Holiday Gifts Part 4 - Cupcakes

Cupcakes are all the rage right now. With entire bakeries devoted to them, aptly called Cupcakeries, who wants an entire cake when they can have deliciously adorable personal sized treats? With their pretty paper liners and their perfect swirl of frosting, who can resist? Cupcakes are one of my favorite things to bake, and I'm thrilled at the amount of books written solely on these miniature delights. It seems the ideas are endless. With flavors ranging from classic to crazy, cupcakes have taken on a life of their own, and seem to be here to stay. Who knows, they might even take over the world some day! So check out some of these great cupcake books, and many more I couldn't list and bake up a batch of these petite sweets.

101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 Minutes
By Wendy Paul
ISBN: 9781599552590
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover
Published by Cedar Fort Inc. in Aug 2009

Much like the Cake Mix Doctor, 101 Gourmet Cupcakes spices up boxed cake mix to make quick cupcakes that look and taste fantastic, because after all, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts!” For each delicious recipe there are frosting suggestions to mix and match to create your own fantastic treats. There’s even a section of themes to bake for parties and special events. While the pictures in the book aren’t the greatest I’ve seen, the book is adorable and a great gift for those cupcake lovers who may not have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen slaving over the mixer.


Cupcakes, Cupcakes, and More Cupcakes
By Lilach German
ISBN: 9780982293980
List Price: $18.95
Format: Hardcover
Published by Imagine Publishing in Sept 2009

Featuring tons of cupcake recipes and ideas, Cupcakes, Cupcakes, and More Cupcakes is a must for the cupcake lover. With cupcake recipes for kids, and parties, and an entire section for true Cupcake Connoisseurs, featuring Crème Brulee, Tiramisu, Plum and Port, and Raspberry Vodka Cupcakes, you can serve cupcakes for every event, or just because! My favorites? The Lollipop Cupcakes—adorable mini cupcakes on lollipop sticks, perfect for party favors!

Wild About Cupcakes
By Rachel Lane
ISBN: 9780764162770
List Price: $16.99
Format: Hardcover
Published by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. in Oct 2009

It may seem like just a small spiral bound book, but Wild About Cupcakes is jam packed with fun cupcake recipes. With everything from classics to kid friendly, parties and special moments to an entire chapter on chocolate, there’s a cupcake for everyone in here. Baking for someone with a special diet or food allergy? Find recipes free from dairy, eggs, sugar, or gluten labeled throughout the book. There are even diabetic friendly options to choose from. I bet you’ll have a hard time picking just one to try out first, with mouthwatering pictures accompanying each recipe. Although, personally I’m kind of holding back on that “Fairy Floss Cupcake” featured in the center of the front cover... You know. The one topped with the beehive of stuff that looks a lot like what I pull out of the filter of my vacuum. Apparently it’s called Persian Fairy Floss or pashmak, an Iranian sweet, but it still looks like dusty cat hair to me. But the rest of the book looks great!


Celebrating Cupcakes and Muffins
By Michal Moses
ISBN: 9781574860320
List Price: $14.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Leisure Arts Inc. in Sept 2009

I think this book is absolutely adorable. The recipes are written within graphics shaped like cupcakes or muffins, depending on the section, and they’re so cute! With a ton of basic recipes, the rest of the book is dedicated to mixing and matching flavors and adding special ingredients to make the delicious, adorable cupcakes featured in the full page pictures throughout. There are classic cupcakes, cupcakes for kids, special occasion cupcakes, breakfast muffins, savory muffins, and even muffins for the health conscious. I can’t wait a few more months to try out the Superbowl Cupcakes, topped with caramel popcorn!


Martha Stewart Cupcakes
By Martha Stewart
ISBN: 9780307460448
List Price: $19.99
Format: Paperback
Published by Clarkson/Potter Publishers in June 2009

Do I even have to say how much I love this book? Come on. It’s Martha! Of course it’s one of my favorites! But seriously. The book is fantastic. With beautiful full page color pictures for each recipe, it’s a gorgeous book to look at, even if you don’t bake. If you subscribe to Living Magazine or watch the Martha Stewart Show, a lot of these recipes won’t be brand new to you. A lot have been featured in both places over the years, but they’ve finally come together, all 175 of them, in one place. From a simple glaze to a swirl of frosting, or completely unadorned, there are cupcakes here for everyone’s taste. And what do you do after you’ve baked your delicious treats? With a whole section on displaying and packaging your pretty little cakes, you’ll be sending your baked love home in style.


