On my shelf - Laduree: The Sweet Recipes

Laudree: The Sweet Recipes * is the best cookbook I purchased last year.

Yup I'm in Laudree love and have been since it arrived, each recipe I have tried has turned out deliciously perfect, allowing me to recreate that just visited a patiserrie feeling at home.

OK I admit some of the recipes involve many steps - this is not a book dedicated to one bowl baking. But if you follow the instructions the end result is completely achievable and you can rest assured you will have a sweet worth the time and effort.

Although in saying that there are a few simple recipes which can be undertaken in less than an hour.

The book includes sections for macarons, large cakes, tarts, tea cakes, confections, drinks, pastries and more.

Laduree at Amazon

Look at these pretty little puffs I made for my daughter's birthday party. They were totally amazing, and the chocolate version were fabulous as well.

(ummmm the fondant topping is a little rough due to my fault not the recipe - I was rushed as guests were arriving and I did not melt it enough)

A couple of the recipes do call for specialist ingredients for example, pouring/dipping fondant which is different than ready rolled fondant. But in these days of easy internet online ordering you should be able to locate any item will little fuss.

Link to Sucre at Fishpond (free shipping to Australia and NZ)

 

Laduree: Sucre: The Recipes 

The actual book is a little smaller than regular, has a velvety cover with gilt edge pages and it comes in a pretty little box. It is such a treasure I have managed to keep it looking quite good to date despite the fact that it has been used unlike many of the books that lanquish on my shelves. Plus each recipe has a lovely little full page picture showing the finished treat.

Recipe measurements are in both metric and imperial :)


Oh and make sure you get the English version, unless of course you are looking for the original. 

* I purchased Laduree Sucre myself and did not receive it in exchange for a review. I just like to share what works for me.


If you are looking for other cookbook favorites of mine I also recommend the following books which are well suited to the home baker. I have tried many of the recipes with consistently good results :

The Whimsical Bakehouse

The Whimsical Bakehouse: Fun-To-Make Cakes That Taste as Good as They Look!

More from Magnolia (which contains the recipe for Magnolia's famous vanilla cupcakes)

 

More from Magnolia: Recipes from the World Famous Bakery and Allysa Torey's Home Kitchen

 
Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)

Sweets on a Stick also available at the Bleeding Heart Brisbane: contact details info@bleedingheart.com.au

Sweetheart Valentine Cookie pops

Some people don't love Valentines day.

Me - I'm all for it, although I guess waiting for a certain day to express your love does seem a bit odd. I'm really more a every day should be filled with hearts and love kinda girl.

Take for example these cookies, I would happily eat them any time of the year.

But they do make a sweet little display, which if your into the whole Valentines day thing is perfect :)

I make these cookies all the time, they are a favorite of the kids, we just like to mix it up and decorate them differently.

The design and recipe is based on the Sweetheart cookie pops from Sweets on a Stick (details below).

And of course you don't need to pop them on a stick, they are just as sweet if you make them as regular cookies.

Shop the photo vendors

Cookies based on Sweetheart cookies page 90 of Sweets on a Stick - details below
Pink food color used on cookies - Sugarflair dusky pink
Pink fabric background - Tilda Rosalie fabric
Small White Letter Rack - Early Settler
Pink Candy - Strawberry bon bons - The professors

Paper straws used to cover cookie sticks (cut in half)

Linda Vandermeer is a mum, wife, blogger and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)

Sweets on a Stick also available at the Bleeding Heart Brisbane: contact details info@bleedingheart.com.au

Cupcake Macarons

Well hello cupcake.

Hey! You're not really a cupcake.

OK I get it you're a cupcake shaped macarons dipped in chocolate decorated with pink sprinkles and topped with a delicious chocolate sixlet.*

*Sixlets are chocolate covered with a thin candy layer available from cake decorating and Hobby/craft stores, Ebay, Spotlight in Australia.

Now I see that I forgive you, but first let me take just one little bite...ummm maybe 2 or 3.

Ooops.

These pretty little cupcake shaped macaroons are made with my regular macaron recipe. Click HERE for my previous post which includes my macaron recipe.

Then I just coloured 2/3rds of it pink and piped out little cupcake case bottoms, followed up with white puffy cupcake tops. I made my cupcake tops by piping 3 quick puffs right next to each other.

If you want to be super neat you could draw little cupcake templates and pop them under the parchment paper as a guide. But that's just not how I roll. I kinda like the irregularity of the hand piped macarons.  Plus I'm super lazy :)

Yup this is how I bake my macarons for real no fancy stuff, 

just parchment/ baking paper on an Ikea Baking Tray.

Bake as usual, match up like sized macaroons, fill with ganache and chill until set.

Melt some white chocolate#, dip the tops of the cupcakes in the melted chocolate, sprinkle on some pink jimmies and top with a sixlet (or a M & M would be good as well).

#I used Wilton white chocolate melts with a little copra (paramount crystal) melted in to give a smooth finish that sets quickly and reduces the chances of the sprinkles and six let sliding off.

and apologies everyone I know I said I would share the recipe for my golden things macarons this week but something came up and I have not had time to finish the recipe for the blog. But just in case you missed the picture I will share it - oh my goodness they were super delicious.

Linda Vandermeer is a mum, wife, blogger and author of the cookbook ' Sweets on a Stick': More than 150 kid friendly recipes for cakes, candies, cookies and pies on the go!. Published in the US the book is available at most online book stores:

Or here at fishpond (Aus/NZ)