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Introducing My First Book: Anyone Can Cake!

November 1, 2022 · In: Featured, Lifestyle

BIG NEWS! I’ve been keeping a little (huge) secret for almost a year now, and it’s finally time to tell you that I WROTE A BOOK! It’s called Anyone Can Cake and it’ll be at all your favorite book stores in February 2023, but you can pre-order it right here, RIGHT NOW!

I wrote this book for you, whether you’re just starting out with cakes or you’ve been baking for awhile and want to improve. My vision was to break away from the traditional cookbook model of an overwhelming amount of recipes, vague instructions on how to make each one look like the photo, and rarely any information on what to do if things go awry. Instead, Anyone Can Cake will teach you everything you need to know to bake, build, and decorate the perfect layer cake, plus inspire you to have fun in the kitchen with tons of amazing recipes you’ll only find in this book.  

Collectively, this book will help you make cakes that taste as good as they sound and actually look like the photos! 

Anyone Can Cake by Whitney DePaoli

Anyone Can Cake is divided into two halves, designed to take you from square one all the way through to a finished cake. The first half covers how to make the cake. You’ll learn how to bake the perfect cake layers then use them to build a structurally sound layer cake. Then, you’ll learn how to decorate it in all sorts of ways – frosting a cake with a super smooth finish, creating buttercream ombrès, stripes, painterly textures, lambeth piping, using cake combs, and more. I’ll show you how to mix the color palette you’re imagining, master the art of the ganache drip, and add finishing touches like sprinkles and pretty piping. We’ll even cover how to troubleshoot problems like air bubbles in your frosting, fixing your buttercream consistency, and basically everything I could think of when it comes to preventing cake-tastrophes. 

Anyone Can Cake by Whitney DePaoli

The second half of the book is all the recipes you could need to practice everything you learned in the first half of the book. I’ll start with my favorite go-to recipes like my one-bowl chocolate cake, favorite vanilla cake, a brand new extra-fluffy white cake that I wrote up just for this book, and all the frosting and ganache recipes I’ve come to depend on for all my cakes. These are foundational recipes that you can build on for years to come. Then, you’ll get what I’m calling Next Level Recipes. These are the ones that will blow people’s minds when you show up with a cake – a rainbow striped milk & cereal cake infused with Lucky Charms, a Ferrero Rocher cake with a Nutella ganache drip, a Snickerdoodle Cake rolled in cinnamon sugar, and so much more. 

Snickerdoodle Cake by Sugar and Sparrow
ferrero rocher cake by Sugar and Sparrow

My hope for this book is that you would gain so much confidence with your layer cake making and go on to make beautiful cakes that make people’s day. I hope to bring you joy as you bake and learn, and then I hope you go and spread that joy to everyone you’re making these cakes for in your community – like a ripple effect of happiness! 

Pre-Order Anyone Can Cake TODAY from any of these fine retailers:

  • Amazon (US)
  • Amazon (UK)
  • Amazon (CA)
  • Barnes and Noble
  • Books-a-Million
  • Find more retailers on my book page

The official launch date is February 28th, 2023 and I will be updating you as everything moves along. And side note: a pre-ordered copy of Anyone Can Cake (along with some of my favorite baking tools) would make an excellent holiday gift for those bakers in your life! Just thinking ahead for you!

Anyone Can Cake by Whitney DePaoli of Sugar and Sparrow

A million thanks to Page Street Publishing for helping me write the book of my dreams and allowing me to carry out my full creative vision. I had the best time working with them and am so happy they chose me to write this book. I can’t wait for you to have it in your hands!!

By: Whitney · In: Featured, Lifestyle · Tagged: anyone can cake, book, cake book, cookbook, recipe book

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann says

    September 28, 2026 at 6:00 am

    Dear Whitney,

    We love your book “Anyone Can Cake”. Every year, for their birthdays, my daughters ask me to bake the Ferrero Rocher Cake. It’s their birthday special! It’s one of the best cakes we’ve baked with the most amazing frosting & ganache drip. Decadent & Delicious!

    Thank you for all the tips & tutorials!

    It’s one of the friendliest baking guides that I own!

    Best wishes!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 28, 2026 at 9:27 am

      That makes me so happy, Ann! The Ferrero Rocher Cake is one of my all-time faves and I’m so glad it’s become a birthday tradition. I’m cheering you on in all your baking and I’m thrilled that my book has become a go-to baking guide!

      Reply
  2. Joann Fields says

    February 6, 2023 at 12:22 pm

    Congratulations Whitney. I’ve tried so many of your recipes and love them all. Ordered my book and can’t wait to get started on more baking. You are my go to for recipes.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      February 9, 2023 at 2:10 pm

      Yay, Joann! Thank you so much for pre-ordering. I can’t wait for you to get the book and I’m cheering you on in all your cake baking!!

