We understand each other - chocolate and I. Maida Heatter 

{HISTORY}

Perhaps the best-loved American baker of the 20th century, Maida Heatter (1916-2019) credited her claim to fame by the fact that she was never formally trained. She went at recipes with heart, curiosity, and a level of perfectionism that made her not only an outstanding baker but also an excellent instructor as well. As a self-taught baker herself, she didn't take for granted the fact that many people found baking intimidating or complicated, and in that vein, her cookbooks are explicit in instruction. Maida wanted everyone to be just as successful at baking as she had become. 

Although interested in cooking since childhood, Maida lived the life of a creative free spirit dabbling in jewelry-making, painting, and fashion illustration before she one day, offered to make some desserts for the menu of her husband's coffee shop in Miami. One thing led to another and soon Maida's desserts were flying off the counters, catching the attention of locals, tourists, and even well-respected industry icons. In 1974, she published her first book, Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts, which launched her on the path to becoming a household name in the food industry of both professional and novice bakers. 

While Maida is considered an expert in all things related to baking, it is in this cookbook Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate Desserts that she shares recipes regarding her truest love - chocolate. Published in 1980, this was her third cookbook covering baking recipes, but with this one, she realized she was so devoted to the taste, texture, and techniques of working with her most favorite ingredient, that she had to share all the joyful possibilities a little bit (or a lot of) chocolate offered to the dessert part of day.  Her enthusiasm for this one ingredient practically leaps off each page as carries home cooks through 427 pages of recipes. 

An extra special part of Maida's earlier cookbook volumes like this one, are the illustrations, which were done by her daughter Toni, before she died, tragically in a glider accident in 1994.

A storyteller as much as a baker, Maida shares interesting tidbits along the way, from helpful tips to colorful stories about specific recipes. A really fun book for any chocolate lover, you'll be flush with delicious desserts for days and months and years to come with this vintage gem.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1980 First Edition

- 427 pages including a detailed index

- Interesting recipes include Chocolate Serendipity, Chocolate Pumpkin Cake, Chocolate Angel Pie, Abby Mandel's Boule de Neige, Colorado Cowboy Cookies, Chocolate Almond Sponge, F.B.I. Chocolate Layer Cake and so many more!

- Original dust jacket included

- Decorated coverboards

- Illustrated throughout

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The dust jacket is completely intact but contains a bit of discoloration and chippiness along the top edge. The Interior is clean and bright with no markings, spots or cooking stains. The spine is tight and all pages are intact. There is some light foxing to the top, bottom and side fore edges. 

{SIZE}

Measures 6.5" inches (width) x 9.5" inches (length) x 1.5" inches (thickness) and weighs just a smidge under 2lbs.

{MORE MAIDA!}

Find more of Maida's wonderful cookbooks here.