Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice
By Malika Ameen
The warm embrace of clove and ginger, the sensual kiss of cardamom and rosewater, the fiery touch of cayenne, the surprising sensations of sumac and za’atar—there is a world of tantalizing flavors just waiting to be invited into your dessert repertoire. Join celebrated chef Malika Ameen on this journey of playful discovery, pushing spices beyond the realm of savory into something oh-so-sweet.
Spice can add a delicate whisper or a surprising punch to cakes and tarts, cookies and bars, ice creams and sorbets, barks, brittles, and more. Roasted Peach and Custard Borek are a showstopper with velvety saffron cream and subtle cardamom sugar wrapped inside light, crunchy layers of phyllo dough. Peanut brittle is spiked with smoked paprika, cinnamon, and cayenne and drizzled with bittersweet chocolate for an addictive treat. Lusty Lemon Squares update the classic with a spiced dark chocolate crust dotted with pink peppercorns. Orange zest, vanilla bean, and cinnamon-spiced churros with their accompanying sticky toffee sauce will delight kids and the young at heart.
With encouraging language, invaluable tips, and a passionate approach to flavor, Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice is your passport to a new world of sweets.
"Malika Ameen’s unique use of spice, fun-loving style, and never-ending creativity have forever changed the way I think about dessert. With Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice, she finally shares her delicious recipes with the world, adapted effortlessly for cooks of all levels. Her personal stories and inspired instruction are as lovely and inviting as her baking is addictive!" —Gail Simmons, TV host and author of Talking with My Mouth Full
"Malika Ameen raids the spice drawer with a sure palate and playful hand, weaving the flavors and fragrance of spices we already know and love into familiar recipes—but in new ways. Little ‘aha’ moments about keeping, using, and blending spices are a lovely bonus here. Nothing is tricky or finicky. Every recipe tempts!" —Alice Medrich, James Beard Award–winning author of Flavor Flours
"Malika has a deep understanding and love for spice with a style that is uniquely her own. She writes with a Chicago heart, French respect, and a Pakistani soul, sharing sweet memories and recipes that change the way we experience flavors in dessert." —Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick, authors of Spice and Soframiz
"Look closely at this book. This is not your typical baking book. Malika Ameen is bold and poetic in her use of intentional spices or herbs in her recipes. Her combinations are seductive and the results will thrill." —Elizabeth Falkner, chef/author/artist
"Sweet Sugar, Sultry Spice is a wonderful collection of distinctive dessert recipes made with exciting and nuanced flavors. Ameen highlights the extensive possibilities for baking with spices and offers helpful tips for sourcing and storing ingredients." —Eric Ripert, chef and co-owner, Le Bernardin