Recently released by Oxmoor House, Classic Southern Desserts is a cookbook that is both a treat for the eyes and taste buds and a curse against losing weight. The choices are many in this 344 page cookbook that features over 200 recipes from Southern Living magazine. These are the highest rated ones according to the book jacket copy and are based on their research in their test kitchens.
After a brief forward from executive editor Scott Jones, the book opens with a section in “Luscious Layers & Other Cakes starting on page 8. The first recipe is on something titled “New-Fashioned Blackberry Chocolate Spice Cake.” (page 13) It looks awesome. Of course, just about anything can be made good with the liberal use of chocolate and this item is heavy in the chocolate zone. “Chocolate and spices mingle with sweet blackberries under a robe of chocolate fudge icing drizzled with blackberry sauce.” After that mouthwatering description which is reinforced by a large picture of the delectable offering in its ready to eat glory, there is the recipe that also includes how many servings it makes (12 they claim), how long it takes to prep, cook and finish. Also included with the directions is an ingredient list and a tip that can be applied as a general baking tip to other items. This same format follows for this 80 page section and pretty much the entire book. When necessary, there are detailed instructions on how to make the frostings. Such as starting on page 34 with the recipe for their “Red Velvet Layer Cake” that is followed by the “5-Cup Cream Cheese Frosting” for the cake.
If cakes won't do it for you, how about “Crunchy Cookies & Chewy Bars” beginning on page 88. Not just such classics as drop cookies and lemon bars but such items as “Chunky Chocolate- White Chocolate-Espresso Cookies (page 93), “Turtle Cookies” (page 113) or “Bourbon Balls” page 124) among other delectable. The same formula of picture, recipe, serving numbers and cook/prep time is used along with detailed ingredient list and directions.
Starting on page 140 it is “Cheesecakes to Die For.” The name of the section pretty much says it all. But, for something really different, take a look at the “Uptown Banana Pudding Cheesecake” on page 153 or the “Blueberry Mini cheesecakes” on page 157.
I have always had a fondness for cobbler. My mom made an absolutely incredible blueberry cobbler. “Old-Fashioned Pies, Cobblers & Tarts” begins on page 162. Surprisingly they did not choose to include a recipe for a blueberry cobbler in the book through they did include ones for apples, cherries, blackberries, and others.
“Sweet Breads & Coffee Cakes” comes next starting on page 240. The section gets going with a “Praline -Apple Bread” on page 245. If that does not appeal, take a look at the “Blackberry-Peach Coffee Cake” on page 256, the “Orange Coffee Rolls” (page 267) or the many other delectable choices. Some are tagged with the “bake and freeze” designation making planning ahead easy. For those already thinking about Mardi Gras, there is a recipe on pages 268-269 for “King Cake.”
“Bread Puddings, Custards & More” follows with lots of choices beginning on page 276. The “Blueberry Bread Pudding” on page 282 looks really good as does the “Ultimate Chocolate Pudding” on page 306.
Page 314 marks the start of the section on “Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts” that begins on page 314. The classic “Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream” on page 318 is followed by such temptations such as ‘Toffee-Coffee Ice-Cream Torte (page 322) and “Simple Peach Sorbet” (page 328) among others. This is the shortest section of the book and features lots of season specific recipes.
The last part of the book is all about how you can duplicate what you see in the book. It includes a list of essential baking equipment, tips for making perfect pies and cakes, what can be frozen, a metric equivalents chart and other helpful info. An index of four pages brings this section and this 344 page book to a close.
While Classic Southern Desserts is a very good cookbook, it has a major drawback in this day and age of obesity awareness. This book has been published with zero nutritional information. The recipes included make no mention of healthy substitutes or recipe changes you could implement to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Granted, this book is designed to ignore such concerns and features recipes that are heavy and as an every now and then temptation that works for most people. But, one is left to wonder why in this day and age such information is left out and how many workout hours it takes to shed the pounds gained from consuming anything in this book.
Lovingly photographed and full of delectable treats, this recent release from Oxmoor House would be a great gift for any cook that does not have to worry about the health complications of any of the recipes.
Classic Southern Desserts: ALL-TIME Favorite Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Puddings, Cobblers, Ice Cream & More
Southern Living Editors
Oxmoor House
2010
ISBN# 978-0-8487-3330-8
Hardback
$29.95
344 Pages
Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2011
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