Cover Image: Dessert Can Save the World

Dessert Can Save the World

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Member Reviews

This is not a recipe book, it is more of a selection of stories. It is a really nice book, but if you are looking for recipes you might be disappointed.

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When I received the ARC, Dessert Can Save the World by Christina Tosi, was I surprised! Having long been a fan of Milk Bar and Tosi’s creations, I have enjoyed reading and making desserts from her other cookbooks, Momofuku Milk Bar and ALL About Cake. After a try at her famous crack pie (delicious and sticky sweet) and layered birthday cake with cookie crumbs, I was excited to see what other recipes she had to share. The surprise, the book seems more like a memoir and guide to well-being. It’s filled with many stories of Christina’s childhood and family experiences along with her professional work as a pastry chef. In each of the 6 chapters there is a recipe or two, however the book contains mostly stories and life lessons combined through sweet lens of dessert. I found it to be an interesting read however, some readers may be disappointed to find out it is not a traditional cookbook.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to review.

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I always find Tosi to be a super sweet read, not the greatest, but still recommendable for foodies and dessert snobs

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What a fun read! Christina Tosi is so vibrant and creative, so it's a joy to get a glimpse into her mind and her dessert empire. I enjoyed learning the inspirations behind many of her creations, the hard work it took to get to where she is today, and the way the pandemic impacted her and her team. This is a great read for anyone with a dream who needs a bit of the inspiration and creative spark that simply oozes out of Tosi.

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I’m a sucker for a sweet treat. Always have been. And if it’s something that was created with both skill and love? So much the better.

Perhaps no one in the larger cultural sphere is as currently celebrated for that brand of combined creative prowess than Christina Tosi, perhaps the most famous American pastry chef out there. She’s a two-time James Beard Award winner, the founder and owner of the legendary Milk Bar and author of numerous cookbooks. She also hosts the Netflix series “Bake Squad” and has appeared on numerous other television programs as a guest, judge and/or host.

And now, she’s written a memoir of sorts.

Tosi’s new book is “Dessert Can Save the World: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes for a Stubbornly Joyful Existence.” In it, she offers up her own story, one that saw plenty of pitfalls and setbacks as she made her way to the top of the baking world. And yet, her relentless optimism shines through on every page, a joie de vivre in which she fervently expresses her belief that, yes, dessert can indeed change the world.

Interspersed throughout her charming and compelling life’s journey are recipes drawn from particularly salient moments in that journey. Sure, this is a memoir, an account of her personal story, but here’s the thing – that story would not be complete without sharing at least a few of the delectable desserts she made along the way.

Tosi’s connection to food began at an early age. She grew up largely in Virginia, surrounded by a collection of strong women whose shared love language was baking – a language in which Tosi became fluent from a young age. She spent much of her childhood in the kitchen, and while she learned plenty of recipes from her mother and grandmother, she also found herself fascinated with the experimental possibilities of baking. That fascination never left her, even as she initially pursued other potential interests. She always found her way back to the kitchen.

She worked her way through the fine dining realm, getting a big break from chef and restaurateur Wylie Dufresne and ultimately winding up as part of the staff at David Chang’s iconic Momofuku. It was there that she would start embracing her own unique perspective and begin crafting some of the unorthodox offerings that would lead her to Milk Bar and other successes.

But really, that’s just the nuts and bolts of the story. “Dessert Can Save the World” is really about Tosi herself and her relationship with the sweet side of life.

The book really cooks (sorry) when Tosi delves into the why of her fascination with dessert. She talks about the love she has for trying new things, enjoying the misfires as much as the masterpieces. She shares her theories about our relationship with sweets – if nothing else, her ongoing discussion of the notion of “dirty dessert secrets” alone is worth the price of admission. She talks about her family and how she learned the power inherent to sharing these sorts of creations. Ultimately, it boils down to something simple: joy. Tosi’s unwavering belief in the joy that comes with dessert emanates from every word in this book.

And honestly? It’s pretty great.

