100 Afternoon Sweets: With Snacking Cakes, Brownies, Blondies, and More

by Sarah Kieffer

From Sarah Kieffer, the beloved baker behind 100 Cookies, 100 Morning Treats, and the popular Vanilla Bean Blog, here are 100 recipes for the most craveable p.m. pick-me-ups.   Sarah Kieffer’s pan-banging cookie technique became a viral sensation, leading to her bestselling debut cookbook, 100 Cookies. In 2023, her 100 Morning Treats was named a Best Cookbook of the Year by Epicurious, along with landing on a slew of Best Cookbook lists from Bon Appetit, Forbes, and more. Now, it’s time for a new volume dedicated to the joy of afternoon indulgence! From one-bowl snacking cakes to bigger baking projects, here are 100 afternoon treats to help you push past the midday slump, Pecan Espresso Bars Roasted Strawberry Cream Pie Kitchen Sink Crispy Treats Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake Straight-Up Yellow Snacking Cake Giant Pop Tart Fig Scones And much more!Filled with more than 120 inspiring photographs, including how-tos for doughs, shaping, and flavor variations, 100 Afternoon Sweets is the third must-have in the trilogy of Kieffer's 100-themed baking books. These sweets are perfect for wherever the afternoon takes at the office deep in emails, hungry kiddos coming home after school, or simply a restful Sunday spent lazing on the couch. DELICIOUS With more than 250,000 copies sold between the two, 100 Cookies and 100 Morning Treats are a resounding success with home bakers. Baking for the Holidays is a perennial bestseller beloved by bakers nationwide. 100 Afternoon Sweets returns to another year-round baking book with a variety of accessible, reliable, delicious recipes for a wide range of home cooks. ACCOMPLISHED Sarah Kieffer is the beloved blogger behind The Vanilla Bean Blog, a past winner of Saveur Reader's Choice Best Baking & Desserts Blog. The author of four cookbooks, she has been featured by Food52, The Today Show, Mashable, The Kitchn, America's Test Kitchen, Huffington Post, and more. GREAT With anyone-can-do-it recipes, this is a perfect anytime gift (birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, housewarming, etc.) alongside a cute apron or baking product. Package this book with 100 Morning Treats, 100 Cookies, and Baking for the Holidays to create an irresistible 4-in-1 set for a lucky baker in your life. Praise for Sarah's previous recipe 100 Morning "This wonderfully delectable cookbook is chock-full of amazing baked goods—perfect for breakfast, brunch, even afternoon tea—with recipes adaptable for a wide range of skill levels." —Shelf Awareness  “This volume is a must for bakers at all levels who want to create memorable morning meals." —Publisher's Weekly "Kieffer’s ample offerings leave no sugar-topped pastry untouched." —Booklist  100 "Sarah Kieffer is the one who broke the Internet with her pan-banging cookies, large, chocolate-rich, and rippled like sandbars. And this book offers plenty of bangers, with a whole chapter of crinkly treats for those who like to make some noise on the way to dessert. Baking them all could be your winter challenge." —The Boston Globe    "Kieffer's book is a baker's baking book, but it's also completely unpretentious. There are cookies for when you just want a good cookie, and more ambitious recipes for when you want to attempt palmiers or break out a culinary torch." —Food & Wine Baking for the "In this cheerful collection, Kieffer, founder of The Vanilla Bean Blog, shares dozens of sweet recipes perfect for the holiday season. . . . Avid holiday bakers should put this on their wish list.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Pan-banging since 1993.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am astounded by how beautiful this book is and how amazing all 100 recipes for afternoon snacks are. Every described cake, pie, brownie, pastry, croissant, and more made me drool and review the recipes to see if I had the ingredients available. Will be buying for my home library and for my friends who love to whip up desserts!

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following her winning formula and Style, Kiefer follows-up from 2023’s 100 Morning Treats (See my review.) and 2020’s 100 Cookies with the same panache, attention to detail, and great photography. Her directions are straight-forward and accessible to any level of baker. Her Intro includes her baking journey, recommended use of the cookbook, and her preferred ingredients and equipment. She breaks up each chapter with a quote to emphasize the joy of baking and sharing the bounty with others. She includes On-Bowl Bakes, Brownies, Blondies, and Bars, Pie Bakes, No Bakes, bakes For a Crowd, Weekend Projects, and a chapter on Beginnings and Endings which includes her fabulous buttercream recipes and other foundations like pastry dough. Her Extras chapter includes technique and ingredients for brown butter and other add-ons like lemon curd. Following the recipes are a complete Bibliography, Resources, and an Index, as well as a list of Music To Bake To. So many great recipes and so clearly broken down for novice and experienced baker alike. I urge you to look for her other books if you have not had the pleasure, and other readalikes may be Tosi’s Milk Bar Kids Only baking book, Paul Hollywood’s Bake, and Edd Kimber.

