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. 
Love PB Blossoms
arogers58 at gmail.com
I look forward to baking fruitcakes with my mom and my own daughter
jlynch6341@aol.com
i LOVE TO MAKE cHRISTMAS CANDIES. They remind me of being a kid and it’s one of the more delightful aspects of the holiday for m.
I look forward to the end of baking…so I can do the eating!! LOL…nah, I look forward to baking some tasty cookies like Alfajores!!!
Frosting with a side of sugar cookie and divinity!!
cher_theblondeprincess@hotmail.com
Want! I’m looking forward to making peanut butter blossoms… one of only a couple things I’m actually going to bother with making this year.
snoopy3463[@]juno.com
Liked hersheys on facebook
cher_theblondeprincess@hotmail.com
I can’t wait to make mint chocolate fudge, eggnog truffles, and chocolate crinkles!
I “like” Hershy’s Kisses!
There is so much on my list of things to bake and it keeps growning! But definitely PB Blossoms and my grandmothers teacakes
I like Hershey Kisses
Have fun at the cookie exchange! That sounds awesome. I’m most looking forward to baking pecan shortbread cups with dark chocolate chips!
Oh jeez, the holidays are a time to eat more dessert than is necessary, so to narrow it down to a couple would be blasphemy! But I know the ones I do eat will DEFINITELY contain chocolate!
Oh and I just liked Hershey’s Kisses on Facebook 🙂
I just “liked” them on Facebook. Can you tell that I want the chocolate? 🙂
I’m looking forward to making gingerbread men.
hewella1 at gmail dot com
pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my favorite fall/winter cookie. 46laura at gmail
Eggnog all the way!!! I also love all the holiday decorated cookies/cakes/cupcakes.
I love the variety of cookies and candies that are around during the holidays. A family tradition is Chocolate Crackles, if all else fails, there better be Chocolate Crackles!
I just “liked” Hershey Kisses on Facebook. 🙂
What I love about the holidays is that the cookie trays, so you can have a variety of lots of different kinds of cookies! Hard to choose my favorite, but I love italian cookies which my dad decorates as wreaths and candy canes.
Can’t wait to hear about your Hershey trip! I’ve always wanted to go there!
nire342@yahoo.com
I’m looking forward to making (and eating) puppy chow
I love to bake with Hershey’s! and living in PA i wouldn’t dream of using another chocolate!! I love this season and baking cookies. There are a few recipes I only bake at Christmas time and I really look forward to making them. I know my Hubby looks forward to eating them!!
Im looking forward to making sugar cookies…but not cleaning up afterwords!
I am looking forward to making truffles this year!
I adore my wife’s homemade pumpkin apple pie!
ralphlucy at comcast dot net
I can’t wait to make and eat peanut butter blossoms!
I love those canisters!! Can’t wait to make/eat ginger molasses cookies! Yum! intisar.bashir at gmail dot com
I look forward to eating decorated, frosted sugar cookies. They are my favorite holiday treat!
I “like” Hershey’s on FB!
I just “liked” Hersheys on FB!
I liked Hershey on Facebook.
I am most looking forward to making peanut butter fudge. lennetteknits at gmail dot come
I liked Hersheys on facebook. lennetteknits at gmail dot com
I can’t wait to fake peanut butter blossoms this year!
how about our entire traditional christmas eve meal!! can’t wait, i love everything about it 🙂
I’m looking forward to making gingerbread with M&M buttons!
I am so excited to make peppermint kisses for our cookie swap! I love baking in general for the holidays!
ellierae50@hotmail.com
What a great opportunity, Jen!!
I’m looking forward to making some homemade candies and chocolates this year.
To be honest, I am most looking forward to anything and everything my sister makes while home for the holidays. Which I hope includes cookies 🙂
I also went and “liked” hershey kisses on facebook
Looking forward to trying some new baking projects this year – especially some stuffed cookies!
I’m definitely looking forward to our annual cookie exchange, and trying all the new cookies that everyone brings.
smartash1218@yahoo.com
Hey so cool! I just did a cookie bake with my family this weekend, that was a ton of fun. But on my own I’m making gingerbread men for the first time (so excited to decorate them!) and I’m making some habanero infused caramels for the spice lovers in my family!
