Ganache and Yum: Trophy Cupcakes Debuts Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes for February

MEMORANDUM

Date: February 1, 2010

Attn: Seattle Sweet Tooths

Re: The new Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake at Trophy Cupcakes

Seattle sugar fiends, it has recently come to CakeSpy's attention that today marks the debut of the flavor of the month for February at all Trophy Cupcakes locations, the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake. Composed of Valrhona chocolate cake filled with raspberry buttercream, the top is then dipped in a rich chocolate ganache. Now, I don't know if you realize this, but this basically means that you get two doses of frosting.

You probably did not need to be told this, but double frosting basically equals double happiness.

Conclusion? This decadent dose of deliciousness will undoubtedly make you want to sing, dance, and fall in love. Now that's the taste of true love. Happy February.

The Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake is available at Trophy Cupcakes all month long; for locations and more information, visit trophycupcakes.com.

Somebunny Loves You: Sweet Love for El Conejo Bars by Woodside Bakehouse

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem, but who cares when there's a Bakehouse in Woodside?

And it's there in Queens--at Woodside Bakehouse, a wholesale and custom-order operation--that magical el conejo bars are created by baker Sarah Peltier, who has worked in pastry at various NY restaurants but is currently making the bars as a second job.

What's an el conejo?

Literally translated, it means "the rabbit" -- but don't worry, no bunnies are harmed in the making of this version.  In Woodside Bakehouse's world, el conejo bars are a dense, chewy granola confection that is completely vegan.

And addictive--it's slowly but surely winning over New Yorkers. Peltier started selling them last summer at a friend's taco shop in Rockaway, and has since placed them in Rice restaurants in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and can also be found at the monthly Greenpoint Food Market (the next one is coming up on February 13, as you can see by the totally sweet flyer), where in addition to el conejo bars, there are occasionally other vegan sweets, such as packaged Valentine Cowboy Sugar Cookies.

For more information, visit the Woodside Bakehouse site; you can also find more information about the upcoming Greenpoint Food Market here.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Interview on In Erika's Kitchen

Are you curious about the super secret life of a sugar sleuth?

Shame on you.

Just kidding. Want to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at CakeSpy.com? Check out this interview with Head Spy Jessie on the sweet site In Erika's Kitchen!

The writer, Erika, will be part of an upcoming event in NYC, wherein food bloggers get to decorate cakes with Kelly Ripa on behalf of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Foodbuzz and Electrolux are bringing it all together--booyea!

Read the full interview here! (oh, and P.S. - you might also enjoy this sweet feature on Stickers and Donuts too!)

Hunka Burnin' Love: La Nina de Chocolate Diablo Cupcakes for Valentine's Day, by Look Cupcake

Looky here: another Seattle Valentine's Day special! This byte of sweetness comes straight from Rhienn at Look Cupcake, a boutique cupcake catering business in Seattle:

As you may have guessed, we get booked up quickly for Valentine's Day. We'd hate to leave any of our loyal followers out in the cold (no sleeping in the doghouse for you!)... so we're giving you first dibs on Valentine's Day orders. Here's the deal:

We're baking up a special batch of our La Nina de Chocolate Diablo cupcakes (Mexican spiced chocolate cake, Kahlua Especial buttercream), complete with custom flaming heart decoration. Your sweetheart will receive a dozen of these hot little numbers and a beautiful card with a message from you, all boxed up with a gorgeous bow and hand delivered right to their door.

And here's the extra sweet part: Only for recipients of this email - we're offering this package for $30. Delivery in the Seattle/Bellevue metro area is included! To receive the special pricing, please call or email to place your order by Friday, 1/29/2010.

Now that sounds totally sweet! You can take advantage of the deal by placing your order--for contact information, visit lookcupcake.com.

Sweets for the Sweet: Sugar Bakery and Cafe Debuts Valentine's Day Treats

Whew! Is it getting sweet in here, or is it just the newest roster of sweet treats available at Seattle's Sugar Bakery + Cafe? These sweet treats are the perfect gift for your Valentine, or a perfect Valentine gift for yourself!

Valentine's Cookie and Truffle Gift Basket: Filled with fresh cookies, truffles, and other sweet stuff. $20. (Baked Fresh to order)

Valentine's Cookie Decorating and Truffle Making Class: Learn how to decorate fancy schmancy cookies and make chocolate truffles. You'll leave with two gift boxes full of goodies to bring to your sweeties. Two classes available: Kids Class: Thursday February 11th, 5:30-7:30pm. Kids under 18 only. Everybody Class: Friday February 12th, 5:30-7:30pm. Everybody welcome. $45. (Includes 3 boxes of goodies plus treats for yourself!)

Valentine's Cupcakes: Cupcakes are the perfect little treat, especially in our cute little boxes. We vary our flavors daily, but we'll always have our famous truffle filled red velvet with cream cheese frosting. $3.35/ea or $36/dozen (Baked Fresh Every Morning)

Sweetheart Cakes: Special cakes made just for two, available in red velvet with cream cheese frosting or chocolate with ganache or vanilla buttercream. $15. (Includes customized inscription)

For more information, visit Sugar Bakery & Cafe • 1014 Madison Street • Seattle, WA 98104; online at sugarbakerycafe.com. 

