Cheesecake Extraordinaire: More Than 100 Versions of the Ultimate Dessert (Hardcover)

by Mary Crownover (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Cheesecake Extraordinaire presents 121 recipes for one of the world's most delicious yet easy-to-make treats. From luscious Chocolate Toffee Cheesecake to lighter-than-air Creamy Lemon Cheesecake, each recipe is sure to please even the most discriminating dessert lover. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photos.

About the Author
McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (January 25, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878337210
• ISBN-13: 978-0878337217
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #644,494 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent recipes, but ..., January 23, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cheesecake Extraordinaire : More than 100 Sumptuous Recipes for the Ultimate Dessert (Paperback)

This is an excellent book, as far as imaginative variations on the original cheesecake are concerned (my favorites being the Turtle, Black Forest and German Chocolate cheesecakes). My advise to anyone using this book would be to at least double the low-temperature cooking times that Ms. Crownover recommends. This will provide for a crumblier consistency, more like those made by professional bakers. The low-temp times in this book result in cakes that have a too-creamy, no-bake consistency.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now when my friends come over, they expect cheesecake!, August 13, 2001

By	TAJ (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

Mary Crownover takes the mystery out of baking delicious homemade cheesecakes. There are many cheesecakes presented in this book - some that you would make for friends, some for formal dinners, some you would hide away to save for yourself (I'm guilty of that), and there's even a "guilt-free" cheesecake section for those watching their waistline.

You will find something in this book that will cater to everyone's tastes. Crownover takes the reader step by step through the cheesecake "making and baking" process, and even gives tips on making your own "cheesecake" masterpiece.

Some cookbooks are dry, some are too chatty, others don't give enough attention to details. Cheesecake Extraordinaire is a balanced cookbook that avoids those common pitfalls, and can make almost anyone a great cheesecake baker. The photographs are beautifully presented. The only problem I see is that the photographs are so wonderful, one can gain pounds just looking at them!

After making most of the cheesecakes out of this book, I have yet to purchase a "store bought" cheesecake. With Crownover's aid I have discovered that making a tasty, attractive cheesecake is not very hard at all. The downside is, when my friends come over, they expect cheesecake. The good thing is, I usually have one in the refrigerator or in the freezer (and when she claims her cheesecakes "freeze beautifully", she is telling the absolute truth). My personal favorites include her Butter Rum (to me it tastes exactly like the Butter Rum Lifesavers), the Grasshopper, the Caramel Chocolate Chunk, the Mai Tai, and the German chocolate cheesecakes.

No more excuses for not trying "cheesecake cookery", folks. This book makes it almost TOO easy to become a homemade cheesecake addict!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look No Further!, June 23, 2005

By	I. Gutierrez "bookjanybunny" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cheesecake Extraordinaire : More than 100 Sumptuous Recipes for the Ultimate Dessert (Paperback)

I have got to say that this is definitely the best cheesecake book ever. Initially, I was shopping around for one since my boyfriend's favorite dessert was cheesecake. I ran across this and decided to get it. Well, one of the best choices I could ever make, I think. This is an amazing book!

Starting from the recipes which are so numerous and so varied that they have to be divided into beverage-based, chocolate, vanilla, candy, etc., even one for light cheesecakes! Honestly, deciding which one to try the first time around was the toughest challenge when starting out. Well, I followed the instructions clearly, as well as the first section on tips to avoid it cracking and boy, did it ever come out wonderfully! I never looked back. I've baked from it endlessly for some years now, tasting practically all of the recipes included. It's gotten to the point where I may soemtimes tweak the recipe and/or ingredients a bit and it still comes out great! My family has enjoyed all sorts of different flavors and many of my family members and friends have converted and use nothing but this to bake cheesecakes also. My copy is so beat-up from use, it may be time to get a new one. Did I mention that this is also a beautiful book? Full of wonderful (yummy-looking) glossy pictures.

My only (tiny) complaint is that on occasion, some of the ingredients may be a little hard to get but nothing too major and definitely nothing's that stopped me yet.

I do have other cheesecake books which people have given me over the years but due to simplicity, astounding variety and plain old wonderful results, this is the one I recommend the most.