“Dessert Can Save the World” isn’t your garden-variety memoir. Sure, there are the recipes, which are great – is it weird when simply reading about a dessert is enough to make your mouth water? – but it’s more about the singular focus that Tosi brings to her story. That sense of joy and gratitude is utterly charming, confessional in a way that makes you almost feel like you’re engaged in conversation with a friend. Tosi’s tone certainly contributes; her writerly voice is that of a buddy who is chatting with you while, yes, probably up to her elbows in some sort of dough destined to become a treat that she’ll wind up delivering to your house just because.

The casual nature of Tosi’s writing is devoid of pretension; this is not the story of someone interested in making sure you know how talented she is (though she is of course immensely talented). Obviously, there’s a degree of self-involvement that comes with writing a memoir, but the absence of ego in these pages is actually rather striking. Tosi loves dessert and thinks you might love dessert too, so she’d like to share her thoughts on that love. The end result is a sweet and tasty read.

“Dessert Can Save the World” will make a wonderful read for anyone who has ever experienced the joy of baking in any capacity. If you’re someone who lives for making treats, you’ll enjoy it. If your interest begins and ends with the eating, well … you’ll also enjoy it. Anyone who has ever been drawn to the sweet side of the street is going to want to dig in to this one.

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When Christina Tosi used one of my all time favorite (and entirely underrated) quotes from Wally Lamb's book "She's Come Undone", I knew it was a book for me. (The quote being: Accept what people offer. Drink their milkshakes. Take their love.")

As a dessert lover and home cook, I really enjoyed reading this. It was filled with inspiration and motivation in the language of foodies, as well as favorite recipes, some of which you'll recognize if you're a frequenter of Milk Bar. I loved the little names she assigned to feelings and phenomenons... "joy trails", "dirty dessert secrets", etc. Even if you don't own your own business, or your favorite place isn't the kitchen, you will still walk away with something to remember from this book.

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4 Stars
I fell hard for Christina Tosi when I first learned of her on the show Masterchef for Kids. Her exposure allowed me to see how she was personally as well as professionally. She was engaging, had a wonderful sense of humor, and had an honest way of teaching and talking with the kids on the show.

This led me to search out articles and interviews with her. Everything I saw and read was revealing in how she became the person she was and how she developed her interest in baking and the food industry.

She is a delight, a complete professional, and a very savvy businesswoman. This book gives the reader everything they could want; insight into Tosi, her recipes, and all the backstories of her experiences.

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I watched a documentary on Milk Bar creator Christina Tosi and was so compelled by her story, and energy I found myself at her Melrose store a few days later to try her cornflake cookies and crack pie. When I heard about her new self-help/inspirational/cookbook all about how dessert can save the world, I was all in!

I didn’t know what to expect from the book, but what I found myself inspired by Tosi’s pledge to kindness. She is so earnest in her belief that commitment, kindness and a plate of cookies, just may be able to solve a lot of challenges, that by the end of the book, I had highlighted half the book to bookmark all of her pearls of wisdom.


One of my favorite inspirational quotes from Tosi is:

“It’s an underdog’s long game. Just keep going, keep wearing them down with your vision and unrelenting commitment to doing whatever it takes to get hold of that cookie at the finish line.”

Available now: Dessert Can Save the World, STORIES, SECRETS, AND RECIPES FOR A STUBBORNLY JOYFUL EXISTENCE, By Christina Tosi

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I loved reading this book! I found the writing to be very insightful and interesting. I was intrigued by the premise and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

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I LOVED this book!! I only kind of had heard of Christina Tosi and Milk Bar, but the dessert part is what really sold me on wanting to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Christina's writing style, personality, and stories that she shared. To be clear, it's not a recipe book but you do get some fun bonus recipes that tie into the stories she shares. Even though it's not a recipe book, she still gives you some amazing stuff you can make! And, it feels really personal like she's sharing her family's secret recipes with you. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, fun read that is inspirational with a side of dessert magic!

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I love every book that Christina Tosi writes. This one is equal parts stories and recipes which I really enjoyed. I took her class and enjoy her bake club on Instagram. I will definitely be making some of these recipes. For me the focus of this one was on the stories, that's where I got the majority of my enjoyment. Christina comes through so well on paper. It's like she's in the room talking to you. Her recipes, as always, are spectacular.

