Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cake from Betty Crocker #CookbookReviews

Every month I will be sharing my honest review of new (at least to me) cookbook. I will also be making one of the recipes from the cookbook so that you can see if I know how to follow directions. Some of them will be from my own collection and some may have been gifted to me by the publisher or author. I am hopeful to share a good variety of types of cookbooks – different types of cuisines, styles of cooking, specific dietary needs.

If you have any suggestions for me on cookbook I should check out – please let me know!

Cookbook Title: Betty Crocker Best 100

Author: Betty Crocker Kitchens

Publication Date: 2021

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Listed Price: $25.00

Brief Description of the Cookbook: Celebrate Betty Crocker’s 100th birthday with more than 100 of her best recipes

Betty Crocker is 100! To celebrate a century of helping American home cooks get food on the table, Betty Crocker is sharing 100 of her best recipes that have fed and nourished every generation since 1921.

Each recipe in this heirloom book is a cherished favorite that’s easy to make and difficult to fail, and each includes a note for a closer look at the American icon. With a full range of recipes, from breads and hearty casseroles to decadent cakes and sweets, Betty’s Best 100 is sure to be as treasured in your kitchen as Betty Crocker is.

The Recipe I made: Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cake

My Review: First, I gotta say I love a hard cover cookbook for the simple fact that they just lay flat and open on the countertop. This cookbook has great photos and lots of extras throughout the book, another plus for me when it comes to the over all. The recipes are well written – very descriptive and easy to follow. Any “special” techniques are given more explanation in a little margin note or even whole page. There are also some really great variations on several of the recipes – which I always love to see in a cookbook. I try to do this with most of my recipes, because I know not everyone wants the exact recipe – or they have food allergies or aversions. Since it is book celebrating the 100 years of Betty Crocker, you will also find some great antidotes about the progression of the brand. If you are like me and like to read cookbooks like novels – this is a great one for that.

I really appreciated that this particular recipe pointed out that the batter would be very thick because I probably would have tossed it, thinking I messed up somehow. The batter is almost the consistency of a frosting. Since this is a Betty Crocker cookbook, a lot of the recipe call for boxed/pre-packaged mixes (like cake mix and pudding mix). This sort of makes it a lot of elevating of boxed ingredients – which really is great for weeknight cooking and busy families. The cake came out fantastically – and the kids are asking for more out of this cookbook. Over all – going to give this one a 9 out of 10!

Estelle Forrest’s self-published first cookbook – Homemade on a Weeknight: A Family Cookbook – was created after a lot of playing around in the kitchen. You can purchase your own copy here:

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS

Estelle self-published a second cookbook – Burgers on a Weeknight – recently. It has over 60 delicious burger creations! You can purchase your own copy here:

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS