Deceptive Desserts: A Lady's Guide to Baking Bad!

I LOVE Christine's work. It is amazing! I was hoping that this book would provide really detailed close up and 360 degree photographs of the projects and/or very detailed tips on how you can achieve the same effect. However there are simply not enough annotated photos or details to show you how to get the same result.For example, on the Facehugger recipe, to make the body component, it says "Sculpt overall shape, using fingers to create indentations and a butter knife or sculpting tool to create score marks". Where is the detail??!? I was expecting instructions more like (I'm making up numbers here, btw) "the body should be a rounded teardrop shape 8 inches long and 5 inches wide at the widest part, and 1 inch thick. Use your fingers to make smooth 1-inch indentations radiating out from the center (as opposed to simply striping the indentations horizontally down the body)".Same thing with every other project. It's "How to draw an owl: Draw the owl". There's a fantastic medusa cake and the instructions for how to make the snakes are "use green modeling chocolate to create serpent heads for each archway. Once you have the general shape, stick a toothpick partway into the end of each serpent's neck. Sculpt the eyes and then use the end of another toothpick to create the nose, mouth, and scored scales." What? You literally just said to make the snake, make the snake. It's not COMPLETELY useless as it does have tips like adding the toothpick supports, but for the finer artistic points, you're on your own.For this difficulty level of project, I think a detailed video would be a better medium to teach with so you see everything she does. I haven't seen her recent TV show, maybe that is better. But either way, I was quite disappointed in this book and would not recommend it if you have your heart set on DIYing these and you are not an experienced artistic baker to start with. If you just want some photos, then I guess it's fine.

The concepts are brilliant and the execution is effective, but many important, small baking details have been left out without which you will not achieve the desired effects. If you’re a seasoned or professional baker then this will provide amazing ideas and a foundation to work from, but many recipes require small tweaks in order to succeed. I attempted her lemon blueberry pies that resemble lemons, the glaze isn’t nearly thick enough to achieve the desired effect and needed starch mixed with the milk then added to the glaze itself. I’m on my third batch and am just now getting it right. (The pies themselves taste delicious, but I want that damned aesthetic.) Keep in mind that I’ve worked in bakeries for years and am no novice.

I bought the print on demand paperback, and I was unaware this service existed. Here's what I've found about Kindle Direct Publishing (you can google for more info): "KDP prints your book on demand and subtracts your printing costs from your royalties. That means you don't have to pay any costs upfront or carry any inventory." This makes sense for the author and I understand, however- with a full color book that mainly consists of photos, I can't wholeheartedly recommend the print on demand paperback version. I discovered this was a service when I flipped through the book for the first time and thought, "Why is the printing so bad?" I thought this information would be useful to know for those buying books as gifts. Specifically photography books and specifically for this purchase, as Christine McConnell is a photographer. That being said at the time of my purchase the cost of the paperback was around $25 less than the cost of the hardcover, which I think fully justifies the quality. I'm satisfied with it. Are the photos in the hardcover version better looking? Probably.As for the content itself I don't see what all the fuss is about with reviews that state there's not enough instruction on how to achieve the aesthetic. This is a fun, lighthearted book of creative edible projects. Where else are you going to find a recipe for cat lady gelatin? I personally wouldn't approach these expecting Christine-McConnell-level-perfection and I don't find the directions to be lacking. In my opinion that's what all the photos are for.The first 20 pages are recipes that cover the basics with recipes for white cake, chocolate cake, buttercream frosting, royal icing, fondant, and etc. The rest of the recipes are divided into seasons- spring, summer, fall, and winter. The directions are easy to follow with step by step photos, and if you like making food that looks like other food (chicken leg doughnuts) or creatures, (cinnamon roll snakes) you will find this book delightful.

This is the cook book to accompany Christine's Curious Creations series that was available on Netflix. It's a shame that we can't get hold of the series on DVD or permanent download, as it was very entertaining. Christine is a sheer artist, and her attention to detail in creating some of these items is breathtaking. Despite that, her recipes are easy to follow as she has done all of the creating thought process as well as suitability testing of the materials. Her Halloween items are something to behold!

Every thing my wife expected and more... Great book! Especially if you love christine.. who doesn't.

Great book

Really great book, however ingredients are for Americans so you have to work out the British measurements and maybe not for beginners!

Great book, a true artist ☺