which recipe source would you trust more?

[nageov3t]

I've never baked a cake before... I've decided that I want to try, though, and my friend is having a party later in the month which provides a nice excuse.

I can't decide which recipe source to use, though -- Cook's Illustrated, Joy of Cooking, or the great wide internet.

update with test cake:

 

[techs]

I would go with the internet. Internet recipes often have numerous instances of feedback.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Joy of Cooking will work fine. I believe they talk about the two methods for baking a cake. It's always important to have a grasp of the basics before leaping into the unknown. I would recommend making the cake more than once. A good tip that all the bakeries use is after the cake has completely cooled, freeze it. Then trim and crumb the frozen cakes before frosting.

 

[Cheeseplug]

Cook's Illustrated's chocolate cake recipe is really great. Make sure to use cake flour though, I knew someone who used all-purpose and it was terrible.

 

[nageov3t]

Cook's Illustrated's chocolate cake recipe is really great. Make sure to use cake flower though, I knew someone who used all-purpose and it was terrible.

I was thinking about a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and maybe receses pieces on top.

guess I need to go out and buy cake pans and something to serve it on too.

 

[nageov3t]

/bump

 

[effowe]

I would suggest using the internet due to the sheer number of recipes and the ability to read comments by others. Allrecipes.com is my goto site for pretty much everything. You will also need 2 - 9" cake pans, and a cooling rack for the cakes. Before you pour the batter in the cake pans, it helps to cut a couple of circles out of parchment paper to go in the bottom of the pans, helps the cakes release. Finally, make sure to do at least a couple of test runs on the cake so you get used to it. Baking is a lot more delicate than regular cooking, and it's pretty easy to mess it up, especially if you have never done it before.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Better Homes and Gardens, cook or baking book. These books will not only provide you with excellent basic recipes, they will teach you HOW TO BAKE.

An analogy: You, being a new driver, are looking to get behind the wheel and drive after looking at the owner's manual, and riding around with your mom; the proper place to start would be in a class that teaches you the basics. ...and baking being harder than general cooking, the car you are looking at taking for your first spin, is a Stock car.

The Joy of Cooking... lololololol... ehem.

 

[nageov3t]

The Joy of Cooking... lololololol... ehem.

what's wrong with it?

it was given to me as a gift ages ago... I've only ever made a small handful of recipes out of it, though.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

youtube. has feedback and tips and hints in the comments section.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Better Homes and Gardens, cook or baking book. These books will not only provide you with excellent basic recipes, they will teach you HOW TO BAKE.

An analogy: You, being a new driver, are looking to get behind the wheel and drive after looking at the owner's manual, and riding around with your mom; the proper place to start would be in a class that teaches you the basics. ...and baking being harder than general cooking, the car you are looking at taking for your first spin, is a Stock car.

The Joy of Cooking... lololololol... ehem.

I agree with learning the basics. However, cooking like science, relies primarily on observation. As a professional Chef, I really dislike cookbooks that try to dumb down or, make simpler the process. Betty Crocker and the like do more harm than good by emphasizing steps rather than technique. I recommended Joy of Cooking because I assumed the OP already had access to it.

I also recommended that the OP make the cake more than once. Even professional bakers do not attempt a new recipe and expect perfection the first time out. Knowing your oven, pans and, recipe take time and repetition.

 

[shopbruin]

Cooks Illustrated is good, as is America's Test Kitchen. If you follow the directions exactly in ATK recipes, the result should be fine, as they test it many times before they publish a recipe.

 

[CKent]

other - the food network

After having some bad experiences blindly trusting random internet recipes I've found that recipes here, especially Alton Brown's, are a sure bet.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I agree with learning the basics. However, cooking like science, relies primarily on observation. As a professional Chef, I really dislike cookbooks that try to dumb down or, make simpler the process. Betty Crocker and the like do more harm than good by emphasizing steps rather than technique. I recommended Joy of Cooking because I assumed the OP already had access to it.

I also recommended that the OP make the cake more than once. Even professional bakers do not attempt a new recipe and expect perfection the first time out. Knowing your oven, pans and, recipe take time and repetition.

They are the same style of book; basic recipe-driven books with sections on technique, method, and theroy. BH&G will be easier to follow and produce good results, whereas with over 4000 recipes, The JoC will be more of a crapshoot. The last advice you offered is the best in this thread (and probably NOT what the OP wanted to hear).

 

[nageov3t]

The last advice you offered is the best in this thread (and probably NOT what the OP wanted to hear).

yeah... the core problem is that I don't eat cake (I mean, a sliver maybe but I certainly have no use for an entire cake myself). so if I bake a test cake, it'll end up getting thrown in the trash which seems like a total waste.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

yeah... the core problem is that I don't eat cake (I mean, a sliver maybe but I certainly have no use for an entire cake myself). so if I bake a test cake, it'll end up getting thrown in the trash which seems like a total waste.

You have to decide what is important to you. Are you baking to learn? Are you baking to eat? Are you baking to give a personalized gift? You see, cooking and baking are about sharing. Otherwise, you are better served by paying professionals to do it for you. If you can't find enough people to help you eat a cake or two, why are you baking a cake in the first place? Yes, I read your OP but, I'm still asking.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Paula Deen > *

 

[nageov3t]

You have to decide what is important to you. Are you baking to learn? Are you baking to eat? Are you baking to give a personalized gift? You see, cooking and baking are about sharing. Otherwise, you are better served by paying professionals to do it for you. If you can't find enough people to help you eat a cake or two, why are you baking a cake in the first place? Yes, I read your OP but, I'm still asking.

a mix of 1 and 2... the cake in question is my sample cake I suppose. I've wanted to try baking a cake for awhile and my friends' party provides a good excuse.

it's just a gathering of people in their early 20's to sit around and drink and smoke... if my cake's a little less than perfect, it's not a big deal

 

[rasczak]

voted other. mom's recipe book that my stepdad created. (thank goodness he did that. otherwise we would have lost everything when she passed away).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

a mix of 1 and 2... the cake in question is my sample cake I suppose. I've wanted to try baking a cake for awhile and my friends' party provides a good excuse.

it's just a gathering of people in their early 20's to sit around and drink and smoke... if my cake's a little less than perfect, it's not a big deal

But, you're unwilling to spend a couple bucks and another hour of your time to do either? Pick up a cake at the "Quickie Mart" and leave the baking to us professionals.

 

[DT4K]

other - the food network

After having some bad experiences blindly trusting random internet recipes I've found that recipes here, especially Alton Brown's, are a sure bet.

I second the food network. Search for whatever you want to make, then sort by rating. I stick to recipes with a 4 or 5 star rating and I've never been disappointed.

 

[nageov3t]

voted other. mom's recipe book that my stepdad created. (thank goodness he did that. otherwise we would have lost everything when she passed away).

unless it's on the internet, it's not helping me

But, you're unwilling to spend a couple bucks and another hour of your time to do either? Pick up a cake at the "Quickie Mart" and leave the baking to us professionals.

would it be better if I phrased the question as "I want to bake a sample cake. I'm going to serve the sample cake to my friends at a party. which recipe source would you go with?"

 

[Kreon]

I never tried the baking section of BH&G, but I do like their recipe book. I learned the techniques to cooking and baking from my mom though, so I dunno how that section is.

Between that and food network, one can cook anything.

 

[KeithTalent]

Ignore the naysayer(s), just find a well-reviewed cake from somewhere online (I use Epicurious pretty often) and have fun with it. I'm no pro baker, but I do enjoy baking, so no need to worry about being pro.

KT

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Roll your eyes all you want but, few things piss me off more than the attitude that food preparation is easy/simple or anyone, trained or not, with the 'right' cookbook can create something amazing. This entire country looks down on food service and thinks the only people who work in it are too dumb/uneducated to do anything else. I know you didn't say that and I applaud your interest but, like anything worth doing, food preparation takes knowledge, planning and, practice.
/rant off: We now return you to your regularly scheduled posting.