cover image The Only Bake Sale Cookbook You'll Ever Need

The Only Bake Sale Cookbook You'll Ever Need

Laurie Goldrich Wolf, Pam Abrams, . . Morrow, $14.95 (258pp) ISBN 978-0-06-123383-8

Wolf and Abrams, have participated in all manner of bake sales, from Moveon.org's Bake Sale for Democracy to fund-raisers at their kids' schools, and all that time in oven mitts paid off in the form of 210 recipes that pass the bake sale test (“portable, delicious, and look great”). From Rice Krispie Treats—all 23 variations—to sections on brownies, muffins and cupcakes, this book demonstrates that bake sales needn't be boring. Every recipe includes serving and storage suggestions, and most offer tips for prep-time activities, such as crushing peppermint candies, as well as advice for safe transportation. For the time-deprived, the “Not From Scratch” section offers ideas for perking up slice-and-bake cookies and boxed-mix treats. Nutritional information is not provided (and real butter is heartily embraced), but there is a back-of-the-book “Special Diets” section with a trio of recipes: gluten-free, peanut-free and vegan. The business side of bake sales is covered, too: the introduction includes advice for soliciting donations, identifying and pleasing your bake-sale audience (resulting in higher sales) and creating enticing and appealing table displays. Another key tip from the authors: as in real estate, when it comes to setting up your bake-sale table, location is everything. (Apr.)