Most looking forward to making sugar cookies! runnerscookie [at] gmail [dot] com
I can’t wait for German Chocolate Cake! stephanie.pollock at gmail.com
I’m so excited to make my orange chocolate cheesecake, as I do every year for our Christmas Eve dinner!
My kids and I are making fudge to give as gifts and I’m very excited to eat some of it myself!
danipmack@gmail.com
There is nothing that I love more at holiday time than cookies! I bake with my mom and it is my favorite time all year 🙂 And yes, there is often Hershey’s involved!
cool giveaway-yum!
I’m looking forward to my mom’s cranberry scones. They’re a Christmas tradition.
I’m looking forward to my holiday bakery boxes filled with cookies, truffles and candies for loved ones.
This is an awesome giveaway! I hope you have a blast in PA!
I love all of lights, snow, family and festivities of the holidays.
I also just liked Hershey’s Kisses on FB!
Looking forward to making butter cookies and decorating them with my daughter!
i liked Hershey Kisses on FB!
Looking forward to making cookies with Cameron for the first time!
arghavanmadani@gmail.com
I “liked” Hershey Kisses on FB.
Arghavanmadani@gmail.com
I would love to do some serious cookie baking with all that Hersheys! Yummmm
katieeshinn(at)gmail.com
I “LIKE” Hershey’s on Facebook too 🙂
katieeshinn(at)gmail.com
any kind of holiday colored cookies!
Oh how fun!!! I am looking forward to making spritz with my Nana. We’re Swedish and its a Christmas tradition!
I am looking forward to makine white chocolate fudge, chocolate peanut butter brownies, and chocolate chip cookies!!
gogirl001us@yahoo.com
I “liked” Hershey Kisses on Facebook!!
gogirl001us@yahoo.com
I love homemade brownies with walnuts with Chocolate and caramel liquer poured over the top
I love to bake cookies, am baking three different kinds on Thursday….
What I am thinking of trying that does NOT include chocolate are gingerbread ferrets (my mom got a free ferret cookie cutter that just adorable) What WILL be chocolate are the crinkles. No one will ever top my mom’s
ohyoustealher@gmail.com
I’m looking forward to making several things… Two of which are fudge and peppermint cookies.
‘like’ hershey on fb
I’m looking forward to making peanut blossoms…mmm…
askarstad@aol.com
I’m looking forward to trying to tackle fudge this holiday season. We’ll see how it goes!
I can’t wait to eat some peppermint bark! yum!
KristenLJackson@msn.com
Liked Hershey’s on FB!
I’ve got a candy thermometer on my Xmas list that my mom all but promised me so I’m looking forward to experimenting with all those candy recipes I’ve been saving.
mcsteph424@gmail.com
I cannot wait to finish my son’s birthday cake! I know it doesn’t seem seasonal but he’s my December baby 🙂 We have fun coming up with a crazy design together and then I get to attempt to actually make it 🙂
This past weekend I made chocolate crinkle cookies with caramel kisses–yum!!
Cheesecake!
nesserjo21@gmail.com
Martha Stewart’s lemon sugar cookies and her jam stripe cookies – both were a huge hit last year 😀
I’m looking forward to making peppermint bark! I plan on doing that this upcoming weekend.
I like Hershey’s Kisses on Facebook 🙂
I look forward to baking my favorite cookies…a recipe passed down on my mother’s side of the family. They are horn shaped cookies with a nut filling…yummy!
Cookies! I love making an assortment for our Holiday Open House.
Ooh, anything with mint. Mmm!
Peanut butter blossoms with hershey kisses. Yum!
materra1@gmail.com
I am looking forward of making orange cookies. They are my oldest daughter’s favorite.
Looking forward to making anything with mint in it. Mostly likely I’ll be making some mint chocolate cupcakes with a white chocolate buttercream frosting. Mmm. Can’t wait to here about your Hershey’s trip!!!
Making my dad’s famous orange cookies! They are cake like and sooo good!
Lucky! Sounds like a great time.. have fun 🙂 I’m looking forward to baking for my family when they come into town.. nothing in particular just something good!
sweetebakes@gmail.com
Can’t wait to eat/make fudge. I only do it once a year!
I “like” Hershey’s kisses!
I’ve already made about half of my Christmas baking (my freezer looks like a bakery threw up!) but I cannot wait to make peanut butter balls!
tara.friesen@ymail.com
I can’t wait to eat some peppermint ice cream topped with homemade hot fudge. Yum!
