Daisy Cakes Bakes

January 8, 2018
Nelson, owner of mail-order bakery Daisy Cakes, packs her debut cookbook with down-home recipes for Southern desserts of all kinds. Nelson’s business skyrocketed after her appearance pitching her homemade cakes on Shark Tank, and those same recipes are highlighted here: classic layer cakes, such as red velvet cake and yellow cake with chocolate frosting, as well as an Italian cream cake, a rum raisin pound cake, and a Scotland orange cake. Cookies include sophisticated brown butter pecan bites and mocha cappuccino cookies, as well as such cookie jar favorites as elegant vanilla wafers and chocolate crunch cookies. The diverse collection of pie recipes is tempting, including pecan crumble chess pie, banana split pie, and a mint chocolate layer pie with a pretzel crust. Bacon even sneaks its way into the cookbook: there’s a bacon jam cake filling made with bourbon, bacon toffee, and a mind-blowing pork rind–crusted cheesecake. The chapter on sauces and frostings offers everything from cream cheese frosting to moonshine glaze made with real moonshine. Clearly written recipes and Nelson’s inviting voice will encourage new and experienced bakers alike.