The Beginner's Guide to Candy Making is a well written visual tutorial guide to making confections and candy by Elizabeth LaBau. Due out 12th April 2022 from Quarto on their Quarry Books imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a book full of beginner accessible recipes for attractive sweets. It's arranged logically, with an introduction which gives an overview over techniques and tools and supplies. The chapters which follow include the recipes, grouped thematically: sugar candies, fondant, caramels, toffee, fudge, truffles, chocolate candies, marshmallows, and fruit&nut candies.

Recipes include a description, ingredients in a bullet list (measurements are given in imperial/American and metric units), followed by step-by-step directions. The instructions are easy to understand and the photos are clear and in color. There are numerous tutorials included and none of the recipes should be beyond the skills of a keen amateur without any background training. Most ingredients will be easily found at any large grocery store. Some esoteric ingredients for some recipes may need an international grocery store or online retailer.

The final section of the book shows a variety of finishing and decorating techniques for extra professional results. The author has also included a resource and links list for sourcing ingredients, forms, and specialty supplies.

Four stars. Very good selection of appealing sweets with great looking results.

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

Where have you been all my life??
Lollipops and marshmallows and fudge and bubble sugar.
Once I’ve recoved from optical sugar overload, I anticipate to be spending A LOT of time in the kitchen…ahem… research facility to recreate ALL OF THOSE recipes. With chapters on chocolate tempering, taffy-pulling and sugarwork, this is quite an in-depth specialised treatise with heaps of drool-inducing images.
I particularly loved the troubleshooting parts of each chapter and the chapter on decorating.
Will definitely be on my Christmas list!

This ‘how to’ candy books has all your favourites, from fudge to truffles, and marshmallows to toffee. The instructions are clear, simple and in easy to follow wording, and the step by step close up photographs guide you through each individual component of the candy you’re making. It talks you through all the necessary ingredients and essential equipment, so you’re prepped and ready to go from the off. It also has handy tips, and common troubleshooting guides for the makes. I love the section at the end that gives instructions on how to make the most beautiful and impressive sugar decorations for cake toppers. If you’re wanting to give candy making a go, I’d definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry and Netgalley for an eARC of this book to read and review.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have a huge, insatiable sweet tooth. This book is perfect for me! The beginning had a lot of useful tricks and tips. The pictures looked delicious! I can't wait to try the mango macadamia nut caramel and really the entire chocolate section!

Great book for people that love homemade everything! It teaches how to make sugar candies, fondants, caramel, toffee, fudge, truffles, chocolate candies, marshmallows, and fruit and nut candies. My favorite one is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups! Every recipe has a photo! Very nice! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review