Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat: A Baking Book

As with all Martha Stewart's compilations, this is a collection of preexisting favourites. New recipes are usually reserved for her magazines and periodicals, so you can be sure that these are some of her most popular and proven recipes. This book is also the perfect size, not too thick, not too thin, not too light and not too heavy. It has a generous 170+ recipes, each with Martha's signature photography. The recipes are not complicated but are also not overly simplified and most importantly the results taste and look good! A very beautiful book that is excellent for gift-giving. I also love that this book is about cupcakes and not "cutesy" cupcakes, although there is a separate section on decorating styles. A cupcake seems to be a very North American thing and visiting friends, family and clients from Europe often ask about American desserts such as brownies, anything peanut butter and especially the cupcake. Even the snobby, elitist Viennese girlfriend of an Austrian buddy loved American cupcakes, and actually asked to be taken around to several cupcake boutiques around town. I made them the red velvet cupcake for their plane ride back to Austria as a sweet reminder of their visit and they were the envy of the other passengers. I have made several of these recipes and each time they have been a hit both with friends from home and abroad. I just emailed the Meyer Lemon Cupcake recipe over to England for a friend's wedding and she is considering this book as a wedding favour. I also now know what to give my family, friends and clients as a souvenir of their visit.

...and that's a good thing! Martha Stewart's recent publications (Martha Stewart's Cookies, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, Everday Food) have been outstanding. "Martha Stewart's Cupcakes" is a great and expansive resource for everything cupcakes. I especially like this book because it offers such a wide range of recipes. I love to bake, but I am not interested in molding marzipan or creating chocolate-encrusted leaf impressions. The great thing about this book is that it has recipes for those interested in the minute details of cupcake decorations and those, like myself, who just want a tasty chocolate ganache cupcake. The recipes are organized in fun categories, such as "swirled and sprinked" and "filled and layered." Some recipes are quite demanding (spun-sugar crowned cupcakes) and others are quite easy (red velvet cupcakes). The book is filled with fun holiday ideas for every season and, of course, the beautiful photography that always accompanies the Martha Stewart Living publications. This book is great for anyone who loves cupcakes. The recipes offer a great range of difficulty, ingredient lists, and flavors. New bakers and pastry chefs alike will find something here to like. I am very pleased with the quality of Martha's latest release and look forward to whatever she releases next.

If you are familiar with Martha's Cookie book, this one will pair up right beside it. The cupcakes are for an adult pallet, and they are great for entertaining. She never skimps on a recipe. Some recipes call for fresh lemon zest, pureed strawberries, instant espresso powder.... This is not one of those 'lets search in the cabinets to see what we have and make cupcakes with the kids' kinda book. This is a field trip to the store to make the best tasting treats you can for a dinner party.

Cupcakes. Cuppies. Mini-cakes. Cake-shrimpies. Some of the names that have been given to this delicious little confection that are perfect anytime and anywhere and which somehow make us think that they are the perfect diet dessert as well because after all, they're so small! This book contains many ideas and recipes collected over the years of the MSL magazine and programs along with some new and exciting offerings. Another wonderful treat within this book is that the reader is not limited just to the generic "cupcake" batter itself; there are some fabulous directions that take you to cupakes, mini-cupcakes, and cheesecakes, just to name a few, that let you think outside the typical cupcake box. And once you are comfortable with making the treats, then you are given some of the most elegant or fun or whimsical ways of decorating these confections: piping techniques, chocolate, fondant, spun sugar (this was a FABULOUS presentation idea that is not at all difficult to achieve; wait until you see the photo!). Cupcake decorating is also a really great way of spending some fun times with kids; the section for Halloween is a blast and the steps to making those cupcakes are all laid out step-by-step so even the wee ones will have fun! For the more grown up occasions, there are pretty floral cupcakes that will make your guests really "oooh and aaahhh" over your creations. The holidays are aptly given attention with decorating-appropriate themed cupcakes with cookies and sprinkles, and piping. Regardless of the occasion, there are bountiful idea's for you to use or adjust, that will match the theme of your party. From the Domestic Diva herself comes her compilation of 175 ideas, recipes, and presentation for this all-American treat. The book offers cupcakes that range from plain and simple to decadent and elegant; it's up to you how creative you're feeling that day! Size-wise, it's a smaller book than most but it's very heavy both in weight and photographs; the close-up, detailed photographs, which are a hallmark of Martha's, are perfect. This is a wonderful way to make single-serving, unique, and tasty desserts that you can serve without fussing with plates, knives, forks, etc. As per usual Martha standards, there are excellent recipes, detailed directions, and absolutely pristine photography; that's always a given with her and you have to appreciate that as it is necessary when creating some of these confections. There are 8 sections of cupcakes with assorted recipes and ideas per each area. INTRODUCTION SWIRLED and SPRINKLED: chocolate chip cupcakes, carrot cupcakes, yellow buttermilk cupcakes, coconut cupcakes (light and fluffy!), red velvet cupcakes, rhubarb cupcakes with whipped cream, Devil's food cupcakes, chocolate malted cupcakes, tiramisu cupcakes (forget counting calories!), banana-pecan cupcakes, blueberries and cream cupcakes, zucchini-spice cupcakes, mocha cupcakes, tres leches cupcakes, date-nut mini cupcakes, ginger and mol

i *love* Martha Stewart's cupcake book! for years i've been searching her web site for cupcake ideas for baby showers and my kids' birthday parties. this book is chock full of wonderfully creative cupcakes for all seasons, holidays and special occasions! i've already made the shark and beach parasol cupcakes for my son's ocean-themed birthday party and the beautiful buttercream chrysanthemum cupcakes for a baby shower. you may think you need some special talent to pull her creations off, but all you need is a little practice and patience! there is no way you can leaf through this book without getting inspired...and drooling! After 287 pages of pics of and recipes for mouth-watering cupcakes, she includes informative pages on tools for baking, how to prepare a piping bag, working with fondant and marzipan, pastry tips and even how to display your treats. my husband agrees that this was a wonderful investment since he's seen how many of her baking ideas have come to fruition in our home...plus he's hoping i make him those yummy tiramisu or choc. salted-caramel mini cupcakes for his birthday! ;) yummo! ENJOY!