Tessa Huff is a cake whisperer. Her debut book Layered: Baking, Building, and Styling Spectacular Cakes is SPECTACULAR. (Yes, I am shouting!) Tessa is the voice behind the beautiful site Style Sweet CA the content of which houses a wealth of temptation and inspiration.
Somehow, I missed this book’s debut in April – I’m really slacking off. Thank goodness for my good friend, Judy, who righted my wrong and told me three or four times how much she loved the book. After the third, “Did I tell you how much I love this book?”, I ordered Layered. The moment I took it from it’s wrapping I was smitten. I’m going to order a second copy to stay pristine because this copy is going to get a work out.
At first blush, I was taken in by the stunning photographs – cake is art and Tessa is an artist. Then I read the first few recipes and for a brief moment I thought, “Oh this is a lot of work.” That passed quickly, because all good things take a little effort and truth be told, Tessa’s instructions are precise, succinct and incredibly easy to follow.
The book is organized with introductory chapters that focus on pantry staples and cake making and decorating techniques. She then breaks out into the categories: Sweet Staples, Classic Cakes, Chocolate Cakes, Casual Ckes, Whimsical Cakes, Adventurous Cakes and ending with Holiday Cakes. She even adds a bonus section containing Three-Tier Wedding Cake and Mix and Match suggestions.
A few examples of cake creations are: Blood Orange Thyme Cake, Red Currant Chocolate Cake, Ultimate Candy Bar Cake and Banana Split Ice Cream Cake. Every cake you will immediately want to bake- and while everyone is impressed with a homemade cake – everyone will be gobsmacked by a multi-tiered, multi-component offering.
For my first bake, I chose the London Fog Cake – a perfect blend of flavors – a chocolate espresso cake, earl grey buttercream and a salted caramel that will rock your world. Roughly, tacking on cooling time, interruptions and life – it took a total of two and a half hours to make (remember I have a lot of interruptions – their names are Jim and Andrew.) While I was making the cake for a dinner the following day, I knew Andrew would pester me to death for a slice, so I made a cupcake version. A best defensive is a good offensive.
The cupcake was shared by the three of us – Jim and I had a small bite and Andrew moaned and groaned while eating the rest. “The best cake you have ever made!” Frankly, he says that a lot – but Jim and I also agreed this time.
I knew there would be no time to get a decent shot when company arrived so I did slice the cake this morning and slid that slice right back into it’s rightful spot. It took every ounce of willpower not to eat that slice. The cake is moist and tender, the buttercream is not overly sweet – and the essence of earl grey is just right. The salted caramel is gilding the lily – but the lily loves to be gilded and this addition takes this spectacular cake to unworldly good.
Special thanks to Abrams and Tessa Huff who are allowing me to share this recipe with you. It can be downloaded here London Fog Cake.
Update: after serving the cake for dessert – I am even more enamored — it cut beautifully and received raves all around.
GIVEAWAY: Tessa has kindly offered to provide one of you with a signed copy of this book! The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me anything about cake! For a second entry, please share the post on social media and leave a second comment telling me you did so. Lastly, you may return here daily to leave a comment for additional entries. A random winner will be chosen on September 20th.
Random Number Generator picked #42 Katrina!
The link to Tessa’s book is an Amazon affiliate link. I purchased this book myself and felt so strongly about its brilliance that I had to do a post about it. We all need this book.
Thank you Tessa for writing this book and sharing with us your recipes for greatness.
My not so great photo but oh so great cake.
Love cake!
Shared 🙂
Who doesn’t love cake? I am really trying hard not to order this book right now!!!
Good grief! I have recently heard so much about this book that I may need to go ahead and order it now and just hope I win a second copy. I had to follow her on Facebook and subscribe to her blog, also. The London fog cake looks spectacular and it will have to be the first one I make. I, too, am grateful to your friend, Judy, for mentioning this to you!
Sharing, also.
There is no better, more lovely smell, sight, and taste than a perfectly baked, warm, fresh spongy cake with a tender delicate crumb, airy texture, and even bake – except maybe that paired with a perfect, toasty cup of coffee and a good friend to share it with!
Emailed to my best friend for baking inspiration!
For those of us who have put ourselves on a no purchase agreement, believe Jenny’s review, break the agreement and order this book!!
There is a sticky toffee cake recipe in this book that is just begging to be made. Is any celebration complete without without cake !!!!!!
Shared!!
You’re killing me, Jenny! Not just for making me want almost every book you review ( that’s bad enough ) but for your writing, I look forward to your reviews just as much, if not more than the actual book.
I shared on Facebook and Twitter.
The picture is my favorite cake and then all the other cake recipes in the book, one by one.
My grandmother used to bake a cake a week!
Cake!
LOVE the combination of chocolate/espresso and tea — I need this cake in my life!
LONDON FOG CAKE–Definitely a must make recipe. That cookbook cover picture is awesome. Gotta get one.
Shared the recipe on facebook.
I think everyone should have a homemade birthday cake!
The flavors in the London Fog Cake sound amazing, so I can’t wait to page through this book and begin baking.
