Buy My Book! And a Giveaway Too

Dudes and dudettes. You knew this day was coming, and now it is here.

My book is now out--it is in stores, and available online. If I do say so myself, it is a masterpiece of cookbookery, and if you don't trust me, then trust my mom, because she agrees (and she has promised to buy at least three copies at full retail price, although she hasn't paid me yet).

But I digress. Basically what I am saying here is: My book is out, and therefore, It Is Time for You to Buy My Book.

How to buy it? You can purchase a signed copy directly from me here; you can purchase a regular (unsigned) copy from Amazon (be sure to give it a glowing review!) , Barnes and Noble, Elliott Bay Books, Powell's Books, or find a local bookseller here. OR, I find it acceptable to wait if you'd like to buy one from me on my national bakery book tour, Tour De Sweet!

But because you've been so patient, I'm willing to give away one copy of the book per week for the next four weeks. Wow, lucky you! 

How do you put yourself in the running this week? Since it's October and officially Halloween Month, simply leave a comment on this post or on my Facebook page answering this important question: Candy Corn or Mellowcreme Pumpkins? And Why? I'll pick one lucky winner one week from today (10/13) and send them a signed copy of the book! Because I'm feeling generous, this giveaway is open to the US and abroad!

Cake Byte: Cupcake Royale Debuts the Pumpkin Cardamom Cupcake for October

Photo: Cupcake RoyaleThe month of Huckleberry and Peanut Butter and Jelly cupcakes at Cupcake Royale is over.

But don't cry, because there's a new cupcake in town for October: Pumpkin Cardamom!

Per the sweet folks at Cupcake Royale (did I mention I am having a book signing event there on October 15 in Capitol Hill, and October 17 in Bellevue?):

Our dense pumpkin cake is loaded with pureed pumpkin, locally sourced from Stahlbush Islands Farms. We top each cake with a generous swirl of cardamom cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with tiny, autumn leaves of sugar. It tastes almost like a pumpkin pie. 

But don't take our word for it. Here's what Seattle Weekly had to say in last year's poll for Best Fall Cupcake Frosting Flavors. “Everyone who tried this independently gave the review "Hands down, the winner." (No really, everyone said "hands down." This cupcake is just that good.)” - Seattle Weekly

Dense and creamy; sweet and spicy—this cupcake is the perfect way to welcome autumn.

These sweet treats will be available all October long at Cupcake Royale locations; for directions and more info, visit their website.

Cake Byte: Trophy Cupcakes Debuts Caramel Apple Cupcakes for October

Image: Trophy Cupcakes

Fall in Washington state can be a depressing prospect: the start of our annual 9 months of rainy winter.

But at least the apples are top-notch. And for the month of October, Trophy Cupcakes and Party is going to be offering up a delicious addition to their menu: Caramel Apple Cupcakes!

Per their most recent email,

More importantly, this new Trophy confection is the perfect dessert for all fall parties, including National Caramel Apple Day on Oct. 21. Imagine the smiles on little ones’ faces when these cupcakes are unveiled at their Halloween or harvest celebrations!

Trophy’s newest cake boasts chopped, organic Granny Smith apples from Washington, warm fall spices, organic cane sugar, and of course, local dairy and eggs. The spiced-apple cake is topped with Trophy’s house-made caramel infused buttercream, and is edged in toasted pecans, and finished with a drizzle of more homemade caramel sauce, a pretzel stem and a green wafer leaf.

“Caramel apples are a childhood favorite of mine and I knew the only way I would be happy with it as a cupcake was if I could really taste both the crisp, tart apples and the buttery caramel,” said Trophy Cupcakes and Party owner, Jennifer Shea. “By hand chopping the apples and making our caramel from scratch, we nailed it! This cupcake is my new favorite and I hope everyone who tries it loves it as much as I do!”

Caramel Apple cupcakes debut tomorrow, Sat., Oct 1, at Trophy Cupcakes and Party retail locations at Wallingford Center, University Village and The Bravern, and will be available for purchase for $4 throughout the month of October. To order Trophy’s Caramel Apple cupcakes, please call 206.632.7020; for locations, visit the Trophy Cupcakes website. 

Pie in the Sky: Pie Life in Seattle on October 22, 2011

Cake loves pie!Are you seeking pie perfection in Seattle? Well, lucky you: check out this event coming up on October 22, put together by City Arts and Kate Lebo!

As I learned in an email from Kate,

Pie Life (Sat Oct 22 at 1p.m. at Fred Wildlife Refuge) asks a local writer (David Schmader), food critic (Sara Dickerman), blogger (Shauna James Ahern) and musician (Tilson) to tell us their favorite pie stories. Once storytime is over, we’ll fill our pie holes with fresh-baked treats from the best pie-makers in Seattle--you! Pie banquet and ambient twang from the band Tall Boys to follow. Hosted by yours truly (City Arts just called me an "extreme pie enthusiast," which might be the best appositive ever appended to my name) and KUOW’s Jeannie Yandel.

