I Love Desserts: A World of Cake—150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions from Cultures Near and Far

the appetizer:

A World of Cake: 150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions from Cultures Near and Far by Krystina Castella, includes excerpts and recipes like Let's Talk Cake: From Fruitcakes to Funnel Cakes; Upside-Down Pumpkin-Plantain Cake; Potica (Nut Roll); and Kolache.

A World of Cake
150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions
from Cultures Near and Far

by Krystina Castella

Click to Buy A World of Cake

Author Krystina Castella became intrigued by the cultural history of cake at a scholarship bake sale at the college where she teaches. The international students brought Korean, Indian, Eastern European, South African, and Middle Eastern goodies. This collection of cakes was the beginning of A World of Cake: 150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions from Cultures Near and Far, an adventurous exploration of global cake culture.

Cake is a universal symbol of celebration, shared at birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, religious holidays, family get-togethers, and the honoring of achievements of all sorts. A World of Cake celebrates international cake-making traditions, with 150 recipes for a diverse range of cakes enjoyed around the world. Beautiful photographs and fascinating sidebars accompany the recipes, making this book a rich reading tour of the world's cakes and the people who enjoy them.

This book begins with two detailed chapters on the language and traditions of cakes, cake tools and equipment, baking basics, construction and decoration information, and advice on presentation, storing, and transporting. Full-color photography of the cakes, along with sidebars on the traditional celebrations each is intended for, will entice readers to try cake recipes that are new to them or beyond what they thought they could do.

A World of Cake is not only a cookbook, but also a historical lineage of traditional cakes from region to region. Discover birthday cake traditions that will surprise and awe, wedding cakes to cherish, and creature character cakes that kids will just adore. Panettone, Buche de Noel, Opera Cake, Sally Lunns, Dorset Apple Cake, English Trifle, Spanish Honey Cakes, Linzer Torte, Rice Flour Cakes, Mooncakes, Red Velvet Cake, German Chocolate Cake, and Mexican Wedding Cakes are just a few tastes of the decadent recipes included in A World of Cake.

About the Author

Krystina Castella is a professional designer: her design company produced furniture, toys, stationery, and housewares for stores such as Urban Outfitters, Crate and Barrel, Papyrus, and Target. She is a currently a professor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She is the author of Crazy About Cookies, Crazy About Cupcakes, Booze Cakes, and Pops!, and she has been published in Craft magazine. Krystina lives in Southern California.