Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth (Hardcover)

by Jill O'Connor (Author), Leigh Beisch (Photographer)
Key Phrases: electric mixer set, boil until the syrup, cream hits, Marshmallow Fluff, Mountain Meadow Ranch, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Chocolate Caramel-Pecan Souffl Cake . . . Cinnamon-Donut Bread Pudding . . . Double-Crumble Hot Apple Pies . . . Giant Coconut Cream Puffs . . . Here's a collection of desserts that gives more than 75 sticky, chewy, messy, gooey reasons to stock up on napkins. In addition to each sugary favorite, the author has included simple techniques and tools to help home cooks recreate each decadent treasure again and again. Sprinkled throughout are tips on using phyllo dough, toasting nuts, and making a heavenly ganache, so every over-the-top treat tastes as irresistible as it sounds. For the serious sweet tooth, pour a tall glass of milk and get ready to bite into all that's Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey!

About the Author
Graduate of the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, Jill O'Connor has authored Phyllo, Easter Treats, and Simple French Desserts. She lives in Coronado, California.

Leigh Beisch is a San Francisco-based photographer. Her work has appeared in Irish Puddings and Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081185566X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811855662
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,360 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my! , August 7, 2007

By	Donna Corbin (Johnstown, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The recipes in this book are awesome! They aren't your typical dessert recipes, well it would be better to say they might be your typical desserts but kicked up a couple dozen notches! As you look through the cookbook you can do nothing but say "oh that sounds good, I wanna make that" or "yum" or any other phrases along those lines. I made the Hawaiian Caramel corn this weekend and it received rave reviews! Everyone LOVED it!

The author also does a very good job of explaining all the differences between ingredients, all the equipment you might need, and also says what things you want to use. In the introduction she also goes into detail on what brands of ingredients she used and there is even an appendix listing different places you can find these brands.

So if you like to make desserts that are to die for, you absolutely should get this book! I've only made the one thing so far, but the recipes don't seem to be overly complex or anything. They are relatively simple to make and very easy to understand the directions.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hands Down The Best Dessert Book Ever Written!, September 12, 2007

By	R. High (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

So far I have tried three of the recipes and each one has exceeded my expectations. The author does a great job of making world class desserts attainable by the average home chef wanna be like myself. The recipes are straight forward, easy to follow, yet the result is a rich sophisticated dessert that tastes like you purchased it from a bakery. I served the brownies this past weekend and every guest asked for the recipe. I highly recommend this book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, luscious treasure chest of you-can-cook-this desserts!, September 11, 2007

By	Nancie S. Mcdermott - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a feast in every way. Gorgeous photographs, charming design (little ribbons and bows and sweet-shop-goodies galore); all of which keep me turning the pages, and trying to narrow my list of recipes to make next. Ms. O'Connor writes wonderfully; her prose is by turns hilarious, useful, interesting, moving, and fun to read, and her recipes and instructions and explanations give me a recipe box of sweet treats that I know I can actually make with great results. I love to bake, and know my basics, but she opens doors for me in this book. She "translates" the professional pastry kitchen (a foreign and intimidating land to me) such that I am able to create fabulous (and sometimes ambitious) treats for my family, company, bake sales, potlucks --- maybe I could even open my own bakery......
Nah, too much work. I'll just keep on reading and baking and stirring and saucing my way through this gem of a dessert book, purely for the pleasure of doing so.
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