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

[Lydia]

I've found a few awesome looking gluten-free cake recipes lately including this one which is an absolutely must-try since I haven't had angel food cake since my diagnosis with celiac 7 years ago.
http://glutenfreemommy.com/angel-food-cake/
P.S. I'd still like the prize cookbook . . . I like getting recipe ideas that I can then adapt to GF.

[Anna]

I've never made red velvet cake - I'm not too fond of the taste, but I hold out hope that I'll like it better if I'm the one to bake it ;)

[K]

I've been dying to try out one of those rainbow swirl cakes (that come out all crazy-looking inside)!

[arrisje]

I would like to try a Hazelnut meringue pie see pic http://www.harrydewarmebakker.nl/UserFiles/Shop/bakker/taartenluxestammetjes/size3_IMG_1171.JPG

[Cynthia Popp]

Upside-down pear chocolate cake from the Rustic Fruit Deserts cookbook. Yum.

[Patricia]

I've always wanted to try a German Bee Sting Cake, a yeasted honey cake with almonds and a pastry creme filling:

http://germanfood.about.com/od/baking/r/Bienenstich_Cake.htm

[Tooky]

I would love to make a Chocolate Beet Cake! Maybe something like this: http://straightfromthefarm.net/2009/08/24/from-the-archives-beet-cake/

[stacy]

after watching the rachael ray show I think it's called a pumple cake: Pumpkin cake inside an apple pie inside a choc inside a vanilla cake frosted in vanilla buttercream.

[Cookie]

IT would have to be your thanksgiving leftovers cake :)

[Ann]

I've wanted to try Junior's recipe for their Devil's Food Cheesecake. It's cake & cheesecake in one.

[Amber Barnum]

Tres Leches cake is something I have wanted to try for awhile.... hmmm, maybe for Christmas!

[Ruth Hill]

I would love to make a black forest gateau cake-by myself following an original recipe.

[Jennifer C.]

I want to try Tirimisu (sp?)-is that classified as cake?-and Italian Cream cake. I'm always open to try something new!

[JackieChan]

I have always wanted to bake a red velvet cake...I've made so many cakes, but that's the one I've never gotten around to trying to make.

[norza]

I've always wanted to try Kek Tapak Kuda (loosely translated as Horseshoe Cake). It's Malay (no, I'm not from Malaysia). Recipe's here > http://rozzan.blogspot.com/2006/11/kek-tapak-kuda.html.

[Jeanne]

I've been dying to try a flourless chocolate cake, but I'm not sure which recipe to use yet!

[Jane]

I've always wanted to tackle a douberge cake, which is a specialty here in New Orleans-- 10 or 15 thin layers of cake separated by icing and topped with a disk of hard caramel. Yum, yum, but daunting.

[Courtney]

I have been DYING to concoct a recipe for Caramel Apple Cupcakes! I want to make them right NOW! I have to figure out just what to put in them (and go buy the stuff)... MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I want'em I want'em I want'em!!!!!!!

[Jennifer]

I LOVE Krystina Castella's cupcake book, I had no idea she has written so many books!

I would love to try to make Pineapple upside down cake.

[amy f]

I am dying to try baking my FIRST cake! I am a cupcaker, but have never made a cake. While I don't have an exact recipe yet, it will be a two layer chocolate cake with one layer of peanut butter and one layer of banana cream filling!

[Heather P]

I would love to try making a crumb cake, I haven't tried that yet and I love them!!

[Caitlin]

I really want to make Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake! It looks delicious!

[olivia]

After my recent failure with a red velvet cake...i would totally be willing to try it again! mmmm with good cream cheese frosting :)

[grace-anne]

I am dying to make the Halekulani Hotel Coconut Cake. It has been the signature dessert at the Waikiki Beach's Halekulani Hotel for years.

[Julie]

I'm going to try this chocolate peanut butter cake next weekend! http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/