The Cake Mix Doctor Returns!

September 7, 2009
This volume isn't about artisanal baking nor does it pretend to be. And that won't bother the legions of devoted Cake Mix Doctor fans. Byrn's sixth book goes back to what made her famous: a whole lot of recipes for comforting cakes (plus some cookies and brownies) made easy thanks to the use of purchased cake mix and other supermarket ingredients. Readers are welcomed with thumbnail color photographs of all cakes in the book, with page numbers to enable quick flipping when a confection catches the eye. A hint-filled introduction, written in Byrn's friendly, collaborational prose, offers confidence even to kitchen neophytes. And then there are the recipes, 160 of them, many contributed by fans. They include lemonade chiffon layer cake with raspberry filling, made with yellow cake mix, frozen lemonade concentrate and raspberry pie filling; double coconut macadamia cake, featuring yellow or butter cake mix and vanilla instant pudding mix; chocolate-covered cherry cake, utilizing chocolate cake mix with pudding and cherry pie filling; and plenty more appealingly straightforward sweet treats. For those who want to have their mostly homemade cake and eat it, too, this book will become a go-to guide.

September 15, 2009
The author of the phenomenally successful "Cake Mix Doctor" is back with 160 new easy-to-follow recipes, 25 frostings, and recipe notes sections (beware of patron markings!). Recipes are organized into chapters like "Love Those Layers," "You're Your Own Wedding Cake" (which serves 45 guests), and "Frostings." A conversion table is also included. Byrn's fans will be lining up to check this title out. [20-city tour.]

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