Tate's Bake Shop: Baking For Friends

I checked this book out of the library thinking I'd copy a recipe or two. I'm trying to cut down on my cookbook collection. After making the chocolate thumbprint cookies, cherry chip cake, and the chunkies, and marking and drooling over at least 10 other recipes I can't wait to try, I realized I was going to have to buy this book.The Cherry chip cake is genius. I love maraschino cherries, eating them first off my ice cream sundae or digging in my Cherry limeade drink for the cherry. A cake, based on the old cherry chip boxed cakes, was fabulous. I used the juice to tint the icing pink, a tip she gives, I think the three guys I live with thought it was a little girly but it did not stop them from eating it!Baking for friends is more accessible than bake shop type recipes. I don't have the other Tate bakeshop books, but I find many other bake shop books are hard to translate into home baking. The recipes are more what you'd bake for your kids school party or a dinner for friends. This isn't to say there aren't some really attractive impressive recipes, including a chocolate tart with raspberry filling I can't wait to try. It's more that the ingredients are readily available and the directions easy to follow for a beautiful result without a lot of the stressful frou frou work found in many bake shop recipes.The beginning of the book is important to read, how she measures flour, salted vs unsalted butter etc, will make a difference in how her recipes turn out for the baker trying to duplicate her results.It is taking a really special book to get a space in my groaning overstuffed shelves anymore, but this one has earned a spot. I would write more but I'm about to go wrestle my son for the last chunkie, a son btw who doesn't like raisins but likes these cookies.*updated 12/10/12 I still love this book, when I am in the mood for baking I reach past the 30 0r so other baking books I have to check through this one first. The chocolate almond biscotti is so good, I may never by store bought again! The cardamom cake has the perfect amount of spice. The Rocky Road Muffins are so good and hold up really well. For the almond flour I ground almonds in my vitamix. And last but not least- the Cinnamon swirl scones are pretty much worth the price of the book. The scones mimic the taste of cinnamon rolls or buns but without the kneading, rising, etc. A super fast easy and delicious special breakfast for Christmas, or a lazy Sat when you want the taste to have with coffee but don't want to put the time and effort into making a bread. if you are on the fence, have to many cookbooks already (me), or someone asks what you want for Christmas, get this book :) yes, I'm gushing! The recipes in the book are totally gush worthy.

Well confess I collect cookbooks..now I read them after years of midnight cookie panics from one of my kids..5 dozen for tomorrow ordered at bedtime! I could easily be a cookbook critic and know pictures sure sell a lot of mediocre cookbooks. I paid an outrageous amount for Kathleen's Cookies...eye watering but worth it. My chocolate chip cookies are the same as hers...the Better Homes and Gardens book from 1965 is a gem. What I like about her books is the experience since age 11...I started young too. After time you can do them in your sleep...her recipes are melt in your mouth, not merely sweet. Many of these recipes came from the 50's and 60's when food was still food and flavor lit up eyes around the table. This last book had two recipes I wanted...Cherry Chip Cake and Pecan Shortbread..and they are spot on. The book has 7 chapters, 1 muffins, scones, shortcakes 2 tea loaves and quick breads. 3 pies, tarts, crisps 4 cookies. 5 party cakes , cupcakes. 6 health and lifestyle baked goods and 7 icings, frostings,and sauces. Pecan shortbread melts in your mouth with taste of roasted pecans...oooooo. Chocolate Key Lime Pie...the combination is addictive. Irish Soda Bread muffins...brilliant idea for St Patrick's day...no cutting required. Maraschino Cherry Chip Cake...some things are just required if you love those red kiddie drink things..Shirley Temple addicts. There is s recipe from a friend's Mom called Flour Icing that tastes like Marshmellow but no Fluff in sight. Maple Bacon Date scones...can smell them from upstairs and brings them running. Kathleen built a million dollar business because she loved to bake and learned from anyone who made something that tasted good. I read she sold the business last year with 200 employees and it has gone international. The buyers are keeping it smart and the cookies still taste good..the recipe for the original Choc Chip is in the first two books...this one has the chubby version as she calls them...thicker and probably taste same just thicker and chewy. The woman knows how to bake...any or all of her books are worth a spot on your shelf..direct clear recipes and brilliant results. Thank You Kathleen for all these yummy recipes!

A friend of mine sent me the recipe for the pecan bars from this book. Everyone who tasted them was blown away. I decided I must have this book because 1. We love Tate’s cookies, 2. I love to bake, 3. There is no downside.

Kathleen King's recipes always deliver. There are definitely recipes from this book I look forward to trying. If you love pies then you'll have a varied collection to choose from. The health & lifestyle chapter is a bit measley. My greatest disappointment with this book is the chocolate chip cookie recipe. I chose to buy Baking with Friends thinking that she had repeated the recipe from her earlier one in this new book. But alas, she shared the "Chubby Tate" recipe in the new book and I am a complete addict of the thinner ones. So now I have both books. Both this and Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook have chocolate chip cookies on their front cover so don't be deceived.

Enjoyable, but haven't been pushed to bake anything yet.....still buying the Tate's cookies :)

I'm just going to work my way through this book, start to finish. Read it like a novel, nothing I did not like. Have made her recipes before and they have always come out well. I especially like her cakes. Made the cranberry sauce crumb bars and they were great. Even my husband who is not a big cranberry sauce fan ate them up.

Very helpful tips and good recipes. They all work and taste good. If you like to bake and want to try these recipes,you will not be disappointed. Mrs. King has been honing her craft for a long time and is well respected. Of course, that doesn't mean anything if you don't like her food. But you will!!!