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Kieffer's previous cookbooks (all hits, no misses!) and this one is equal in quality to the prior titles. Recipes are always easy to follow, TASTY, and the simple layout with quality photos makes for a timeless collection for your kitchen (yes, buy her collection. I have and I'm here to be the best-worst influence on your book buying budget).

What I particularly loved about 100 Afternoon Sweets:

*Perfected classic cakes

*Interesting flavor combinations (cranberry caramel upside-down cake?! Chocolate & red wine in baking?--I wish I liked wine so I could cheerfully try that one)

*Most excited to try: Raspberry Poppyseed Cake, Blueberry Muffin Cake (how heavenly does that sound for accompanying an afternoon coffee??), Banana Bread Brownies (OMS, YES PLEASE!), and Raisin Rum Bars (just because the title makes me miss my grampa)

SO excited for my pre-order to arrive and a copy to arrive at my local library!

My thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest review!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow-up to 100 Morning Treats that's another must-have for bakers. I'll be adding this entire cookbook to my list of recipes to try.

Thanks for the arc!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kieffer offers drop-dead recipes, but also literary quotes, and music, and joy!

[Emmalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to embrace this cookbook. After trying several of the recipes, I now completely endorse it. Part of my struggle is that, to me, cookies are the perfect afternoon sweet, and Sarah Kieffer opted not to include cookies in this book (if you don’t already have her 100 Cookies cookbook you really should).

The very first recipe I tried in 100 Afternoon Sweets was disappointing. It was the Jam-Filled Donut Cake. The first bite was good, but it got old fast. After a few weeks I picked it back up and tried the very first recipe, My Perfect Afternoon Snacking Cake. The name of the recipe is accurate. You should buy this cookbook for this recipe alone. I have made it several times now and it is a hit every time. I have made it gluten free and I have made it dairy free (but not vegan), still a banger. It is truly a perfect snacking cake because it is moist and flavorful with no frosting needed. It has a beautiful orange aroma and a nice tangy sweetness. It does call for triple sec or orange liqueur, and normally I would have tested it with orange juice, but I’ve had a bottle of triple sec sitting around forever and finally a good way to use it.

Of the recipes I baked, the Bourbon Blondies and the Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake squares were the most popular. I can’t eat nuts, so I can assure you that the coffee cake squares are very good without the almonds. I also quite liked the Coffee Blondies and Lemon Cake Squares. I have several more recipes earmarked, so I’m looking forward to trying them when I get ahold of a physical copy after publication in October. There is one explicitly gluten free recipe in the book, the last recipe, Gluten Free Cake. It looks fine, but the whole no nuts thing means I haven’t tried it because it calls for almond flour.

Cookbook introductions don’t generally get a lot of attention, but I appreciated Sarah Kieffer’s introduction here. I am known to love baking and will offer to bring baked goods at the drop of a hat. I get very frustrated when people tell me they don’t bake because it’s too much science, too exacting. I have a whole spiel about the best way to learn to bake is to bake and understand that there is nothing wrong with failure. Kieffer’s introduction is about baking being fun and “failing towards success.” Everyone fails, even the most experienced and accomplished bakers fail and that’s ok. The three things she wants you to remember – have fun, respect the kitchen gods, don’t be afraid of failure. I am an ADHD chaos gremlin in the kitchen. If I can bake, anyone who wants to bake can too. But, if you just want to eat baked goods that someone else has made, that’s fine also. Someone has to eat all the goodies dancing in my brain.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Chronicle Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

00 Afternoon Sweets is a beautifully photographed cookbook with recipes developed and curated by Sarah Kieffer. Released 1st Oct 2024 by Chronicle Books, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Another excellent collection from this prolific and talented author. This is a definitive and extensive collection of recipes with something for everyone - from classics to fairly fancy and innovative. These will gladden the hearts of anyone who has ever searched in vain for a recipe to take to a family gathering or other event. This will become a staple for every cook who enjoys baking sweet treats.

