The Confetti Cakes Cookbook    by Elisa Strauss Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2007 (2007) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Everyone has baked a cake at some time or other in their lives. Some more than others. But I'm willing to bet no one has baked cakes like those in The Confetti Cakes Cookbook. What wonderful creations. The brown, beige and pink cake on the cover looks enough like a real handbag that you'd be hard put not to place your wallet and lipstick in it. It also looks delicious. Elisa Strauss, once a designer for Ralph Lauren and now the force behind Confetti Cakes, Ltd., is the author of The Confetti Cakes Cookbook and the creator of the magnificent cakes on the pages therein. She 'can sculpt a sweet treat into anything imaginable, and now you can too. This inspiring book contains projects for every skill level from elegant sugar-dusted heart cookies, to delightful billiard ball cupcakes to sculpted cakes in the shape of wine bottles and Chinese take-out boxes to the extravagantly beautiful Three-tiered Chocolate Embroidery Cake showcased on Sex and the City.' She has also done a stiletto heeled shoe and its accompanying shoebox for a world-famous shoe designer! This lovely cookbook includes delicious recipes, as well as tips and diagrams for getting the results that will dazzle family and friends. Like all good cookbooks, there is an introduction. Don't skip it. Many readers, anxious to get to the meat of the book, just skim and move on. I think this is a good chance to have a talk with the author and get to know with whom I will be working. Move on to equipment and basic recipes and techniques. Then the fun time starts. Follow Strauss's directions or – when you get the hang of it – maybe you'll want to create something that will be your very own signature cake. I love the Baby Onesie Cookies. What a hit they would be at a shower. The Fruit Cookies look cool and refreshing but will also satisfy a sweet tooth. For the macho male in the family, try Sports Cupcakes. The Mini Cakes are a true inspiration – especially the Present Cakes - time consuming but worth the effort. And anyone would love the Teacup Mini Cakes. I think I'm starting to drool. Strauss says that 'If you can imagine an object, you can probably make it into a cake.' She has certainly proved her theory, as evidenced by her Chocolate Embroidery Wedding Cake. The Confetti Cake Cookbook would make a lovely gift for a friend, bride, family member or yourself. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews