Skip to main content

Member Reviews

A new cookbook from Dorie Greenspan is always a highly anticipated event. As expected, I love this new cake book. Dorie’s writing and expertly tested recipes will keep me in sweet and savory cakes in all shapes and sizes for a very long time.

Was this review helpful?

Dorie is a trusted name when it comes to baking and cooking and this cookbook did not deviate from her conversational writing style. A nice selection of tasty cakes that you can almost see lined up in a glass case in a tiny but busy bakery. You can almost see her cobered.in flour directing you on which one to buy first. Divided into sections based on shape she also includes her trademark "playing around' section and a chapter on frosting, filing and toppings. A++ for Dorie!

Was this review helpful?

Whenever Dorie Greenspan comes out with a new cookbook, it is definitely a must-have. Here, she offers an amazing collection of easy-to-make, casual cakes, the kind you would make for a visit with a friend, or to have on hand for treats, or to bring to a loved one. There are all kinds of cakes -- including muffins, loaves, Bundts, layer, cupcakes, snacking cakes, etc. There are even some creative and unusual savory cakes and muffins. I really enjoyed this, especially her many suggestions for varying recipes to make them your own.

Was this review helpful?

Another great baking book by Dorie Greenspan. This book will reach a variety of bakers - young/old, new/seasoned. The recipes and photography are well laid out. The various notes for each recipe are interesting and helpful. I enjoyed the stories preceding the recipes. I baked the Choose-a-Fruit cake. I already had the ingredients on hand (a plus). The instructions were clear. I took the suggestion of adding sliced almonds on top and they added additional texture and flavor. The cake was slightly sweet which paired well with the sweet berries. Several additional recipes caught my eye and I look forward to baking them.

Was this review helpful?

Dorie Greenspan’s Dorie's Anytime Cakes offers a charming collection of cake recipes designed for everyday indulgence, showcasing her signature warmth and accessible baking style. The recipes are thoughtfully written, with clear instructions and a wide variety of flavors and textures to suit different occasions and moods. From simple loaf cakes to more adventurous flavor combinations, Greenspan’s voice is encouraging and friendly, making even novice bakers feel at ease. The book’s strength lies in its versatility—these are cakes you can whip up on a whim, not just for special events.

However, the visual presentation of the book leaves something to be desired. The photographs, which are typically a highlight in modern cookbooks, fall short here. They have a cartoon-like quality that detracts from the appeal of the recipes and may disappoint readers who expect rich, mouthwatering visuals to accompany their culinary inspiration. While the content is solid, the aesthetic choices may make it harder for some to connect with the book. Overall, it’s a useful resource for casual bakers, but the lackluster imagery holds it back from being a standout. ★★★☆☆

Was this review helpful?

It was a questionable decision for someone who doesn’t cook with butter or eggs to test out this cookbook, but I couldn’t resist seeing Greenspan’s take on cakes, especially those meant to be served anytime. So substitutions were made (not ideal for a first pass through a cookbook), and mistakes were made. Any missteps were entirely mine.

Now for the highs: there’s already high demand for another Ritzy Cookie Cake (I subbed vegan butter for butter and ground flaxseed for the egg) because who can resist a giant chocolate chip cookie? The Blueberry Jam Cake (again, made with vegan butter) was also a crowd-pleaser, especially with the homemade jam filling.

I had wondered whether this book would mostly repeat a base recipe with a few flavor tweaks, but Greenspan offers a genuinely interesting range. Sasha’s Grated Apple Cake was tart and tasty (made with vegan butter), though as she notes, the crisp edges turn mushy on day two. Jaíne’s Soft and Tender Brazilian Carrot Cake was my first time trying a carrot cake without spices (I used flaxseed again), and it was an enjoyable surprise to taste the pure carrot flavor and appreciate the smooth texture from the purée.

And then… the flop. I attempted the BFF Brownie Cake, subbing vegan butter and using aquafaba in place of four whipped eggs. I can hear you wincing already. Yes, it turned into chocolate mush. Not entirely inedible, but definitely not what it was supposed to be.

Greenspan says in the introduction that if you use her ingredients, you’ll get her results, and I believe it. But even with substitutions, this cookbook turned out to be rewarding and delicious.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

I made three recipes from this book (all chocolate - sorry!) and they were all a hit! I baked the BFF Brownie Cake, the Double Down Chocolate Loaf, and the Devil's Chocolate Cake. My family and I enjoyed them all! For me, the fact that all three cakes turned out great makes me believe the other recipes in this book are legit too.

I've always been a fan of Dorie Greenspan's cookbooks and recipes. (Her chocolate chip cookie recipe is my go-to recipe - I love it so much!) I have always enjoyed the way she easily explains cooking instructions and her easy-to-follow recipes. This book continues that tradition. I enjoyed how simple the recipes are - the cakes I made were simple, easy, and took no time at all. My only complaint are the photos. I disliked the way the food was shot. I'm a big fan of cookbooks with pictures, and while there were a lot of them (yay!), some of the pictures (to me) did not do the desserts justice.

Overall, this would be a nice addition to any (public or personal) library.

Was this review helpful?

I think this is a great cake book. In a world where we have a lot of books about baking cakes, Dorie's Anytime Cakes offers unique recipes and "formats" for cakes. The cakes in this book aren't just the simple two layer round cakes with one cheesecake thrown in. There are dense cakes, fruit cakes, loaf cakes, bar cakes, cupcakes, and more. I liked that each recipe had its own image (which look like cool middle grounds between photographs and stylized art) and that a fair number of recipes included a "playing around" section that gives ways to twist the recipe even more to your liking.

