A cookbook + nerdy recipes = right up my alley.

I enjoy baking but never do any posts about it, although I do post pictures on my Instagram. One thing I’ve had the hardest time perfecting is macarons. I’ve watched baking shows for years and always thought they didn’t look that hard despite people saying otherwise, so I wanted to try them out.

The first time, they were flat.

The second time, they were flat and overcooked.

I could not figure out what it was. Some people said it was the oven (and my oven is weird. Usually, it doesn’t take as long as the recipe says to cook something) and others said this is what is wrong, and that is wrong…I tried a few different ways but they turned out the same.

Until this time.

Sweet Treats For the Geek 

I never watched Rosanna on Youtube until I got her book. I’m sure I saw her videos trending at one point or another but never clicked on one, but I knew who she was.

The first part of the book is an introduction to Rosanna, Nerdy Nummies, and pictures of people who she’s baked with before. Then it gets into the type of tools you’ll need as well as decorating. My mom has plenty of cook and baking books, most of which I’ve flipped through at some point, and some don’t have anything like this in the beginning, which would be super helpful.

I most appreciated the step-by-step guides with pictures. It’s one of the reasons I bought the book.

Before you get into the actual nerdy baking, there are basic recipes that you’ll flip back to use, like white cake or brownies, and in my case, macarons. The recipe is pretty detailed and there are tips included along the way.

Finally, you get to the first chapter, which is Math & Science. They’re broken down that way according to their type of nerdiness, like Space, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and Gaming to name a few more.

In the very back of the book are a conversion chart and an index.

Baking Skill 

If you’re new to baking, there are some easier recipes to follow, or you can just try the basic recipes and start there. I also recommend watching some of Rosanna’s videos, anything specific if you’re not sure how to ice a cake for example.

Moon-Phase Macarons 

I knew I’d have to try out a recipe when reviewing the book and this is the only one involving macarons, but it seemed simple enough.

Since I don’t want to get into every single step of making a macaron, I will say this recipe is a bit different from others I tried, the batter was a bit thick, but my main goal was for the cookie to raise up and have those little “feet” that you see with macarons.

And they did! I made sure to keep an eye on them, actually preheated the oven 20 degrees lower than the book says, just to be safe (but like I said, that’s my oven.)

Sure, they cracked, but by this point, just to see them not lying flat on the sheet, made me happy enough. And I figured it would get covered up by the royal icing moon phases.

I actually messed up the color, that was my fault, so I didn’t put the moon phases on them, but other than that it is pretty similar and I’m very happy with how they turned out.

Overall

There’s an array of recipes to try, some harder than others, but you never know how it will turn out if you don’t try. Like I said, the recipes themselves are easy to follow with pictures to guide you along the way.

The book is also colorful and fun to read. I think this would be a great gift for someone into baking.

I’m excited to try other recipes and to, hopefully, raise my baking level. And to make even better macarons. Without cracks.

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