Wanda's Pie in the Sky: Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Squares, and More

Mima Vulovic is a sessional lecturer at York University who also works
at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

If you’ve ever visited Wanda’s Pie in the Sky bakery-café in
Toronto’s posh Yorkville neighbourhood and wondered about the sweet
secrets of its success, Wanda Beaver’s debut cookbook will surely
demystify them. With its step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting
tips, and a section titled “Pie Crust 101,” this ultimate desert
guide promises to make even the most hopeless of novices appear like
seasoned pвtissiers.

Though the emphasis is on pretty much every known variety of
lattice-topped, flaky crust pie (you name it: fruit, custard, cream,
mousse), the book is also replete with cloying ideas for coffee cakes,
cheese cakes, layer cakes, meringues, cookies, bars, squares, muffins,
sticky buns, scones, bread puddings, quick breads, and tortes. In short,
Beaver shares over 120 of her most sumptuous recipes, which include such
sentimental favourites as pecan, chocolate, and pumpkin pie, as well as
more sophisticated creations like tarte au citron or silky and delicate
Mango Chiffon Cheesecake. As if that weren’t enough, there is a whole
chapter on “extras”—sweet sauces, icings, coulis, crиmes, and
curds, as well as many presentation ideas.

Whether you are an aspiring baker or an old pro, Wanda’s Pie in the
Sky will help steer your way through the heavenly realm of sweet
cookery.