The small town of Rumsford, Kentucky wants to expand their library, so the local winery agrees to host a fundraiser. As part of the event the town will celebrate Ray Peel’s generous donation pledge covering most of the costs. Sophia Cumming, owner of For Goodness Cakes Bakery is hired to cater the event. However, all goes quickly downhill when a dead body is found in the vineyard at this event.
This is book #2 in Maymee Bell’s Southern Cake Baker series. This southern cozy mystery has delightful recipes and clever characters. Reading this novel will allow you to escape to the south, even if you are freezing in the north.
Batter off Dead by Maymee Bell
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes Book Review
Outline and Tone:
This is a delightfully southern cozy mystery novel. The protagonist, Sophia Cummings, is a good southern daughter who both loves her mom and has to treat her with kid gloves sometimes. In this cozy mystery her mom wants to help Sophia solve the mystery. Her mom forms Operation Merlot and recruits Sophia’s friend Madison to solve the mystery. Operation Merlot is a fitting title because the murder victim was found at a library fundraiser hosted at the local winery. The library isn’t the only entity in danger due to a foiled fundraiser, Sophia needs to get paid for all of her exuberant catering for the event as well. This is book 2 of the Southern Cake Bakers Mystery series and it is just as fun as the first one, Cake and Punishment. Sophia is smart, independent and well liked by both townspeople and me as a reader. In this book, her personal life develops and readers will be even more intrigued with Sophia’ sheriff boyfriend. I highly recommend listening to this book because the narrator does a wonderful job with a sweet southern accent. This added touch helps to make the book come alive in the readers head.
The author:
Maymee Bell is a pen name for Tonya Kappes. Her website boasts the tagline “Southern Hospitality with a Smidgen of Homicide.” That seems a perfect summary for this book and this series. She has been an Amazon All Star Author and been on best selling lists such as USA Today. According to her website, as a child she was a reluctant reader and now she has authored numerous series for adults and children. You can connect with Ms. Kappes on Facebook and Instagram. She also has a Pinterest page that she puts some of her content and links to her TikTok videos.
What is not to like?:
Sometimes it is hard to relate to a southern family with a long history of country club membership. I do know that country clubs are very popular in the south, but my experience is limited. This could also be a bonus because it allows me to see how the other half lives.
The verdict:
I really enjoy Sophia, her best friends and her boyfriend. Every recipe I have made from this series has been a success. So I recommend that like Bitsy, Sophia’s mom, grab a glass of wine and enjoy the mystery.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Assemble the ingredients
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Unwrap the puff pastry and cut into 8 squares
As you can see, my squares were more rectangular than square. This turned out to be a problem when I tried to fold them diagonally. If your puff pastry is cut into rectangles, fold them long ways instead of diagonally.
Place a tablespoon of cherry pie filling in the center of each square. Brush the edges of the squares with the egg white and fold over to enclose the pie filling.
I did not take pictures of the folding process, it wasn’t pretty. Rectangles need to be folded long ways and not diagonally.
Bake on an ungreased baking sheet [or a silicone baking mat like this on from OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking mat], for 20 to 25 minutes, or until puff pastry is golden brown.
Then let them cool on a wire rack.
Ok, here is true confession time. Below is a picture of the disaster of trying to fold rectangles diagonally.
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How embarrassing!
For the icing, Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk until smooth. Anytime I need to measure liquid, I love using OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set.
First I think the measuring beakers of convenient for multiple wet ingredients and second, they are so cute!
Pour in a frosting bag or zip close bag, then snip off the tip or corner to pipe on the cooled turnovers. Enjoy!
What would I do differently next time?
This is an obvious one for me, actually cut the puff pastry into squares instead of rectangles! But seriously, I think apple pie filling would be fantastic in this recipe.
Cherry Flip-Flops from: Batter Off Dead
Ingredients
- 1 box puff pastry dough, thawed according to package instructions
- 1 can cherry pie filling
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
For the Vanilla Glaze
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Unwrap both packages of puff pastry, and cut into 8 squares (4 from each dough).
- Place a tablespoon of cherry pie filling in the center of each square.
- Brush the edges of the squares with the egg white and fold over to enclose the pie filling.
- Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 20 to 25 minutes, or until puff pastry is golden brown.
- Let cool on a wire rack
To make vanilla glaze
- Combine the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl, and whisk until smooth.
- Pour in a frosting bag or zip close bag, then snip off the tip or corner to pipe on the cooled turnovers.
- Enjoy!
Are you a fan of cherries? Try these Cherry Pie Muffins from Eggs in Purgatory or Cherry Cola Sheet Cake from Cherry Cola Book Club
I tried this with blueberry pie filling and loved it!