I also just went and liked Hershey’s Kisses on Facebook!
tara.friesen@ymail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
I’m looking for to Snickerdoodles!
I really can’t choose. I always bake five or six varieties of cookies.
phjones21@yahoo.com
Welcome to my hometown. Hope you’re having a great time!
Cherry mash candy
Chocolate / peanut butter buckeyes – yum!
I adore peanut butter blossoms this type of year
mbb216 at yahoo dot com
Facebook fan!
mbb216 at yahoo dot com
I am just looking forward to baking cookies for and want to try my hand at candy this year!!
I’m looking forward to baking my favorite peppermint biscotti and eating my mom’s awesome chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies! : )
Can’t wait to make fudge!
I always look forward to making *and decorating* our cut out cookies!!
I’ve decided that for christmas this year I would make sticky toffee pudding!
Making Martha Stewart’s Gingerbread men recipe from her kids magazine from 2003, and then having a nice glass of wine with my sister while we decorate them in an obscene and perverse fashion. Naked gingerbread always give Grandma a chuckle!
erin.jankowski@yahoo.com
I already like Hershey’s Kisses on FB.
Really craving some of the Mexican wedding cookies. But I also love fudge.
OH MY GOSH!!! This is so exciting! I live maybe half an hour away from Hershey! Also I have been following your Twitter… I have met Chef Thomas Pratt and I know the Exec. Pastry Chef Cher Harris!!! How cool is that!? Small world! Anyway my favorite thing to bake is cookies. All the girls in my family have a baking day and we make tons of different Christmas cookies!
I can’t wait to have my grandmother’s pineapple upside down cake. Also, while in Hershey try to get to the spa! I have friends in Hershey and the spa is amazing!
sarah(dot)chverchko(at)gmail(dot)com
I can’t wait to make Reeses miniature PB cup cookies…simple yet divine! ecwherry@gmail.com
i can’t wait to make so yummy holiday white chocolate bark 🙂
dsl1108@gmail.com
i’m looking forward to baking ginger cookies for santa!
I am ready for fudge!
For some reason I always enjoy making Buckeye Balls. So simple, but so delicious!
I “liked” Hershey Kisses on Facebook!
Great giveaway! I love baking all fall and winter…keeps the house warm! I always enjoy finding a new recipe for our annual cookie swap, so holiday cookies would probably be among my faves!
I “like” Hershey Kisses too 🙂
Thanks!
preppysue@gmail.com
I can’t wait to bake anything!!! I usually do pecan tassies and biscotti this time of the year, but there will be much more, too!
I’m most looking forward to baking cookies. It’s the only time of the year where I go all with cookies and it’s a nice change from cakes.
I also “liked” Hershey’s Kisses!
I look forward to baking some delicious Brownies, with bonus peppermint for the holidays.
ncampos2005(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m looking forward to eating all the cookies we’re having at our cookie exchange this weekend! It’s my first time hosting one and I can’t wait!
I am most looking forward to baking classic chewy chocolate cookies for Santa! =)
(ashleyso2030@gmail.com)
“Liked” Hershey Kisses on Facebook (Ashley So)! =)
(ashleyso2030@gmail.com)
I’m really excited for ribs, rice, and fish! (These are our traditional Christmas Eve dishes.)
jfalksen at gmail dot com
Pumpkin bread!
I’ve been looking forward to baking a cheesecake.
atlmuzikfanzinc at gmail dot com
“Like” Hershey Kisses on Facebook
atlmuzikfanzinc at gmail dot com
I can’t wait to make and decorate sugar cookies this year!
26summer at excite dot com
I Like Hershey’s Kisses on FB
I can’t wait to make buckeyes.
ljyoung85 at gmail.com
I am looking forward to making cake balls and chocolate dipped pretzels and Oreos.
I love Hershey PA. A blogger meet up sounds fun! I am looking forward to making peppermint bark this year – something I’ve never made before.
My family is coming to spend the holidays with us and my 2 and 5 year old nephews love to cook, and especially love chocolate. I plan on using my time off work to bake Christmas treats with them so they can give their own gifts to the relatives. How excited will everyone be, especially the boys, to share their sweet treats.
Rhonda @ raucoin525@gmail.com
I’m looking forward to eating all of my mom’s cookies. 🙂
e8jackson6@yahoo.com
I like Hershey’s on FB
I can’t wait to make the peanut butter cookies with the hershey kiss!