Let them eat cake! It’s that wonderful smell of goodness baking in the oven, that warm & cozy feeling you get when you visit grandma’s house. It brings people together at birthdays, weddings, parties and all kinds of special get togethers. Maybe sometimes just what hits the spot with your favorite cup of tea or coffee.
Shared it on Facebook
If I had Earl Grey tea, i’d make this cake tomorrow. As it is, this cake will be in my near future. I would LOVE to win this book of CAKES!
Yummm
…..Prayers for a win! Would Love to make the caramel drizzle cake!
shared!
Sounds amazing! My husband and sons always request the simple chocolate mayo cake. Would be interesting to see if they could like some other cake as well
Cake makes my mouth water just thinking about it…..
Shared to Pinterest
Beautiful cakes make me smile.
Have got to try this one.
I shared on my email
I need this cake in my life.
Shared on Facebook and added to my Pinterest.
It looks fantastic!
Cakes must be very moist in this house.
I love creating cakes and having the aroma through my home as its baking. I feel like even if your cake turns out slanted or tipsy turvy as it did in one of my recent posts, so long as you have superior ingredients it will always taste great. In fact give it a new name based on its looks and no one will ever know it flopped. Looking forward to rummaging through this book. I’ve heard great things about it by many.
Shared on fb.
I love cake. Some of these combinations sound too good to be true!
London Fog is one of my favorite drinks…the idea of a cake? Amazing!
Shared!
beautiful cake!
I served cheesecake at my wedding, but maybe not if I’d seen these cakes. (Okay, who am I kidding? It would have been both…)
What a great looking book. And who doesn’t like cake? Oh, that’s my husband. Cake hater. Lame. I say let us eat cake!
Great cake week this season on the great british bake off.
Mmmmmmm, CAKE
I can imagine Christina Tosi with Master Chef cutting a slice of this cake. Holding up thr slice looking at it and stating the layers are the same and looks so moist. I love to watch her look/taste all of the food!!
Gorgeous, that’s all.
I most recently made a pound cake to eat with the summer’s last strawberries. However, that cake on the cover looks even better than mine!
ever see that Gilmore Girls episode with all the wedding cake flavors?…
Cakes = happiness
Yummmmm
I shared the post of the giveaway. I just joined the cookbook junkie facebook page and look forward to learning more. I love layered cakes that are moist and have a surprise flavor.
Cake by the ocean…. 🙂
I am waiting patiently for it at the library.
German chocolate cake is Marshall’s favorite. I love banana cake with cream cheese frosting!
Love strawberry shortcake and any kind of chocolate.
With a name like Huff (no known relation) and cake as a subject how could I go wrong here. Would adore this book!!
I have this illusion that the more I watch The Great British Baking Show, the better baker I will be. 🙂 This cookbook could actually help with my baking!
Love to have my cake and eat it too!
Love cake, needs to be moist. Never thought to add something as strong as Earl Grey to a buttercream but I’m intrigued.
Beautiful cake!
Can never have too many cake books
I had some Earl Grey tea this afternoon and it reminded me of this book.
I could only bake from this book if I was having a big party. Otherwise, I’d eat myself sick.
I would love to have this in my cookbook library.
I love caren’t cake with cream cheese frosting.
Looks like the book to find that perfect birthday cake
My sister and I are trying to decide on our birthday cake now. I think it will be a white cake with her favorite frosting.
Shared on FB.
I love almost any kind of cake, and it is my favorite item to bake.
I would love to expand my cake making experiences!
I am nowhere near as talented as Tessa. The cake is beautiful. I try to make nice cakes, but sometimes…..I need help.
I shared on Twitter
https://twitter.com/Sillysiamese/status/774158034591358976
I love cake
Cake is great
Yummy
I was hoping my library might have this book for a sneak preview, but no luck. I’ve put it to the top of my wish list.
Hope to win this book because I might not want to give the library back their copy.
I love making layer cakes
Making the Hummingbird cake from Layered today.
I need to add this to my collection!
Layer schmayer
Cake is my favorite!
I’ll be making the Gingerbread coffee toffee cake over the next couple of days, if it’s as good as the Hummingbird cake , I’ll be a happy camper.
Cakety Cake
My favorite gingerbread cake is from Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking, which is a great book of essays.
I’m taking pictures of the recipes just in case.
This is the book I really want to win. Thanks for the chance.
Bakety bake
Darn I have to bring back Layered to the library soon.
These cakes are so pretty!
Drooling
I was scrolling through the giveaways and this caught my eye again–I love cake–baking, eating it, and sharing it with others.
Someone on the Facebook page made another beautiful cake from this book, so impressive.
Fingers, toes and eyes crossed for good luck.
Hope to win!
Want to make cover cake so bad!
Tomorrow’s the day I have to bring the book back to the library.
Good luck to everyone!
Cake — chocolate cake!
Shared on FB 🙂
Cold milk sounds good
I would love to win this book
My first cake was a mess..but I baked it when it was 98° with 99% humidity and no air conditioning….
First saw here, browsed at bookstore. Do i really need another cake book? YES! gorgeous, creative, exciting, looks like recipes work
The cakes in Layered certainly look lovely!
Last entry….fingers, eyes and legs crossed, well maybe not the legs.
What a beautiful book!
Those cakes look delicious!