Sally's Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, & Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix

by Sally McKenney

Sally's Baking Irresistible Cupcakes, Cookies, and Desserts for Your Sweet Tooth Fix

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Foodie, Culinary

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to get this for Christmas last year, as it is my first cookbook created by one of the many foodie bloggers (back before they were super popular and everyone knew them)! ;) I've made a few things like the scrumptious cookies on the cover, blueberry muffins, and some blondies! All delicious! I love that she's included various categories, so it's not all sweets (though there are lot's of sweet things to make, of course). She has a few things more on the healthy and savory side as well. I give this a two thumbs up review! ;)

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it! <3

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a big fan of Sally’s Baking Addiction for many years. This fun cookbook is not only a feast for the eyes, but also full of “Sally Says” aka very helpful tips that will take your baking to the next level. Beautiful color photos and yummy looking recipes to try.

[Marie Segares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally’s Baking Addiction is a visual delight. In the opening section, Sally shares her list of kitchen essentials and provides more details about the ingredients (such as which brands and types of peanut butters she used).

The book primarily consists of recipes – 76 in total. In each recipe, there’s a “Sally Says” section that includes tips or more details.The book also includes vibrant photographs (usually two or three for each recipe), and it’s organized into eight chapters:

Breads & Muffins includes 9 recipes,
Breakfast includes 8 recipes,
Brownies & Bars includes 10 recipes,
Cakes, Pies, & Crisps includes 10 recipes,
Candy & Sweet Snacks includes 10 recipes,
Cookies includes 10 recipes,
Cupcakes includes 8 recipes, and
Healthier Chocies includes 11 recipes.

One of my favorite details about the book is that Sally includes information about how (and how long) to store each item after baking at the end of the recipe.

Like me, Sally has a fondness for peanut butter and chocolate, Nutella, and bananas. The recipes lean heavily towards the sweet side of things. (The book’s subtitle is Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, and Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix.) I would say the title of the “Healthier Choices” section is a bit dubious, but that’s ok. I don’t think any one is picking up this book with the expectation of finding anything remotely healthy inside!

Other than the tendency towards super sweet (which may or may not be your baking preference), there isn’t much I didn’t like about this book.

I made the Brown Sugar Glazed Apple Bread, and it was a hit. I actually skipped the glaze because I thought we might go into sugar shock, but in my younger years, I probably would have added it.

One thing I didn’t like about the book is that when ingredients are divided, it wasn’t noted on the ingredients list. So, when making the extremely delicious apple bread, I actually added all my chopped pecans into the batter because when I glanced over to the ingredients list to check the amount, it didn’t indicate they would be divided. That’s a relatively minor flaw.

I would highly recommend Sally’s Baking Addiction if you enjoy baking sweet treats – especially over-the-top sweet treats! It has great pictures, recipes that cover a range of goodies, and helpful storage hints. If you aren’t into super sweet desserts, you should skip it as there won’t be much for you inside.

Full disclosure: A free copy of Sally’s Baking Addiction was provided by the Best Buy Wedding Registry. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.

[Natalie Casper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally's blog is my bible and I'm so happy to add her cookbook to my stash! She has so many great tips throughout the cookbook, plus a few recipes I normally wouldn't have considered just perusing her website.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the salted caramel cheesecake dip, it was really easy. This was my first time making caramel, and the book walked me right though it. Delicious!

[BRNTerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very nice hardcover book that has a photo of every recipe but not always one of the finished product, with the oatmeal scotchies being an example of that. At the time of this review I've made seven recipes. All but two of them turned out good. The sugar cookies and peanut butter cookies are truly great recipes with the sugar cookies being the most versatile since you can add anything to the dough- nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, ect. There's a great variety of flavors too, like peanut butter, apple, chocolate, caramel.



THINGS I'VE BAKED

DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE




This isn't moist at all. It's dense and very dry. This went into the trash can after eating just one piece. I made half the recipe in an 8" square pan and it baked in 18 minutes. The toothpick came out with moist crumbs on it so I know the dryness wasn't due to overbaking. The full recipe only has three tablespoons of milk in it. I followed the recipe and I'm convinced the lack of milk in the recipe is what ruined it. The frosting is good but that's the only positive thing about this. I made half the frosting and used just 2 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, which was about three tablespoons less than called for, and less milk. Anymore and it would have been too bitter for my liking.



PEANUT BUTTER CHUNK OATMEAL BARS



These are pretty good. They use chunky peanut butter, old fashioned oats, mini semisweet chocolate chips, milk, and a few other things. No egg. They're not too sweet. They're made in an 8" square pan. I cut mine into six bars, not twelve. I didn't make the chocolate peanut butter drizzle for the top. I think I'd like these better with creamy peanut butter instead of crunchy because the peanuts fall out when you take a piece off with the fork.

FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES



I wish you knew how good these are. I added about 3/4 teaspoon of lemon extract to the dough because I'm obsessed with lemon sugar cookies. I didn't make frosting for these but rolled the dough balls in granulated sugar instead. I got 25 dough balls using a 1 1/2" diameter/1 tablespoon scoop. I chilled the dough an hour, stirring once halfway, which is how long it took for the dough to be firm enough to scoop out without the dough sticking to the scoop.

