Wilson - Kiss My Bundt: Recipes from the Award-Winning Bakery

Chrysta Wilson grew up in the South where made-from-scratch desserts reigned supreme. She started her first bakeshop at the age of seven using her Easy Bake ovenbundt cake came later. Before returning to her first occupation, Chrysta earned a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy and a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Management from the University of Southern California. Affectionately dubbed The Bundt Babe, for her life-long love of bundt cake, Chrysta started Kiss My Bundt Bakery in honor of her mother and the two aunts who nurtured her entrepreneurial spirit and love of baking. At Kiss My Bundt, this Los Angeles transplant is best known for her Californian spin on the Southern dessert, lightening up traditional bundt recipes and creating cakes in modern, innovative flavors.

About Kiss My Bundt Bakery

Kiss My Bundt is an award-winning, made-from-scratch bakery in Los Angeles specializing in bundt cakes and other Southern-inspired confections. Founded in 2005 as a web-based cake-catering company, Kiss My Bundt Bakery opened its brick-and-mortar storefront in August 2008. In its first year, the cake shop received countless accolades as one of the best bakeries in Southern California. In 2009, Kiss My Bundt began a bundt lover movement with The Baking Academy and its Intro to Baking class series created by bakery founder Chrysta Wilson.

Id like to thank the many people who helped me in my bundt-baking pursuits. After all, success is a group effort.

First of all, my family: Aunt Eleanor, for her motherly advice; my sisters, Jamille and Dynolis, for their support and for truly loving my bundts enough to request shipments from Los Angeles to Jacksonville and Atlanta; Uncle E.D., Uncle Johnny Lee and the rest of my family, who after tasting my bundts, have been 110% behind me, supporting me and eating my bundts clear across the country.

To Ailia, thanks for making my bakery an extension of your labor of love. And to Anagha and Anna, for being the BFFs and BGFs a girl needs during stressful and exciting times.

To those who were instrumental in making my dream of a brick and mortar bakery a reality: Erin H., Denise W., Megan K., Mary F., Kim G., Jeff V., Kelly H., Sandra G., Anagha A., and Billy and Sharon B., thank you for believing in Kiss My Bundt Bakery and putting your money where your mouth is. To Jackie J., Steve G. and Ricardo T., for helping me lay a foundation for building my bundt empire. To the 2004-2008 LAULYP Board, for helping me build friendships and relationships essential to growing my customer base in the early days.

To my FCBC family, for showing me that He has multiple plans for my life and that I can pursue my gifts. The first Kiss My Bundt Bakery Team, Megan, Jennifer, Adri and Lilly, thanks for the sacrifices youve made to help this dream of mine come true.

To the home bakers who were willing to fire up their ovens in the dead of summer to help us test all the recipes in this book.

To Margeaux Bestard, thank you for your beautiful photographs. Thanks Deborah Daly for your great artistic vision in bringing together all of the elements of this book.

To Adam, thank you for being my best friend and biggest supporter during the first year of Kiss My Bundt Bakery on 3rd Street. You helped to carry me through hard times. Your friendship and ideas (like using bacon grease) will never be forgotten.

And to Amy R., thanks for being one of the wonderful locals to embrace my bakery. Youve placed a great deal of faith (and resources) in my little bundt bakeshop and somewhere along the way you became a Bundt Babe in your own right.

Baking Supplies

Amazon.com

This is an extensive source for chefs tools, electric mixers, bundt pans, cocoa, chocolate, chocolate espresso beans, vanilla and other natural extracts, colored sugars and other decorations.

www.amazon.com.

Beryls Cake Decorating & Pastry Supplies

Sells decorating tools, colored sugars and edible glitter, jimmies, chocolate curls and other unique and unusual decorations.

800.488.2749

www.beryls.com

King Arthur Flour

In addition to selling bulk flour, organic flour and sugar, the company sells high-quality chocolate chips and sprinkles, colored sugar and other decorations.

800.827.6836

www.kingarthurflour.com

KitchenAid

Manufactures a variety of sturdy, reliable and stylish stand mixers.

800.541.6390

www.kitchenaid.com

Kitchen Krafts

Offers chefs tools, mini and big ol bundt pans, cake stands, vanilla and other extracts, decorating tools, and sprinkles.

800.776.0575

www.kitchenkrafts.com

Nordic Ware

Creator of the bundt pan it is, of course, an excellent source for pans in every size.

877.466.7342

www.nordicware.com/store

Surfas

This Los Angeles-based restaurant supply carries chefs tools, mini and baby bundt pans, cocoa, bulk chocolate, vanilla and other extracts, decorating tools, jimmies and chocolate curls.

866.799.4770

www.surfasonline.com

Sur La Table

This home bakers dream is a one-stop shop for chefs tools, stand mixers, mini and baby bundt pans, cake stands, cocoa, vanilla and other extracts, decorating tools, colored sugars.

800.243.0852

www.surlatable.com

Trader Joes

This is a terrific, inexpensive source for fresh, dried and frozen fruits, almond meal, nuts, chocolate, wine and spirits.

(see website or phone book for your nearest store)

www.traderjoes.com

Whole Foods

The gourmet grocery is a good source for vegan sugar, organic baking products, local produce, cocoa and chocolate.

(see website or phone book for your nearest store)

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Williams Sonoma

This is one of the handiest resources for baking tools and decorating items, as well as cocoa powder, extracts, and stand mixers. Count on them to carry the latest and greatest gadgets as well as the classics.

877.812.6235

www.williams-sonoma.com

Wilton

A leader in the American confectionary world, this manufacturer offers an incredible array of cake decorating items as well as a nice line of fluted (aka bundt) cake pans in a variety of sizes. They even offer online cake decorating courses.

888.373.4588

www.wilton.com

These baking times are approximate since most ovens vary. If you feel unsure of your oven temperature, check your cake frequently with a toothpick or cake tester for doneness. To check the accuracy of your oven temperature, purchase a small oven thermometer..

All cakes in this book should be baked on the center rack of the oven.

The Kiss My Bundt cake recipes are recommended for bundt pans but can be baked in any cake pan that suits your occasion following the baking times below:

Vanilla-Based Cakes

40-45 minutes for a 10-12 cup big ol bundt

18-22 minutes for baby or muffin bundts

13-16 minutes for mini bundts or cupcakes

25-29 minutes for two 8 rounds or squares

Pound Cakes

55-65 minutes for a 10-12 cup big ol bundt

Chocolate and Other Vegetable Oil-Based Cakes

45-50 minutes for a 10-12 cup big ol bundt

20-23 minutes for baby or muffin bundts

14-17 minutes for mini bundts or cupcakes

28-32 minutes for two 8 rounds or squares

Vegan Cakes

30-35 minutes for a 10-12 cup big ol bundt

14-17 minutes for baby or muffin bundts

10-13 minutes for mini bundts or cupcakes

18-22 minutes for two 8 rounds or squares

Troubleshooting

Your oven may have a hot spot, and cook more quickly in one area of the oven interior than another. (Hot spots are often found at the back or front of the oven.) If you find your cake cooking too quickly on one side, turn the cake 180 degrees halfway through the baking process.