The introduction (indeed the whole book) is written very clearly and covers everything from tools to supplies to "how-to" tutorials and techniques. The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: one bowl bakes, brownies blondies & bars, pie bakes, no bakes, weekend projects, partial recipes/frostings/alternate doughs, and extras (toppings, creams, sauces).

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Yields, description, and prep time are included in a header bar. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store.

The book also includes a short author bio and conversion charts, along with an index including an ingredients index. There is a short bibliography and links for sourcing specialized ingredients and equipment. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a wide variety of holidays and occasions to celebrate. They're tasty and many are simple and easy to prepare, requiring few ingredients and little prep time. Other recipes are *very* fancy and will impress even the most jaded tastes.

Five stars. This is a winner collection. It would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, gifting, or home use. This volume coordinates in art and printing style with the other books in the series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[Carla Bruns · Rating 5 out of 5]

"100 Afternoon Sweets" by Sarah Kieffer offers delicious recipes for indulgent afternoon treats, from snacking cakes to elaborate desserts. If you love to have treats at the ready to appease your sweet tooth, or if you enjoy taking on a more challenging dessert on the weekend, this is the book for you. Please note that she does not include traditional cookie recipes in this book; those are covered in her cookie cookbook. However, she does feature plenty of pan-style cookies, so all the yummy bakes are covered. The introduction is essential reading if you're baking from this book, as Kieffer explains her personal measuring techniques, which are appreciated and necessary to get the recipes right. The recipes are approachable, and the ingredients are easy to find. The one recommended item that is not as easy to obtain (especially for those living in less populated areas) is not a requirement, and this is explained in the introduction. The instructions are thorough, and there are pictures with every recipe. I also appreciate the bookish quotes at the beginning of each chapter. If you want to own one baking book that will cover you for daily treats, simple parties (including birthdays), and fun weekend challenges, then this is the cookbook you need.

Thank you to Chronical Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an unrelenting sweet tooth, so I was excited to read this cookbook. The pictures are ‘chef’s-kiss’ and made me so hungry!
The book is divided into an introductory section with cooking and ingredient tips and then into seven categories of recipes. Most recipes are 9-12 servings, but the author includes a ‘For a Crowd’ section with up to 24 servings. I wish there were estimates on cooking times for each recipe, but the author, Sarah Kieffer, includes all of the weights for each ingredient, which I love since that is my preferred way to measure for baking. The first recipe section is ‘One-Bowl Bakes’ which is mainly snacking cakes. I would say that that section had the fewest recipes that appealed to me because I am not much of a cake person. The ‘Brownies, Blondies and Bars’ was my favorite section, with at least six recipes I immediately added to my to-bake list. The ' Pie Bakes’ were creative and had some unique ideas; I think they would be great for baking for guests or to take to dinners with friends. I was surprised to find the ‘Extras’ section so useful. I will be referring to this section often!

I received an advanced copy of this book through Net Galley for an honest review.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who can resist a book with a title like this one? Everyone would love a sweet afternoon snack - kids coming home from school, a mid-afternoon break at work, or a sweet with tea or coffee for a stay at home person! Chapter titles are 1. One-Bowl Bakes, for batter cakes, 2. Brownies, Blondies and Bars, 3. Pie Bakes, 4. No Bakes, 5. For a Crowd, 6. Weekend Projects, 7. Beginnings and Ends, and 8. Extras. Measurements are provided in American Units, Metric Units and by weight. Temperatures are in F and C.

In reading the Introduction, I even learned a few new tricks, and I've been baking at home for a very long time.

Beautifully photographed, Lucious looking snacks fill this book. I may just have to try all the brownie and blondie recipes. I never thought of using toasted sesame oil and sesame seeds in a blondie, but I love them so I'm ready to try that recipe. But I'm planning to bake the Brown Butter Banana Blondies first!

My mouth watered at the pies, which aren't your grandmother's pies at all. Mmm. Chocolate Irish Cream Mousse Pie! No Bakes includes recipes for many ice cream cakes and other treats. The book has 304 pages of great ideas. I think you'll find any number of snack or desserts that you'll love.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kieffer does an excellent job with presentation and organization within her cookbooks and this latest title is no exception. The vast majority of recipes each include beautiful photos of the dishes which are sure to inspire anyone paging through. There's a good amount of text for the readers who enjoy a little background, but it never veers into overwhelming blocks of texts. Each recipe is a bite-sized treat visually. Kieffer also includes weights for many of the ingredients, which is a helpful addition. There's a good range of recipes as well, with a good mix of classic, familiar recipes and recipes that get a little more fun with the ingredient combinations.

