This is the latest offering from author Elizabeth MacLeod, who has prepared several children’s cookbooks for Kids Can Press. The book is clearly and attractively laid out, with 45 recipes organized into sections, such as all-time faves, party fare, gifts, and quick treats.

My children and I tested several of the recipes with varying degrees of success. We made 1-2-3 Cake, which took considerably longer to bake than stated, although that may reflect the eccentricities of our old oven. MacLeod fails to explain the term “sift,” or to point out that you need a sifter or at least a sieve to accomplish this task effectively. Adults who ate this cake found it too dense, but children gobbled it up. It had the advantage of being very easy to clean up.

Not so Dirt Dessert, which my children coveted the moment they saw its illustration of a flower pot pullulating with gummy worms. They had a gleeful time assembling this dessert, but even they found it too ersatz to enjoy once made. Why MacLeod felt it necessary to use instant pudding mix, chocolate sandwich cookies (read Oreos), and whipped dessert topping instead of authentic ingredients like cocoa, eggs, and whipping cream is mystifying.

The Two-bite Truffles were a tour de force, however. Creamy and sophisticated, they drew raves from adult tasters. They were surprisingly simple, although the batter took much longer in the fridge to firm up than stated in the recipe.

My main reservation is that some of the recipes call for processed ingredients instead of using whole foods, setting a poor precedent for future cooks.