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Part memoir and part life skills pep talk, I was very surprised how much I enjoyed this book. In summary: celebrate everything (from parking tickets to new jobs, to getting yelled at by your boss, there is always a reason to eat dessert), be a good human, etc. etc. Read the book, it's funny and a quick read, and it will make you believe that you should be baking more, because dessert spreads joy. Maybe it's a mid-western thing...

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Such a fun and easy read! I already loved Milk Bar and now love it even more. Tosi gives readers tips and tricks for changing their outlook on life and finding joy at all corners. A great read for anyone who wants a light-hearted and quick read with tiny bits of knowledge thrown in along the way. Will recommend it to my friends.

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If Eat a Peach by David Chang is the macho bravado of how to open and run a restaurant, this is like the easy sweet (in every sense) feminist manifesto of how baked goods can spread joy in the world. Through opening and running a bakery! I thought some of the prose was repetitive, but overall I liked Christina Tosi's voice- and it made me wish over and over again for a cookie! There are a few recipes which are more like ideas than full recipes (as an experienced cook they made perfect sense, but I would have some concerns for new cooks). That said, the gist of this is to follow your own path, stick to love and sharing over greed and selfishness, and to celebrate the good moments as well as the challenges. Cute! 4 stars.

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As a follower of the author Christina Tosi, I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this book. I loved the real humor and real voice from the author in this book. I enjoyed the creative recipe ideas included and the tips from Tosi herself on places to find great eats. If you love baking and humor I would definitely recommend this read.

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A big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Dessert Can Save the World: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes for a Stubbornly Joyful Existence. I became a huge fan of Christina Tosi after watching her on MasterChef Junior. This was a delightful book to read and I really enjoyed the recipes that she included. I recommend this memoir to anyone and everyone who bakes or enjoys desserts!

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If you love Tosi and her quirkiness, this maybe a good read for you. It has anecdotal stories with recipes sprinkled in. Light hearted read that aims to keep you entertained and upbeat in usual Tosi-style much like her social media content.

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This book was giving me so much life and now that I have finished it I already want to do a reread. To say I love dessert and baking is an understatement. It high on my list of most favorite things. I try to bake at least once a week and when I’m not actually baking I’m thinking about baking. It is how a de-stress, reflect and show love to others. This book has put all those feelings into words and I am so happy I had a chance to read it!

But wait! What if I am not really a big dessert person? Well first of all… WHAT?! Can…not…process…Jk Jk but in all seriousness you don’t have to be sugar obsessed to enjoy this book. It is filled with Christina’s personal anecdotes and views on celebrating ourselves & others, creating joyful moments, being unapologetically & authentically ourselves, trying new things, finding our “why”, accepting help, saying yes, and so much more. Dessert is obviously the lens by which Christina incorporates all of these things into her life but she also makes it clear in the epilogue that “A freshly baked chocolate chip round can’t change the world on its own, but bringing the feeling it holds into every area of your life definitely can. Dessert is my vehicle of choice, but so many other things can do this, too.” and to essentially find your own version of “dessert”.

I appreciated the balance of Christina’s personal story and her ability to use them as examples of actions others can incorporate into their lives. The book is also dispersed with simple recipes and lists which add some extra fun to the reading experience. I swear I highlighted the whole book and these few words don’t do enough to sum it up but I hope you check it out for yourself.

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Christina Tosi’s determinedly upbeat memoir and cookbook comes at a time when optimism is in short supply. But her relentless pursuit of her goals and her commitment to her customers and staff come shining through in this book.

I may not bake a single sugary sweet confection from the recipes here, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how she developed them, and had to smile at their ingredients and names.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Late last year, someone from Harmony Books reached out about Dessert can Save the World by Christina Tosi having seen I read David Chang's memoir Eat a Peach.* Knowing that Tosi's Milk Bar (which is freakin' delicious and I had to resist trekking over to Harvard Square multiple times while reading this) started as an offshoot of one of Chang's restaurants I thought why not! I'm glad I didn't start reading it earlier because I devoured it (pun 100% intended).

