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Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook + KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway!!! (Winner Announced!)

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

So excited to share a fun new cookbook and giveaway with you today from my fellow blogger Amanda Rettke at iambaker.net! Amanda is the queen of cake decorating. Her blog is filled with the most gorgeously decorated cakes! But what initially drew me to start following Amanda’s blog is how so incredibly easy her cake decorating tutorials are. They are so beautiful and intricate, it looks like you have to be a super-advanced cake decorator and spend hours doing it. But you TOTALLY don’t!!! They are so simple even ***I*** can do it. I have said many times here that I am the worst when it comes to decorating cakes. I just have no patience with tedious tasks. I just slap some frosting on it and call it good!!

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

But the first time I saw Amanda’s Rose Cake Tutorial back in 2011, it looked so incredibly easy and so incredibly gorgeous that I knew I had to try it right then and there. And it just so happened that Valentine’s Day was coming up, so I had the perfect occasion!

SUPER simple cake decorating trick!! Anyone can do this!! #cakedecorating

Here was my very first attempt, over 3 years ago. Stunning right??! I did that!! I could hardly even believe myself. You guys would seriously die if I showed you my past attempts at decorating on my own. But after reading one simple blog post, I had something that looked like this. (I used my favorite chocolate cake and frosting recipe for this cake.)

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

That’s why I am SO excited about Amanda’s new Surprise Inside Cakes cookbook. It’s FILLED with tons of new, easy tutorials for decorating AND for fun surprises INSIDE the cake to add a whole new level of excitement for cake!! ;)

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

Like look at the gorgeous rainbow layer cake!!

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

And this amazing rainbow checkerboard cake??!

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

You know what makes Amanda even MORE awesome?? She uses one of my fonts for her blog and her cookbook!!

Surprise Inside Cakes Cookbook by Amanda Rettke Review. #cakedecorating #cookbook #recipe #giveaway

See that handwriting font on the back cover of her book? That is MY actual handwriting!! Not just one of the Fonts for Peas I’ve made… But my actual handwriting. How crazy and cool is that?? :)

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

 

The Giveaway

That’s why today I am so excited to give away a copy of Amanda’s Surprise Inside Cakes and a brand new KitchenAid Mixer to get you started with your cake baking and decorating. One lucky Kevin and Amanda reader will win:

 

How to Enter

Use the PromoSimple widget below to enter:

Good luck!!!

1,192 Responses
  1. Hanadia Roby

    Pink Lemonade Kool-Aid flavor packet + strawberry cake + cream cheese or whipped vanilla frosting + 1/2 can of glazed or 1 cup fresh strawberries on top = Worthy of My YUM!

  2. melissa cushing

    My favorite is Red Velvet cahe with Cream Cheese frosting! Thanks so much for the fabulous chance and giveaway for all!

  3. Tara

    My absolutely favorite cake to bake (usually at 2AM, randomly), is a Funfetti cake with chocolate icing. It’s a GREAT combination!

  4. Annette

    My favorite cake + icing = red velvet (the kind that doesn’t have cocoa and tastes more like a spice cake) + icing made with milk and flour over heat then cooled.

  5. Rebecca

    Hi Amanda!
    This book is FANTASTIC !.!.!
    As for my favorite flavors….. I adore Red Velvet Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting.!

  6. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie

    I loved reviewing and cooking from this cookbook! So many fantastic ideas and I cannot believe that she came up with them all. My favorite cake combo is funfetti with cream cheese frosting.

  7. dixie

    devil’s food with my mother in law’s special candy bar frosting!! we call it the candy bar cake. the frosting has 10x sugar, white sugar, cool whip, milk & crushed almond bars. SO GOOD!!!!!

  8. Deb Christie

    My favorite is Red Velvet Cake with very rich Cream Cheese Icing, not too sweet, so you can taste the cream cheese.

  9. Susan H

    I’m a vanilla & buttercream girl myself. There’s nothing like it if the cake is supper moist and the frosting is just right!

  10. missT

    As much as my tastebuds usually beg for strangely delicious combos, there’s always that one good old faithful treat that I can’t resist…a moist carrot and nut cake with a smooth tangy cream cheese frosting. Mmm!!!

