In the heart of Greenwich Village in New York sits the Magnolia Bakery. This unassuming shop, where the smells of home-style baking weaken even the strongest will, has attracted a clientele that ranges from kids on their way home from school to celebrity glitterati. Cupcakes swirled with pastel frosting crowd the counter and cake stands display Apple Walnut Cake and Coconut Layer Cake.

In The Magnolia Bakery Cookbookare the bakery's most mouth-watering recipes, from sweet breakfast treats like Dried-Cherry Crumb Buns, to Classic Iced Molasses Cookies, from decadently rich Caramel Pecan Brownies and Raspberry Marzipan Cheesecake to refreshing Lemon Ice Box Pie. Their easy-to-follow recipes and invaluable baking hints mean that even the inexperienced baker will be able to frost the perfect layer cake, turn out the flakiest pie crust and whip up the creamiest cheesecake.