Tour de Sweet: CakeSpy in New Jersey November 16 and 17!

Garden State? More like Sugar State.

That's right: CakeSpy's Tour de Sweet is coming to New Jersey! I have two totally sweet events coming up on November 16th and 17th, respectively:

• November 16: Sweet in Hoboken, 5-7 pm. Facebook invite here.
• November 17: Sugarush in Red Bank, New Jersey, 4pm-6pm. I cannot guarantee that Jay and Silent Bob will be there. Facebook invite here.

But wait, there's more! There will be GIVEAWAYS! I'll have some sweet items to give away, like notecards and maybe even a pair or two of my cupcake-unicorn-robot socks.

Of course, if you're not in NJ, you can check out my other dates here and enter to win a copy of the book here.

Tour de Sweet: CakeSpy in Washington DC on November 15! And a Giveaway!

Guess what, Washington DC? You thought you were sweet, but you're about to get SWEETER.

That's right: CakeSpy's Tour de Sweet is coming to town! As I said on the Facebook event page,

OMG. This is your chance--your BIG CHANCE-- to come eat cake, hang out with me, and buy a copy of my lovely and amazing new book, "CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life"! And I will even sign it and draw a unicorn in it, if you'd like.

This is one of the best spots for cake in DC, so even if you have no interest in seeing me, come for the cake. I'll understand.

But wait, there's more! GIVEAWAYS And some sweet items to give away, like notecards and maybe even a pair or two of my cupcake-unicorn-robot socks.

Missing this would be a big mistake.

Here's the 411: Tuesday, November 15 · 7:00pm - 9pm; Location Baked and Wired, 1052 Thomas Jefferson NW Washington, District of Columbia. Online here.

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

But wait, there's more! Book signings always make me feel like giving away a copy of my book, so here's the giveaway of the week. Even if you're not in the DC area, you can enter to win! Simply visit the Baked & Wired website and tell me what sweet treat you'd most love to try from their menu. Enter this in the comments section below or on the Event page, and next Sunday at noon PST, I'll choose one winner at random!

Tour de Sweet: CakeSpy in Baltimore on November 14!

Guess what, Baltimore? You thought you were sweet, but you're about to get SWEETER.

That's right: CakeSpy's Tour de Sweet is coming to town! As I said on the Facebook event page,

OMG. This is your chance--your BIG CHANCE-- to come eat cake, hang out with me, and buy a copy of my lovely and amazing new book, "CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life"! And I will even sign it and draw a unicorn in it, if you'd like.

Forget John Waters, Baltimore's all about the BAKED GOOD! And you'll find some very tasty ones at Dangerously Delicious.

But wait, there's more! GIVEAWAYS And some sweet items to give away, like notecards and maybe even a pair or two of my cupcake-unicorn-robot socks.

Missing this would be a big mistake.

See you there, from 6-8 pm! Location stats: Dangerously Delicious 2839 O'Donnell St Baltimore, Maryland; online here.

CakeSpy for Baileys: Friendsgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time for thanks and togetherness. A time for family, food, and football (at least in my family's house it always seems to be the way it is, though I never watch it).

But Friendsgiving is far funner. This is an idea and a campaign championed by Baileys, and I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute.

What is Friendsgiving, you ask? As Baileys says:

Introducing Friendsgiving – the time of year that's less about carving turkeys and more about carving out time for friends. Whether you get together before Thanksgiving or after for leftovers, Friendsgiving is all about being with your "other family." (And may we suggest a glass of Baileys?)

And to celebrate this sweet idea, they've set up a Friendsgiving page which includes menus, party ideas, recipes, and plenty of more fun stuff. And they have an all-star cast of websites and blogs included. I got to come up with some sweet boozy cake, bar cookie, and beverage recipes! Le nom.

For more, visit the Baileys Friendsgiving page!

Tour de Sweet: CakeSpy in Philadelphia on November 12!

The Tour de Sweet is keeping on keeping on, sweeties!

BAKED was totally awesome (read one sweet account of it here), but now it's time to head to Philadelphia!

