Maggie Austin Cake: Artistry and Technique Hardcover – April 4, 2017

A genteel warning: I do not spare the opportunity to fawn over this exquisite cake tome, so you've been duly put on notice. Therefore, let us proceed!This is beyond the ethereal vision I had in my head, having followed Maggie Austin from the beginning of her unique foray into cake creations, due to an abrupt need to leave her beloved life as a ballerina, following a ballet-ending injury. The creativity and vision she used to bring a story to life in the world of ballet, has been circumvented into an exquisite vocation as cake designer. The intense demands placed upon her to share her abilities with the literal legions of devotee's has been answered in book form, having given us a taste of her skills through Craftsy classes; we are greedy and wanted more because we couldn't get enough.Miss Maggie Austin LaBaugh, we deeply thank you; you have given us PLATINUM, as calling this book as gold would pale as an adjective.The way she thinks is through the eyes and soul of an artist, not a cake baker. She did not come by this profession because of initial love and targeting of this creative medium. But fortunately for us, her artistic bend in ballet has transferred into this second career in which her innate ability to express what we can't see, comes out even more lovely. The mediums she uses are nothing special but it's the manner in which she molds and pampers and expresses her thoughts through these mediums, is what sets her mile apart from the majority of cake designers. She is an artist first and foremost and you will be amazed at how fondant and gumpaste can be transformed into edible art. This art includes both cakes and cookies, though the majority is cakes.The book itself is large, heavy, and gorgeous......coffee table gorgeous! The layout and print type is simple, but so very delicate and airy. The photography pristine. The styling is eye-candy. Her instruction is minimal and as needed, yet complete.I would not suggest this as a beginners book, though I would tell a novice to place this book to the side until you get to a comfortable level, as this is gently encouraging and well-written, for when you advance. For those from intermediate to advanced, this is perfect, as she teaches the techniques to make the decor, so you would need a solid base of knowledge with fondant, gumpaste, and wafer paper; while buttercream is also used within cakes, it's not a medium she uses for the outside.Her "Frills" cake and her "Stained Glass" cake are two of her most noted cake creations, and I am assuming that those are what catapulted her into the competitive world of cake design; I know that it was an instant love for me, as well as those within my cake circle. And these two cakes are wonderfully given their sections among the many lessons in this book. Also, while I feel most of her cakes have a gentle, pastel appearance, she has included several more stark examples that use darker colors/themes. Then at the end of the book, she posts all the cakes on 4 pages so you can see everything at one time.The book is broken into nine sections, with each having chapters and lessons; a general peek into the book:1) This first "section" is the Basics and Foundation of her lessons, with tools needed, mediums, recipes for both cakes and buttercream and a cookie recipe.2) "Frills": One of her prettiest cake style with ruffles and frills for standard and floral styles.3) "Floral Appliques": This was one of my favorites as she teaches the creation of delicate flowers with the slightest brushes of gold on the edges of the flowers to make them look enameled, plus other floral combinations, as well as cookies with flowers and gilded edges.4) "Textile": The use of embroidery to make flowers; gold leaf with overlay for cake and cookies; an amazing tribute to Frida Kahlo.5) "Pearls": Handmade oysters with pearls! Cameos! Folk art cake!6) "Sculpted Fondant": I love the simplicity of "bas relief" look of cakes in which its white on white, bas relief to look like stone, elephants, urns.7) "Painting": The Stain Glass cake.....absolutely gorgeous! Impressionism in both cakes and cookies. Abstract painting.8) "Wafer Paper": Once a medium used to make roses on cakes during the 30's-50's, this now has been transformed into the ability to make feathers, petals, and butterflies.9) "Sugar Flowers": Using the Dutch Masters period paintings of still-life, Maggie shows how she creates these same stunning flowers, culminating into floral arranging for the cakes, and how to insert them.This is a wonderfully created cake book from a wonderfully creative cake artist; definitely a classic to placed alongside a small handful of others that are worthy of special shelf space.Peace.

Maggie Austin Cake represents whimsy, fantasy and pure sophistication. Looking through her portfolio is akin to walking around in the most beautiful museum. This book brings to life all new cake and cookie designs from a woman who is as graceful as she is talented. Her generosity in sharing with her 'Magginites', her ethos of 'embrace the imperfections' as well as the beautiful, non-judgmental, humble tone of her writing is what makes this book so accessible to each and every person! Before Maggie Austin's online class I had never even seen a gumpaste flower! I then built a whole new career- frommedicine to cake designer-after learning to craft a single blossom. Then I got the opportunity to meet her and I have to honestly say, she and her sister Jess excelled all expectations! They are kind and gentle and the most humble people you can ever meet; people who seem truly generous with their time and talent.This book will stay with me forever and I hope that each person who purchases it (I've purchased both formats) will treat it the same as I...like a veritable work of art; a book for the ages filled with (as Maggie writes) a new 'visual vocabulary'. A masterpiece. Thank you Maggie, you have truly changed my life in more ways than you can ever imagine, or know.

I feel like this is a book that will vchange my life! Maggie Austin's book is incredible, amazing, breathtaking, and like a work of art you can look at once come back and look at it ten more times and I have no doubts that you will something new and wonderful each time.I have just recently (like the last month) gotten into cake decorating and I love it. I feel extremely fortunate to have come a cross such a beautiful treasure early on. I feel like the techniques Maggie shares with us are awesome for bringing what I see in my mind to life.All I can say is, "Get the book, you won't regret it!" I look forward to the day I can visit her shop and maybe even take a class from her in person. Thank you Maggie Austin for this Jewel.

This is the only one of my many baking and decorating books that I've read cover to cover - in 2 days. It's a thing of beauty. And practicality. I will be referring to it time and again. If you want your baking artistry to reflect natural beauty, this is the book for you. She teaches in detail how to achieve the styles she is well known for. You will need to know how to get your cakes ready for decorations. No wasted time here on how to bake, tort, crumb coat and fondant drape your cakes. Also, if you only work in buttercream, this book is not for you. She does share some recipes, but that is not this book's focus. If you're a serious decorator, it belongs in your arsenal.

This book is absolutely amazing. It is full with ideas and creativity. There are step by step pictures on how to make the flowers. There is also explanation on how to use fondant and wafer paper, which cutter/mold to use, etc. This is my favorite book for any sugar flower and cake decorating. She is definitely one of the most creative cake artist!

This book is not just beautiful but also very informative. The story telling makes u want to read it even when u aren't a baker :) . The details and tools is a great help for bakers who are starting out