The Cake Collection

Cake makes every occasion special, every day sweeter.

I’ve long believed that there never needed to be a specific celebration for cake. Why save it for a birthday when it can and should be a daily enjoyment? This cookbook is my grand mission statement in that regard. We have a cake for every occasion and craving, big or small.

The chapters of my cookbook are divided into these specific occasions and cravings. If you’re craving decadent cocoa layers and fudgy frosting, head to the Caked in Chocolate collection, a special round up of the richest chocolate cakes around. Perhaps you’re preparing for the holidays and need a red velvet cake wonder or a stunning star of David Bundt cake. Hello, Holiday packs those merry and bright feels, from a spicy fruit cake twist to a luscious eggnog-laced layer cake. Or maybe you’re like me, and you love to relive your favorite travels with a cake. For us frequent-flier bakers, look to Around the World, where you can globe trot—or is it cake walk?—through several fabulous countries and their delicious cake recipes.

The best of the rest? Fresh & Fruity is a seasonal exploration of the peak produce packed into layers of cake, from the blueberry muffin-inspired loaf cake to the creamy stone fruit stunner. The Spice is Nice chapter offers my beloved Hummingbird Cake, a cake so close to my heart, that I had to have it be the cover star of this cookbook. Finally, in the Reimagined Classics collection, you can discover inspired takes on old-school favorites, like Spumoni and PB&J. These inventive recipes prove that cake is always the perfect canvas for whimsical flavor combos and brand-new inspiration.

Whatever sweet segues I make with baking, I always return to cake. Endlessly customizable and always impressive, a thickly frosted, tender-crumbed cake is the ultimate baked confection. The charm lies in its versatility. Nearly all occasions call for or would be improved with a little cake. It can be the elegant finale to a dinner party or the joyous centerpiece of a birthday celebration. No matter what, I promise satisfaction by the slice.