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A World of Cake Paperback – October 15, 2010
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Take your sweet tooth on a global tour! Whether you’re indulging in Australian pavlova, Japanese mochi, or Italian panettone, it’s just not a celebration without cake. In this delectable cookbook, Krystina Castella offers more than 150 irresistible cake recipes from around the world, accompanied by mouthwatering photographs and insights into unique cultural traditions. Discover exciting new flavors and innovative twists on your favorite desserts as you explore the sweet delights of a variety of chiffons, fruitcakes, meringues, and more.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherStorey Publishing, LLC
- Publication dateOctober 15, 2010
- Dimensions9.06 x 0.88 x 10.75 inches
- ISBN-101603425764
- ISBN-13978-1603425766
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Editorial Reviews
Review
If Epicurious.com ever decided to do a cake-version of "Around the World in 80 Dishes," Krystina Castella's A World of Cake (Storey) would be a good book to have on hand. Truly global in her coverage, Castella's book is a great resource for anyone with a sweet tooth and particularly, a penchant for cakes.
The introductory chapter includes a year's worth of cake-appropriate holidays (October 2 for Gandhi's birthday; late May/early June for Lazybones Day in the Netherlands). My favorite part of the introduction is where Castella discusses cake categories: Chiffons, doughnuts, honey cakes, rice cakes, and more all have their place in the larger cake family. With 150 cake recipes showcased by region, there are some that are definitely familiar: King Cake, Black Forest Cake, Panettone, Mochi. And then there are the unfamiliar, and that's when things get really exciting. Malpuas from India, Nutmeg Cake from Armenia, Bolognese Rice Cake from Italy, Simnel from Ireland―the list goes on and on. Options for fillings, icings, and other flavors are presented with each recipe and interesting factoids about the specific recipe help put the cake in context. So if cakes have a special place in your heart and on your palate, you'll appreciate Castella's passion and knowledge about cakes and its world wide appeal.
Recipes to try:
- M'hanncha (Snake Cake) from Morocco
- Pan de Muerto from Mexico
- Vasilopita from Greece
. . . a well researched, thoughtfully organized, almost documentary-like survey of cakes around the world by someone who has written several dessert books (Booze Cakes, Crazy About Cupcakes), perhaps best politely described as whimsical, was exactly -- but then again not quite -- what we expected. But this is a good book, a great one, even.
(LA Weekly Blog)
"...this book is a distinctive contribution to the world of baking, and armchair bakers will delight in flipping through the pages of this colorful and engaging volume." (Library Journal)
Chosen as Best International Baking Book in the lineup of the twenty five Best Cookbooks of 2010!
"Pictures of marzipan-covered fruitcakes are gorgeous, and sidebars on such topics as street cakes make this an educational book in addition to a holiday workhorse." (Publisher's Weekly)
"This extraordinary new cake book by Krystina Castella is a perfect gift for anyone who loves cake even if he or she doesn't plan ever to bake one. It is an in depth study of myriad cakes from all around the world. It is fascinating to see how each cake, beautifully photographed in color, reflects the history, ingredients, and technology of its culture. As a cake baker I love seeing the world through cake colored eyes.I feel somewhat remiss that my emphasis over the years has been focused mainly on flavor, texture, and personal history and less on the wider historical origins of my creations. This well-researched book will serve as a handy reference guide. It takes cakes to a whole new level of significance and presents them, both visually and historically within the context of their creation." (Rose Levy Beranbaum, expert baker)
From the Inside Flap
For these desserts and many more, A World of Cake offers recipes, variations, and entertaining historical and cultural facts. Cake family trees, "world tours" of cakes served for holiday celebrations, and a centuries-long cake timeline offer fresh perspectives on cake and the place of honor it holds on the worldwide dessert table. Lovingly baked everywhere for life's special occasions, cakes are enjoyed where families and friends gather. Adopt a tradition from another country for your next cake gathering.
About the Author
Krystina Castella is a professor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She is the author of A World of Cake, Pops!, Crazy About Cupcakes, and Discovering Nature’s Alphabet, and she has been published in Craft magazine.
Product details
- Publisher : Storey Publishing, LLC (October 15, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1603425764
- ISBN-13 : 978-1603425766
- Item Weight : 2.7 pounds
- Dimensions : 9.06 x 0.88 x 10.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,451,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #687 in International Cooking, Food & Wine
- #1,122 in Cake Baking (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Krystina Castella is a writer, industrial designer, and professor at Art Center College of Design. She is an avid baker, photographer and expert on play and designing for children. Krystina is the author of the books: Designing for Kids: Creating for Playing, learning and growing (Routledge 2019) and the cookbooks A World of cake (Storey 2010),Crazy about Cupcakes (Sterling 2006), Crazy about Cookies (Sterling 2010), Crazy about Cakes (Sterling 2011), Crazy about Pies (Sterling 2013), Crazy about Chocolate (Sterling 2013), Pops! Icy Treats for Everyone (Quirk Books, 2008) and co-author of Booze Cakes (Quirk Books 2010). She is also co-author/ photographer of the children's book series Discovering Nature's Alphabet (Heyday 2006), Discovering Nature's Hidden Alphabet (Heyday 2017), Discovering Nature's Alphabet Board Book (Heyday 2016). She lives and works near Los Angeles.
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Top reviews from the United States
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I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to open a bakery if they are going to buy cakes this book is a must read because you would not only know cake holidays of different cultures but you would be able to have the recipe of the cake for that holiday or know what recipe to look for. So don't have a typical bland bakery if you are in a multicultural place in california or another big city donot be afraid to pick up this book and try to put some of its recipes to use. Then again that is only my opinion.
The histories of the cakes within their cultural origins created "an experience" beyond making a dessert for our dinner party. Everyone left a little more enlightened and insisted on taking a piece home for a family member. My Fiance's mom loved it too. One can only hope all history books are this exciting to read and fun to experience. Bravo Ms. Castella!
Top reviews from other countries
I have since first writing this review made some cakes from it and have to say despite unconventional ingredients the cakes still turn out really well.
Zum Glück sind nur wenige aus Deutschland dabei. Die kenne wir....
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Kuchen. Buch ist aus den USA.





