A World of Cake.
I was fortunate enough to recently receive the lovely cookbook, A World of Cake by Krystina Castella. It's quickly becoming one of my favourite cookbooks with its big beautiful photos and scores of recipes for, you guessed it, cake.
A World of Cake reads like a cherished family recipe book with a detailed story behind every recipe and how each has been adapted and passed down for generations. It reminds us that we're all apart of a global family with traditions and cuisine that have been influenced by cultures all over the world. While flipping through it's glossy pages you quickly realize how similar and unique we all are.
You get a glimpse inside the kitchens of Japan, Brazil, Germany, Kenya and nearly every other country you can think of. After a long browse I decided to make this Ugandan Peanut Cake with it's intriguing combination of peanut, honey and cinnamon as an example of the multitude of incredible recipes you can discover in this book.
You want a copy? Sure you do!
How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment here telling me about a worldly recipe you've tried or would like to try. It could be anything between an appetizer, entree or dessert. I'd love to know!
2. Follow me on Twitter, tweet the contest (Check out @Hot_Polka_Dot to enter for a chance to win A World of Cake cookbook so you can make beautiful worldly cakes! http://bit.ly/gmMPAO) and leave another comment here telling me you've done so.
3. Like me on Facebook and leave even another comment here telling me you've done so.
4. Become my friend on Foodbuzz and leave yet another comment here telling me you've done so.
Contest Details:
- If you're already following me on Twitter, liking me on Facebook, or my friend on Foodbuzz that's ok! You're entries still count!
- Only a maximum of four entries per person will be permitted in the ways I've designated above.
- Anyone in the world is welcome to enter.
- Upon winning please email me at hotpolkadot (at) live (dot) com to claim your prize and give me your mailing address to receive the cookbook.
- All emails and addresses will be kept confidential.
Contest Deadline:
The contest will be open through the weekend and be closed on Monday April the 11th at 9pm MST. I will close the comments at this time so make sure to get your entries in soon! The winner will be chosen at random and announced Tuesday morning. Make sure to get in as many extra entries you can for a better chance to win!
This giveaway is closed. Thank you to everyone who entered! See who won here.
Peanut Cake
Source: A World of Cake by Krystina Castella.
6 eggs
1 1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, toasted and chopped
1 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 cup unsalted peanuts, toasted and chopped
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and position a rack in the center. Butter and flour 2 9 inch cake pans or spring form pans then set them aside.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the eggs until they're pale and thick. Mix in the honey, sugars, oil and vanilla.
In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt then add it to the egg mixture in thirds alternating with the milk. Lastly fold in the peanuts.
Divide the batter between the 2 prepared pans and bake them for 35 – 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Leave them in the pans for 10 – 15 minutes them turn them out onto cooling racks to cool completely before levelling them.
While the cakes are cooling make the peanut frosting. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together the butter, peanut butter, honey and salt. Alternate the addition of the powdered sugar and milk until you get a spreadable thick consistency.
Cut each cake in half and place the first layer on the cake plate. Spread an even layer of the peanut frosting between each layer then cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Evenly coat all sides of the cake with the chopped peanuts and enjoy!
April 10th, 2011 - 22:23
The cake looks wonderful, like a Payday bar. My current worldly recipes are varieties of Vietnamese dumplings. I can’t get enough white pepper and sesame oil!
April 10th, 2011 - 22:30
I love trying new thing from anywhere, we have been trying something new whenever we go out to dinner! so far we have had stuff from jamaica, cuba, china, korea and greace.
April 10th, 2011 - 23:10
Here is a recipe I would like to try, or maybe you should!……..it’s Martha’s Meyer Lemon Crepe Cake…..it looks delicious! http://www.marthastewart.com/314531/meyer-lemon-crepe-cake
April 11th, 2011 - 04:21
I went to Haiti a few years ago and had some of the greatest food. I have been trying to recreate many of their dishes. I’m not sure what the special ingredient is in some cases, and might not want to know.
April 11th, 2011 - 05:30
I would love to try to make baklava.. I have not eved it.. and it is the most delicious dessert ever!!
.. this book would be a heavenly addition to my kitchen !! <3
April 11th, 2011 - 07:44
I really want to try the Reeses peanut butter chocolate cake cheesecake they make at the cheesecake factory. It looks amazing.
April 11th, 2011 - 07:45
I Like you on Facebook.
April 11th, 2011 - 07:50
Beautiful cake. I love the peanuts pressed into the frosting. Definitely going to have to give this one a try.
April 11th, 2011 - 10:28
I tweeted about the contest!
April 11th, 2011 - 11:12
That cake looks amazing! I usually do a nice carrot cake for Easter but, I think we are peanuting it up this year!
I haven’t made it in a really long time but I will be making it for the rest of my life…every Christmas my family eats Vinatarta. My Mom’s parents were from Iceland and it became a tradition. I don’t love it (prune filling between layers of almond pastry…the thinner the better) but, it says Christmas for me!
