Organic and Chic: Cakes, Cooki

"When I bring one of my sweets into the room—whether at a wedding or an intimate dinner party—the expressions on people's faces turn that celebration into a memory I'll never forget. That's what baking should be."

Many people are coming to recognize the merits of eating organic ingredients, but the idea of "organic baked goods" may bring to mind food that is more boring than beautiful and delicious. But in Organic and Chic, custom cake baker Sarah Magid uses her background in jewelry and shoe design to create vibrantly colored, highly original, delicious organic cakes and other desserts that are perfect for all kinds of celebrations.

Filled with gorgeous photographs, Organic and Chic features recipes for delectable baked goods you'll be excited to re-create and serve to family and friends, from modern floral cakes and cupcakes to rustic farmer's-market sweets made with seasonal fruits:

• Red Velvet Love Cake frosted with Vanilla Whipped Buttercream and garnished with edible flowers
• Vanilla-Bean Butter Cake filled with Sweet Chocolate Ganache and decorated with hand-sculpted butterflies
• Minty Strawberry Shortcakes, celebrating the bounty of the summer
• Goldies, a tasty tribute to America's favorite cream-filled sponge cake

Whether you're preparing some simple Double Ginger Cookies for a block party or bake sale, or experimenting with a rich and luscious dark chocolate birthday cake, you can be confident that you're serving desserts that are gorgeous and flavorful without resorting to fake, chemical-laden ingredients. Magid offers detailed step-by-step decorating instructions and enough inspiration to help even the most novice baker create bold cake-decorating effects, including eye-popping flowers, hand-sculpted leaves, and metallic-painted brushstrokes.

A must for every health-minded baker, this unique cookbook balances exquisite flavors, organic ingredients, and stunning visuals to help you create your own masterpieces.

Sarah Magid has a custom cake business based in New York City. She has worked for top fashion companies, including Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, Coach, Liz Claiborne, Frye, and Henri Bendel. Her cakes have been featured in magazines such as Domino, InStyle Weddings, Cookie, Brides, The Knot, New York, and Martha Stewart's The Art of Cakes, as well as numerous style and food blogs. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two young children.