Butter Sugar Flour Eggs: Whimsical Irresistible Desserts

by Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto, Julia Moskin

Anyone who has so much as made a batch of cookies knows that this is where it all begins. Butter lends flavor and richness, sugar adds sweetness and melting textures, flour provides substance, and eggs bring it all together. Afterwards, the baker can allow flavor to take chocolate, citrus, fruit, nuts, cheese, and spices complete the dessert-making roster. Chapter by chapter, pastry chef extraordinaire Gale Gand and her husband, star chef Rick Tramonto -- with writer Julia Moskin -- explain each basic ingredient and each flavor's personality and follow up with some fabulous recipes. The unique result is a festive and fun cookbook that reads more like a dessert menu than a catalog of techniques. And what a menu! Here are over 175 fanciful, delicious treats, including signature desserts like Not-Your-Usual Lemon Meringue Pie and Root Beer-Vanilla Parfait, classics such as Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake and Brooklyn Blackout Cake, and soon-to-be favorites like Raspberry-Stuffed French Toast and Banana Strudel with Ginger-Molasses Ice Cream. There is a chapter on light-hearted holiday creations, including Halloween Boo!scotti and Pumpkin Pie to Be Thankful For, and a chapter full of drink recipes -- perfect accompaniments to these desserts and great on their own. In Butter Sugar Flour Eggs , all the ingredients are present for creating the most scrumptious, mouthwatering delights you have ever tasted. Or baked!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three words:
Brooklyn. Blackout. Cake.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didnt find the book whimsical at all but a good orientation to a wide range of baked goodness.

[Jerry]

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[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything (no, this is not an exaggeration) sounds delicious. The amount of bookmarks I've used has gotten ridiculous enough that I'm seriously considering buying this one (I haven't bought a cookbook since Baking: From My Home to Yours came out).

Aside from deliciousness, the book has inventive recipes. There's a cinnamon apple bread where you cut up the dough then mash it all together again- what?? The little anecdotes next to each recipe are intriguing, though I do wish they used a bigger font for easier reading.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

my lemon syrup for poud cake comes from this--it is organized by ingredient, so for coconut, there are a series of recipes with coconut, and so on

[Aimee Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, simple recipes for desserts. Easy for novices.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good recipes but I don't love the organization of this book.