  11. Lisa Hootselle

    My favorite is a basic vanilla, with “fluff” filling and buttercream frosting
    (fluff is a delicious medley of cream cheese, cool whip, strawberries and pineapple!)

  12. Trisha

    Chocolate and Chocolate. Although I did just make a vanilla cake from a mix and added a box of vanilla pudding and 1 cup of sour cream in it. Topped with Vanilla frosting and it was delicious!

  13. Charity Smith

    I absolutely love strawberry cake with strawberry icing using real strawberries in both! I also wouldn’t refuse strawberry cake and chocolate frosting!

  14. Mary V

    Dark chocolate cake and vanilla bean icing is my favorite combination. Decorating’s not one of my talents, but I’m now tempted to give it a try. Love the rainbow chessboard!

  15. Bobbie Hawkins

    Strawberry shortcake! Angel food cake layered with fresh strawberries and a dollop of sweetened whipped cream!! :P

  16. Christine

    Love love love dark chocolate frosting/icing with extra moist and super duper chocolatey cake! Yes, in that order :)

  17. sherendine sy

    Checking out your blog everytime i open my mail has never failed to make me smile and learn a lot from it. I just love how you simply type in your feelings and share your thoughts to us, keep it up! God Bless always~ hope to get a chance to win on one of your giveways ;)

  18. Kimberly Williams

    My favorite flavor is lemon cake with lemon creemcheese frosting! I do like to put fruit in the cake & frosting sometimes like raspberries or strawberries. FYI: I love the surprise inside the cake and the frosting was done so wonderfully.

  19. Maria

    I just stumbled across your blog and I’m in love! My favorite cake and frosting combo is probably a spice cake with cream cheese frosting. So yummy!

  20. Ashlynd

    I like Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Whipped Cream frosting…probably not a frosting but still one of my favorites >w<

  21. Ally

    My go-to is yellow cake with chocolate icing, but I’ve recently been introduced to the joy of white cake with raspberry buttercream!

  22. Jo Baggaley Thompson

    All cake is good cake but right now I’d like a slice of coffee and walnut cake with a Kahlua and chocolate frosting

  23. Beth

    You can’t go wrong with a chocolate cake with chocolate-peanut butter frosting. And maybe some Reeses’ thrown in too :)

  24. Valerie Johnson

    Wow, just one is all I can choose? lol My favorite cake flavor is chocolate. Frosting, chocolate or strawberry.

  25. Sharon Riedl

    Double chocolate! The cake cookbook looks amazing! Can’t wait to see which one my daughter wants for her birthday!

  26. Maritza

    My favorite is chocolate cake with cream cheese or buttercream frosting. Yum!! The cakes in the book are stunning works of art!!

  27. Sarah

    Hands down is Choco cake with choc frosting. Especially the “Outrageously Rich Chocolate Indulgence Frosting” that you make!

  28. Elizabeth Hurlstone

    Vanilla sponge cake with vanilla bean ice cream in the center with a homemade caramel sauce drizzled over the top with crushed walnuts! SO good!

  29. DeniseG

    Chocolate cake (with chocolate chips!) and caramel frosting– the overly sweet, penuche style caramel that gives me cavities just talking about it.

  30. Michelle StPaul

    I love red velvet and vanilla buttercream frosting. So yum, it has a special place in my heart and anytime I’m given the gift of baked goods, friends know that’s my #1!

  31. Maya @Alaska from Scratch

    Yellow cake, chocolate frosting. Or coconut cake with coconut cream cheese frosting. Cant’ decide.

  32. Megan

    I work at a cupcake bakery and we have the best chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting! I actually just ate one! Yum!

  33. Kay K

    My favorite cake is carrot cake and frosting is cream cheese. Congratulations Amanda for having your handwriting on the back cover, it does look like a perfect match with the photos. Thank you for the giveaway.

  34. Sara

    I love my mom’s homemade chocolate cake! It is dairy free and is so super moist! It is WAAAAAAAY better than box cakes! And you can lower the calories!
    But I am not a big fan if icing! I think you did a great job frosting that cake with the roses! It is gorgeous! But if I had to choose it would be German chocolate frosting (a party in your mouth) or I love myself some marzipan! Oh it is delicious on peach cake! I am soooo craving that right now!

