Cookbook Review and GIVEAWAY!
That’s right! My first review and my first giveaway!! I am very excited about this!
Confetti Cakes for Kids is written by Elisa Strauss, founder of Confetti Cakes in New York City. She has created confections as elaborate as a platter of sushi, a wine bottle in a crate and a designer handbag. Now she focuses her talents on her younger fans with this enchanting collection of cakes, cookies and cupcakes for kids.
Since my cookbook arrived the other day, I thought I’d include a review of the book. First of all, this is a very beautiful book. It has a nice hardback and book cover that is colorful and fun. It is broken into a few key sections:
-Introduction
-Cake Basics
-Techniques
-Basic Recipes
-Cookies
-Cupcakes
-Mini cakes
-Cakes
I love how the hard cover book is actually different than the bookcover. Both are very cute.
After flipping through the book, I realized that it is geared towards decorating techniques, ideas, inspiration, and how-tos. There are some step-by-step photographs to accompany many of these techniques. There are also templates in the back that you can copy and use for your designs.
I personally love new recipes in cookbooks. Funky new flavor combos to inspire my creativity. I didn’t get a whole lot of that from this book (although I can’t wait to try the apple-cinnamon cake with brown sugar buttercream). The recipes are in fact all the basics. There are recipes for a few varieties of cookies, a brownie recipe and a few standard flavors of cake. There are also a few basic frosting recipes including a recipe for lemon curd and rolled fondant.
I decided that in order to complete this review properly, I should make something from the cookbook. I was initially leaning towards yellow cake with chocolate buttercream because I’ve never made a yellow cake. But then I realized I should make something that I know and love. Basically have a mini-throw-down right here in my own kitchen. As loyal readers know, I have a go-to chocolate-cupcake recipe that I got from Laurie (founder of Cupcake Hero, Tuesdays with Dorie, and Layers of Cake). I make this chocolate cupcake a LOT. Everyone loves it and it’s so easy.
So I decided to make the chocolate cake recipe from Confetti Cakes for Kids. Watch for the thrown-down results in a couple days… I’m not going to post the recipe here. Maybe you’ll win a copy of the book to try this and other recipes and techniques yourself.
So here are the rules. Post a comment here and you’ll be entered into the drawing. I will be giving away 5 copies of the book. Entries will be taken until Midnight (EST) on Wednesday, October 15. Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. Feel free to use the DOT COM format to prevent spam.
Good luck!!
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
What a cool giveaway! This would be awesome for my son’s 2nd birthday next month. Thanks for the contest!
My email is lauren.c.king at gmail dot com
What a cute book! I’m just starting to decorate and would love this for ideas!
anneblanke@hotmail dot com
That chocolate cupcake recipe is still my go-to as well. Although the chocolate cupcake from CH: Coffee is a close 2nd. (The CH:Coffee one is fussier, so I still use the old one the most.)
I would love to get my hands on this book. I am in charge of 2 upcoming bake sales, and inspiration is much needed.
What a great book! I have this book on my wish list – so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!
mybakingadventures at gmail dot com
oopps- forgot my email gty46at hotmail dot com
Sounds awesome
sgbradstreet@hotmail dot com
How very cool! And such a cute book, too.
jenniferhaude at yahoo.com
Looks like an adorable book!
shawna626 at gmail dot com
Looks like a great book! Love your blog.
ryanandtiffany at gmail dot com
I love to bake cakes and this book looks like so much fun! Thanks
chrissyblogs at gmail dot com
This looks like SUCH a fun book!
i would love to get a free cookbook…i so love baking cupcakes right now!
my email is micmic2177 at yahoo dot com
What a great looking Book! I loved making my own cake for my daughters 1st birthday! This book would give me a lot of inspiration for so many other birthdays parties to come!
THANKS!
Michelle724 at gmail dot com
Looks fuuuuun!
aliciaambler at gmail dot com.
looks like a lot of fun, love to bake!!! aseminara at gmail dot com
great idea! cool book!
cctimmom@gmail.com
I would love to be entered into this give away. It sounds like an awesome book with great recipes and ideas
My email address is dani_girl8 at hotmail dot com
Thanks!
What a fabulous giveaway! I bet I could get years of use from that book for our 1 year olds future birthdays!
destinationAZ at yahoo dot com
This book looks great. Awsome Idea!!
How fun! Please enter me to your giveaway.
curtnancy@yahoo dot com
with a little one and one on the way this would be great inspiration. Thanks for the giveaway!
evedal06 at yahoo dot com
What a fun looking cookbook. I would love to win a copy of it. I am supposed to help with 1st birthday cake in a couple of months and this would come in handy.
Awesome idea! This would definitely give me baking inspiration!
elizabeth.stank AT gmail DOT com
What a great idea!
kayla.a.cr @ gmail dot com
Yay for a giveaway! This book looks absolutely amazing!!
steppystar@aol.com
what a cute book!
goodeatsblog at gmail dot com
That looks like a great book. Please enter me!
lrandall79 at comcast.net
What a neat giveaway. This would be a great book for me and my grandson to explore.
susies at twcny dot rr dot com
I would love to win a copy of this book! I’m having an “I Want Candy!” giveaway right not too – ends 10/15 – I invite you to enter.