These are excellent with lemon added. I baked the first batch for 10 1/2 minutes and the next batch for 11 minutes because the first batch wasn't crunchy enough. The dough spread out nicely and produced a cookie that's got some thickness to it. They're crunchy on the outside and chewy, not cakey, on the inside. The bottoms are a deep golden color. I have nothing bad to say about these. This alone is truly worth the price of the book. You could roll the dough in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar too.

When I baked the last six, for some reason they didn't spread out as much as the two other batches though they were baked on the same temperature, in the same oven, and the dough sat at room temperature for fifteen minutes like before. Go figure!

OATMEAL SCOTCHIES



Theses cookies taste very good but mine didn't spread out much, only by about 1/2"-3/4". I used mini semisweet chocolate chips in place of butterscotch and I omitted the cinnamon. I made just half the recipe and got 27 dough balls using a 1 1/2" diameter/1 tablespoon scoop. They baked in 10 minutes. To the rest of the dough, I warmed it slightly in the microwave and spread each dough ball out slightly with my fingers on the cookie sheet. They baked up nicely that way and looked normal. They need more salt.

CHUNKY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES



Excellent recipe. I didn't press down on the cookies with the tines of a fork to make the criss cross pattern before baking. The recipe uses salted butter and no added salt. I used unsalted butter and added 1/4 teaspoon of salt but they needed a bit more. I didn't add peanuts either. The cookies are very sweet. I got 31 dough balls using a 1 1/2" diameter/1 tablespoon scoop. I had to chill the dough for 2 1/2 hours before it was firm enough to use the scoop.

With the first batch I flattened the dough balls slightly because I was scared they wouldn't spread out. I baked them for ten minutes. They spread out too much for my liking. I wanted the second batch crunchier so I baked for eleven minutes and I didn't flatten them at all. The cookies were crunchy on the outside and chewy inside and they looked great.

BROWN SUGAR MARBLE POUND CAKE



This is very, very moist. It's made with vegetable oil and equal parts sugar and brown sugar. It tastes a bit off and I can't taste the chocolate much. I made my own chocolate frosting for it. I made half the recipe in a 1 qt. loaf pan. It baked in 53 minutes. I also doubled the salt to 1/4 teaspoon but it's not enough. I also used less vanilla extract. I wouldn't make this again. It looks good but doesn't taste so great.



DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS



These muffins are made with vegetable oil, yogurt, and cocoa powder and require no mixer, just a large bowl and spoon. I made half the recipe and got nine standard size muffins using a 1/4 c. measuring cup to measure out the batter for each. I used muffin liners and the muffins didn't stick to them at all when I peeled them off.

I didn't bake these at a very high temperature for five minutes then lower the temperature like I was supposed to do. I just baked them on 350 degrees F for 18 minutes. They're very moist and not too sweet. I did add vanilla extract though the recipe called for none. I used mini semisweet chocolate chips. These needed a pinch more salt. I love the way they look, with the cracks on top and I would definitely make these again.



I RECEIVED THIS FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review can be found at: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...


I absolutely love this cookbook author. Anything I have ever made by her has turned out absolutely amazing. I have yet to come across a recipe that I cannot master with her to guide me. I have watched a few of her shows on Amazon I believe. My kids were watching her and it took me a little bit to figure out that it is the same person. So when I checked Amazon for any cookbooks by her and I came across this one I knew that I had to get it.


Like I said above I love anything that this woman makes. I have yet to find a bad recipe from her. I had baked a few things from this cookbook but nothing to sneeze at. The only thing that I am bummed isn’t in this cookbook is her Corn Starch Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies. Those things are absolutely amazing and my family devours them in a few hours. I choose 6 random recipes that I thought my family would like. From dessert bread to cookies. I think the biggest hit was the Spiced Pumpkin Bars that I made in lieu of my daughter’s birthday cake this year. The graham cracker crust was absolutely delicious. I am not sure if I baked the crust right because I did it with my kids and forgot to set a timer when I popped it in the oven. Oh well, it turned out crispy and delicious and didn’t get soggy with the pie batter. The one thing I messed up and that is on me is Lemon Poppy-Seed Muffins. I think it left them in a little bit too long and they were pretty dry by the next day. I am going to bake them again and take them out a little sooner than what I left them in for.