As always, I try to cook at least one recipe from a cookbook to get a feel for how the recipes turn out. In this case, I gave the Coffee Blondies a try. While the coffee-lover in me would have preferred a stronger coffee taste, they are still absolutely delicious and I can see myself giving these another whirl in the future. The instructions were easy to follow and the blondies came together very quickly.

All in all, this is a great book if you're looking for something that's just as tasty to look at as eat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing an advanced copy to review

[Genesee Area Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an advanced copy from NetGalley.

Right out the gate, I’m happy to see that the ingredients are listed with their weight equivalents. That earns points with me as I’m a firm believer that when it comes to baking, you should ALWAYS weigh ingredients.
The start of the book lays out common tools and ingredients, setting you up for success when it comes to making the recipes. There are some common flavor combinations, and some not so common ones. Every recipe has a picture too which is awesome.
I feel the sections are laid out perfectly but wish there was a few more options to the no bake section. Most were ice-cream based bars, which is far from being a problem, but I would have like to see a little more variety.
My two favorite sections were the baking for a crowd and weekend projects. As someone often bakes for a crowd, this section will come in handy. I also like that they weren’t just repeats of recipes found else in the book. Weekend projects have a few more ingredients and steps, but they are sure to be worth the effort.
And finally, the last two chapters cover all the extra bits and pieces, the recipes that are used over and over such various styles of buttercream, caramel, lemon curd, etc.
This one is definitely worth a look if you love to bake.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but my opinions are my own.

The cover is what drew me in for this book. The sweets look SO good in here since the pictures are so beautiful. I will note that there are not cookie recipes really in here as the author seems to have a whole other book dedicated to them. Despite there not being cookies, I think a lot of these recipes will lend well with sharing since they end up being bars or cakes or pies which you pour into a pan and then slice after baking etc. There are some no-bake recipes as well and large-format recipes for parties. I think I'll make some of these for my office and see how it goes :)

Definitely read the notes in the beginning. They mention it but they set the weight of 1 cup of flour to 142 grams (I've found most of the time I've weighed 1 cup of flour to 120 grams....) They do encourage the use of a scale.

I would buy this book for my friends or family. It's pretty and would do well on display as well since it has a lot of pictures. I'll update this review if I do end up making any recipes to report back on how it went :)

[Britney Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kieffer is the author of the cookbook “100 Cookies”, so naturally I was ecstatic to see her new cookbook “100 Afternoon Sweets.” It’s filled with information in regards to baking (ingredients, tools, etc), which makes it extremely easy to follow along for less experienced bakers. In the beginning of the book you also learn how she came up with the cookbook title, which allows us to connect with the author and it’s very relatable.

One of my biggest turn offs in a cookbook, is the lack of photos. This is the total opposite, I believe every single recipe has a photo that goes along with it. That’s what gets your mouth watering and makes you want to head into the kitchen immediately to test recipes. I can’t wait to make many of these and present them to my family for reviews, there’s so many good ones I’m not sure where to start.

I would highly recommend this cookbook to any friends or someone wanting a variety of recipes.

Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kieffer, the popular baker and author, has come out with a new cookbook called "100 Afternoon Sweets" featuring 100 delicious recipes for afternoon treats. The book includes a variety of sweet snacks like Pecan Espresso Bars, Roasted Strawberry Cream Pie, Giant Pop Tart, and more. With easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful photos, this cookbook is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth during the afternoon slump.

I must admit, I was thrilled to receive this Advance Reader Copy (ARC). Recently, my family has been craving more sweets, prompting me to explore baking beyond pre-packaged goods. I prefer to keep things simple and wholesome, ensuring that we know exactly what we are consuming.

I found great pleasure in reviewing this digital ARC. The array of delectable recipes accompanied by enticing photos truly elevated my excitement. The One-Bowl Bakes and No Bakes sections particularly caught my eye. I cannot wait to dive in and start baking!

