Cook book Review: Dorie’s Anytime Cakes October 21, 2025 by Dorie Greenspan

Dorie’s Anytime Cakes October 21, 2025 by Dorie Greenspan (Author), Nancy Pappas (Illustrator) Harvest Books

I’ve long been a devoted fan of Dorie Greenspan, and having had the pleasure of interviewing this generous and kind woman, I know firsthand the baking inspiration she offers. Her latest book, Anytime Cakes, is a deeply personal collection of her favorite recipes, lovingly curated to share with friends and family. This dedication to sharing the most cherished bakes makes the collection feel immediately intimate and trustworthy.

Anytime Cakes celebrates the simple but special, with a repertoire ranging from homey basics perfect for intimate gatherings to impressive bakes for a potluck. These are not frosting-laden showstoppers, but rather straightforward, straight-from-the-oven cakes that often require only a dusting of powdered sugar and pair beautifully with a cup of coffee or tea. The collection emphasizes pantry-friendly recipes, with “Loaf Cakes” — such as the Feta, Sumac, and Za’atar Loaf — that are designed to become staples, keeping well for days of simple enjoyment.

The true strength of the book lies in the “Playing Around” suggestions included with each recipe. This feature transforms the simple base recipes into highly customizable bakes, offering easy-to-use adaptations for substitutions, flavor tweaks, and even tips on how to transform a plain cake into an impressive layered party cake. Featuring Dorie’s characteristic evocative writing, expert advice, and gorgeous illustrations by Nancy Pappas, the book spans a wide range of types — including rounds, muffins, crumbles, Bundts, and even savory cakes. This is the ultimate celebration of accessible baking, ensuring you, just like Dorie, will be returning to bake these favorites again and again.

I personally think this may be one of the most charming cookbooks I have read in many years.

Rating 5 stars out of 5. *****

Single Pro and Con for Buying Anytime Cakes

Pro: The book offers maximum utility and personalization for the home baker through Dorie’s personal curation, evocative writing, and robust “Playing Around” suggestions, making simple, beloved cakes accessible and endlessly customizable for any occasion.

Con: The strong focus on simple, unadorned cakes means that bakers primarily seeking advanced, complex techniques or elaborate, heavily frosted layer cakes may find the content less aligned with their interests.

About the Author: Dorie’s Anytime Cakes is my 15th cookbook (cue the fireworks, please). Several of my books, including Baking From My Home to Yours, Dorie’s Cookies, Baking with Dorie, and Around My French Table, were New York Times bestsellers and/or won James Beard Awards. I’ve been a Times columnist, inducted into the Who’s Who of Food and Beverage and awarded the Order of Agricultural Merit from the French government for writing about the foods of that country, none of which I’d ever imagined as a kid. I live — cook, bake and write the xoxoDorie Substack — in France and the US. (Harvest Books)

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About the Well Seasoned Librarian

Hailing from San Diego and spending his teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, Dean Jones has become a seasoned resident of the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. A true foodie and lover of the written word, Dean wears many hats: librarian, cookbook reviewer, and writer.

Catch him at book festivals, farmers’ markets, bookstores, or savoring a delicious meal at a local restaurant. Dean’s passion for food and literature shines through his published works. You can find his reviews in “Amoral Beatitudes Magazine” and his insightful articles on platforms like Medium’s “One Table One World,” “The Cookbook for All,” “An Idea,” and “Authors What Are You Reading?” Currently, Dean keeps Benicia Times Herald readers informed with his regular cookbook review column.

Connect with Dean:

• Email: [email protected]
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