S.W.A.K.
http://www.CuteStuffInside.blogspot.com
My email is cutestuffinside at hotmail dot com
Great idea, that looks like such a cool book. My email is tess2mommies at gmail dot come
That looks like a really neat book! I am crossing my fingers and adding it to my wish list just in case. Thanks!
Kristen
kristen.arland at gmail.com
What an adorable book! I’m totally a cupcake addict, but trying out new stuff is aways fun.
Jess
jessica.tupper at gmail dot com
I have loved this book from the first time I laid eyes on it! I love cute, creative cakes!!
cakesbyashley at hotmail dot com
what a great giveaway! I love baking and this would give me loads of ideas.
marilyn110999@hotmail.com
Such a cute book!
txaggie02 at hotmail dot com
That book looks like so much fun. You’re sweet to do a giveaway. And I am craving chocolate cupcakes now!
kopperhead at cox dot net
Hi! I love your blog! This book looks amazing, and I am excited for this contest! I forgot to put my email down last time
hmpatterson(at)accesswave DOT COM
The cover is too cute! I love the how-to photos – very helpful. Will watch for the results of the throwdown
Thanks for the review!
joyanna at ameritech dot net
what a great book!
evanshj@gmail.com
looks yummy!
Aww that book looks so adorable! I’m only an amateur baker, so I have a lot to learn. This book seems like a lot of fun to learn from. =]
babyblue1155 at gmail dot com
Awesome book. I want one!
mycatrules at charter dot net!
LOVE your sites. Then again, I love food, so anything food related is fair game.
OMG OMG I have been meaning to pick up a book on cakes for while! That one sounds like a good choice!
Email: trancelass47@gmail.com
My 29 year old “kid” would love this book. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
my email is kzappy@comcast.net
(peabody,MA)
How fun! I would love to be considered in your giveaway! We just had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and it’s never too early to plan for her first birthday!
My email is paislie98 at hotmail dot com
Ooo, choose me!
My mom was a cake decorator but never got the hang of using fondant & I would SO love to learn how to do it. And it’s clear that this author/artist knows her fondant!
email to
katiekolodzy at comcast dot net
This book sounds great. My boys would totally appreciate some new ideas for their birthday cakes.
mommytoboyz@gmail dot com
That book is so beautiful! I would love to attempt a cake or a cupcake for my kids too!
cpoolie-at-gmail-dot-com
It looks like a very fun book. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
andielib at yahoo dot com
I can’t wait to get this book! what an artist she is.
My email address is meera at baymoon dot com. Thanks!
This book looks like it will be great inspiration for my son’s 1st birthday this January!
she_ra_13 at yahoo dot com
Wow. This sounds awesome! I would love to win this book!!
sweetnessbakery@gmail.com
Yvette
I love this book!
pmchavez1024@hotmail.com
I have heard so many awesome things about this cookbook – I’d love to learn all the techniques!
caschlim at comcast dot net
What a great giveaway! This book looks so fun!
steffie100 at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great book and I’d love to have a copy of it…
jwaite@aumail dot averett dot edu
Wow, this book looks so kewl! With lots of ideas!! Thanks for having the contest!!
shannon_aj_nichols@hotmail.com
That book looks so cute and fun!
luvbball@gmail.com
That book looks adorable!
emomie@gmail.com
That looks so awesome!
I love creative cake ideas!
amabbate at gmail dot com
Gosh! You think maybe there’s kitty litter cake in there?? Ooh, I can’t wait. I’m all buttered up!
Email is: musicalvoyyeur at aol dot com.
Great giveaway! I have had thisbook on my wish list so I sure do hope I get it. It looks amazing.
Yvette
dyvette@gmail.com
This looks like such a wonderful book! Thank you for the giveaway!
Looks like it’ll be a good book.
My e-mail is jared.petersen@gmail.com
With three daughters under the age of six and a little boy who is about to turn one – this book would be a great source of inspiration in our house!
ahalfdozeneggs at gmail dot com
Oh, I would love this book for my girlfriend!
Eddie
serranoloans@gmail.com
gr8 idea. Book looks awesome.
What a great cookbook! I can’t wait to see your results!
angelaj105 at gmail
Ooops- my email address is
danipmack at gmail dot com
Such a cute book. I’ve volunteered to make cakes for some of my friends , so this book would come in handy.
stacey.gallant at gmail dot com
that book is soooooo cute. Im crossing my fingers that I will win one!
lapixie [dot] dusted [at] gmail [dot] com
Love Confetti Cakes – especially her sock monkey revenge cake!
staceys.scoop at gmail dot com
Oooooooh! I would love to have this adorable book! Thanks for offering us the opportunity to win one.
My email is lisa (dot) hatch at gmail (dot) com
This book looks like so much fun! I’m sure i would spend tons of time in the kitchen with it!!!
shopping_girl5 at hotmail dot com
Yeah! I love this giveaway.
email: outnumbered221@gmail dot com
The book sounds amazing!! Great giveaway! My email is in my profile.
The book sounds amazing!! Great giveaway! My email is in my profile.
What an awesome giveaway!
doreenre@yahoo DOT com
Popped over from Cake Wrecks. This book is fabulous! fourthmonth at gmail dot com
This book looks amazing and would be great to add to my collection. Thanks for the review. . .
melvolcom22@aol.com