Will you do it? If you enter the pie contest, you get into the event for free. Otherwise it's just $5, not much at all to  come and cheer on other pie bakers and dance your pants off.  (You can read more about the event, get directions, buy tickets here.)

To enter the pie contest, send your full name and e-mail to pie@cityartsfest.com and bring your made-from-scratch pie to Fred Wildlife Refuge between noon and 1 pm on October 22. Prizes will be awarded based on taste, appearance, nostalgia, and overall awesomeness.

But wait, there's more! IN ADDITION TO FAME AND GLORY, HERE ARE SOME OF THE FABULOUS PRIZES YOU COULD WIN:

Pastry Print from Cakespy.com's Jessie Oleson
Three Tallboys CDs
Three gift certificates for 2 tubs each of lard from Dietrich's Meats in Krumsville, PA (best lard EVER)
A pie class and pastry cloth from Four and 20 Blackbirds
Coffee and conversation with Art of the Pie's Kate McDermott
High Five Pie gift pack
a subscription to Edible Seattle 
a Hugo House membership

For more information, click here.

Seeking Sweetness: The Most Awesome, Magical, and Sweet Cake Ever

Dear Readers,

There was a time when I thought I had (along with my friends Rachel and Kristan) created the most magical cake in the world.

But now, I know I am wrong. And the proof is in the photo evidence above. Now that cake is magical, people. It was the winning entry in Cake Central's Awesome! Magical! Sweet! cake decorating contest...the prize of which was, well, a signed copy of my newly-released book, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life!

I, for one, could not imagine a more worthy winner. Here's her description of the cake: 

The cake is inspired by beautiful illustrations of Jessie Oleson. My daughter loved them so much that I had no choice but to make this cake. The first to be eaten was CCoggie (Cuppie Doggie), there are also Cuppie Boss, Cuppie Fairy, Player, Fitness Fanatic, Photographer, Pets and Sweets Lover, Decorator, Baseball Player and Awesome Cuppie Boss Worshhipper. The cake is vanilla, chocolate and strawberry cake, filling vanilla and cocconut IMBC, covered in fondant. Decorations fondant, gumpaste, marzipan, marshmallows and liquorice. Everything is edible (except wires and Rainbow Dust). 

...now, I may be biased, but that's pretty darn sweet. Let's have a look at some detail shots of the cake, ok?

Congratulations to the winner! Check out details of this magical cake, and browse through the other entries, on the Cake Central website!

Affogato Get One: Cupcake Royale Introduces the Stumptown Tiramisu Cupcake

Images: Cupcake RoyaleFile under "things that make me want to die from happiness overload": the brand-new Stumptown Tiramisu Cupcake from Seattle's own Cupcake Royale.

Here's their official announcement:

Cupcake Royale is proud to debut our latest cupcake, the Stumptown Tiramisu Cupcake. We start with our delicious vanilla buttercake and top it with a mascarpone frosting made with Stumptown Coffee then finish by dusting with cocoa powder. 

If you haven't had mascarpone before, it's a creamy and mild Italian cheese that goes perfectly with our Stumptown Coffee reduticon. It's delicious by itself but even better affagato'ized.

Yes, you heard that last part right: you can also order it affogato'ed. Perfect for a grown-up treat, or if you've just had tooth surgery and can only gum rather than chew your cake (trust me, I've been there). Also per Cupcake Royale:

What is affagato? It means "to drown" in Italian. If you've ever had ice cream (or gelatto) with a shot of espresso on top, you've had affagato. If you want your cupcake affagato'ized, we'll pull 2 shots, unwrap your cake and drop it in. Watch it soak up the espresso as your mouth begins to watch. 

Oh my. For availability, call your closest Cupcake Royale location; you can find them online here. By the way, I will also be having two book events at Cupcake Royale locations in October; I'll be announcing those soon!

Cake Byte: CupcakeCamp Baltimore is this Weekend!

Seeking sweetness in Baltimore? Well, look no further. Per a great article on the Baltimore Sun website, "There is still some room left in Baltimore's first cupcake camp on Sept. 24 at Blue Hill Tavern."

As the article puts it,

Cupcake Camp is not about learning how to make cupcakes, it's about eating them. A cupcake camp is, then, an "ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and eat cupcakes in an open environment."

And this one is an event to be excited about, as it's being organized by Rachel of Coconut & Lime! As you recall, I hung out with her at Wilton in the Chicago area. But I digress. As the article goes on, 

Here's what you need to know about cupcake camp. 

It's free. It's an over 21 event (sounding better by the minute). While it's encouraged, you don't actually have to bring any cupcakes. But let's face it, it will be more fun if you bring them. There's more on the event page. And you have to have to have to have a ticket.

And, of course, the part of the article that made me love it most:

Check out the Charm City Cupcake Camp Facebook page. The Charm City Cupcake Camp illustration, by the way, is by Jesse Olsen, CakeSpy author and blogger. Look, look, look at her rainbow cake.

