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Moosewood Restaurant Book of Desserts
From the innovative chefs of the Moosewood Collective comes a collection of 250 delectable desserts, representing an array of ethnic culinary traditions, for such treats as Pear Meringue Tart, Summer Berry Pudding, Strawberry Mango Cobbler, and other pies, tarts, cakes, and sweets. Simultaneous. 100,000 first printing.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
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About the author
The Moosewood Collective
22 books51 followersThe Moosewood Collective is a crew of fourteen women and five men. Some of us moonlight from Moosewood, and among us we have a broad range of interests and avocations. Our group comprises musicians, singers, dancers, actors, performers, mediators, meditators, activists, teachers, trainers, consultants, writers, gardeners, editors, poets, artists, quilters, calligraphers, martial arts instructors and enthusiasts, health advocates, parents, grandparents, good cooks, and really good eaters.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 11, 2018
Be sure to try Erma Mabel's Rhubarb Cake! So delicious!
January 5, 2024
3,5 stars (mainly because I’m not as interested about desserts as some others may be *shrug*).
This is their dessert book of 250+ recipes, plain and fancy, with some already low-fat, vegan, or quick ones. There are not photos. At the end is ingredients glossary, tips and techniques, equipment and pantry lists, and lists of recipes by type (easy, quick, kids, etc.), plus a conversion chart at the very end. In recipes, each has an introduction, preparation, baking, and total making time, equipment list, notes/tips/variations; occasionally there is some nutritional information. Each dessert group also gets their own introduction, plus there are some info page within some (fe. cakes, ice cream).
A few recipes I liked: Fruit with cardamom yoghurt, Fig pear and orange compote, Creamy apricot dip, Blueberry cobbler, Strawberry mango cobbler, Mango pie, Greek custard pastry, Chocolate cherry angelfood cake, Irish oatmeal cake, Polenta poundcake, Fat-free carrot cake, Very low-fat vanilla cheesecake, Creamy apricot tar, Chocolate sugar cookies, Cowboy cookies, Black & white brownies, Butterscotch tapioca, Lemon raspberry flan, Russian apple bread pudding, Apple ice, Dairy peanut butter fudge pops, Peanut butter cupcakes, Strawberry mango lassi, Pineapple coconut smoothie, Watermelon licuado.
(Not including stuff from Sauces & toppings, Confections, and Moosewood classics sections (the last one has stuff from earlier books).)
So the order of the recipes is something like fruit stuff – bakes – some others – drinks – decorations and add-ons – classics. I noticed the ‘cream of tartar’, ‘cream of wheat’, ‘shredded wheat’: yeah, American book. Here, macaroon recipes (two: nut, and chocolate crispy rice) mean the flat cookie-like things, not the French macarons (two cookies with a filling; smoother-looking too) – I think macarons weren’t quite in fashion back in 1997. Some brands are mentioned, useful for Americans I guess, and the availability information may have had some changes, but less likely than those of earlier books.
Won’t probably ever do some of these recipes (like the cakes), and allergies/dislike of alcohol matters with some others, but there is still plenty enough to make me keep this one. Don’t have many dessert cookbooks anyway. The thickness and the book being only about one type of meal (dessert) made a bit long feeling reading it through – no reread-through for me for sure - but I liked how varied it felt. Worth it.:)
This is their dessert book of 250+ recipes, plain and fancy, with some already low-fat, vegan, or quick ones. There are not photos. At the end is ingredients glossary, tips and techniques, equipment and pantry lists, and lists of recipes by type (easy, quick, kids, etc.), plus a conversion chart at the very end. In recipes, each has an introduction, preparation, baking, and total making time, equipment list, notes/tips/variations; occasionally there is some nutritional information. Each dessert group also gets their own introduction, plus there are some info page within some (fe. cakes, ice cream).
