The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

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  • Orange supreme muffins

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cakes, small; Afternoon tea; Cooking ahead; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: all-purpose flour; half and half cream; bread flour; orange blossom honey; butter; navel oranges
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  • Banana coconut streusel muffins

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cakes, small; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: safflower oil; all-purpose flour; bananas; desiccated coconut; store-cupboard ingredients
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  • Blueberry angel muffins

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cakes, small; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: blueberries; lemons; egg whites; store-cupboard ingredients; cake flour
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  • Fluffy golden waffles

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Breakfast / brunch; Entertaining & parties; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: milk; all-purpose flour; active dry yeast; butter; maple syrup
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  • Bill's airy crème fraîche pancakes

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Pancakes, waffles & crêpes; Breakfast / brunch; Entertaining & parties; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: eggs; store-cupboard ingredients; cake flour; crème fraîche
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  • Figgy-prune scones

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: prunes; all-purpose flour; dried figs; store-cupboard ingredients; heavy cream
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  • Apple and white cheddar scones

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & rolls, savory; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: cheddar cheese; all-purpose flour; heavy cream; tart apples; store-cupboard ingredients
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  • Feathery jam-filled butter cakes

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cakes, small; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: butter; lemons; store-cupboard ingredients; cake flour; jam
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  • Gingery pumpkin breakfast bundt

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: walnuts; canned pumpkin purée; fresh ginger; ground cinnamon; eggs; dark brown sugar; butter; all-purpose flour; golden raisins
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  • Banana-sour cream loaf

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: sugar; butter; all-purpose flour; bananas; pecans; sour cream
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  • Chewy brown sugar date walnut loaf

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: dark brown sugar; walnuts; Medjool dates; butter; all-purpose flour; cream cheese
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  • Buttery brioche

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties; French
    • Ingredients: ground cinnamon; active dry yeast; butter; eggs; all-purpose flour
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  • Brioche "toque" with dried cherries and orange zest

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties; French
    • Ingredients: active dry yeast; eggs; oranges; all-purpose flour; dried sour cherries; ground cinnamon; sliced almonds
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  • Almond Bostock

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Bread & buns, sweet; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties; French
    • Ingredients: sugar; butter; orgeat syrup; almond flour; ground cinnamon; all-purpose flour; eggs; active dry yeast; sliced almonds
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  • Orange flower-scented kugelhopf

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cakes, large; Dessert; Entertaining & parties; European
    • Ingredients: all-purpose flour; dark rum; confectioner's sugar; granulated sugar; active dry yeast; orange flower water; raisins; butter; egg yolks
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  • Chocolate chunk cookies with Nutella

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cookies, biscuits & crackers; Afternoon tea; Cooking ahead; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: Nutella; dark chocolate; vanilla beans; butter; all-purpose flour; granulated sugar
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  • Flat and chewy chocolate chip cookies

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cookies, biscuits & crackers; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: butter; light brown sugar; all-purpose flour; vanilla extract; dark chocolate
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  • Pepper and spice dark chocolate cookies

    Pepper and spice dark chocolate cookies

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

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  • Double chocolate cookies

    Double chocolate cookies

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cookies, biscuits & crackers; Afternoon tea; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: cake flour; sugar; milk chocolate; eggs; dark chocolate
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  • Chocolate peanut crinkles

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

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  • Ginger molasses cookies

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Cookies, biscuits & crackers; Afternoon tea; Christmas; Cooking ahead; Entertaining & parties; Winter
    • Ingredients: candied ginger; butter; ground cinnamon; molasses; ground ginger; all-purpose flour; ground cloves; dark brown sugar; fresh ginger; turbinado sugar
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  • Extra-bittersweet chocolate brownies

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Dessert; Entertaining & parties
    • Ingredients: dark chocolate; butter; sugar; eggs
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  • Pecan toffee bars

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Dessert; Entertaining & parties; American
    • Ingredients: butter; pecans; dark corn syrup; all-purpose flour; molasses; eggs; sugar
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  • Rosemary-scented date-nut bars

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

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  • Blood orange squares

    Blood orange squares

    from The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark (co-author)

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Dessert; Entertaining & parties; Fall / autumn; Italian
    • Ingredients: limes; eggs; all-purpose flour; granulated sugar; blood oranges; butter
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Notes about this book

This book does not currently have any notes.

Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Blackberry buttermilk bundt with orange glaze

    • Astrid5555 on July 08, 2013

      Incredibly moist and tender crumb. Loved the blackberry and buttermilk combination. Made without the orange glaze and did not miss anything.

  • Oven-roasted peaches with green tea elixir

    • Astrid5555 on July 08, 2013

      Loved the peaches but did not care much for the green tea elixier, since it did not bring anything special to this dessert. Needs 1 tbs of matcha powder which I find quite expensive for something not too special.

  • Orange-glazed olive oil cake with fleur de sel

    • apattin on April 28, 2018

      Weird. Made twice within a week with same oranges, same everything. First time it baked perfectly. Second time the center collapsed as if I hadn't baked it long enough but tester was clean. Filled the depression with fresh fruit, pretty enough, but with the syrup addition the center was pudding-like. Still a lovely cake.

  • Blueberry angel muffins

    • bellatavia on October 22, 2013

      This recipe is easy enough, especially if you have a standing mixture. The unbaked batter is delicious (what?! oh like you don't eat the batter, too). The baked muffins are less so--although they are still pretty darm good. These muffins are best served warm, and they are so light 1 won't be enough, you'll definitely want to eat 2.

  • Pine nut tart with rosemary

    • bellatavia on April 23, 2012

      Loved this. The rosemary made everyone perk up. It is important to roll the crust out think enough, otherwise there isn't enough room in the tart for al lthe filling. Also, i didn't have neough pie weights and my crust shrunk a little away from the edges of the tart pan. But really, these are small quibbles.

  • Rosemary-scented date-nut bars

    • bellatavia on March 24, 2012

      This recipe is easy to prepare, and it is flawless. I love how we can measure my volume or weight in the preparation. I made this one-two-three, and the result is delicious! This shortbread bar is a little more sophisticated than your average dessert bar, but that makes it perfect for a dinner party or to bring to a city housewarming. Ths one's a winner--the fresh rosemary is a scene-stealer!

  • Banana-sour cream loaf

    • skvalentine on January 28, 2022

      Delicious, classic banana bread. Baked in one USA pan of mini-loaves. Next time I will try splitting it into two of the mini-loaf pans, as they were a bit too big.

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Reviews about this book

  • ISBN 10 0393059537
  • ISBN 13 9780393059533
  • Linked ISBNs
  • Published Jul 23 2010
  • Format Hardcover
  • Page Count 416
  • Language English
  • Countries United States
  • Publisher W. W. Norton & Company
  • Imprint WW Norton & Co

Publishers Text

The acclaimed pastry chef’s long-awaited collection of stunning-to-behold yet simple-to-make desserts for every occasion. Most of us don’t have the time to make dessert, and when we do, it is for holidays, birthdays, or a special brunch. Here, selected from his personal repertoire of five thousand recipes, are the eighty best desserts Bill Yosses has ever made, each tailored to our contemporary lives.

The Perfect Finish is playfully organized by occasion: “I’ll Bring Dessert” features recipes easy to pack for potlucks; “Straight from the Oven” includes fruit pies best served warm; and “Pick-Me-Ups” spotlights brownies and chocolate chip cookies that will brighten your day. For the adventurous, Bill groups his guaranteed-to-impress desserts--including his signature warm vanilla cake--in a chapter inspired from his days in one of Manhattan’s finest restaurants, Bouley. Bill also demonstrates technique and unfamiliar ingredients and explains how to store and transport desserts. This is a book for every taste and every experience level, with color pictures of nearly all the beautiful finished desserts.

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