Chanterelle is a beloved, award-winning New York City restaurant that has been critically acclaimed since its founding 25 years ago. A great part of a perfect meal is one of the truly spectacular--yet comforting--desserts.

Kate Zuckerman, Chanterelle's pastry chef, creates exquisite treats that draw upon her culinary travels all over the world and her vast experience as a four-star pastry chef in Boston, San Francisco, and New York.

The Sweet Life offers not only detailed, delicious recipes for every kind of dessert from tarts and cakes to custards, soufflés, and frozen desserts, but also in-depth explanations of methods and of chemical changes that occur in baking, along with fascinating histories and descriptions of key ingredients. Zuckerman possesses the remarkable ability to create gourmet desserts that home cooks can actually craft in their own kitchens. Her warm, accessible tone will appeal to both the beginner and the advanced pastry cook. So whether making the Crispy, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies or the Cardamom and Honey Pistachio Nougat Glacé, readers will know they are in good, capable hands.

Kate Zuckerman has been pastry chef at four-star restaurants such as Biba (Boston) and Firefly (San Francisco). Her desserts have been featured in the New York Times and Food & Wine. She lives in New York City.