Cookbook Review: The Hummingbird Bakery Life is Sweet

The Hummingbird Bakery is quite a famous bakery in London for authentic American cakes and desserts. The first Hummingbird Bakery in London was started by Tarek Malouf in 2004. Life is Sweet is Tarek’s fourth best-selling cookbook.

Also read: Cookbook Review: Building a perfect meal

About the author

Born in Lebanon, Tarek Malouf grew up in London. He fell in love with traditional American family cakes, bakes, and other confectionery. This happened while he was studying in The American School here in London. He opened the first Hummingbird Bakery in Notting Hill on the famous Portobello Road. The first batches of cupcakes sold out completely.

His love for indulgent, high quality cakes and bakes grew even more. He developed this appreciation while working with America’s ABC News Network. It was at that moment he realised something important. The Brits were missing out on American homebred style confectionery flavours. These flavours were almost non-existent in the UK.

He even took up baking courses in America to understand the different ingredients and techniques under the art of baking. Like most of us who love cooking and baking, Tarek tried out his bakes first. He let his family and friends taste them. I’m sure it was a hit amongst them. This success gave him the confidence to start his very first Hummingbird Bakery.

Tarek has written various best selling cookbooks and a number of ebooks alongside The Hummingbird Bakers. He has always been in the forefront of the bakeries’ flavour creations as their chief taste tester. Life of Sweet is his fourth cookbook.

In 2017, Tarek was honoured with the MBE for services to baking and confectionery. This was announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017. It was because of him that Londoners were able to taste the authentic home baked-style American desserts, cakes, pies, etc.

According to the Hummingbird Bakery, Tarek’s favourite treat from the bakery is the Black Bottom Cupcake. These cupcakes have a spoonful of chocolate chip cheesecake baked into a rich chocolate sponge, topped with cream cheese frosting. That is just lovely, isn’t it?

About The Hummingbird Bakery

The Hummingbird Bakery is known for baking everything fresh every day. They do this in their in-house bakeries. Their team includes talented bakers, pastry chefs, and cake decorators. At the bakery, they ensure that all their bakes taste as close to home baking as possible.

Today the bakery is an iconic brand and has a number of bakeries here in London. It also has franchises in Dubai. Even during a lockdown here in the UK, you can still order cupcakes. You can also order cakes and other bakes from their bakeries.

This bakery offers a wide range of American-style home-baked goods. Their selection includes cakes, bakes, and desserts like cupcakes, brownies, pies, cheesecakes, and layer cakes. The bakery popularised the Red Velvet cake in the UK. It continues getting more and more flavours to the public every month with their ‘Monthly Specials’ series. If you’ve got a birthday, wedding or any other celebration, then you can always order a custom-made cake from them. If you prefer baking the cake yourself, then look out for this book, Life is Sweet.

Second of the COOKBOOK REVIEW SERIES

I’ve chosen Tarek’s cookbook as the second cookbook to feature in this Cookbook Review series. This book is easy to follow. It has many recipes that are dear to most of us. These recipes, of course, have a very American way of making them. Life of Sweet has layer cakes, pancakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, traybakes, etc. which are easy to follow and taste amazing too. I chose this book mainly because I was inspired by Tarek’s story. I’ve read that he hopes his work as an entrepreneur can help others. He wants to encourage those starting a life for themselves in the UK. He wants them to follow their dreams. This is exactly the motivation I need as a blogger this year.

About the cookbook

This cookbook ‘Life is Sweet’, as described by Tarek himself, has recipes you might not be familiar with. You may not have heard of them before. This book is perfect if you want to learn various skills and techniques used in American baking. It also allows you to delve into American history through its cakes and bakes. This book will also give you an idea of how the Southerners in America like their desserts. The book has recipes from church group members. It includes restaurant and coffee shop favourites. You will find old-fashion recipes only known to specific regions. There are also vintage recipes made with odd ingredients, etc.

Try:

7Up Pound Cake
Tomato Soup Cupcakes
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake
Vinegar Cookies
Black Pepper Cookies
Red Velvet Brownies
Blackberry Limeade Bars
South Carolina Fig Ice Cream
Bourbon Bread Pudding
Crawfish Pie

I like how all the recipes are so varied, innovative. Yet they are so unique in its own way at least for this side of the world. I live in the UK for those who don’t know yet. It is the perfect book to learn more about American cooking and baking.

And there’s more to this

Famous recipes and some newer ones

This book discusses various famous recipes known to us. These include the famous Birthday cake cookies, Lemon Chiffon pie, Graham Crackers, and a chocolate Bundt Cake. As a cookbook, this book delves into various specialities from unexplored American regions. It gives more emphasis to the Southern world of American baking. Apparently, down south things are slower and much sweeter. This cookbook definitely helps home bakers in the UK explore this world of baking with the help of Tarek.

