Ever wondered why the cake you spent hours making was a complete disaster? First, Cream the Butter and Sugar will prevent future mistakes.
Jackson won the MasterChef Australia: Back to Win in 2020. She has since built a successful business and reputation from her lifelong love and passion for baking. Her new book is lavishly photographed. It features an enormous range and wealth of recipes. Delicious cookies, cakes, celebratory cakes, tarts, choux pastry and more.
Catering for all skills, Emelia shares her secrets or ‘religious rules’ that guarantee the best and most delicious results.
I was fascinated to learn about some of the corners you can (and can’t) cut. More serious cooks will love the list of recommended baking equipment.
Emelia says, like most things, investing in the best quality ingredients you can afford. Whether its butter, flour or eggs, it will make a difference to the end results. Did you know for example, that cake flour makes a huge difference to achieving a lighter, fluffier cake?
I’m not sure whether I am brave enough to try the Pistachio and Strawberry Eclairs recipes. But I will definitely give it a go after making the Lumberjack Cake and the Baked Lemon Tart.
This book makes for some delightful reading (aided by the beautiful photography), and is a wonderful lifelong reference to invest in or to gift.
Reviewed by Karen Williams
ABOUT EMELIA JACKSON
I’VE BEEN A BAKER EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.
As a little girl, I was always in the kitchen, beaters in one hand, cake tin in the other, mixing, measuring, making an enormous mess – and loving every minute of it.
I’m always the one volunteering to bake the birthday cake or bring the dessert (I’ve found it’s a guaranteed invite to the party). While I’m mostly self-taught, I feel extremely fortunate to have grown up around some passionate home cooks who always encouraged me to express myself in the kitchen.
Emelia Jackson loves to make people happy through butter and sugar. One of Australia’s most sought-after cake designers, she is best known internationally for being victorious in the 2020 MasterChef Back to Win series. There she displayed her razor-sharp focus and generosity towards other contestants to become one of the best-loved in the show’s history.
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