April 11th, 2011 - 11:17
I would love to make Tapas-I know it’s not a dessert, but I think it would be a fun meal to prepare.
April 11th, 2011 - 11:18
I’m a fan on facebook!
April 11th, 2011 - 13:11
liked you on facebook as well!
April 11th, 2011 - 13:19
I’m with Theresa, I also want to learn how to make Tapas.
April 11th, 2011 - 13:47
I would like to make Bakalava.
April 11th, 2011 - 13:52
I like you on facebook!
April 11th, 2011 - 13:53
Banana fosters cupcakes! They were amazing!
April 11th, 2011 - 14:15
This cake is BEAUTIFUL!!!
April 11th, 2011 - 14:16
The most wordly thing I have made recently is Baklava, it turned out okay, but it is so time consuming. This cookbook looks awesome and so does that cake.
April 11th, 2011 - 14:49
I love experimenting with cuisines from all over the world. My current obsession is anything Vietnamese.
April 11th, 2011 - 14:51
If I dont win this book I am definitely going to buy myself one. It looks amazing! My favourite worldly recipe is homemade perogies
April 11th, 2011 - 15:28
My most recent worldly recipe is olive oil, onions, bulgar wheat, garbanzos, and tomotoes. I don’t know the name, but it’s healthy and yummy.
April 11th, 2011 - 16:14
I’ve never made an australian meringue/pavlova. Thanks.
April 11th, 2011 - 16:23
I make fabulous Jerk chicken (and I’m as white as they come)
April 11th, 2011 - 16:38
I love Ethiopian foods; I make zilzil tibs pretty often. Yum!
April 11th, 2011 - 16:43
Hmmm…anything italian! I love italian restaurants but I’ve never tried making my own pasta, I bet it would be so much better than store bought!
April 11th, 2011 - 16:47
I’d love to make a paella!
April 11th, 2011 - 16:49
We make Moroccan-style vegetable couscous, mainly in the winter. Delicious!
April 11th, 2011 - 16:59
I follow on twitter
@1byspike
Checkout @Hot_Polka_Dot to enter to win A World of Cake cookbook-you can make beautiful worldly cakes! http://bit.ly/gmMPAO
via webFavoriteReplyDelete
April 11th, 2011 - 17:00
I “liked” you on facebook
April 11th, 2011 - 17:03
I added you as a friend on Foodbuzz
April 11th, 2011 - 17:11
Love this book! I would love to try making tres leches cake sometime…a friend of mine has baked it for me before and I love the texture…very yummy!
April 11th, 2011 - 17:44
This cake looks delicious!
I just “liked” you on Facebook.
April 11th, 2011 - 17:47
My worldly recipe to try will be pad thai. Unfortunately, the recipes I’ve seen so far look very Americanized.
April 11th, 2011 - 18:05
Hmm I would love to try making beignets.
April 11th, 2011 - 18:52
I love the classic Italian tiramisu. Mmmm!
April 11th, 2011 - 19:04
polenta!
April 11th, 2011 - 19:04
i like you on facebook
April 11th, 2011 - 19:34
I’d like to try Adobo – A Filipino dish!!
April 11th, 2011 - 19:42
i would love to try making sushi and mochi ball thingys =D
April 11th, 2011 - 19:51
The peanut cake looks awesome, definitely have to try it! I love cooking recipes from all cultures but the most recent recipe I tried was an African peanut soup which was delicious. Baking is my #1 hobby and this cookbook would be a treasure. Thank you.
April 11th, 2011 - 19:54
I like you on Facebook. This is my second entry because this cookbook sounds terrific. Worldly recipe I’ve tried (and excuse the spelling) Bagna Cauda.
April 11th, 2011 - 20:10
I’m a huge fan of Thai food, and I really want to try making my own – either green curry chicken or pad thai!
April 11th, 2011 - 20:11
I tweeted about the giveaway!
April 11th, 2011 - 20:11
I’m now a fan on Facebook!
April 11th, 2011 - 20:11
I have been on an Indian cusine kick latley and have made tandoor chicken(ish), naan, roti and hope to make chana masala this week.
~thechildcooks
April 11th, 2011 - 20:40
I made pots de creme for the first time yesterday–so good!
April 11th, 2011 - 20:40
And I’ve liked you on Facebook
April 11th, 2011 - 20:47
I like you on facebook! And Lisa agrees with me that the peanut cake looks awesome and we need to try to make that sometime.
Now as for a recipe that I would like to try, I think I’d like to give Indian food a go sometime. I’ve never had it but a lot of the things I’ve seen look reeeeally good!
April 11th, 2011 - 20:49
I would have to pick a dish from my current location. I have always wanted to learn how to make Dolset Bimbimbop. It is a dish with rice, vegetables, kimchi, and bulgogi topped with a fried egg and served in a hot ceramic bowl. I use crispy, salty kim to scoop up mine. It is so delicious and I love how the rice gets crispy on the side of the hot bowl.
And I liked you on Facebook and Tweeted about your contest!