offer a nice mix of classics such as pecan pie, focaccia, carrot cake, and an apple pear galette, as well as inventive riffs such as Elvis Cookies-a savory-sweet blend of chocolate chips, bacon, bananas, and pretzel crumbs-and chorizo and manchego scones. The reliable sources for ingredients and guidance help readers feel comfortable making their own pie crusts and blueberry muffins before trying their hand at more challenging fare. Rounded out with plenty of salient tips on everything from selecting the right blowtorch (hit the hardware store) to getting cheesecake out of a cake pan (briefly warm the bottom over the stove top), Goldman and Gonzalez's thoughtful instructions are sure to inspire and embolden readers. Agent: Cait Hoyt: Creative Artists Agency. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Goldman is owner of Charm City Cakes, star of the Food Network program Ace of Cakes, and the man who brought power tools to the world of cake decorating, much to the delight of viewers everywhere. With a commitment to using authentic, quality ingredients, and a flair for innovation, the authors have evolved familiar recipes for breads, quick breads and muffins, cookies, sweet and savory pies, and, of course, cakes. An introduction to ingredients, equipment, and techniques leads into recipes that are written in a casual, accessible style. Also included is a chapter on vegan and gluten-free baking, with creative recipes for muffins, granola, doughnuts, and cakes. There are tasty blondie recipes, as well as the Elvis cookie, a combination of bananas, peanut butter, pretzels, bacon, and garlic. Goldman also supplies decorating ideas and techniques and special theme cake instructions. VERDICT Sure to be popular with the author's fans but inventive and engaging enough to add to the shelves of all bakers.-Melissa Stearns, Franklin Pierce Univ. Lib., Rindge, NH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.