Sweet Giveaway: A World of Cake by Krystina Castella

Image from A World of Cake by Krystina CastellaConfession: I have sort of a crush on Krystina Castella.

If you're unfamiliar with her work, then you're in for a sweet treat: she's the brains behind such books as Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone , Booze Cakes: Confections Spiked With Spirits, Wine, and Beer, Crazy About Cupcakes, and most recently (released within a month of one another!) Crazy About Cookies and A World of Cake.

And while there's a lot to love about any book that features recipes for sweet treats, what in my mind really separates Castella from the crowd is her backround as an industrial designer: this is strongly reflected in each of her books, which are beautifully and thoughtfully constructed, both visually and in terms of the actual content. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's smart as a whip, very clever, and a mean baker to boot.

You know what? The awesomeness that is Krystina Castella is really too much to put into a single post, and so all week I am going to be dedicating posts to her amazing works, including recipes and an interview!

But we'll kick it off with a giveaway, OK? One lucky winner will receive a copy of A World of Cake, which includes over 150 recipes and stories about cakes from all over the world. Not only will you get a ton of delicious recipes, but you might just learn something, too.

How do you enter yourself in the running? Simply leave a comment below stating a cake recipe (it can be international or domestic!) you've been dying to try. Optional: feel free to link to or include a recipe!

The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, November 30th, at 12pm PST; US entrants only this time, please! The book will be sent directly from the publisher, Storey Publishing.

Update on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 by Cakespy

UPDATE: THE WINNER! We have a winner, chosen at random! It's Caitlin, whose next cake adventure is as follows: "I really want to make Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake! It looks delicious!"

Comments

[Toni B.]

My next cake will be this nutella cake: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/-guest-post-from-elissa-of-the-painted-peach-087988

[Ryan @ Ryan's Baking Blog]

I've been wanting to do a dobos torte for the longest time, specifically this one: http://whisk-kid.blogspot.com/2010/03/failure.html

[Jen McCarthy]

I saw a recipe for a toasted coconut cake. It looked delicious.

[Abby]

For years I have been dying to come up with a thin mint cheesecake recipe. I want to use crushed thin mints for the crust, but I'm afraid the chocolate coating will burn!

[Sydney85]

I have wanted to make a crepe cake with lemon curd filling. I saw it on the Martha Stewart show and if I had just a little spare time this would be a treat to make and eat.

[Jamie G]

My grandma's chocolate walnut torte cake would be amazing to try to make. She sells them at her small-town church auction, and they usually go for over $1,000, no joke, as a donation to the church. Go grandma!!

[corinne]

I'm going to make an orange cream cheesecake just as soon as I stop being quite...so...lazy.

[marie]

I'd love to make a cake from Ireland or Scotland since I won't have the chance to visit in person.

[Amy]

I've made red velvet cake before, but I'd like to try to make one that is colored with beets.

[Ladywild]

My favorite cake is one of my grandmother's recipes. It's an old fashioned orange cake. So good.

[Laura A.]

I've been dying to find a recipe to make Italian Rum Cake

[Sara]

cookiedough cheesecake..groan

[Amanda]

I'm anxiously awaiting my Cupcake Project Peanut Butter High Hat Cupcake recipe. She's running a great project right now where if you donate to her chosen charity she'll send you the recipe. It's for a good cause and yummy too!

[leeann]

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/maple-buttermilk-pudding-cake

quebecois buttermilk maple pudding cake is my dream cake to make one day. <3

[Jen]

Red Velvet Cake! Sadly, I have never made one! Bella Dolce (in Seattle) makes the best red velvet cake I've ever had, so I would probably just order one from them! LOL

[Jennifer]

I can't wait to try my hand at the coconut layer cake.

[Theresa]

I saw a cake on a wedding blog that was used as a prop for an engagement set, and the minute I saw it I knew I would have to make it! I just made it last weekend for my birthday! It was a yellow cake with apple butter in the middle, and powdered sugar on top. Well, I added cinnamon cream-cheese icing on top for more sweetness-SO WORTH IT! :)

[Jen B]

I want to attempt to make a 4 or 6 layer cake where I slice the cake layers thinly. I am always afraid it will come out crooked or wobbly. Maybe I'll finally try it this Christmas.

[MelKat]

Red velvet!

[MIss M - Mind Over Booty]

I've had this 12 layer mocha cake from Gourmet in my recipe file for a while. All those layers seem to intimidate me. I'm in need of some inspiration to get over my fear of (cake) heights!

http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2008/12/twelve-layer-mocha-cake

[ygardin]

I have several...I tried a cake in France containing creme-brulee with cointreau with cherries, chocolate mousse and a sponge-layer. Another that I loved: hazelnut praline on the bottom with a layer of chocolate mousse and covered in chocolate couverture. Other than that, the simplest cakes I've loved are almost-flourless chocolate cakes. Simple and chocolate-y.

[Leslie]

I've always wanted to make a Black out Cake, but I don't know of anyone who would eat it but me. I don't think I could eat a whole cake on my own... well, I could, but it's probably not a good idea.

[TiffanyHL]

I have been wanting to try this Chocolate Raspberry Cake:

http://www.manifestvegan.com/2010/06/chocolate-raspberry-cake-with-anniversary-glaze/#more-4310

It looks soooo delicious!

[Bethany]

I can't help myself-- I absolutely want to make The Thanksgiving Cake sometime soon... maybe Thanksgiving leftovers will give me the opportunity?
http://www.chow.com/recipes/29029-thanksgiving-turkey-cake

If it's a "real" (sweet) cake we're talking about, recreating a Pink Lady cake without a cake mix is high up on my list.

[Virginia]

I'm making a pumpkin spice cake tonight!