Hello Cupcake!
By Karen Tack and Alan Richardson
ISBN: 9780618829255
List Price: $15.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Houghton Mifflin in April 2008

This isn’t one of those fancy cupcake books that have you slaving in the kitchen for hours. By all means, use boxed mix and canned frosting, because the decoration on top of the cupcakes is the real star of the show here. With store bought candy and other common treats, you can create a whole array of adorably fun desserts! From dogs to penguins to pandas and Easter bunnies, Hello Cupcake! features tons of ideas, as well as templates to follow to help you make awesome treats for parties and events. Have a family reunion coming up? Make a family tree, with each cupcake made to look like each family member! Although, maybe that might be kind of creepy… I mean come on. You’re eating Grandma! But really—this book is great! All you need is a little creativity.


Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
By Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
ISBN: 9781569242735
List Price: $15.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Da Capo Press in Oct 2006

Vegan Cupcakes—taking over the world? Seems unlikely, until you actually take a look at the book. With amazingly delicious recipes, it doesn’t matter whether you’re vegan or a real meat and potatoes type person like me. You’ll want to make all of these. And eat every single one. With recipes like Chocolate Cherry Crème Cupcakes, Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes, Apple Cider Cupcakes, and Mucho Margarita Cupcakes, it’s easy to see how Vegan Cupcakes might very well take over the world.


500 Cupcakes
By Fergal Connolly
ISBN: 9781569065976
List Price: $16.95
Format: Hardcover
Published by Sellers Publishing Inc. in Dec 2006

Part of the 500 series, 500 Cupcakes may be a tiny book, but it’s filled to capacity with deliciousness. From low fat cupcakes, to classics, spiced cupcakes, and wholesome muffins, there’s something for everyone. Even those with special diets—there are vegan, dairy, gluten, sugar, and egg free cupcakes featured, as well as variations on most recipes.

Look for other books in the 500 series for more delicious treats:

• 500 Cookies
• 500 Chocolate Delights
• 500 Cocktails
• 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, and Gelatos
  

Cupcakes Galore
By Gail Wagman
ISBN: 9781840729962
List Price: $16.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Spruce in April 2006

There’s a picture in the very front of the book of author Gail Wagman holding a tray of cupcakes, wearing a cupcake shaped hat on her head. From this picture its obvious Wagman is serious about cupcakes. But not one of those completely serious, can’t-have-fun-because-everything-has-to-be-perfect types of people. She means business with those cupcakes, but she knows how to have fun at the same time. And it shows with her delicious recipe ideas. Enjoy tasty treats like Crepes Suzette Cupcakes, Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows, Crème Brulee, or the odd but probably very tasty Beer and Peanuts Cupcakes.


Crazy About Cupcakes
By Krystina Castella
ISBN: 9781402719943
List Price: $17.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Sterling Publishing in Aug 2006

With over 50 pages of nothing but recipes—sometimes two to a page—and the rest of the book dedicated to mixing, matching, and adapting those basic flavors, there’s a whole lot to choose from here! There’s a ton of recipes that are perfect to make with kids. Baking for a special event? Castella shows you how to create tiered cupcakes that will wow your guests!


125 Best Cupcake Recipes
By Julie Hasson
ISBN: 9780778801122
List Price: $19.95
Format: Paperback
Published by Robert Rose Inc. in April 2005

I really like this book. It’s a simple, unassuming kind of book, but once you get into the recipes, it packs quite a punch. With 125 recipes, plus variations to almost all, you’ve got quite a bit to choose from! From kid friendly birthday party and bake sale cupcakes, to those liquored up with alcohol for adults only, there’s such a variety of recipes featured that you’ll be baking cupcakes for every event and never have to use the same recipe twice! (Although, you’ll probably want to!) It’s a great book for the cupcake lover who wants more than just Vanilla and Chocolate.