Explore American baking with Life is Sweet

You’ll find recipes from New York City. There are also recipes from southern places like North Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Dallas. This book has old-fashioned recipes only known in specific regions. It features treats that were show stoppers and cakes that need multiple steps and careful consideration. There are also some easy-to-make recipes. These can be whisked up in minutes. They taste as good as the longer versions.

This book provides a brief introduction to the history of the South. It also covers the history of the United States as a whole. The narrative interrelation between the use of old ingredients and some newer lesser lesser-known ones. Fruits like peaches from hotter places like Georgia and oranges from Florida add their freshness to desserts. Their zest zings up cakes and pies to make them more satisfying.

Life of Sweet also speaks of recipes and ingredients. It includes foods like peanuts and sweet potatoes. These were used by the African slave communities in their day to day cooking.

If you want to understand how Southerners like their desserts, just mix together some chocolate and marshmallows. Add some bourbon to create a true Southern delight. You’re surely in for a treat!! And not ignoring the Holy Trinity of a typical Southerner: Pecans, Pumpkins and Bourbon. Bourbon is an American whiskey. It is made by distilling a mash primarily made of corn. Kentucky is its place of origin. A close replacement for it here in the UK would be the Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniels.

Recipes I tried from this book and my recreations

I’ve recreated quite a few recipes from this cookbook already and I love the results.

Carrot and Walnut Traybake was inspired by this cookbook, and it was a definite hit!!

The red velvet pancakes were adored by my husband as his birthday surprise breakfast. I took inspiration for the recipe from this book but ultimately made it my own.

Red Velvet Pancakes with cream cheese frosting and fruits are a perfect birthday breakfast

Recently, I even tried my own version of the upside down pear cake and it was so so good!! Sharing the recipe soon. Stay tuned!

With V-day soon approaching I’m leaning towards baking some red velvet brownies later today. Shall update the result on my Instagram so make sure you are following me there.

What else can you find in this book?

This cookbook Life is Sweet introduces you to a variety of different recipes.

Using different sweetener:

Until around World War 1, Molasses was imported to America from the Caribbean. It was used as the main form of sweetener. Sugar was comparatively very expensive. Molasses is still used in American baking as it makes the cake rich, moist and irresistible. They also use treacle in their baking as added sweetness and richness.

Boozy cakes and cupcakes:

I love boozy desserts. I’ve made bespoke whiskey or brandy cakes before. They’ve been a hit amongst my fondant custom-made cake customers. American baking uses Bourbon, orange-based liqueurs like Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, etc., commonly in some of their cakes and other bakes.

Fruits like pears and bananas are generally caramelised with some butter and lemon juice. Then, liqueur, rum, or your booze of choice is added. A bit of sugar and some spice are used before incorporating them into various cake or cupcake recipes.

Use of non-conventional ingredients:

You can use anything from mayo to tomato soup in baking. You can even use some vinegar to make a vinegar pie. American vintage recipes use a lot of non-conventional ingredients which you wouldn’t normally associate with baked desserts.

Mayonnaise is generally substituted in cakes instead of butter and oil. It makes the cake extremely delicious and moreish. I’ve experimented with this before and I honestly love it. That’s the only way I’d ever have Mayo in desserts.

Apparently, vintage American recipe books first introduced the concept of adding carbonated soft drinks to cakes and other recipes. For example: the 7Up Pound Cake is a super moist cake with the addition of 7Up. The lemony fizzy drink also gives the cake a slightly citrusy kick.

Back to Basics:

Tarek also made sure to add some baking basics and essential advice towards the end of the cookbook. He gives you a direction for the use of some basic ingredients and their available substitutes. You’ll also find a list of equipments and some of Tarek’s go-to ones. There’s also a detailed tutorial on Sponge Making and frosting. I’d recommend this book to home chefs who would like to learn the basics of American baking. You will learn the techniques used. It’s also a great choice if you just want to have fun while baking for your family and friends.

You can find the book here.

He also teaches you how to make the basic American Flaky Pastry.

Before you go

If you end up getting the cookbook, do try out the recipes in it. Make sure to tag me and the Hummingbird Bakery by using the hashtag #trulysoulfullyeats. Let us know what you think of this book. It is a great book for gifting.

Let us know your thoughts about this cookbook. And if you’ve tried out the Hummingbird Bakery before by leaving a comment below. Your say is always valued! Please tag your creation of this recipe on Instagram. You’ll find us at #trulysoulfullyeats.