  35. Rachael

    My absolute favorite is rich chocolate cake filled with fresh cream and raspberries with raspberry swiss meringue buttercram

  36. Kristin M

    My favorites depends on the season… for fall/winter I LOVE Apple Spice cake + cream cheese frosting (or just a sprinkle of powder sugar) for spring: black forrest cake (Chocolate with cherry filling and chocolate frosting) and summer time I love pineapple upside down cake or my “orange creamsicle” + vanilla frosting.

  37. Karen Gratton

    So many to choose from! I really like a classic yellow cake with chocolate buttercream, but I don’t think there is a single combo I would say no to!!

  38. Katie

    I had the most amazing spice cake with vanilla buttercream at a wedding that was to die for! that is def. in my top Ten. But I always love a classic white cake with vanilla buttercream.

  39. Elizabeth J.

    I like vanilla with a light lemon-vanilla frosting. (depending on how much sugar I want, sometimes raspberry filling!)

  40. Candasu Vernon

    Chocolate and chocolate – although if you can work in a little raspberry in the middle I’d really be in heaven.

  41. Kristin

    Too many to choose just one!!!! I love red velvet with cream cheese icing! I’m a celiac so finding anything good now is difficult!

  42. Jackie

    My favorite cake and frosting combo is chocolate with chocolate frosting – really moist and fudgey. Thank you for the giveaway Amanda!

  43. Goreti P.

    Very difficult to choose just one but …..I think if I have to choose it would be chocolate cake with chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream. Yummm

  44. Donna Harris

    I have a comment to make besides the cake & frosting, which I already did.
    The comment is this: Instagram! Don’t have a phone to apply for this. When I checked into have to apply and it’s phone apps. I know other people like me that can’t and use loose the extra point for the drawings. I don’t think a lot of bloggers that have contest know that is the only way to register to Instagram. I don’t mean to complain but I don’t think some know this.
    Good Luck everyone! I know I want to win this mixer and cake book, it’s an awesome giveaway! Thank you, Donna

  45. Maria

    Cream cheese frosting… I can use this with almost everything haha love cheese….. even with chocolate!!!! ohhh yeah!!!!

  46. Barbara Rys

    Moist and fluffy vanilla cake filled with blackberry compote, fresh blackberries, whipped vanilla mascarpone filling and covered in a sweet, creamy vanilla frosting! <3

  47. Susan Jordan

    I like homemade caramel frosting over homemade vanilla cake! It’s awesome when it all turns out right. Nothing better with milk! Yum!!!

  48. LauriM

    I love chocolate with almost any kind of frosting: caramel, cookies and cream, coffee, peanut butter, raspberry, orange, etc.

  49. Tonia Merlo

    Dark Chocolate cake with Peanut Butter frosting , I have looked at this cake book, and just stood inn the store going OMG OMG, a few people said to me that book must be good.. LOL

  50. Jessica Rollins

    Traditional yellow cake with vanilla or chocolate frosting, nothing too heavy! Mmmm… now I want some cake. :)

  51. Amber

    So many flavor combinations come to mind….BUT! My absolute favorite is dark chocolate cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting! Yum!

  52. Oana Munteanu

    My favorite cake is chocolate and chocolate or vanilla and vanilla or chocolate and vanilla or … any cake :)

  53. Lucy

    Beautiful!!! I plan to visit her website and check her books out!!! The rose cake you made was so beautiful!!! You’ve given me hope;).

  54. Melody

    Give me a (non-packaged/homemade with buttermilk) devil’s food cake filled with dark cocoa whipped cream & topped with dark chocolate ganache! — Yum! :D

  55. Mary

    My favorite cake might be chocolate batter with white frosting and topped with fluffy white coconut flakes pressed into the frosting.

  56. Michal

    I don’t have mixer nor your book, and i truly want them both so hope to win.
    I love especially chocolate cake and chocolate frosting

  57. Jan

    Everyone would love to have one of these! Just let your imagination fly thinking about all the great goodies, and recipes you could try.