A few recipes I liked: Fruit with cardamom yoghurt, Fig pear and orange compote, Creamy apricot dip, Blueberry cobbler, Strawberry mango cobbler, Mango pie, Greek custard pastry, Chocolate cherry angelfood cake, Irish oatmeal cake, Polenta poundcake, Fat-free carrot cake, Very low-fat vanilla cheesecake, Creamy apricot tar, Chocolate sugar cookies, Cowboy cookies, Black & white brownies, Butterscotch tapioca, Lemon raspberry flan, Russian apple bread pudding, Apple ice, Dairy peanut butter fudge pops, Peanut butter cupcakes, Strawberry mango lassi, Pineapple coconut smoothie, Watermelon licuado.
(Not including stuff from Sauces & toppings, Confections, and Moosewood classics sections (the last one has stuff from earlier books).)
So the order of the recipes is something like fruit stuff – bakes – some others – drinks – decorations and add-ons – classics. I noticed the ‘cream of tartar’, ‘cream of wheat’, ‘shredded wheat’: yeah, American book. Here, macaroon recipes (two: nut, and chocolate crispy rice) mean the flat cookie-like things, not the French macarons (two cookies with a filling; smoother-looking too) – I think macarons weren’t quite in fashion back in 1997. Some brands are mentioned, useful for Americans I guess, and the availability information may have had some changes, but less likely than those of earlier books.
Won’t probably ever do some of these recipes (like the cakes), and allergies/dislike of alcohol matters with some others, but there is still plenty enough to make me keep this one. Don’t have many dessert cookbooks anyway. The thickness and the book being only about one type of meal (dessert) made a bit long feeling reading it through – no reread-through for me for sure - but I liked how varied it felt. Worth it.:)
March 23, 2022
Oh man do I have a sweet tooth! So i read this book and then I went out and bought it. Kinda the highest praise you can give a book. I have many, not all, of the Moosewood cookbooks and find they are very near the kind of food i like to eat and the kind of food i like to prepare. The desserts cookbook is in that same vein. delicious!
December 12, 2009
A fantastic set of desserts for all occasions. I made the Poundcake Loaf and the Cranberry-Pear Crisp, and both were absolutely amazing. I earmarked many others to try sometime, too. In the back of the cookbook, the authors included a glossary of ingredients, a guide to tips and techniques, and a number of reference lists. These latter are great, with such categories as "Easy for Beginning Cooks," "Low-Fat Treats," "Impressive Eye-Catchers" and "Vegan Desserts," among others. This would be an excellent addition to any baker's cookbook collection!
June 14, 2018
I first read this book when it came out. I have owned it for many years, but recently read someone else’s copy. It reminded me of the many recipes I have tried and the many yet to try. This is a lovey book with a range of dessert like options and you can easily choose how much effort you want to put in. Like other Moosewood books it has a great index so searching by ingredients is simple and fast.
February 1, 2008
I've made many of the recipes from this book. The pound cake is wonderful, dark chocolate cake a favorite, zuccoto, orange hazelnut cake, I could go on and on. There's also a beverage chapter and a "quick deserts" section. Not a low-fat cook book. Just nice solid recipes that are a little funner than plain old cake.
July 5, 2008
This is my favorite Moosewood cookbook, which I suppose makes me an unusual vegetarian. The pumpkin bars recipe alone (tasting like brownies made with pumpkin instead of chocolate) would be worth keeping this around, in my opinion. The only issue I've ever had with this is that some things are better made for a party than for a smaller number of people as not everything keeps very well.
November 5, 2007
Packed full of some interesting/unusual dessert recipes. Unfortunately, of the few I've tried, some haven't turned out so great (the flourless chocolate cake wasn't sweet enough and had an odd texture, for instance). Still, probably worth checking out.
November 23, 2008
One of many wonderful Moosewood books. How can you ever be disappointed with rice pudding?
April 7, 2009
I have to check this book out from the library. I don't yet feel it is safe to own a copy. :) The recipes are too good.
August 21, 2009
Amazing dessert cookbook!
February 26, 2011
A classic!
October 25, 2011
My desert Bible.
June 26, 2012
the coffee chocolate cake in this one is still my go-to recipe for every chocolate birthday cake
March 4, 2013
This book is great! Not only are these recipes healthy, but they are decadently delicious!!!!!!
June 19, 2009
the peach cornmeal dish is awesome
July 29, 2011
I especially like this moosewood cookook
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews