Author: George Geary
Publisher: Robert Rose
ISBN:978-0-7788-0618-9

“To make a perfect cheesecake every time, prepare like a professional,” George Geary writes in the beginning of his book, The Cheesecake Bible: 300 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Cakes and More.

This second edition three-hundred-and-eighty-four-page paperback targets those interested in making perfect cheesecakes in a multitude of styles, designs, and flavors. Containing three-hundred recipes, it offers many variations of the tasty dessert.

After an introduction that covers tools, equipment, common ingredients, basic techniques, and frequently asked questions, the book is divided into fifteen sections. Covered are crumbs and cookies, breakfast items, and cheesecakes made around the world or with chocolate, fresh fruit, citrus, and nuts plus vegan/gluten-free, no-bake, small, bars, pies, savory, holiday, and toppings/sauces. The ending includes sources, acknowledgments, and an alphabetical index. Thirty-two full color, full page illustrations are added of the completed desserts in four parts of the book.

Covering one to two pages each, the recipes have bold titles on the top of the pages with serving size, tips, and variations on the left side of the page. The ingredients in used order are on opposite sides, followed by numbered instructions in paragraph form. Both sections often include Crust, Filling, Toppings, and Decoration subtitles.

Some interesting recipes are Lemon Cookie Crumbs, Blood Orange Cheesecake Crepes, English Trifle Cheesecake, Minty Chocolate Cheesecake, Poached Pear Cheesecake, Grapefruit Mint Cheesecake, Pistachio Cheesecake, Blueberry Heaven Vegan Cheesecake, Irish Cream Cheesecake, Mojito Cheesecake, Cappuccino Pecan Bars, Cottage Cheese Pie, Taco Cheesecake, Eggnog Cashew Cheesecake, and Papaya Mango Topping. 

If you love eating cheesecake and love making it, this cookbook will become your go-to source as it has every recipe conceivable for the average cook. I like that the recipes are varied, with some of them being unique. The introduction has helpful information and tips on how to make beautiful, crack-free cheesecakes.

Those who do not like to cheesecakes will avoid this book. Others may wish there were more than only thirty-two photographs. Some may want caloric and nutritional information if they watch their diet.

I wish the book included the preparation time it takes to make each dessert.

If you are looking for an amazing cookbook only dedicated to cheesecakes – this is it. There is no need to look further as Geary, who has made over a million cheesecakes, knows his stuff and did a great job. Suggestion: do not count calories when eating these delicious desserts!

Thanks to Bookpleasures and Robert Rose for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.