I am looking to know what all you wonderful cake decorators think is good books to have on hand. I would like to order some but being on the internet you can't tell what is inside. I am looking for books on different buttercream decorating as well as a good cake idea book. I have taken all 3 Wilton courses and now I am hooked on cake decorating. My husband just laughs at me now. So any ideas would be a great help. Thanks
I'd like to hear a few book recommendations too. The books I've ordered from Amazon.com have been great, but realistically they are at a skill level I'll probably never achieve. Very artistic and inspiring, but not a good start for someone with limited experience or equipment. I too would like to know of a couple great books for everyday cakes as well as wedding and shower.
I can say that I get a lot of good ideas from Wilton books. The 2006 Wilton Yearbook is especially cool with a lot of awesome ideas that most anyone who has taken the courses could probably manage. If you don't have the new Yearbook I highly recommend it. I always thought it was just a product book, but actually it's a lot more than that. Many great ideas and techniques are inside.
I'll also say that I love my Mailbox News magazine that I've subscribed to. It has a lot of great cakes featured by cake decorators of many skill levels. It's available through American Cake Decorating Magazine.
My NEW favorite source for inspiration is Cake Central!!! I love this site. It has so many fabulous photos in the galleries, great tutorials, and a super forum if I ever get stuck! You are all a great resource and I'm grateful for all the support everyone here gives so freely when I'm in a pinch for an idea or a know how. : ) Thanks!
You could also get back issue magazines and books thru Ebay. They're surprising cheap and available.
Any book by Toba Garrett are great. I use http://www.fetchbook.info/ to research any book I purchase before I bid on it on ebay or purchase it brand new. Some times you will pay a whole lot more than you can purchase a book from one of the sites Fetchbook finds. I have purchase most of my books this way. I also tell my family if anybocy ever asks what they can buy me, my book list including the isbn# and the author is right here. I have a little cubby hole in the computer desk I keep it in so they can find it easily.
I just bought all 3 of the Wilton Encyclopedias from ebay. WOW!!! These books are out of print now, but there is a TON of information and ideas I have never even seen before in them. I am extrememly happy with them. I am going to treasure these babies.
I had bought the first one before finding the 3 of them listed together. If anyone is interested in it, I will sell it since it is extra one. Just pm me if you would like info on it. It is the 1974 issue one.
Hi! If you're looking for a unique book specifically about shaped/3-D cakes (without having to buy shaped pans), then CREATIVE CAKES by Stephanie Crookston (c. 197
is a great book to own. (If you see one anywhere, feel free to PM me! 
I just to keep checking it out at my local library! 
) She has step-by-step directions & lots of recipes. According to the author, her cakes have even been on Good Morning America several times for different occasions (birthdays, etc.). (I actually saw one myself one morning when I happened to have GMA on.)
There are also lots of ideas to use as a springboard for other cake designs.
Most of her directions use a 9 x 13, 11 x 17 (?-don't have the book right now to make sure of this size, but I've substituted different pans anyway for my needs), or round pans. No buying limited use shaped pans!
-bakersofcakes
Oh, yeah, this book isn't for someone wanting to do only traditional, tiered cakes. Most are carved or stacked/carved. Still, it's great for expanding your possibilities!
Anything Lindy Smith has written is worth having.
The Whimsical Bakehouse by Liv Hansen is great.
Old Wilton yearbooks can be found inexpensively at thrift stores and Half Price Books and eBay.
Deanna
The Whimsical Bakehouse by Liv Hansen is great
I've read several threads here on CC about the Whimsical Bakehouse buttercream recipe and a yellow(?) cake, but I can't find the recipes. 
Anyone know which thread they're in? I've done several searches & checked the recipes too. 
Thanks!
My three favorite books are:
Comprehensive Cake Decorating by Vi Whittington
The Wilton School Decorating Cakes A Reference and Idea Book
Wilton The Uses of the Most Popular Decorating Tips.
These books are great reference books for learning the various techniques. I use other sources books, websites, cakecentral.com, etc for ideas then turn to these books for help with achieving a design I see.
I have one of Toba Garretts boks and love it!
I went into Baking911.com and it did have recipes - looks good! I'm going to buy Toba's book as well.
Here's another vote for Comprehensive Cake Decorating by Vi Whittington. It's an awesome book that I refer to constantly! That and my Wilton Yearbooks. I am now looking for more to buy so I'm very interested in everyones suggestions.
Great topic! I am also looking to invest in a few books and this give me a few ideas. I just bought a bunch of Wilton yearbooks on ebay. I got a good deal on all of them and they are full of great ideas.
I also vote for the Whimsical Bakehouse. I bought this book years ago long before even taking a cake decorating course. I was able to successfully duplicate one of her cakes. (The two tier safari animal cake) I was quite proud of myself especially since I did not know a thing about cake decorating when I did it.
Bakersofcakes, if you haven't found the recipes you are looking for, PM me and I will be happy to share. The book also has a great oreo filling recipe too! 
Anything Lindy Smith has written is worth having.
Absolutely.
I have three of her books and they're all gold. GOLD, I TELL YOU! I lurve her books. Everything is explained with photos and text. Her website is lovely too.
I also have one of Debbie Brown's books...the one with Wallce and Gromit on the cover.
My other favourite is Celebration Cakes by the Australian Women's Weekly. I don't know if you can purchase it in your area but it's great. Step-by-step photos are included for every cake and nice recipes too.
I just got a great new book about fondant decorations: The Home Guide to Cake Decorating (by: Jane Price). They use the term "home guide", but I think it's VERY advanced for home! It has great explanations about all the fondant tools, step-by-step pictures of everything from ruffles to sugarpaste flowers, cake recipes, and construction step-by-step for shaped cakes. I loved the recipes for hard to find things like moldable chocolate paste. It uses very complex techniques and has beautiful pictures. Check it out!
I'm a newbie. This is a great thread!
I absolutely LOVE my Whimsical Bakehouse book. I am very pleased with the recipes and how to's.
I think Debbie Brown's books explain in great detail. I have 3 of her books.
My Colette Peters book arrived yesterday. Beautiful cakes! Definitely inspires me, and I will try to do some version of some of her cakes. I am not sure I will ever come close to that skill level. My heart would like to 
what i usually do is check in my local library and try to check the books out first because there might just be a couple of pic and instuctions that you can photocopy. If i find something that has lots of good stuff i usually go bye the book. just picked up collettes wedding cakes book its old but the instructions are (in my opinion) more detailed than her latest book.
Check out some review of cake books over at CakesCanada.com...
http://cakescanada.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=9122e550768b283c6a19f6c1217dbd97
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