I knew very little about Tosi, and honestly thought she was a different chef completely when I saw her author photo, but I dove in and thoroughly enjoyed the book! What I wasn't expecting outside of the recipes (quite a few included) and the stories of how she got to the Milk Bar founding, was all of the business advice and management tips that really made the book that much more valuable and fascinating to me.

I define dessert as something cozier, more nostalgic and intimate—something warm and gooey or cold and creamy that evokes the comfort of being at home, on your couch, in your PJs. Think warm skillet cookie on a rainy Sunday night. It took a few twists and turns for me to remember that my dirtiest dessert secret is that 'fancy' and 'awesome' are not one and the same. (Chapter 3)

Seriously though, as much as I enjoyed learning about the creation of Cereal Milk, Milk Bar Pie, and Tosi's mom, who sounds like a wonderful character who would probably be overwhelming for me, what stood out for me were the times Tosi wrote about getting out of her way as a manager and business person. There are a couple of pages when she refers to her philosophy on bottlenecking and figuring it out and I mean seriously I know MANY managers in my past who need to read those few pages.

It's hard not to try to solve every little problem when it comes up, but that micromanaging mentality was a bottleneck holding us back from thinking bigger. It was also preventing our team from being their brilliant, unique selves. Of all things, that was the last thing I wanted to do! You can't ask people to be these beautiful, creative wanderers and be robotic. They needed to learn to take risks, fail, communicate, correct a misstep, ask for help, teach one another . . . and we were trying to create a system that removed all of that from the equation. How could they learn if they never fell short? We had to be okay with imperfections within our controlled ecosystem. We needed to allow room for humanity alongside the rigidity to create balance, kind of like getting your homework done before you get to go out and play. The forty-seven clipboards got winnowed down to fifteen (after all, we still needed our ordering clipboard, our invoice clipboard, our opening checklist, our deep-clean guide, our prep list . . .). We kept the absolute essentials and cleared away the rest to give our team more breathing room. (Chapter 4)

I've already been thinking about some of the processes we've defined where I work that don't necessarily need to be defined as stringent as they are. A lot of it is about meeting someone where they're at, but making sure they know here's the deadline and the few required things you have to hit, but other than that have it and keep me updated.

And throughout the work, there were a couple of times where Tosi's over-the-top enthusiasm and happiness could've pushed this book too far into the kitschy easily-to-ignore self-help books that I've complained about in the past. However, she managed to toe the line between saccharine sweet but not helpful and helpful but not dry and boring. For real though, these two quotes in a book less well written would've done my head in:

It's the underdog's long game. Just keep going, keep wearing them down with your vision and unrelenting commitment to doing whatever it takes to get hold of that cookie at the finish line. (Chapter 5)

Forget 'should.' Forget 'supposed to.' Figure out what's truly important and then write your own recipes for a life that feels real and right and joyful to you. Revise as you go along. If your recipes stop working, turn the page and write new ones. Improvise. You already have everything you need if you're willing to see things not only as they are but as they could be. (Epilogue)

When after reading this book, I'm like YES . . . should I get a poster made of these or a t-shirt? You know something to remind me daily not to get bogged down in the details and remember to keep my personality alive and part of who I am because it'll only make whatever we're producing or our goals that much sweeter when we get to them.

Recommendation: Overall, this was a wonderful read. I probably could've read it in two sittings, but I stretched it out in a few days. I was impressed with Tosi's ability to provide self-help and business/management advice without going too kitschy or too dry and it just worked. Tosi (and her mom) sound like a whirlwind of fun and sugar that would probably overwhelm the best of us, but sometimes that's what you need in life! My wallet may not be so thankful next time I go to Milk Bar (impressed I put it off while I finished the book), but my brain is definitely going to be even more grateful since I read this and know even more about the delicious desserts and the inspiration behind their creator on my next visit.

*I received a copy of Dessert Can Save the World via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: "Introductions are awkward . . . That's why I find it best to just cannonball straight in with a Hey, hi, how's it going? I'm pumped to be here with you."

Closing Line: "This, my friends, is how we save the world: one cookie, one action, one miracle at a time." (Not whited out as this is a work of nonfiction.)

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