Cookbook Book Review: Sprinkles! by Jackie Alpers

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Quirk Books, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it



Ah the holiday season....if you live out in the boonies like us, finding the RIGHT color or sprinkles for your special baking project can be daunting at best!
But did you know MAKING sprinkles is one of the easiest things ever?
Yup! I recently found out, after being sent a newly released cookbook for review: Sprinkles!

Synopsis:  

Here’s a guide to baking delicious desserts with a colorful twist: sprinkles! Of course you can scatter them over cakes and pies—but you can also swirl them into waffles, “embroider” them on cookies, and freeze them in pretty popsicles. Jackie Alpers shares dozens of creative, colorful, super-fun recipes, plus quick-and-easy projects (ideal for little kids), holiday treats, party-perfect sprinkles crafts (great for gifting!).

She also offers simple tutorials for tinting sparkling sugars, concocting homemade pop rocks, and even crafting your own sprinkles from scratch. Sprinkles! is an awesome rainbow explosion of a cookbook you won’t want to miss.

Review:

I had NO idea there were so many names for the different type of 'sprinkles'- jimmies, nonparerils, hadelslag, dragees, pearls, glitters, confetti, sugars, chocolate bits, lay-ons, candies, batter bits and even crumbles! PHEW! The author explains (and shows) the reader what they all are,and how best to use them.Then she  gives you recipes for breakfast goodies, cookies, cakes, pies,snacks and party favors, all including SPRINKLES!

And then the fun begins- HOW to make sprinkles! Which is SO SO SO easy, you won't believe it! Yes, it is easy to pick them up in the store- but half the fun in making them, is in the making of them with your kid(s)! Plus, you can match them to your party decor, or make them as long or short, as you want them! My first foray? Check it out:

We were having a Blues Fest in town and I wanted to bring in some goodies for the 'boys in blue', so I required BLUE sprinkles! LOL. I think they turned out rather well, just a bit, well, BRIGHT! LOL

The author also shows you how to make rock candy (always a kid pleaser), marshmallow fondant, fondant pearl, tinted sugars, and even Jordan almonds! Basically, all the recipes you need for a great party- be it for adults or kids!

Some of my favorite recipes from the book Starry Night Fruit leather- perfect for kids on special diets, orange dream sickle cookies, meringues, the rainbow layer cake (on the cover). and embroidered sugar cookies! This book will have you hooked from the cover photo, and keep you turning the pages with it's gorgeous photography (all by Jackie too!) and fun recipes.This is one you'll keep on hand with your favorite cookbooks. It also makes a great gift idea for the foodie on your Christmas list!

About the Author

JACKIE ALPERS is an award-winning photographer who writes, cooks, and styles recipes in her sun-lit studio and documents food and travel adventures on location. She lives in Tucson, Arizona. you can follow her on her food blog, Jackie's Happy Plate (where you will be further wowed with her food photography!)