      Reply
  3. Ann says

    November 1, 2022 at 7:34 pm

    Congratulations Whitney!!!!!! How awesome! A majorly delicious professional accomplishment in life, so enjoy the attention and results of all your efforts……looking forward to putting a copy in my hands!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 1, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      Thank you so much, Ann!! I can’t wait for you to have this book! Thank you for cheering me on!

      Reply

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MONSTER HALLOWEEN CAKE 👀 🥳 give me a handful of pi MONSTER HALLOWEEN CAKE 👀 🥳 give me a handful of piping tips and some googly eyes sprinkles and this is what happens 😆 I love this cake design so much because you can truly go with the flow with your buttercream piping. The googly eyes will make that piping come alive! 
⁣
The full tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/buttercream-monster-cake-tutorial/
⁣
👩🏽‍🍳 buttercream recipe: my vanilla buttercream at https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-buttercream-recipe/
🎨 frosting colors: @americolor Electric Green, Electric Purple, Orange, and Deep Pink + added black cocoa powder for the black piping⁣
✨piping tips: @wiltoncakes 1M, 104, 4B, 233, 10, and 16 ⁣
👀 eye sprinkles: @michaelsstores
⁣
#monstercake #halloweencake #cakedecorating #halloweenparty
#buttercream
APPLE CRISP CAKE 🍏I took everything I love about a APPLE CRISP CAKE 🍏I took everything I love about apple crisp and turned it into the ultimate layer cake with deliciously moist spiced apple cake, homemade apple pie filling, buttery crumble topping, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. This cake is packed with warm fall flavors, incredible textures, and truly tastes like apple crisp in cake form! 🙌🏽

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + https://sugarandsparrow.com/apple-crisp-cake-recipe/

#applecake #layercake #cakedecorating #fallbaking #applecrisp
CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfect CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfectly spiced apple cupcakes topped with a swirl of salted caramel buttercream and drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce – these are the ideal Fall cupcakes if you ask me! 

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes/

#applecupcakes #saltedcaramel #caramelcupcakes #fallbaking #caramelapple
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there is ZERO food coloring in this black buttercream recipe which means it won’t turn your mouth black (or anything else 💩) + it tastes like Oreo cookie butter so it’s a win all around!! The key is to use EXTRA dark black cocoa powder, which also comes in handy in my black velvet cake recipe 🙌🏼 ideal secret ingredient for your Halloween cakes! 
⁣
Full recipe (and the black cocoa powder I use!) is linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/dye-free-black-buttercream/
⁣
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM⁣⁣
Yield: 2.5 Cups⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INGREDIENTS:⁣⁣
1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temp
2 1/2 Cups (300g) powdered sugar⁣⁣
1/2 Cup (56g) EXTRA DARK black cocoa powder⁣⁣*
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣⁣
2 Tbsp whole milk, room temp
pinch of salt⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣⁣
1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, 4 min. Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on low until just combined, then add the rest of the powdered sugar. With the mixer still in the off position, sift in the black cocoa powder and add the vanilla, milk, and salt. Mix on low until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.⁣⁣
2. Place the buttercream in an airtight container and allow the color to deepen for 24 hours or more. ⁣⁣

*I use a brand called The Cocoa Trader that I get on Amazon. It’s the darkest black cocoa powder I’ve seen so far!!
⁣⁣
#blackbuttercream #naturalfoodcoloring #blackcake #buttercream #blackcocoapowder
SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frostin SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting 🧡 This mini cake is a scaled down version of my favorite pumpkin cake recipe + makes the perfect amount for 2-4 people! Bake it as a 4-inch mini layer cake or a single layer 6-inch cake, either way is absolutely delicious and the perfect for date night, a small gathering, or any time you’re craving pumpkin cake without having to make a huge dessert 🙌🏽

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you the full recipe (with thick and stable cream cheese frosting!) or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/small-batch-pumpkin-cake/ 

INGREDIENTS 
2/3 Cup (88g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/3 Cup (67g) packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
1/3 Cup (80ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
1 large egg, room temp
1/2 Cup (125g) canned pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 4-inch cake pans or one 6-inch cake pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate medium bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pan(s). If using 4-inch cake pans, bake for 22-26 minutes. If using a 6-inch cake pan, bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting (full recipe with cream cheese buttercream is linked in my bio!)

#pumpkincake #smallbatchcake #minicake #creamcheesefrosting #fallbaking

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