The next stop, on Saturday, will be Bredenbeck's Bakery! As you may recall, I have visited this sweet spot before, and adored it. I think you will, too. 

Here's the 411 straight from Bredenbeck's:

Last winter, we received an undercover visit from CakeSpy, a.k.a. Jessie Oleson. She visited Philadelphia on a cold, snowy weekend, and hit a few local bakeries to sample goodies. She stealthily popped in and out of our shop so fast, we didn't even know she was here. (Read the review.)

This time, we'll be able to roll out the red carpet in anticipation because we know when she's coming! That's right: CakeSpy will be here signing copies of her new cookbook, "Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life."

When: Saturday, November 12 from 1-3 p.m.
Where: Here! 8126 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

In honor of her visit, we'll be whipping up some of the yummy recipes featured in CakeSpy's cookbook, including:
Red Velvet Cake Shakes
Cupcakes Stuffed With Chocolate Chip Dough
Rainbow Cake
Rainbow Cookies
Cinnamon Rolls Stuffed with Cookie Dough
Ginger-bread Pudding

If you haven't yet made your plans to attend her book signing, do so. A signed cookbook: what a perfect holiday gift for yourself, or your favorite sweet lover!

Well, I think they pretty much covered it! Find the Facebook invite here, and find the address and directions via the Bredenbeck's site!

Why Sweetness is Important

This may shock you, coming from me, but here goes: the fact is, sweets are not necessary in life. Cupcake bakeries? Cookie shops? Not necessary at all to living.

And that's exactly why they're so important. 

Because while sweets--and I'm talking about all sorts here, from confections to ice cream to pies, cakes, and cookies--aren't necessary to stay alive, they make living so much nicer.

They're a daily celebration of the small moments in life: taking a moment to pause over coffee with a pain au chocolat or doughnut in the morning.

They're an overture of friendship: who brings a bundle of kale to a new neighbor? No way, you bring muffins or cookies. (And if you are the type of person to bring kale, I would like to say that I respect you, but do not understand you.)

They're how we connect and re-connect: be it milk and cookies after school or pie and coffee with a long-lost friend, food is how we connect as humans, and often it's the sweet stuff that brings us together.

They're what memories and stories are made of: who doesn't have fond memories of grandma's cherry pie cooling on the counter, or the famous chocolate chip cookies a neighbor made?

They're comforting: there's a reason why Cathy turns to chocolate in her cartoon strip, or why it's a cliche for the recently-broken-up person turns to pints of Ben and Jerry's. There is something comforting about sweets. This can turn into unhealthy territory, granted, but it's impossible to deny that sweets can soothe the troubled mind, even if for a short time.

They're the showpiece at the center of life's big moments: after all, what would a birthday or wedding be without a cake?

They're an affordable luxury: while one might not always be able to buy something at Tiffany or Cartier, but most people can afford at least a single macaron at Pierre Herme or Laduree (of course, airfare being what it is, you could do this at a French bakery in your town, even), and feel like a million bucks after the experience of browsing, choosing, and then eating this precious treat.

...and they are so much more. Sweets are indulgence, they are sweetness, they are love. That is to say--not the stuff that keeps us alive, but certainly the stuff that makes life lovelier and more interesting. 

While this wasn't meant necessarily as a book pitch, I would like to say that this idea of The Importance of Sweetness In Everyday Life is a large motivation behind my entire website and recently-released book and book tour. It is why I decided to conduct my book tour at bakeries rather than bookstores: so that I could share sweetness--literally--with everyone who is kind enough to show up to one of my events, whether or not they buy the book (no pressure, I promise. OK, maybe a little pressure). That having been said, I hope I will see you on one of my upcoming East Coast book tour dates--find all the dates here, and below:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

November 7-8: Boston

• Monday, November 7: Sweet Cupcakes, Downtown location, (11 School Street) 5-7 pm

• Tuesday, November 8: Eat Cake, Newburyport, 3pm

November 9-11: New York (Manhattan and Brooklyn)

• Wednesday, November 9: Butter Lane , 2pm
• Thursday, November 10: BAKED in Brooklyn , 7pm