Another big hit with the family and kids, in particular, was the Oatmeal Scotchies. I have tried other recipes before and none of them shine as much as this one does. The other one I tried had corn flakes in them and it just made them so nasty. This one is delicious and definitely a cookie that you can’t just eat one of them. Finally one of the last things that I tried was the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. It was absolutely delicious. Sliced with a little piece of butter smeared on it, you can’t get any better than that. I will definitely be making more things out of this cookbook and certainly remaking some of my favorites. I have already scooped out some of her other recipes that she has online that I want to try, especially her Swiss Roll Cake that I really want to try this Christmas Season. If this author comes out with another cookbook I will certainly be in line to buy it.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has lots of creative, interesting and easy to make recipes. You've got bread & muffins, breakfast, brownies & bars, cakes, pies & crisps, candy & sweet snacks, cookies, cupcakes and even healthier choices. I love the way Sally writes, and all the pictures are super cute!
I've already made the cinnamon roll blondies, and planning to make the Nutella-stuffed cinnamon-sugar muffins. There's tons of other things I want to try too!
I also love her other cookbooks Sally's Cookie Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cookie Bars, Shortbread, and More from the Creator of Sally's Baking Addiction and Sally's Candy Addiction: Tasty Truffles, Fudges Treats for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix so check them out if you haven't already!

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally lives locally and I was interested to try out some of her recipes, so my family bought me this cookbook for Christmas. I bake quite a bit, but mostly stick to my favourite British cookbooks. This has been an enjoyable introduction to some more typical American recipes. Even more enjoyable, though, has been the fact that this book has actually been an inspiration to my eleven year-old daughter who has been trying out various recipes. The pages are bright and colourful, have great photographs and very clear instructions. My daughter has been able to cook very independently and everything she has baked has been successful and delicious. Our favorites so far have been the Death By Chocolate Brownies and the Frosted Sugar Cookies. The only downside to this is all the extra sugar in the house - but our neighbours have been delighted by some surprise deliveries!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this cookbook! I have tried almost every recipe in this book and have had great successful with all but one of them. (The recipe that didn't turn out very well for me was the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip bread.) In addition to the great recipes, I really liked that Sally starts off the book with an introduction into baking with a description of different kitchen tools and techniques. I imagine this would be very helpful for people who aren't experienced in baking. For me, this introduction was good for reviewing techniques I don't usually use. I would highly recommend this baking cookbook to anyone with an interest in baking, sweets, and/or food!

[Trần Nguyễn Anh Thư · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course I didn’t get to read and try all the recipes in this book, but I’ve tried a couple of Sally’s recipes in the past and found them pretty solid for beginner bakers. One thing though: I find most (if not all) of her recipes too sweet (maybe also because of my Asian palate that doesn’t like overly sweet bakes) and have to always cut down more than half of the amount of sugar suggested.

I did take a full glance of this cookbook - love the colorful book and the recipes seem easy enough to follow, but looks like the recipes mostly cater to the American palate when it comes to desserts, so not sure how many of these I will try. Hope someone finds it helpful though!

[Laura Muresan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this baking book out from my library because I recently started using her food blog/website. Some good, solid recipes that also may be a little different. Some options with “healthier”😉 recipes, such as granola and fruit based recipes. She also offers some no bake options for desserts and snacks that I will try.
From her site, I used her favorite slow cooker chicken chili recipe that family really enjoyed. Great recipes there- not all baking.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a gift and have made a couple a few recipes s far, which have been delicious. All have been fruit based so far as I've been taking advantage of all of the summer fruits which are in season. I appreciate "Sally's Tips" that she includes with the recipes. This is a great addition to my cookbook collection.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lot of great recipes in it. It's not like some cookbooks where you look through them and struggle to find recipes that sound appealing. This really is a great collection - you feel like you're getting your money's worth with this book. As a beginner baker, I also found that many of the recipes in this book look very easy to make.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty much my go to book when I need to make a dessert. The instructions are pretty much idiot proof, although since I gluten free everything I do have to make a few modification (mostly adding milk to get the dough to the right consistency). Favorites in here are probably the key lime pie (it has been requested several times) and the healthy snack cake.

[kayle zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar cookie and frosting

These are the most fantastic directions and absolutely the best tasting in the detailed descriptions and this senior disabled man found a new hobby. My son, grandson and daughter get a lot of enjoyment as the official tasters. I bought your books and a member on line. Thanks for your precision labor.

[Cristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes I’ve made from this book have been solid. It loses a star for me based on the copy; I don’t need emphasis throughout on “quick” and “easy”. The photography is excellent but the formatting of the recipe pages are cluttered.

3.5 stars

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yummy, accessible recipes and a delight to read.

[Kata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love everything about this book and recipes, the only issue is that sometimes it is just waaaay too much sugar...

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all of the author's baking books, this one is my favorite. I prefer the blend of different treats vs just one kind. I want to eat them all!

[Teressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to have during coronavirus quarantine. The frosted sugar cookies are delicious. So are the salted caramel dark chocolate cookies. I also tried the potato chip pretzel and toffee...mmm

[Miss Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Excellent recipes, easy to follow, and a nice variety. A bit hard to find a copy but worth picking up!

[Sinarha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally's recipes are incredibly practical and always come out great! In specific, I've been searching for a solid pancake recipe for years and I finally found it here!

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

She makes it all look so tempting.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the s'mores fudge recipe alone. AMAZING. Starting off 2023 right.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very tempting sounding recipes marked to try out.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photos, descriptions, and recipes. Made me want to make everything!

[Landon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constantly used in a house of bakers! It will be at your house too!