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delicious cookbook for us. Seems like every sweet we could imagine and more were in this book. With mouth-watering photographs that make you want to taste everything and creative recipes you will want to try every single recipe. The book also has helpful information like how-to to make dough and add flavors. There were so many treats for different occasions, just snacking around and kids home from school. I love the detailed recipes with a description, detailed ingredients and step-by-step understandable directions that even a beginner like me could follow with ease. I found things I also wanted to make but didn’t know how to make like meringue,ganache and brown butter. I of course found some new favorite recipes like Pecan Espresso Bars and Chocolate Irish Cream Mousse Pie. This was an ebook ARC but I can’t wait for October to add this book to my collection and to gift one to my mom. Your family will love this cookbook. Enjoy together and savor the treats.

[Oaky Tyree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true case of you eat with your eyes first. I definitely feasted with my eyes first and drooled, for sure. I appreciated and loved the font, the layout, the pictures, and just the overall feel of this marvelous cookbook for dessert lovers and bakers. It was modern and the recipes fit well with the overall design.

I wrote buttermilk so many times when I was marking these recipes down to which ones to try out first. The snacking cakes were the first to get me all excited to try the recipes. Perhaps it's the little even squares, or perhaps that most of her ingredients were staples in the pantry. Either way, I wanted to make almost every single thing in this book. One notice was the lack of cookies, which I figured would be a huge deal with afternoon sweets, but hey, there were a few cookie-focused snacking cakes.

Loved, loved this cookbook and style. I'm definitely now a fan of this author's work and recipes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this great cookbook. All opinions are my own.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was _incredibly_ excited for this book after reading 100 Morning Treats and Baking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive Season, and it absolutely met my expectations!

Just like the other books, this one is beautifully photographed and contains scads of mouthwatering recipes. I often crave an afternoon pick-me-up, but never know (or am too indecisive on) what to make. This will help with that!

Fans of Kieffer's other books/blog, as well as newcomers, will certainly enjoy this book--a worthy successor.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you, like myself, just starting a diet, I offer a warning that the recipes in this book look delicious and all look like they are guaranteed diet buster. Honestly, some of the recipes look so decadent, I feel like I gained 5 pounds just salivating over the pictures (LOL.) The directions are clear and easy to understand and include where appropriate so additional tips. One of my favorite things is the icings were separated in their own section, if you want to mix and match or just need a good icing recipe for something you already make. I have one relative who visits every few weeks and has come to expect a good dessert when you does. I now have a lot of choices from cases to cheesecakes or ice cream cakes. YUM. This might make a perfect holiday gift for a friend or relative or gift the book to yourself and invite them over to enjoy the "cakes" of your labor.
Enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Jennifer T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful cookbook from Sarah Kieffer. Full of delicious sounding recipes each with an accompanying hunger-inducing, diet-wrecking photo. In her previous book her recipe for banana bread is the best I’ve ever made so I can’t wait to dive into the recipes in this one. It starts with a chapter on how to use the cookbook including equipment, oven temperatures, etc. then moves on to the recipes that are divided up into type: snack cakes, pies, bars, etc. I can’t wait to make the banana bread bars, milk chocolate swirl brownies, oatmeal fudge bars, and blueberry muffin cake among several others. She gives clear instructions so I think this cookbook will appeal to both novice and experienced bakers. I’d definitely buy a copy for myself or as a gift.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a baking book that provides options and variety! 100 Afternoon Sweets has treats for anyone and everyone. Bars, pies, cakes, no bakes, one person or big crowd, plus some great recipes for extras to round it all out (just know there are no cookies though). Whether you are new to baking or an expert looking for something new, there is a recipe or tip for you. The intro does a good job of introducing you to the author, her recommendations, and suggestions for success. Ingredients are provided in both forms of measurement for ease of use, regardless of your location. I especially love all the buttercream options. The only problem I had was figuring out where to start and wanting one of everything!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Carey’s Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! Looking through this book is making my mouth water! As someone with a major sweet tooth, I’m very happy with these recipes & I can’t wait to try them out. It even has a section with all ‘No Bake’ recipes, great for summer when you don’t want to heat the oven & house up to bake but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth! I love how there are photos for almost every recipe, with mostly all on hand ingredients and easy to follow directions. All the recipes look so delicious, I don’t know where to start. With sections named ‘One-Bowl Bakes’, ‘Brownies, Blondies and Bars’, ‘Pie Bakes’, ‘No Bakes’, ‘For a Crowd’, ‘Weekend Projects’, ‘Beginnings & Ends’ and the last section ‘Extras’. There is something for everyone in this book.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

[Christine Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon Sarah Kieffer’s book 100 Morning Treats at my library last year and it forever changed my breakfast game in the Mills house. So when I saw Sarah’s newest book 100 Afternoon Sweets on NetGalley I had to download it ASAP and dear sweet baby Jesus this book is divinely delicious. It’s perfect for summertime right now with my kids being home for break and constantly snacking with me tagging along. Her section on pies will change your dessert game y’all! Her directions are written clearly and are easy to follow. The pictures are beautiful and the layout is nice. My kids love the chocolate chip bars and I cannot wait to discover more yummy treats this summer with them!

Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC.

[Riniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t ever reviewed a cookbook before but once I saw that this was available I had to give it a shot! I love baking and making sweets but often feel limited in finding simple to follow recipes online.

This cookbook is laid out nicely. I love the way the recipes are grouped. Exactly where you think something should be, is where it is. The format and index is easy to follow and straight to the point.

Looking through the recipes, everything is simple to follow. I absolutely LOVE that this author included grams for the measurements as weighing ingredients is so much more accurate. It’s how I like to bake and not having to take extra time to figure out the weights is such an amazing feature!

This cookbook would be great for beginners just looking for quick and easily recipes!

[Teresa Starrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was forced to start with My Perfect Afternoon Snacking Cake because it was the afternoon- at least, that was my rationale. This cake comes together quickly and is a sweet bite when one is called for- morning or afternoon. My next test was the Blueberry Muffin Cake as I wanted to see how frozen blueberries translated into this recipe. The tang of the buttermilk and addition of nutmeg made this cake another delicious treat. Based upon popular demand, I baked the Sugar Cookie Bars which are as delicious as they are adorable. These festive bars make a delightful treat any day of the week. The pictures are beautiful and provide an excellent accompaniment to each of the recipes.
Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books, and Sarah Kieffer for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic cookbook! The recipes are easy to follow and there is a large variety of them in this cookbook. The recipes I'm most excited to try are the Confetti Cake with Berry Buttercream, Blueberry Muffin Cake, Banana Bread Bars,Banana Bread Brownies,Banana Cream Pie,Pumpkin Caramel Ice Cream Cake, S'mores Bars, Pumpkin Bars, Pretzel Shortbread Fingers,Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake and the Giant Pop Tart. There are also recipes for various buttercreams, doughs and a no churn ice cream. This is a really through cookbook that I would recommend. Special Thank You to Sarah Kieffer, Chronicle Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

[kmm1985 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely compilation of delicious recipes (some are repeats from her other books - especially elements like lemon curd, caramel, streusel - basic tools for a baker's toolkit). The binding and layout is really nice, and the publisher thoughtfully included a ribbon to mark the next "must try" recipe.

I like Mrs. Kieffer's warm, familiar tone of writing. She includes enough of her background and her process of recipe development so you feel like you're sitting in her kitchen at the counter, talking to her while enjoying a cup of coffee and whatever treat she's baked that day.

I like the straighforward ease of most of the recipes and her tips that she's learned by trial and error along the way. Nothing too high-falutin' or fancy - just good, yummy treats.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

I am a big fan of Sarah Kieffer and her cookbooks. I have read and or own most of them. The recipes are always reliable and tasty. They are not overly complicated with too many ingredients. The photos included with each recipe make me want to take out the butter, sugar, chocolate, eggs and get to work baking!

Sarah is a Minnesota gal and I can always rely on her recipes for a midwestern appeal. This book is definitely a good one. If you enjoy baking, this book belongs on your shelf in your cookbook collection. It will probably be one you grab most often when you are hungry for a sweet treat!

[Nicole | bridge four books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kieffer has written another brilliant book of treats. She can do no wrong. There is no other baker that is an auto-buy author for me. I will bake whatever she tells me to.
She consistently develops recipes that are delicious and accessible. The instructions are easy to read and understand. My favorites from this entry were the big Pop Tart and the Kitchen Sink Crispy Treats.
If you love Sarah Kieffer add this book to your collection. Trust me. If you are new to her recipes, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Chronicle Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 Afternoon Sweets focuses on sweets of all kinds for all occasions.

The Sections are
One-Bowl Bakes
Brownies, Blondies, and Bars
Pie Bakes
No Bakes
For a Crowd
Weekend Projects
Beginnings and Ends
Extras

Each recipe has a little blurb about the recipe, servings, ingredients, directions, and a picture of the recipe. Recipes include U.S. measurements and measurements in weight.

There are sooooo many good recipes. I don’t even think I can chose a favorite from each section.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.