If you're in Baltimore, visit the CupcakeCamp Facebook page!

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Going to the Emmy Awards with Duncan Hines

So, the other day, Duncan Hines called me and said "Yo, CakeSpy, want to go to the Emmy Awards?". Naturally I said yes. And now, I get to go buy myself a cute party dress in anticipation of hobnobbing with the likes of Jon Hamm and other TV stars.

Well, OK, that didn't really happen. But I do get to go to the Emmy Awards, compliments of Duncan Hines.

I know, I know, I know what you're thinking. "How on earth did this happen?".

Here's the deal. Apparently, Duncan Hines has a program called "Fans in the Stands" wherein the company (an Emmy sponsor, I imagine) sends a handful of cake-lovin' food bloggers to the awards show, where we get to stand not on, but near the red carpet. This is totally fine with me, as I have never even been in the same zip code as a red carpet before. 

And I'm one of those lucky few; apparently they liked what I said in this NY Times article, and they invited me along. Woot! I will be joined by a few other bloggy superstars: Nicole of Baking Bites (who I met at Wilton!), Anna of Cookie Madness (who came to my store!), and Erika of In Erika's Kitchen (who I met in NYC!).

So what does this mean for you? Basically, I am telling you that on Sunday, September 18, you should stay tuned to my Twitter and Facebook feeds because I will tell you all about the celebrity hobnobbing and delicious desserts I am eating.

Thank you, Duncan Hines! I can't wait for my close-up.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Coming to Chicago for the Renegade Craft Fair, September 10 and 11, 2011

Get excited, Chicago. Get VERY excited. For a few reasons.

For one thing, I'm coming your way for the Renegade Craft Fair next weekend, September 10 and 11! And I will have onesies, socks, original art, prints, and a ton of cards (among other products) to sell to you. Oh, and--just saying--I'll have my book, too. And I will totally sign it for you, after you pay for it.

You'll find me and my crafty BFF AbbeyChristine cute-ing it up at the fair...come say hi! 

But before the Renegade Craft fair, there's also a totally sweet event on September 9 at Busy Beaver Buttons: the Superhero Button Release Party. I designed some buttons for the series! Read more about my button designs here.

For details on the Renegade Craft Fair, visit the official site! But I'll tell you right now, it's both days next weekend, September 10 and 11, 2011, from 11-7 both days.

But wait, there's more! I will be staying a day or two extra in the Chicagoland area so that I can do a mural at Bleeding Heart Bakery! Yeah! (as you know, I have done murals in Minneapolis and Seattle!)

Oh, and did I mention the most important part? I will actually be driving to the fair from Seattle...making a pastry road trip of the journey! Look out for updates on sweets from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota and more while I work my way over to Chicago! And of course, feel free to pass on any suggestions along the way.

Road Trip to Chicago: What Bakeries Should CakeSpy Visit?

Guess what, sweeties? I'm coming to Chicago for the Renegade Craft fair, and staying a little extra time to do a totally sweet mural at one of the Bleeding Heart Bakery locations (I think the Oak Park one).

But here's the thing. I'm DRIVING to Chicago, and I need your help! What bakeries should I visit on the way?

I am listing my "best case scenario" including all the bakeries I'd like to visit, but of course I realize that based on a limited schedule, I might not make it to all of them. But let me know if there are any great bakeries (or regional specialties in a given area) that I should make sure to try!

Washington:

Yakima: 

• Essencia Artisan Bakery

Spokane

• Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
• Petit Chat
• Rocket Bakery

Idaho:

Coeur d'alene:

• Bella Rose Bakery
• Frosted Cupcakes 

Montana:

Missoula:

• Bernice's Bakery
• Big Dipper Ice Cream
• Le Petit Outre

Bozeman:

• Sweetpea Bakery

 Billings:

• Caramel Cookie Waffles

 Wyoming:

Sheridan:

• Java Moon

South Dakota:

Chamberlain 

• Indulge

Rapid City:

• Piece of Cake

Sioux Falls: 

• Cookie Jar

Minnesota:

Rochester: 

• Daube's
• Gingerbread Factory

Wisconsin:

Osseo, WI:

• Norske Nook

Madison:

• Daisy Cafe
• Ella's Deli
• Marigold Kitchen

Columbus: 

• Sassy Cow Creamery

Illinois:

Chicago:

• Bittersweet
• Black Dog Gelato
• Bleeding Heart Bakery (duh)
• BangBang Pie and Coffee
• Dinkel's
• Hoosier Mama Pie for the Friday night Pie Flights!
• Medici Bakery
• Molly's Cupcakes
• Patisserie P
• Red Hen Bread
• Sweet Mandy B's
• also, maybe I can catch Flirty Cupcakes (a mobile cupcake truck) 

Oak Park:

• Sugar Fixe 

Add destinations to the comments section or to the CakeSpy Facebook page!