Cookbook inspires novice baker to start yearlong cake project

A tempting slice of cake.

Photo by Flickr user SlugsOnTheRefrigerator

I am a lover of all things cake. I often crave sweet buttery frosting and moist delicate crumbs to the point of absolute hysteria and will stop at nothing until I get my sugar fix. I seek out bakeries wherever I go and I've checked out many of the cake joints around town. I know my favorites (including but not limited to): the lemon cupcakes from Cupcake Station (they're called Lemon Lust for a reason), the vegan orange cake at Seva and Jefferson Market's red velvet cake. But when it comes to baking cakes myself - that's one area where I'm seriously lacking.

I've made a handful of brownie and cookie recipes in my 29 years but I've never taken on the great cake. This Christmas I received a cookbook all about cake and thought, "Why not bake my way through this thing?" Cover to cover. Recipe by recipe. A new cake. Every Monday. For one year. That's the basis of the cake project inspired by NPR's Melissa Gray and her book All Cakes Considered.

Each week I'll talk about the joys and pains of my cake baking pursuits. I hope to experience more joys than pains - but that's what learning something new is all about, right? As I work my way through the book the cakes will progressively get more difficult. I'll begin by tackling the pound cakes and hone my baking skills until I'm prepared to take on the the almighty layer cake. There's bound to be a cake-tastrophe here and there. Come what may, I'm ready with spatula and mixer in hand - it's guaranteed to be one delicious adventure! Erin Mann is a new contributor to AnnArbor.com. Email her at SheGotTheBeat@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter.