I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas [Hardcover]

Marcel Desaulniers (Author), Ron Manville (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 2007

No one knows chocolate like Marcel Desaulniers, whose bestselling, award-winning books have made his name synonymous with luscious chocolate desserts. Now Desaulniers has created the ultimate holiday baking book for chocolate lovers everywhere, packed with full-color photography. The 72 chocolate treats and desserts you’ll find inside are guaranteed to draw oohs and ahhs from your family and friends, and many are also straightforward to make—which means you’ll have time to enjoy Christmas, too!

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

No one knows chocolate like Marcel Desaulniers, whose bestselling, James Beard Award–winning Death by Chocolate and IACP Award–winning Desserts to Die For have made his name synonymous with luscious chocolate desserts. Now, with I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas, Desaulniers has created the ultimate holiday baking book for chocolate lovers everywhere. The chocolate treats and desserts you'll find inside are guaranteed to draw oohs and ahhs from your family and friends, and many are also straightforward to make—which means you'll have time to enjoy Christmas, too!

If you've ever dreamed of an all-chocolate Christmas, this book can make your dream come true. Desaulniers gives you seventy-two seductive recipes for every holiday occasion—delectable gifts, tempting treat platters, dreamy breakfast nibbles, and, of course, lots of decadent desserts. Delight your faraway friends and family with treatsthat are perfect for shipping—nearly twenty inall, including Chocolate Fruitycakes, Chocolate Gingerbread Snowflakes, and Chocolate ButtonsUp ButterShots Bundt Cake. Put a smile on thekids' faces with tasty bites like Cranberry Choco-late Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Christmas Breakfast Chocolate Sour Cream Crumb Cake, and Choco-late Drop Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches. And indulge the grown-ups with sinful desserts such as Chocolate Mint Bourbon Crème Brûlée, White Chocolate Banana Walnut Christmas Log, and Chocolate Hazelnut Elagantes.

Desaulniers and his elves tested all of the recipes in a home kitchen using ordinary equipment and supermarket ingredients to make sure that each one is foolproof. So whether you've been naughty or nice, you can tackle any of these recipes with confidence. Many are easy to prepare, and all are beautiful to behold and oh-so-delicious to eat. To make sure each sweet treat comes out just so, Desaulniers also provides "Chef's Touch" notes that detail techniques, variations, storage tips, and serving suggestions. With forty-eight enticing full-color photos, advice on equipment, and a chapter on packing and shipping holiday treats, I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas is sure to become an indispensable holiday companion.

From the Back Cover

Christmas + Chocolate = Heaven!

"Oh! You Better Watch Out, or you'll find yourself as frantic as Santa's elf on December 23, baking complicated desserts for friends and family for the holidays. Instead, you can use the recipes in this book—they are simple and straightforward, but still loaded with 'Wow!' Honestly.

"I'm Telling You Why: you want to have your cake and Christmas, too. And you want to have time to enjoy the holidays without hindering your love of baking. After all, Santa Claus is coming."
—From I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (October 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764599003
• ISBN-13: 978-0764599002
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Chocolate

More About the Author

Marcel Desaulniers is the executive chef and owner of the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia. A 1965 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Marcel has received several national awards, including Food and Wine magazine's Honor Roll of American Chefs, Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America, the prestigious Ivy Award from Restaurants and Institutions, the 1993 James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic States, the highly coveted Silver Plate award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, and in 1999 the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in America.

Marcel's first cookbook, THE TRELLIS COOKBOOK, was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1988. The paperback version, including 20 new recipes, was published in January 1992 by Simon & Schuster. DEATH BY CHOCOLATE, Desaulniers' second cookbook, published by Rizzoli, New York in September 1992, has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide. In 1993, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE won the James Beard Best Baking and Desserts Cookbook Award. Marcel's television cooking series, "Death by Chocolate," based on his book premiered in September 1993 on The Learning Channel.

In 1994, Simon & Schuster released Marcel's third book, THE BURGER MEISTERS. In 1995 THE BURGER MEISTERS won the James Beard Best Single Subject Cookbook Award. His cooking series, "The Burger Meister," premiered on The Learning Channel in September 1994. Marcel's fourth book, DESSERTS TO DIE FOR, was published by Simon & Schuster in November 1995, and in April 1996 the book was awarded the Julia Child Cookbook Award for Bread, Other Baking and Sweets category as well as the Cook's Choice Award. His fifth book, AN ALPHABET OF SWEETS, was published by Rizzoli, New York in October 1996. A sixth book, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE COOKIES, was published by Simon & Schuster in November of 1997. The seventh cookbook, SALAD DAYS, was published by Simon & Schuster in the Spring of 1998. DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CAKES, was published by William Morrow, New York in September 2000, and was a 2001 IACP Cookbook Award Finalist. Marcel's most recent book, CELEBRATE WITH CHOCOLATE, was published by William Morrow, New York in October 2002 and was the winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Best Chocolate Book for 2002. Foreign editions of his books have been published in France, Great Britain, Holland, Australia, Mexico, and Canada. Marcel next cookbook, DREAMING OF A CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS, will be published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in October of 2007.

Marcel opened The Trellis Restaurant in 1980, along with partner John Curtis. In July 1988, Marcel was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation. He is past president and chairman of the board of the Virginia Chefs Association, a past member of The Board of Directors of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and is trustee emeritus of The Board of Trustees for the Culinary Institute of America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars chocolate heaven!, October 31, 2007

By 

DMTY "DMTY" (Wellesley, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas (Hardcover)

Didn't think Marcel could top his last book, but I was wrong! Recipes run the gamut from easy to challenging with his usual well detailed and well written instructions. Love the comments in the chef's touch also. My only problem with the book is trying to decide which one to start with!! Excellent, and beautiful, book that will make a great Holiday gift.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is the one!, November 20, 2007

By 

GiGi "globalvillageart.com" (Woonsocket, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas (Hardcover)

If you're a chocophile this is the book for you! Especially if you actually like to bake the concoctions that delight your eyes. (WOW to Ron Manville's great photography.) These recipes are definitely doable with fantastic results. My personal favorites are matante minnie's chocolate peanut butter blossoms and the chocolate cashew diamonds....they actually came out looking like the picture!!!!
This is also a great "guy" gift! I've heard from many guys who have purchased the book at my shop and have been proud of the recipes they've reproduced through it.
Marcel's "chef's touch" is a welcome feature
....this book should top your list for holiday giving!
Treat yourself and the sweetie's on your list.
From my shop to yours....GiGi at GiGi's Global Specialty

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas, October 15, 2007

By 

Sherri Hoskins "Sherri Hoskins" (Middlesboro, KY usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book. It has fantastic receipes, photo's and ideas that not only can be used at Christmas but all throughout the year. It is well thought out. It is well illustrated with simplicity that anyone can understand. This is a perfect book for yourself or as a very special gift. I love this book. This is a must have.