Cakes by Williams-Sonoma is an excellent baking book with step-by-step photographs and all the basic recipes you could possibly need. Doesn't get any easier than this.

The book starts off with all the basic cakes like vanilla, orange chiffon, flourless chocolate, to cutting layered cakes, filling and decorating, and also all the recipes for different kinds of frostings and icings to decadent ganache and much more.

This book will teach you everything you need to know to bake beautiful and yummy cakes. I absolutely love it and proudly display it on my kitchen counter. It's an irresistable grab from our guests as you can see the cover is a nice close up of a sinful layered vanilla and chocolate cake.