Boutique Baking: Delectable cakes, cookies and teatime treats - Peggy Porschen
Quadrille - 2012
Photography: Georgia Glynn Smith
The introduction to 'Boutique Baking' is more of a personal history of Porschen's baking roots than a set up for the cookbook as a whole. Her philosophy comes through more in the recipes that are included and she is trying to create a series of cakes that are accessible for all talents. The cakes are based upon those she sells in her own shop.
It's easy to read and follow through both the ingredients and the recipe itself. The instructions are clear although you need to read through the full recipe before starting as the steps are not always in the best order for planning out times.
The cover is stunning, the artist is Carol Gillott whose blog has long been a treasure trove for cake lovers. The photographs are clean and light and they show the steps for many of the recipes which is very handy. All of the final results look beautiful and appetising.
Some of the adornments are very tricky and for most people would require buying in special ingredients and equipment. The cakes themselves without the sugar-work and additional decorations are lovely and a good variety of recipes. These are not quick cakes, they are beautiful and would be lovely to impress guests with but take a lot of work. The balance is very heavily towards complicated cakes with lots of steps rather than something quick and tasty.
There are some interesting and original recipes as well as lots of traditional ones. The layer cakes are especially inventive. My favourite recipes are the Sticky Toffee Cupcakes, the Chocolate Hazelnut Torte and the Creamy Caramel Cake.
This is a great book if you like beautifully decorated cakes however it is not an everyday baking book, much more suitable for occasion cooking. The photography is wonderful and the are lots of options of mixing and matching cakes with decorations.