Michaels Desserts: Sweets for a Cause (Our Tomorrow)

by Michael C. Platt

Krysten Wilkes (Photographer)

Debut cookbook from Michael Platt, a teen baker, social entrepreneur, and food-justice advocate. Featuring 45+ dessert recipes for cupcakes, cookies, snacks and more, served up with valuable life lessons—Michaels Desserts goes beyond baking and triumphs amidst autobiographies and other inspirational books for black teen boys.

Combining a fun cookbook with Michael’s mission to bring awareness to food and poverty, Sweets for a Cause will quickly become a favorite teen baking book that builds skills in the kitchen, celebrates history, and inspires activism. The desserts recipes collection includes Michael’s signature Freedom Fighter Cupcakes themed around figures from the history of civil rights and activism—Martin Luther King Jr., Grandpa Kitchen, José Andrés, Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Harriet Tubman, and more—as well as chapters on pies, tarts, cakes, snacks, and breads. Each dessert features stunning photography, a list of ingredients, easy-to-do step-by-step instructions, and insightful tips from Michael that will make baking tons of fun.

Truly a cookbook for all ages, whether baking with kids or wanting to support Michael’s incredible mission, adding Michael’s Desserts: Sweets for a Cause to your collection will bring hope to heart and tasty treats to your table. For teaching your teenager to bake—or for those whose kids cook already—Michael serves up sweet recipes for desserts and a drive towards social activism!

Paperback; 128 pages; 7.5 in W by 9.5 in H.

• ISBN10: 1684620473
• ISBN13: 9781684620470
• Publish Date: 1 November 2022
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Get Creative 6
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 128
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Michaels Desserts is a fun and high energy cookbook with a social conscience by young entrepreneur Michael C. Platt. Released 1st Nov 2022 by Union Square on their Get Creative 6 imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This is a beautifully presented book with tutorials and recipes aimed at beginning bakers (8-12 years old) but definitely all-ages friendly. The author writes clearly and well, and his empathy and commitment to social equity and food security comes through clearly. This book is part of the "Our Tomorrow" series, highlighting young socially conscious entrepreneurs and their missions.  

The recipes are arranged thematically: cupcakes, pies & tarts, cakes, and snacks & breads. Recipes contain an introduction/background, bullet list of ingredients, and clear step-by-step preparation instructions. Ingredient measurements are given in imperial (American) units. Nutritional info is not included (which is probably a good thing - these are wonderfully decadent gooey delicious desserts). 

The instructions are simple and easy to follow but not too easy. The photography is gorgeous throughout and there are also lots of publicity photos of the author in photo-op pictures with various celebrities in relation to his philanthropy work on food security and with epilepsy awareness. 

I thought the social activism parts of the book fused nicely with the included recipes and the message for young people throughout is encouraging and important: namely that no matter how much you can accomplish for good, it counts, and it's important, and never give up. 

Four stars. Very well done. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.