I’m looking forward to cooking my great-grandma’s fruit cake – yum!
I can’t wait to bake some frosted sugar cookies and decorate them with my daughters. Have fun at Hershey!
I also “liked” Hershey on FB. I need some chocolate.
I’m most looking forward to coffee cake. Yum!
I am most looking forward to Christmas Morning cinnamon rolls! YUM!
Its got to be fudge, not a cookie but still my favorite part of Christmas
I ‘like’ Hershey Kisses!!
I’m looking forward to decorating and eating my favorite cut-out sugar cookies!
I’m looking foward to baking cookies with my family.
I go to my friend’s cookie party about this time every year. I always make different cookies. This year it’s chocolate espresso shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate. I am excited to make them.
How fun you’re off to Hershey, PA. Have fun with Anna from Cookie Madness!! I am most looking forward to tamales and champagne on Christmas Eve and Eggs Benedict on New Years Day 🙂
peppermint chocolate cupcakes!
mmmjeanbean@gmail.com
I look forward to making cookies so I can eat a little of the dough! 🙂
I look forward to eating FUDGE. It’s the only time of year I allow myself – who knows what I would weigh if I ate it all the time. I love Christmas Fudge!!!
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
Like Hershey’s Kisses on FB (SusanBenegas)
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
I look forward to baking pies, and christmas cookies 🙂 It’s my favorite part of the holidays.!
meggie_sue@woh.rr.com
I have liked hershey kisses on facebook ::)
i heart pumpkin choc chip cookies! i cant stop making them.
hbhalsod@gmail.com
I liked Hersheys Kisses on facebook! rhousley@gmail.com
I think the things I am looking forward to making this month is my White Trash mix & Peppermint Bark.
rhousley@gmail.com
What I am most looking forward to baking this season is Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes and Candy Cane Cookies!
cupcakekelly21@gmail.com
I liked Hershey Kisses on facebook. (Kelly Bonatsakis)
cupcakekelly21@gmail.com
I’m so excited to make lots of different kinds of cookies! And also some brie-and-cranberry puffs…
I am most looking forward to baking AND eating snickerdoodles and no-bake cookies! YUM YUM!
What a generous giveaway! I’m most looking forward to baking with my fiance. We’re saving for our upcoming wedding and tight on money. Our plan is to bake some cookies, fudge, and other goodies for our families and friends as gifts. Winning this would really help us out!
Thanks for the opportunity.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
I love homemade divinity! I hope that someone will make me some since mine always seems to harden too fast
baking goodies to give out as christmas presents!
I’m excited to make a gingerbread house, my annual tradition!
shadow3417@yahoo.com
I just made my Christmas sugar cookies…numm!
I can’t wait to eat peanut butter balls!!!!
dyna71482 at yahoo dot com
Can’t wait to make Gingerbread!
For x-mas I love to bake gingerbread cookie, buckeyes, and the peanut butter blossom cookies! Yum!
I make chocolate chip meringues for the holidays every year. I can’t wait to make and eat those.
I like Hershey’s on facebook!
bbscabral@gmail.com
GINGERBREAD MEN!!! 🙂
I’m looking forward to cookies!
SO excited to eat peanut butter chocolate cookies and anything peppermint!
Looking forward to making my gramma’s recipe for molasses cookies this weekend. I hope they turn out like hers.
malissmor@yahoo.com
I am looking forward to making Christmas candies… Fudge, Peppermint kisses, Peanut Butter balls. Its the most wonderful time of the year!
Baklava and 5 minute fudge.
kaflorey at gmail.com
i am most looking forward to eating buckeyes 🙂 and lots of them !!
florsurra@gmail.com
I love eating the krumkaker that we will make using my grandmother’s iron. Truly the taste of Christmas!
tackeberryjr@comcast.net
I am looking forward to baking so many things! Probably decorated sugar cookies most of all!
I can’t wait to eat ginger cookies!
I have a recipe for peppermint brownies using Candy Cane Kisses that I’m just waiting to try!
I like Hershey’s Kisses on Facebook!
I have noticed you don’t monetize beantownbaker.com, don’t waste your
traffic, you can earn extra bucks every month with new monetization method.
This is the best adsense alternative for any type of website
(they approve all sites), for more info simply search in gooogle: murgrabia’s tools