Overall, a unique and great cake book that has recipes that will appeal to a wide audience.

Was this review helpful?

The recipes in this book are wonderful and easy to follow. It's a diverse collection of new flavor pairings and reworking of classics.

Was this review helpful?

This is definitely for the serious cake baker. It is nicely illustrated and while the instructions are good the taste are more for the adventurous baker.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun cookbook with all kinds of creative cakes that sound delicious. I wouldn’t personally use it because I have to cook gluten free and I don’t want to take chances with substitutions that might fail with all of the different ingredients here (despite the name, one to one gf flour does not just magically substitute perfectly in every recipe and different gf flours and grains work better for different situations). I also found the photos strange. They look like someone digitally removed all the backgrounds and just left them like giant stickers. No nutritional information is provided. If I cooked traditionally SAD or SBD (standard American or British diet) I think I would have fun with all the various recipes here.

I read a self–deleting digital loan of this book for review.

Was this review helpful?

These recipes walk the line between special and everyday - they'd be the most special thing after dinner at home but also perfectly at home at an event (as long as the attendees care more about taste than gobs of frosting!). The illustrations are amazing and I want prints on my wall.

Was this review helpful?

As a longtime fan of Dorie's recipes, I was excited to see she was coming out with a cake book. This did not disappoint! It is full of recipes from baby cakes to latyer cakes and everything in between. Ha, get it ? The recipes range from beginner baker to advance, Directions are well written, ingredients easy to find. I am excited to bake many of these wonderful Dorie"s cakes!

Was this review helpful?

I love Dorie! She is part of the baking elite. However, the photography in this book makes all of her beautiful cakes be very un appetizing. It reminds me of those very old cookbook of Julia Childs, where the dishes don’t look delicious and make one wonder if they’re unattainable or weird. I like how Dorie states her techniques upfront, especially regarding measurement and using a scale. Furthermore, her discussions on flower butter, sugar, and chocolate and salt are really insightful. The organization is very logical and that cakes are classified according to shape and sweet to savory with frosting and filling as last sections. Dorie’s narratives regarding who she made cakes for, where she was when she was making them, lessons she learned while making them, are just lovely and delightful, and perhaps some pictures of her or caricatures of her could be interspersed throughout throughout the book. After all, she is entirely whimsical, and also very smart and skilled. There is just no fun in this book. It’s the last grab for Dorie’s recipes or something? The flavor profiles are quite lovely and satisfy all areas of the palate as well as variety of textures. I just think that the visual aspect of this book needs a lot of work and so to do the color choices. It’s sort of dingy and sad and sparse. Do better for Dorie!

Was this review helpful?

I have a confession to make: I don’t love cakes, but I love Dorie Greenspan and if she writes a book then I know I have to read it. Dorie’s Anytime Cakes is a book filled with 100 recipes with the chapters sorted primarily by cake shape. As in all of Dorie’s other books, the instructions and hints are plentiful and the ingredients are accessible. The illustrations add a quirky and unique vibe. This is a cookbook filled with stories and recipes that celebrate family and friendship. Another winner from Dorie Greenspan!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a long time follower of Dorie Greenspan and read most of her cookbooks. When I heard she was coming out with a new book, Dorie's Anytime Cakes, I immediately parked this in my 'To Buy' pile, so you can imagine how excited I was to be able to read the advanced copy!

Dorie's Anytime Cakes has several chapters of different types of cakes including a savory chapter for when you're in a mood for a change. Each recipe comes with a fun photo which is quite different from other cookbook of hers (I can't say I'm a big fan of these photos, however, they seem AI-generated in my humble opinion), gives you other mix-in options to play around, and has metric measurement which is essential to acquire great outcomes. Just like Dorie and all her cookbooks, her recipes are approachable, clearly-written, and versatile, and beginner and advanced baker friendly. While you read through, you can almost hear Dorie talking next to you through the book!

This cookbook has every cake for every mood and craving, just like the title, it's truly "Anytime Cakes" that don't require a special trip to fancy grocery stores or online pastry websites, is easy to follow and all level of bakers friendly! I can't wait to get my hands on physical copy of it. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

From beloved James Beard Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author Dorie Greenspan—a vibrantly illustrated collection of recipes for simple yet most-memorable cakes.

I have watched Dorie bake on several YouTube channels that I watch regularly, but I have never baked anything from her recipes. I just ordered everything to make the brownie cake that she shares in this book. Im certain it will be delicious. Great cookbook and great photos!

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #DoriesAnytimeCakes

Was this review helpful?

I’m absolutely thrilled to receive this arc from net galley..As a (very) long time fan of dorie’s I always wait patiently for a new book from her.. When I receive my personal copy of this book I’ll bake it from cover to cover as I’ve done with all her previous tomes…My last book of hers was Baking with Dorie which has been used so much it’s practically tattered.. I’m expecting the same thing to happen with this new book as I can see from the recipes it will be well-loved..As an added bonus the recipes also include metric measurements..Thank you again net galley.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first time reading a cookbook by Dorie Greenspan. I was really impressed with the variety of cakes here, and after my first look through, there were so many recipes I bookmarked to try. I made the brownie cake and the brown butter bourbon cake. Both were huge hits with family and friends (especially the brown butter bourbon cake). I will say that both required more time in the oven than the recipe called for, but the recipes were otherwise easy to follow and the end results were impressive. I can't wait to try more of the recipes.

Was this review helpful?

This is full of wonderful recipes but I was thrown by the strange looking images - they seemed nearly AI generated- something about them was just off.

Was this review helpful?