Grandbaby Cakes Cookbook Giveaway

A picture of the cover of the cookbook Grandbaby Cakes

Grandbaby Cakes gives one grandma’s cherished recipes an updated spin while preserving their most important ingredient—tradition.

By Elizabeth Bonner

Growing up, Jocelyn Delk Adams treasured time spent in the magical Mississippi kitchen of her grandmother, affectionately called Big Mama. There, Jocelyn learned the art behind Big Mama’s made-from-scratch delicacies, developing a skill set and a passion that would eventually inspire her to start a recipe blog as a tribute to those sweet treats. Now Jocelyn’s first cookbook, Grandbaby Cakes, pulls from the best of her blog, her memories, and her innovative ideas to present 50 scrumptious confections ranging from layer cakes and pound cakes to cupcakes and cakelettes.

True to the distinctive baking style for which Jocelyn has become known, Grandbaby Cakes delivers recipes shaped by the past and reinvented in the present. “The genesis and inspiration behind the recipes are what make them so unique,” Jocelyn explains. The book includes a few unaltered family favorites, but most are simply inspired by the author’s culinary upbringing. “I let my imagination take over to create modern twists on classics,” she continues. “Instead of letting flavors or culinary trends drive my creative process, I let experiences and precious moments in my past guide me.”

A picture of recipes from the cookbook Grandbaby Cakes

Some of these novelties include ’Nana Pudding Tiramisù Cake, Red Velvet Cake with Blackberry–Cream Cheese Whipped Frosting, Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake, and Pineapple Upside-Down Hummingbird Pound Cake. Meanwhile, traditional family treats like Original Gooey-Gooey Cake and Mama’s 7UP Pound Cake—the first cake Jocelyn learned to make—are presented in their pure passed-down state.

Jocelyn credits her grandmother for her creative spirit in the kitchen. “I think my Big Mama’s Southern roots have made her such an instinctual baker,” she says. “She also really thinks about the end result, which is the enjoyment of the treat.”

Jocelyn’s hope is that this cookbook will inspire generations to gather in the kitchen. “By creating new traditions and involving family in the process of baking, so many memories can be created,” she says. “Food is very powerful and transformative. It brings people together. I want new generations to experience the love I did growing up.” And in this web exclusive, the author offers a few tips for putting desire into practice in 2016.

Baking Resolutions for the New Year from Jocelyn Delk Adams

A picture of Jocelyn Delk Adams, the author of the cookbook Grandbaby Cakes

1. I will follow a recipe exactly as written.

Baking is an exact science, so make sure you are following a recipe exactly the way it was developed.

2. I will take more chances in the kitchen.  

That can sometimes mean letting go of a box mix and trying a scratch recipe. Some are still very intimidated by making scratch recipes, but if you just commit and give it a try—starting with something a bit simpler—you will find it just as easy as the instructions on the back of a box.

3. I will have more fun in the kitchen!

Remember that baking is fun and always a true delight to anyone on the receiving end. Get someone else in the kitchen to spend some quality time, and remember, as long as you bake with love, you always win.

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