November 12: Philadelphia 

• Saturday, November 12: Bredenbeck's Bakery, Chestnut Hill, 1pm

November 14: Baltimore, MD

• Dangerously Delicious Pies, 6pm

November 15: Washington DC

• Baked & Wired at 7pm

November 16-17 New Jersey (cities tba)

• November 16: Sweet in Hoboken, 5-7 pm
• November 17: Sugarush in Red Bank, New Jersey, 4pm 

November 18-19: Chicago

• November 18: Angel Food Bakery, 3pm
• November 19: Bleeding Heart Bakery, 1955 west belmont ave, 11-3 pm.

December 12-15: Los Angeles

• December 13: Yummy Cupcakes of Burbank, 12-2 p.m.
• December 14: Vanilla Sunshine Cupcakery, Claremont, CA 4-6pm
• December 15: Village Bakery Cafe (time TBA)

Sweet and Crunchy: Candied Yam Rice Krispie Treats Recipe for Serious Eats

It's time to combine two marvelous marshmallow-based recipes to form one delicious treat: the Candied Yam Rice Krispies Treat.

What's not to love about this seasonal mashup? Separately, both cereal treats and candied yam casseroles are delicious; both dishes rely on marshmallows for their sweet, signature taste. But the key to this combination is their contrasting crispy textures; when they come together, you're rewarded with a crispy-creamy-moist-and-chewy sort of marshmallow nirvana, sweetly spiced and perfect with hot chocolate or chai tea.

For the full entry and recipe, visit Serious Eats!

Batter Chatter: Interview with Julie Winer of Splurge Bakery, Millburn NJ

Splurge: verb. Definitions:

1. to indulge oneself in some luxury or pleasure, especially acostly one: They splurged on a trip to Europe.
2. to show off.

Well, I'd gladly engage in all of the above when it comes to baked goods, especially when they're as sweet and cute as the ones at Splurge Bakery in Millburn, NJ. But what's the bigger story behind the bakery? So glad you asked. And to answer, why don't I share this sweet q+a I shared with owner Julie Winer:

Splurge...please, tell me how you decided on your delicious bakery name. When we first came up with the idea for Splurge Bakery, we envisioned a place where you could come and really enjoy fresh-baked treats made from the finest ingredients.  It would be a great way to literally treat yourself and your family and your co-workers to something delicious; to really indulge in something and forget about your worries for a little bit.  Splurge just seemed a great way to represent that feeling!

You offer custom photo cookies. Do cookies taste better with loved ones' faces on them? Of course!  Everything tastes better when you're thinking about someone you love!  Our photo cookies are such a great item for 1st birthday parties, landmark anniversaries, weddings, and more - people just adore our homemade shortbread cookies, and topping them off with a photo of a friend or relative (or even a business card) is just an added bonus!

You have an event called "Whoopie Pie Weekend". Sounds like the best weekend ever, what happens during it? It is the best weekend ever! During Splurge Bakery's Whoopie Pie Weekend, we set up a Whoopie Pie bar where you can make your own Whoopie Pies, mix and match different cake tops and bottoms, and fill with delicious creamy icing.  We also have all of our unique Whoopie Pies available for sale, including traditional ones as well as Red Velvet, S'mores, German Chocolate, and – believe it or not — Pina Colada.  We'll be hosting our next Whoopie Pie weekend in January 2012, and we can't wait!S'mores whoopie pie

What cupcake flavor excites you most now that fall is in full swing? We're so excited about our new Caramel Apple Cupcakes for the fall.  They're made with our delicious spice cake, homemade caramel, and fresh apples.  They are the perfect cupcake for fall and apple season.

Tell me the truth. What kind of magic powers will I develop after I eat your Apple Magic Bar, which is made of everything that is delicious: Chopped pecans, butterscotch, coconut, apples and semi-sweet chocolate? Well, I wish I could tell you that you’ll be able to wave your fairy wand and grant 7 layers of rainbows and sunshine on everyone you meet!  But, I can say that you’ll just be really super happy and you’ll have a magic smile on your face when you’re done eating one.