Essential Sweetness: Valentine's Day Specials at Essential Baking Company, Seattle

This year, Seattle's Essential Baking Company urges us all to "forgo the overdone heart-shaped box of chocolates and surprise your loved ones this Valentine's Day with artisan breads, pastries and desserts". Marketing ploy (since the company obviously doesn't offer boxes of chocolates)? Perhaps. But good idea? Definitely. Why? Just take a look at their menu of sweet treats which will be around for a limited time only (the Cara Mia cake from now til February 14; the other desserts through Feb. 23):

Cara Mia: "My Beloved" in Italian, this heart-shaped chocolate bread is kissed with chocolate chunks and cherries embraced by a sweet French bread sprinkled with sugary love.

Valentino Cake Cookie: This hand-held delight consists of two moist chocolate cake cookies spread with a luscious raspberry buttercream frosting and pressed together for a sweet and irresistible treat.

and their line of Parisian Star Desserts:

Chocolate Syrah Seduction: This heart-shaped chocolate cake is enrobed in chocolate ganache blended with a reduction of Chateau St. Michelle Syrah  for a deep, rich flavor, all in a dark chocolate cup decorated with beads of white chocolate mousse.

Cherry Jubilee: Cherries soaked in Kirsch are suspended in a light mascarpone filling, all tucked into a velvety dark chocolate mousse atop a chocolate-almond cake.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Heart: A dark chocolate heart-shaped cup filled with a light peanut butter mousse and chocolate brownie chunks, sprinkled with chopped peanuts and topped with a dark chocolate heart.

Porcupine Chocolate Heart: This chocolate chiffon cake is brushed with Grand Marnier and layered with Belgian dark chocolate mousse, then covered in dark chocolate with white and dark chocolate spikes.

Raspberry Linzer Tart: Raspberry jam fills the buttery shortbread crust and lattice topping made with Northwest hazelnuts.

What are you waiting for? Call in advance to ensure availability or to special order; locations and more information can be found at essentialbaking.com.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy to Attend a Kelly Ripa and Electrolux Event in NYC

Guess what, NYC? You're about to get a whole lot sweeter.

Yup! Your dear Head Spy Jessie and 15 other Foodbuzz Featured Publishers have been invited to join Kelly Ripa in NYC for a special cake decorating event on February 9th sponsored by Electrolux to generate support for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (oh, and you can stay updated via Twitter: follow @KCbyElectrolux)

More details to follow, of course!

So...how totally sweet is that? Pretty sweet. Any new bakeries I should visit while I'm in town? Other than Village Tart (which is now officially on the must-visit list), of course?

Kiss of Deathcake: The New Adventures of the Old Deathcake Royale

It's truly the most wonderful time of year in Seattle.

No, not Christmas, jerk: it's time for the debut of the Deathcake Royale.

If this is death by chocolate, then bring on the gurney: this little brickster of a chocolate cake may have a hefty price tag, (at $6.65 it is almost, but not quite, devilish), but be assured that it's an investment in pure pleasure: gorgeously decadent, comprised of a chocolate trifecta: Royale's chocolate cake, Stumptown Coffee ganache, and Theo Chocolate Decadence. 

Dude. This cake is good. 

Happily, after introducing the deathcake in cupcake form last year, Cupcake Royale was understandably overwhelmed by requests to bring back the original, which was served in a cubelike form designed to be "shared by lovers and loved by haters"; technically, it is meant to be shared, but one couldn't be blamed for downing it solo.

And for its legion of loyal followers, the cake is back with a vengeance this year--with a batch of sweet Deathcake booty to go along with it, ranging from Deathcake Royale tumblers and stickers to some very naughty (but sweet) screenprinted undies (no word on whether or not they're low riders to accomodate muffin tops). 

Ready for some Deathcake Royale? Start your calisthenics now, because this baby's making its debut on January 29, and will be available through February 14 at all Cupcake Royale locations; for directions and hours, visit cupcakeroyale.com. You can also stay on top of their sweet news via their blog and their twitter feed.

Scouting Sweetness: Trophy Cupcakes Debuts the Samoas Cupcake

Like seriously, if you're not so over that New Year's Resolution thing yet, you will be when you read about the flavor of the moment at Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes: the Samoas Cupcake! Here's the 411:

Inspired by Jennifer’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie, we recently launched our “Samoas” cupcake. Our moist Valrhona chocolate cupcake is filled with caramel cream, topped with coconut buttercream, drizzled with more caramel and then sprinkled with toasted coconut! We are not sure if it’s the rich house made caramel, the Valrhona chocolate or the toasted coconut that makes this cupcake so dreamy, but it has already become a thing of legend…at least on our Facebook page! Samoas will be available every day for the remainder of January, and will be available on a rotating basis starting in February.

Available at all three Trophy Cupcakes locations; for directions and hours, visit their website.

Feed Me: Please Update Your Readers for CakeSpy Updates!

Hey there sweeties!

It recently came to my attention that CakeSpy readers who have been subscribing via RSS have not received updates since the site transitioned from Blogger to Squarespace.

If you have not been receiving your regular updates, please update your reader by entering this address (either click the highlighted, or copy and paste the below):

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Or, if you simply remove cakespy.com from your RSS subscriptions and re-enter the URL, that should work too (It did for me when I entered it in Google Reader!). 

Sorry for the inconvenience--I don't want you to miss one sweet little thing!