London’s East End meets Northern California in 75 indulgent bakes from the author of The Violet Bakery Cookbook.
Renowned for the wedding cake she created for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Claire Ptak knows there’s nothing like a cake when it comes to expressions and celebrations of love. A Chez Panisse alum, Ptak is a Northern California native who now runs the wildly successful Violet Bakery in London. Reflecting on her upbringing and love of in-season produce, she shares 75 sweet and savory creations, including Huckleberry Basil Sugar Scones, Peaches and Cream Angel Food Cake, and a strawberry-coconut meringue cake. Her bakes are homey yet elevated, made with the best possible ingredients, so as to extract the best possible flavors. Included are gluten-free, refined sugar-free and vegan bakes, as well as the sought-after recipe for the Duke and Duchess’s lemon elderflower cake.
Featuring gorgeous photographs shot in both England and California, Love is a Pink Cake is a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone eager to emulate Ptak’s unique sensibility and dreamy creations in their own kitchen.
A California native, Claire Ptak worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley before moving to London and opening Violet Bakery in 2010. She is the author of The Violet Bakery Cookbook.
Claire’s desserts are more than just a conclusion to a great meal; they’re bites of special memories for me . . . Her cakes have been at the center of some of our most cherished family moments.
— Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex - New York Times
Delightful . . . Claire has also given us a very delicious recipe for a dessert of muscat wine and raspberries, which I have already bookmarked for my own Easter lunch.
— Nigel Slater - Guardian
Indispensable . . . Not only is Ptak’s book compelling—her baking is excellent.
— Rachel P. Kreiter - Eater
Love Is a Pink Cake offers glimpses of Ms. Ptak’s personality, as well as of her personal life . . . Rich in color (a pistachio-green plum cake with candied violets) and texture.
— Emilia Petrarca - New York Times
It’s the transferable wisdom that makes Love Is A Pink Cake invaluable . . . And you will find that even the classics—yellow sheet cake with chocolate frosting, treacle tart with whipped cream—can be improved upon by following Ptak’s advice.
— Hayley Maitland - Vogue
Claire Ptak, the Chez Panisse alum who runs London’s Violet Cakes, divides this sumptuous book into two. ‘California’ is produce-forward, while Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake is the talk of ‘England.’
— Laura Regensdorf - Vanity Fair
Joyful . . . an exquisite collection of recipes.
— Hope Coke - Tatler
Claire Ptak’s recipes are generous, intuitive, and beautiful. This is a celebration of life, and the bounty of the earth. You will feel as though an old friend is taking you by the hand and teaching you how to make the perfect fluffy blueberry muffin. Pull up a chair. Claire is the friend everybody needs in their life.
— Laila Gohar
This book is as rich in stories as it is in incredible recipes. There is magic in its pages. I know so many of these recipes will become favorites baked again and again—a Violet recipe always works perfectly. A special book that’s as beautiful as it is useful. I’ve rarely been more excited about a book.
— Anna Jones
An absolutely enchanting book.
— Nigella Lawson
Ptak asserts that "baking is, in its own way, a love story," and her own love shines through. This is a treasure trove.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Ptak’s love for nature’s bounty shines through in this collection for fans of farm-to-table baking.
— Jessica S. Levy - Booklist
