Bake Anime

by Emily J Bushman

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Bake Anime is a fun (and admittedly slightly nerdy) tutorial guide and recipe collection for anime adjacent baking by Emily Bushman, and a thematic sister volume to 2020's Cook Anime . I couldn't see any overlap in the editing/production staff, but they have a very similar vibe, although different authors. Released 8th Nov 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Element imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I liked the layout here. It's lighthearted and whimsical but well written and a perfectly serviceable cookbook in its own right. The introduction includes pantry lists, equipment, and some of the author's own background as a fan of anime and Japanese culture, followed by chapters arranged thematically: Japanese desserts, western desserts, and desserts based on specific characters. 

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only, with a metric/SI conversion table in the appendices. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Each recipe has a heading with the dish's appearance in a specific anime show/episode.

Well written and organized, this could be a fun addition to the cooking repertoire. It would also lend itself very well to fans of meal planning or once-a-week-cooking. Most of these recipes make several servings which could easily be used for a week's lunch planning. I got out of the habit of buying food at the cafe at work during the pandemic and these recipes have provided good mileage for avoiding boring lunches at work for me, as well as adding a lot of fun to my cooking.

Five stars. This would absolutely star in conjunction with an anime binge watching party with friends. Highly recommended for fans of anime or anime/manga culture. I could see this also being a good choice for a reluctant cook, to get them into the kitchen and making food.

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