  58. Rebekah Brandon

    Favourite flavour combo? Hmmm . . . so many! Today I’m craving something with chocolate and salted caramel. :)

  59. Virginia

    My favorite cake/icing combo is chocolate cake with vanilla icing. The vanilla just offsets the intense chocolate flavor making it just the right sweetness.

  60. Elle

    My favorite is vanilla and dark chocolate frosting! AND, OMG, I want to make that blue cake with the cherry surprise in the middle!

  61. Adrianne

    So hard to pick just one favorite, but if I HAD to, I guess it would be chocolate cake & chocolate frosting (lots of frosting!)

  62. Sally

    Right now, I love citrus flavors… orange, lime, lemon — can’t get enough. I am totally over chocolate — at least with cakes.

  63. Patty Jensen

    Hard choice between yellow cake with chocolate frosting or German Chocolate…..gotta go with yellow cake and chocolate frosting.

  64. Erin

    I LOVE vanilla cake with chocolate frosting! Simple but oh so good – especially with a scoop of strawberry ice cream – YUM!

  65. Katie Crandall

    On my birthday my mom always makes me a white cake with white frosting and then completely covers it with coconut… We call it the snowball cake. It is amazing and by far my favorite :)

  66. BeckyH in Mass

    Cake is my addiction. Seriously — ANY kind of cake. But I have to say my very favorite is an old family recipe for chocolate cake with real buttercream frosting. SO good. Frosting MUST be real and not from a can.

  67. Janet

    I love to bake but….. I want to bake cakes that look like this !
    What a great book – can’t wait to see the look on peoples faces when they
    cut into a cake with a cherry in the middle!

  68. Susan

    Even though I may (technically) be a senior citizen, I’ve never made really “fancy” cakes. I’d love to learn! And what better way than with a cool mixer?!

  69. Denise Ness

    My absolute favorite flavor is: Devils Food Chocolate with Almond buttercream frosting! Yum…now I might have to make one (if only I had a KitchenAid mixer to help me!)

  70. Sandy_in_MD

    My favorite is chocolate cake with white coconut icing – yum! That is so cool that Amanda R. used your handwriting font in her book. Thanks for the chance to win.

  71. Andrea

    I am in love with this cupcake at Baked & Wired in DC, called the Texas Sheetcake. Lightly spiced chocolate cake and a nut/spiced frosting! I also LOVE lemon cake with raspberry frosting!

  72. Amanda W

    Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting….along with a big glass of milk or scoop of vanilla ice cream. IT’S THE BEST!

  73. Stacey

    I’m so glad I discovered your blog! The book looks awesome! My fave is simply yellow cake with buttercream frosting!

  74. sher

    . . . lemon/raspberry cake with cream cheese icing . . . or from my childhood (haven’t had for 40 yrs!?) a spice cake with penuche icing!!! . . . YUM!!

  75. Erin Ellis

    My favorite is chocolate with cream cheese frosting! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    fairyfractal at gmail dot com

  76. Jeffrey

    I ever turn down fresh cake and my favorite combo is white with vanilla buttercream. Chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream is a close second!

  77. kelly meckes

    i’m old school – vanilla cake with chocolate frosting!!!! although i will be very tempted to try a new cake and am up to the challenge! :)

  78. Alison Althouse

    I’m a chocolate cake/chocolate frosting girl married to a white cake/white frosting guy… Cake is always made in sets and usually includes wine! ;)

  79. Samantha C.

    That is a HARD choice! I will always love chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting BUT I think my absolute FAVORITE is white almond cake with almond buttercream frosting!

    xoxo, Sammi

  80. Christy Broxton

    I’ve always been a fan of cream cheese icing on just about anything. :) Guess I’d have to go with carrot + cream cheese icing at the moment.

  81. Southern Gal

    The most delicious cake I’ve ever had was made by a local bakery. The combination was vanilla cake with key lime whipped cream filling and strawberry puree. It was out of this world!

  82. Christine Teal

    Oh my— that book looks like one I need. I have been wanting to learn how to put “things” inside my cakes. Would love to win the book (and the mixer)!! Pick me!!!

  83. Maureen Hayes

    My all time favorite is yellow cake, with chocolate pudding in the layers inside and whipped cream icing! Yum! Otherwise I like devils food cake with vanilla icing.

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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