CLOSED: United We Bake: A Totally Sweet United Cakes of America Giveaway!
Thursday, July 1, 2010 
America's about to get sweeter.
That's right, friends--it's time for a totally sweet giveaway!
This time, it's a super-exciting one: three lucky winners are going to win a copy of the delightful new book by Warren Brown (you may know him as the kind-of-a-big-deal owner of the Mid-Atlantic sweet empire CakeLove), United Cakes of America: Recipes Celebrating Every State
How do you get yourself in the running?
It's easy. Just share your favorite regional cake recipe! It can be from the state or region you're in currently, or perhaps the place you grew up, or maybe just a place that has special meaning for you. Be sure to specify the region and why it has special meaning for you! You can either link to the recipe, or simply copy and paste the entire recipe in the comment section.
The fine print: the giveaway will be open through next Friday, July 9th, at 12pm PST; the winners will be announced as soon as they have been contacted and their information has been confirmed (usually within a day or so). US residents only this time, please! Oh, and P.S. if you can't wait for a sneak peek of the book, check out some extras (videos, how-tos) here; and check out the recipe for Hartford Election Day Cupcakes I tried from the book here!
giveaway
Reader Comments (55)
Boston Cream Pie, the original from the Omni Parker House: http://www.omnihotels.com/upload/images/hotels/bospar/pdf/parker%20house%20boston%20cream%20pie.pdf
One of the first places we went on family vacation, one of my first "OMG" memories from eating it, and still one of my favorite desserts!
Well apparently it's Southern, but I think of it as Midwestern:
Chocolate Eclaire Cake
An icebox cake with graham crackers french vanilla pudding and whipped cream.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=536136
It's the recipe my family always made for summer birthdays
Here in the southwest, we have a yummy thing we call Neiman Marcus Bars, which you and I have discussed at length!
http://www.sashasays.com/2007/11/get-in-your-car-right-now.html
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Well, I never met a cake I didn't like. But in terms of a region, I would have to go with a blackout cake (originally from Ebinger's bakery) from Brooklyn, NY. Rich chocolate cake with a puddling-like chocolate filling/frosting and more chocolate cake crumbled over the top and sides. My mouth is watering just typing this! It's the perfect cake for my home borough of Brooklyn -- it's passionately, unabashedly over-the-top and not for the faint of heart, just like Brooklyn itself!
Sweet! I borrowed a copy from the library which is now WAAAYYYY overdue! I live in Kansas, but work in Missouri so I'm going to give a shout out to St. Louis' Gooey Butter Cake. Check out the NY Time's recipe at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/dining/041arex.html
Your website is so inspiring. Did you find the Alphabits cereal yet? Yes, I follow your awesomeness on twitter.
Alfajores--- More of a cookie, but I count them as a cake. The traditional dessert in Latin America
One of my favorites is NY Cheesecake...although I've never actually been to NY.
Louisiana Syrup Cake. Made with Steen's cane syrup which is still made the old fashioned way in Abbeville, La. haven't made one in years. But now that I am thinking about it I will.
Since I haven't made it I don't have the link, but here is the recipe on another site.
http://www.realcajunrecipes.com/recipes/cajun/gateau-sirop-syrup-cake/816.rcr
Oooh, there's an easy one. My favorte cake is synonymous with the south. Red Velvet! And while I've only driven through those great southern states (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi), every time I make a red velvet cake it conjures up sweet images of sittin' on the front porch, sippin' sweet tea as a gentle breeze blows through the trees. All right, that's a little stereotypical, but the cake's still delicious. I also like adding a layer of semi-sweet chocolate chips. There's a yummy recipe here: http://pinchmysalt.com/2008/11/10/red-velvet-cake-recipe/
I am thinking that Red Velvet cake is a southern thing! and I am a born and raised Southern Girl!
Ooh what a great idea for a book! My fave is St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake. So indulgent.
Whoopie pies, from my home state of Maine. I remember making them with my mom when I was little and eating all the frosting!
Although it's not a actual cake, definitely a FUNNEL CAKE! It's originally from the Pennsylvania Dutch and it's really easy to make... sooo yummy!
Boston Cream Pie! Or Mississippi Mud Pie. That counts, right?
I don't think Iowa has a cake of it's own... but since I live on the Mississippi, I will claim the Mississippi Mud Cake... your basic chocolate sheet cake covered with marshmallows and warm cocoa icing.
Living right outside of NY, I would have to say cheesecake! It's one of my favorites, plus it's what my boyfriend and I feasted on on our first date :)
Homemade diner moon pies from Maine, amen, where I spent every summer as a babe! Miss them in California.
Awamori Cake - it's a take on a rum cake, substituting the distilled spirit (not sake) of Okinawa, Japan (my birthplace and where we were stationed for many years). I'm very sad I can't get Awamori in WA state. I always made this party favorite in Hawaii and California. More info on Awamori http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awamori
Someone needs to send me a bottle! =)
I use this shortcut recipe:
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs
oil and water as specified by the cake mix box
1 pkg lemon pudding mix
1 c. Awamori (or 1/2 cup if you want less liquor)
Mix it all together and bake according to the cake mix box (I usually bake it in a bundt pan).
This results in a very moist cake that is fruity and liquory - almost like a limoncello concoction!
Good enough to eat without frosting or a glaze. I have topped my cake with a bit of lemony whipped cream but still prefer to eat it plain.
Smith island cake!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88412262#88495184
I'm from where Mardi Gras actually started, Mobile, Alabama! although some may argue New Orleans. but the traditional cake for the season is a King Cake! The King Cake involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party haha!
here's one recipe:
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/mardi-gras-king-cake/Detail.aspx
I'm from the Seattle area, and even though I'm not vegan, I've been trying out a bunch of new vegetarian/vegan recipes and love this one - Chocolate vegan cake! Being that the northwest is trendy, loves being green, and healthy, I think this is a good representative :-)
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/vegan-chocolate-cake/Detail.aspx
Philadelphia Cheese Cake!
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/philadelphia-classic-cheesecake-52544.aspx
I'm from Maine, so naturally it has to be blueberry cake!
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/melt-in-your-mouth-blueberry-cake/Detail.aspx
I'm a Southern Girl so here's a simple southern recipe:
Georgia Cornbread Cake Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups pecans, chopped very fine
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Stir together sugar, brown sugar, eggs and oil in a medium bowl until smooth. Stir in flour and vanilla. Add pecans and stir until evenly mixed. Spoon into prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Serves 12 to 14.
Tips from the Test Kitchen
Tips From Our Test Kitchen: Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top. This cake is perfect for potluck suppers or to pack in lunchboxes.