The Shake Shack Recipes & Stories Cookbook

When my favorite burger chain released a cookbook, I had to try it out. But was Shake Shack really revealing the secrets to what is easily the East Coast’s best burger?

The first warning I was in for disappointment was the sauce recipe presented in the cookbook is referred to as “(close enough) Shake Sauce.” While it’s definitely not the same thing, it is, however, admittedly pretty close.

The book also seems to oversimplify the steps needed, making it sound as if you’ll be finished with your burger process in mere minutes. That’s not quite the case. Between blending spices, making the sauce, toasting buns, babysitting the patties and other prep, you’ll be busy. This is not merely throwing a few frozen burgers on the grill and calling it a day.

Also to note is the ingredient cost. To buy the ingredients exactly as they are listed in the recipe, it does cost a bit more than your average burger fixin’s. However, I will say it’s worth it to go with the recommended brands and varieties. The buns were softer, the veggies the right consistency and texture.

All this aside, the burgers are “close” to Shake Shack burgers, but they’re not the real thing … but they’re “close.” It’s a good burger, certainly better than your average at-home burger, but still not exactly a Shake Shack burger. There’s just something slightly off — likely that “(close enough) Shake Sauce.”

Beyond the traditional burger recipe, though, there are some other awesome recipes in this book worth trying out, from the Chicken Shack to the chili cheese fries to, yes, shakes.

As someone always looking for a new cookbook to test out in the kitchen, this one was well worth the purchase, but will it ever replace the real Shake Shack? Never.