I feel like rugelach is often an overlooked cookie, so I was happy to see it on your menu. Can you say a few words about why it ought to be loved? I love rugelach!  It’s just such a delicious cookie with lots of tradition built in to its flaky goodness.  We actually hand roll, fill with our home-made apricot or raspberry mixture, and then cut each rugelach, unlike many mass-produced varieties you see today.

What is the ideal frosting-to-cake ratio on a cupcake, in your opinion? In my opinion, a perfect cupcake will be 2/3 cake and 1/3 frosting, but I respect everyone’s own feelings about this. I know it’s a very personal preference!

When you have a day off from baking, what do you like to do? I don’t ever have a day off from baking, but if I did I’d go to New York City and see a Broadway show and go out for a nice dinner, maybe go to a museum if there was enough time!

What kind of treat do you crave on YOUR birthday? For my birthday this year, I had our own Luscious Lemon Cake with lemon curd, but next time I’ll have our cheesecake, which is amazing, if I don’t say so myself! 

What's next for Splurge? What’s next for all of us at Splurge is lots of birthday parties for kids of all ages in our prep kitchen, many corporate gift orders for the holidays, and tons of yummy treats, cakes, and pies for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah.  We’re also hosting a fundraiser on November 18th for the landmark St. Stephen’s Church down the street from us here in Millburn, New Jersey which was badly damaged by Hurricane Irene. 

For more, visit the Splurge Bakery website.

CakeSpy Undercover: Cake Gumshoe Molly Visits The Gingerbread Factory, Leavenworth WA

CakeSpy Note: This is a guest post from Cake Gumshoe Molly, a student at Central Washington University, pursuing a degree in English as well as a Professional Writing Certificate. Amongst the reading of great literature and the writing of papers, Molly spends all of her free time baking, visiting bakeries, and writing about all of the sweet things she finds along the way!

Recently, I visited The Gingerbread House. This place was absolutely adorable, with a gingerbread mail box, and a rolling pin built into the door. As you walk inside, and ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg fills your nose, and you can see the bakers working in the kitchen. This small shop offers customers a view from “behind the scenes” as the mixers, counters, and ovens, are right behind the display case.

The cookies, gingerbread and sugar, are incredibly cute. Each is decorated individually with various colors, in shapes such as maple leaves, reindeer, trains, and skates.

Overall, considering this and my other sweet bakery visits in town, I would consider Leavenworth to be an oasis of sweets. This isn’t a town many would live in, but the visits sure are tasty! If you ever have a chance, please, get in your car (or fly) and visit this tasty little town.

The Gingerbread Factory can be found online here.

Sweet Times: CakeSpy Book Signing at Teacake Bake Shop

All photos: Pink Buttercream PhotographyI could simply tell you that the CakeSpy Tour de Sweet stop at Teacake Bake Shop in Burlingame totally ruled, but really, it's far more effective to show you photo proof, so here goes. All of these gorgeous photos were taken by Agnes Hsu, owner of Teacake Bake Shop!

Click here for all my tour dates.

So, first, I arrived, and was greeted by this amazing sight: pink cupcakes with pretty sprinkles...and toppers featuring MY artwork! 

You'd better believe I ate one of those cupcakes.

...but I paused to draw a unicorn or two in people's books.

oh, did I mention I have a book out? It's called CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life. It looks great with flowers.

...but it also looks good with wrappers.

...oh, let me pause to sign another book here.

I'll also do this bloggy photo-taking of food thing.

and talk to some people. "Oh, you like cupcakes, too?"

...oh, I know! I'm so funny.

...but wait, who's this? A dessert celebrity! Me and Anita Chu!

..."you know, cupcakes taste better when you buy the book."

oh, and here's a cute one with me and my sister Bridget. We can't not wear showpiece glasses, apparently.

and here's me with Agnes Hsu, the owner of Teacake Bake Shop! Go see her shop and eat her cupcakes, and soon!

For more about Teacake Bake Shop, visit their site. To buy my book, click here. Click here for all my tour dates.