Cake Byte: Pillsbury Bake-Off Voting Now Open

This is hardly a news flash, but last year when I went to the Pillsbury Bake-Off, it was basically the best thing to ever happen to me. And I have had a lot of things happen to me.

There have been some changes to the contest, and it has made me more excited than ever! Let me give you a brief primer.

As I was alerted by finalist Brett Youmans, creator of the "Heavenly Hazelnut Torte with Mascarpone Cream" recipe (which is pictured above--and the maker of which was also a finalist in the last Bake-Off, for his Orange Cream Macadamia Torte), for the first time ever, the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest organizers are allowing America to choose the recipes that get to compete in the Contest finals.  These finalists are on view at www.BakeOff.com, and it's open for public voting June 13 - June 27 at 1:00 pm ET!

New this year, to encourage simpler, original recipes, submissions were limited to seven or fewer ingredients and must take 30 minutes or less to prepare, not including baking or cooling time.  A difficult task, I should say!

Out of the 60 recipes selected for the online vote, only 34 will advance to the next round to compete for a chance to win the $1 million grand prize to be held at the Bake-Off Contest finals, November 10-12, 2013, at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

It's a 1 time only vote (not daily!) so make yours count. 

Will you vote for Brett's tasty-sounding Heavenly Hazelnut Torte with Mascarpone Cream (pictured top of post)? Or perhaps the Hot Pink Raspberry and Cream Cake (pictured above this paragraph)? Or maybe the Creamy Peanut Butter Truffles? Or perhaps the Spicy Churro Crescent Bites? Gosh, they all sound so good!

Do your part: View the finalists and vote here!

Cake Byte: Cottage Bakers Market in Bellevue, WA

Dolci Divino

Dudes, dudettes. Here is some very exciting news: there's a BAKED GOODS FARMER'S MARKET coming to the Seattle area!

It's true: I know this because the organizers reached out to tell me all about it. Here's the 411, from the source.

Cottage Bakers Market, taking place on May 4 and May 11, 2013, in Bellevue, WA.

Dolci Divino

This is a temporary indoor market where small-business specialty food crafters and bakers will gather to sell their fresh, made-from-scratch sweets, such as brownies, cupcakes, pies, cheesecake, lollipops, breads, caramels, marshmallows, cookies and cakes to everyone who loves delicious desserts. This includes folks who are gluten-intolerant, adhere to a vegan diet or want sugar-free and dairy-free options.

First of Its Kind. This is the first market of its kind in the Seattle area (there is a similar market up in Vancouver, B.C.) and is a new outlet for small food companies and bakers to offer their goodies to the public, since none of the vendors at the Cottage Bakers Market have retail stores – except for one! It’s also an opportunity for people to find a really unique mix of handcrafted food items under one roof.

Sweets You will Find Here: Decadent sweet (they also do savory) cheesecakes in cupcake-size servings from Dolci Divino. Owner Keri D’Angelo says “we take care in developing all nuances of our recipes from the crust to the topping. Our 2 signature flavors are Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake and Triple Chocolate Stout Cheesecake.” Another vendor is award-winning pie maker Barbara Schwartz of Pies By Barbara. She took home the award for Best Professional Cherry Pie at the High 5 Cherry Pie Bake-off in August 2012! She also offers hands-on pie making classes. Yum! The market will also feature customized, flavorful cupcakes from Jessie’s Haute Cakes, moist lavender-infused brownies by Little Sunshine Bakery and This Charming Candy’s lollipops, hand-poured in small batches to ensure a silky texture and superior, beguiling flavors.

Lavender brownie, Little Sunflower Bakery

Dates of Event: May 4 and May 11, 2013; Saturday; 11 am to 4 pm Location: Northwest Arts Center - 9825 NE 24th St., Bellevue, WA 98004 Cost to Attend: Free.

For more information, visit the Cottage Bakers Market website!

Cake Byte: New CakeSpy Article on Craftsy!

Totally sweet! I just wanted to let you know that I am now contributing to the awesomely sweet site Craftsy.com.

You can check out my first published article, on cake stenciling, here! 

Cake Byte: Red Velvet Pop-Tarts Exist

Image: theimpulsivebuy on flickr

Apparently, a Pop-Tart and a slice of Red Velvet had a very intimate evening in the breadbox, because this is completely not a joke. It's true. For a limited time only, taking their place in your heart next to the red velvet donut at Dunkin', something that actually exists is Red Velvet Pop-Tarts.

Image: Biggest MenuAs the official Pop-Tarts website says, 

Sweet cream-cheese-flavored filling enveloped by a red velvety crust and topped with vanilla icing and sprinkles. Toast it for a delicious treat your taste buds won't soon forget.

