Holiday Gift Guide: Cakepops Holidays by Bakerella

Bakerella is Angie Dudley, the popular and adventurous blogger whose confections have formed a revolution. It’s possible that she didn’t invent them, but she certainly has done more than her share to not only bring them to the masses, but also to push the very boundaries of cake on a stick.

More than 800,000 copies of her first book about cakepops are in print. High time then to follow up with a second book, this one targeted on a theme -- in this case, the holidays -- and showcasing even more refined and well-thought-out confections. After all if nothing else, Dudley has more cakepops under her belt now than she did the last time.

The examples in Cakepops Holidays (Chronicle) are exquisite. Each one a tiny work of art ready to be “oohed” and “ahed” over before consumption. For example, who could ever resist a whole herd of tiny polar bears, each with a body that looks like a peppermint stick? Or tiny presents complete with name tags and pretty bows? Santas. Elves with freckles. Tiny Christmas lights. And many, many more.

Since Bakerella advises her readers to start with cake mix cakes, this is not exactly a cookbook. More like a book of edible art projects. The other things it is? A lot of holiday fun! ◊

Monica Stark is a contributing editor to January Magazine. She currently makes her home on a liveaboard boat somewhere in the North Pacific.