The Bake Sale Cookbook: Quintessential American Desserts (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I made almost everything in the book using a KitchenAid mixer (the biggest one), the most longed for and useful wedding present we received..." (more)
Key Phrases: cookie sheet between batches, mix until everything, recipe piecrust, Banana Cake, Dark Chocolate Ganache, Amy Bodiker (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brownies, seven-layer bars, Rice Krispy treats, fudge, lemon bars, chocolate-chip cookies--these are just a few of the unforgettably sticky standbys that every bake sale offers and that turn Sally Sampson's The Bake Sale Cookbook into such an irresistible read. There are seven recipes for brownies alone, as well as recipes for such classics as gingersnaps, snickerdoodles, and banana bread. While moms baking on a deadline will want to stick to the chapters on cookies and bars, more adventurous bakers will appreciate the chapters on cakes and pies, which round up several core recipes (for pound cake, coffee cake, and apple pie) that are easy, quick, and delicious. You'll find yourself reaching for this no-frills baking book more often than is good for your waistline! --Sumi Hahn Almquist

From Publishers Weekly

In this refreshingly low-key collection, Sampson (The $50 Dinner Party; Recipes from the Night Kitchen) matches more than 100 "quintessentially American" goodies to that most familiar of fund-raisers. Tempting cookies and bars vie with coffeecakes, quick breads, muffins, pies, turnovers and cakes of all kinds. Sampson found her inspiration in many places. Jam Thumbprint Cookies were adapted from Joy of Cooking. The recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies "varies ever so slightly from the recipe" on the Quaker Oats box. There are also selections from friends and many have been reworked from recipe "treasure boxes" passed on by a friend's mother, herself a professional fund-raiser baker. Selections range from the ultra kid-friendly Peanut Butter and Jelly Drops and Rice Krispies treats to such adult pleasers as Hazelnut Shortbread and Greek Cognac Cookies. The standouts, however are the coffecakes. Some are scented with cardamom; others are enriched with prunes and sour cream or walnuts and rum. The recipe format can be annoying, as instructions are given in lengthy paragraphs rather than manageable steps, and for some reason, Sampson uses kosher salt in all her recipes. Also, the selections here are no more geared to bake sales than those found in any standard pastry book; certainly they aren't any easier or faster to make. Many demand lengthy preparation and clean up. On the other hand, the results are likely to be crowd pleasers, which is the crucial ingredient for any successful bake table, not to mention any brunch or dinner party. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684862298
• ISBN-13: 978-0684862293
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #588,907 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy as Pie, May 1, 2000

By A Customer

I am a single father with two teenage children. When they come to visit me it is great to have something unexpected and sinful. Prior to THE Bakesale Cookbook, I found the task of baking to be daunting. The recipes in Sampson's book are very do-able, even for a amateur like myself. And most importantly, my kids think I am a whiz! I give it five stars.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like mama used to make, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

Bakesale is not only filled with wonderful, accessible, easy to make recipes, it is fun to read. Sampson has taken recipes from friends, relatives and friends of friends and turned them into just the kind of desserts I like to make. So far I have made Aunt Suzy's Chocolate chip gooey bars, engagement brownies, strawberry rhubarb pie and sour cream poppy seed cake. They were as promised, excellent. She also does not use any hard to get ingredients: every thing i made was made primarily from ingredients i already had and those things i was missing were easy to find. Like her previous book The Fifty Dollar Dinner Party, I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and will buy more to give as gifts.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Dessert Baking For Everyone, October 27, 2001

By	J Keistler "[e-mail]" (Lake Jackson, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book on ... based on reviews.

I've baked recipes out of all sections of the book but pies. The recipes have all turned out as represented, with no failures so far.

My greatest pleasure with using this book is that these are indeed quintessential American desserts, as stated on the cover. I get a kick out of some of the newer dessert books claiming to be American classics, but turn out to be made with whatever ingredient combinations happen to be in the current cooking magazines! Nothing exotic here, and the only expensive items will be the nuts and possibly some spices not already on hand. I consider this important in bake sale items, because I try to hold my cost per item down to a reasonable level.

I did read the one 'one-star' review from someone in Philly who stated these aren't really bake sale items and regretted lack of bake sale guidance. Well, I've been baking for bake sales for many years now, for friends with various organizations, and I really have never seen a trend. If I'm asked to bake, I just ask for a general idea of what they'd like to sell (i.e. cake, cookies, etc.) and then go on my own. In fact, I just finished baking 3 cakes on a Halloween theme for a bake sale today. So, I really don't see the point. . .

Anyway, these are treats that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just for bake sales. A great book for the less-experienced baker and also a good gift idea!