Synopses & Reviews
Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories is the debut cookbook from sensational food writer, Jocelyn Delk Adams. Since founding her popular recipe blog
Grandbaby Cakes in 2012, Adams has been putting fresh twists on old favorites. Adams has earned praise from critics and the adoration of bakers both young and old for her easygoing advice, rich photography, and the heartwarming memories she shares of her familyand#8217;s generations-old love of baking.
As a child, Adams and her family would routinely embark on the ten-hour journey from their home in Chicago to Winona, Mississippi. There, she would watch her grandmother, affectionately nicknamed Big Mama, bake and develop delicious, melt-in-your-mouth desserts. From blooming tree-picked fruit to farm-raised eggs and fresh-churned butter, Big Mama used what was readily available to invent completely original treats. Adams treasured the moments when her mother, aunt, and Big Mama would bring her into the kitchen to let her dabble in the process as a rite of passage. Big Mamaand#8217;s recipes became the fabric of their family heritage. Grandbaby Cakes is Adamsand#8217;s love note to her family, thanking those who came before and passing on this touching tradition with 50 brilliant cakes.
Grandbaby Cakes pairs charming stories of Big Mamaand#8217;s kitchen with recipes ranging from classic standbys to exciting adventuresand#151;helpfully marked by degree of difficultyand#151;that will inspire your own family for years to come. Adams creates sophisticated flavor combinations based on Big Mamaand#8217;s gorgeous centerpiece cakes, giving each recipe something familiar mixed with something new. From pound cakes and layer cakes to sheet cakes and "baby" cakes (cupcakes and cakelettes), Grandbaby Cakes delivers fun, hip recipes perfect for any celebration.
Readers will love this cookbook for its eclectic and bold recipes steeped in equal parts warm Southern charm and fresh Midwestern flavors. Not only will home bakers be able to make staples like yellow cake and icebox cake exactly how their grandmothers did, but theyand#8217;ll also be preparing impressive innovations, like the Pineapple Upside-Down Hummingbird Pound Cake and the Fig-Brown Sugar Cake. Grandbaby Cakes is a collection for both new-aged and traditional bakers, but mostly itand#8217;s for anyone who wants a fresh, modern take on classic recipes as well as cakes full of heart and soul.
Review
Praise for Jocelyn Delk Adams, her blog, and Grandbaby Cakes:
"There is a heritage of love and tradition steeped in her recipes that is a clear influence of her grandmother and family roots. But I can definitely see the playful touch and modern impact she gives as well. This book is a tribute to those who know where they came from, and also where they are going.... It is a trip down memory lane that ends with delicious treats on your table." and#151;Carla Hall, author of Cooking with Love: Comfort Food that Hugs You and Carla's Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World
"Baker extraordinaire...a sweet celebration of the season." and#151;Better Homes and Gardens
"Jocelyn brings such an amazing creativity and heart to the recipes she develops for Pillsbury. Sheand#8217;s the best kind of baker and#150; inventive yet careful and thorough so you always know you can trust her recipes. Jocelynand#8217;s sweet tooth is always right on the money! Weand#8217;re so lucky to have her as part of the Pillsbury community." and#151;Kate Rogers, Senior Editor, Pillsbury
"Dessert is in Jocelyn Delk Adamsand#8217;s DNA.... [a] natural baker." and#151; Rachel Tepper, Yahoo! Food
"Beautifully curated with recipes, photos and stories to really draw readers in." and#151;Cuisine Noir
"A tribute to the women who taught Delks Adams life lessons while cooking, Grandbaby Cakes features a modern take on generations-old recipes." and#151;Chicago Sun-Times
Awards
Yahoo Best Holiday Recipes Competition (2012)
The Kitchn Best Recipe Blog Finalist (2013)
Black Weblog Best Food Blog Nominee (2013)
About the Author
Jocelyn Delk Adams is the founder of Grandbaby Cakes, a food blog inspired by her grandmother and devoted to classic desserts, modern trends, and showcasing the pastry field in an accessible way. Grandbaby Cakes has been featured by
Better Homes and Gardens,
Ebony,
The New York Times,
People,
Food52,
The Kitchn, the
Chicago Sun-Times, and more. She is also the founder of "A Charitable Confection," an annual anti-violence dessert fundraiser featuring the top bakeries in Chicago. She hopes Grandbaby Cakes will inspire a new generation of dessert enthusiasts to learn to bake and not feel guilty about enjoying dessert.