Customer Reviews

My Most Favorite Dessert Company Cookbook: Delicious Pareve Baking Recipes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is one for the used book store. I got this because the recipes were non-dairy. The author attributes her baking prowess to her Viennese heritage, but I didn't find any evidence of an accomplished baker in this book. Each recipe is preceded by an incredible write up by the author. Example: the author's recipe for chocolate "buttercream" frosting, "When I first tried this, I thought it was chocolate mousse, it's that good!". When I tried it, I thought it was just a greasy mess. I tried the recipe twice, just to be sure I was following her directions exactly. Other recipes I tried: her brownies - anemic, nowhere near chocolatey enough, vanilla cake - bland and boring, and genoise -dry. I've had much better results with regular recipes where I've substituted non-dairy ingredients.

I agree with the other reviewers. The recipes don't work. Unfortunately, I didn't read the reviews before I bought the book. I tried the Hamantashan recipe - twice. The dough is nothing but a sticky mess. Refrigerating overnight does nothing but result in a cold sticky mess. It can't be worked with and it's a waste of ingredients and time. Obviously, there is something wrong with the recipe. A suggestion to the author - try it yourself, try working all the recipes yourself using the book. Presumably they worked for you originally. Something has gone wrong in publication.

Try recipes: orange cake, chocolate chip cookies, lemon meringue and lemon bars, brownie, and sugar cookies. None turns out good (the author indicates that they are the best and the favorite). I feel like something missing in the recipes. I tried some recipes twice just to make sure but got same result. NOT recommend this book to anyone.

Like others, I've been to the retail location and it's been great.
Like others, I didn't read the reviews all the way to the bottom.
Like others, I've tried several recipes, several times.
Like others, nothing came out right.
Very disappointed.
I've tried desserts from Levana's Kitchen, and everything came out great, the first time!

I had such high hopes. I was very disappointed--especially since there is such a need for kosher pareve recipes. The vanilla cake was gummy. The Rich pie dough is missing a whole cup of flour-so beware if you make it. It will not turn out right. I am sure the bakery is wonderful but the cookbook itself is lacking--and seeing other reviews of this book confirms this.However I will say the pumpkin pie filling was good--even if the crust around it was not.

I applaud Ms Schechter for writing this cookbook. The restaurant, My Most Favorite Dessert, is a hugely popular destination. MOst of the recipes are decent. I especially like the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. I made them for a friend we went to for Shabbat. Like anything else, ther are some great recipes in here and some not-so-great recipes. For a truly great cookbook, try Marcy Goldman's Jewish Holiday Baking.

I actually called the store ( now called- My Most Favorite Food) and spoke to Ms. Schechter. I too had tried the hamantashen recipe, with lousy results. ( I am a very good baker). Ms. Shecter said that it was supposed to be just 1/4 cup orange juice, not 1 and 1/4 cups of orange juice!

I also asked about the rich pie dough, as per another Amazon reviewer's comment. Ms. Schecter actually had her baker test the recipe and called me back later. Yes, the rich pie dough does need about another 3/4 cup more flour!

I did not ask Ms. Schecter about the brownies that someone described as anemic- but when looking at the recipe I can't help wonder if the recipe should have stated UNSWEETENED chocolate instead of semisweet chocolate. That would make the brownies a lot more chocolatey. I have never tried the recipe.

I wish Ms. Schecter , as another reviewer suggested, would go back and test the recipes as written, and then post recipe corrections on her website.

I give Ms. Schecter credit for handling my phone call, however I am disappointed that there are mistakes in at least some of the recipes. I would love a good "kosher bakery type" cookbook.
Suggestions anyone?

This is a TERRIBLE cookbook. I wanted to try several recipes from the book before I wrote this review and now I can legitimately write that it is the WORST cookbook that I own today. I am tossing it into the trash. The pie crust recipe that I tried was dry, tasteless and impossible to roll. Sadly, it is the basis for many of the recipes. The "buttercream" is greasy and disgusting and the cake recipes were dry. None of the cooking times were correct. This is a very sad excuse for a cookbook.

ingredients, time, and money. I tried several recipes and each one was more disappointing than the previous. I returned the book and have discouraged others from wasting their ingredients, time, and money.

I also felt the need to chime in here. I LOVE this cookbook. Everything comes out perfect and delicious (except the chocolate ganache which was quite a mess). My guests actually recognized Doris' Blackout Cake and said it tasted exactly like the one at the restaurant. The double chocolate chip cookies are incredible. The entire "pie and tart" section is wonderful. And I think the basic vanilla and chocolate cakes are perfect and delicious. This is one of my favorite dessert cookbooks and my "go to" book whenever I need an impressive dessert.