Although I haven't tried them yet, I found a helpful review on Foodette Reviews, who reports:

Surprisingly, they are actually good and taste like their namesake. Albeit, you're not going to find a distinct resemblance to Aunt Sarah's homemade from scratch, vinegar in the batter red velvet cake with mounds of frosting, but these will definitely save you the time and labor you would normally take in making a red velvet cake from a box. They have that raw flour, not-sweet cake batter flavor that I personally adore, and the filling adds a touch of sweetness and a little creaminess, too. Warm, they fared somewhat less successful and tasted like pancake batter, probably because all the frosting evaporated out.  

Red Velvet Pop-tarts, yes; visit the Pop-tarts website for more information or where to buy.

Cake Byte: Cupcake Royale Debuts Deathcake Royale Ice Cream

Like, OMG. The power and sweet glory that is the Deathcake Royale is now available in ice cream form.

As the Cupcake Royale newsletter reveals, 

"we challenge you to find a more chocolatey ice cream. Now in all cafes, Cupcake Royale introduces Deathcake Royale Ice Cream. Creamy dark chocolate ice cream with a gooey salted fudge swirl and chunks of actual Deathcake! Try a sample and take home a pint!"

Now that's sweet news indeed for anyone in the Seattle area!. Here's more info on the Deathcake Royale. Click here for the Cupcake Royale website.

Cake Byte: School of Sweets Program at Bredenbeck's, Philadelphia

Photo: David Difuntorum

Now this is an education we could all use: School of Sweets! It's a new program at Bredenbeck's of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia! Here are just a few upcoming events.

Dessert Night

7:30 - 9 p.m. $85/couple

Held the first Thursday of each month.

Get a hands-on lesson in preparing three desserts, then savor their flavors with wine pairings. Desserts include mousse tarts, tuxedo strawberries and cake truffles.

Cake Design

2 hours (2 classes)

$125/person

Email us at sales@bredenbecks.com or call 215-247-7374 for details.

Birthday Parties

Cake Decorating (age 9 and up)

2 hours $45/person

We'll demonstrate special techniques and teach your guests how to decorate their own cake.

Includes: 
* 4" cake for each person, plus colored buttercream icing and supplies. 
* 7" cake decorated by our sugar artist to enjoy at the party or take home. 

Cupcake Decorating (age 6 and up)

2 hours $40/person

We'll demonstrate special techniques and decorate cupcakes together!

Includes: 
* 4 cupcakes per person, plus colored buttercream icing and supplies. 

 
In all cases, email sales@bredenbecks.com or call 215-247-7374 for details, or to book.

Cake Byte: Deathcake Royale Is Back

Deathcake is Back! 

It's that magical time of year when the Deathcake Royale comes to play at Cupcake Royale. As they describe it,

In a laboratory explosion of sheer genius, the Cupcake Royale scientists created the cult fave Deathcake Royale: Theo Chocolate decadence fused with Stumptown Espresso Ganache and accessorized with a pinch of fleur de sel.

Personally, while I loved the scale of the big version, the smaller version is still crazy delicious, and probably better for your health. I'll just eat three to make up for the dainty size, ok?

But it won't be around forever. Available 1/18-2/14. Not in Seattle? Happily, you can ship a 3-pack of Deathcake Royale to anyone in the US! 

Find out more on the Cupcake Royale website.

Coming May 7th...

Get ready. To be released on May 7: The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America's Favorite Desserts.

CakeSpy at the Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco This Weekend!

Lucky you, San Francisco.

You have the delightful and wonderful pleasure of seeing ME this weekend! That's right: I will be selling my artwork, cards, amazing socks, and more at the 4th Annual Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco Holiday Market. 

It will be going down at the Concourse Exhibion Center (635 8th Street) on Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16, from 11am - 6pm!

Please come on down and see me. The show is free to get into, and if you buy one of my first book, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life (a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift, btw) I will totally draw a unicorn in it for you.

For more information or directions, click here.

Cake Byte: Pringles Debuts Sweet Holiday Flavors

And on the best day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: 

Pringles and OMG they're sweet! 

That's right sweeties. Pringles has debuted a batch of holiday flavors that bring sweet and salty together in flavors that some may consider awesome, some may consider awful. 

I was first tipped off to the trend by Java Cupcake; I then researched it more and found a fantastic article entitled "Holiday Flavors Keep Getting More Weird" which told me: "Pringles now comes in Cinnamon & Sugar, White Chocolate Peppermint and Pumpkin Pie Spice. Reason: The brand has great success with new flavors the rest of the year, says Angela Gusse, associate marketing director." 

For more information, visit Pringles.com or just go to the supermarket!