(CLOSED) Cake Poll: Totally Sweet Snubbr Cookbook Giveaway!

Who's ready to win something sweet?

(pause for deafening applause)

(realization that on the internet, you can't hear anyone cheer)

OK, so here's the deal. It's a totally sweet giveaway sponsored by Snubbr.com!

What cookbook have you always wanted to try?

We're giving away a 1 free cookbook, any cookbook you want - it could be a baking cookbook, vegan cookbook, whatever (as long as it's under $30) to 1 lucky reader.

How do you enter? Just leave a comment below with the title of the cookbook you covet, and why you want to win it, and next Friday, June 4, at 12 p.m. PST, we'll pick one winner at random and send you the cookbook. US residents only this time, please.

Of course, if you need recommendations for cookbooks, head on over to Snubbr.com (the ones sponsoring this sweet giveaway). It's a new site that is like Yahoo Answers for shopping advice. You just ask them a question like "What's the best cookbook?" and their experts will dish out recommendations for you.

Cake Poll: Totally Sweet Jessie Steele Apron Giveaway!

My only regret with this giveaway is that I myself cannot enter--I'm told that this is what they call a "conflict of interest".

Too bad, cos it's a totally sweet prize: a duo of mother-and-daughter aprons by Jessie Steele!

Yup, that's right: one lucky winner (US and Canada entrants only, please) will win not one but two Jessie Steele aprons (a prize worth over $50 USD!) in their popular "Audrey" design--aka, the one with the cute cupcakes! One is sized for adults, and one is sized for children. Undoubtedly even if you don't have children of your own, you won't find it hard to give this pint-sized apron a happy home.

How do you put yourself in the running? It's easy. Just leave a comment below with your response to this pressing cake question:

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one dessert with you, what would it be?

The fine print: Simply post your response in the comments section and you will automatically be entered! The cake poll will close at 12pm PST on Tuesday, March 16, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Of course, if you find that you can't wait and simply must purchase these aprons, click here to buy. Good luck!

UPDATE: THE WINNER! We have a winner, chosen at random from about 450 entrants: Elizabeth from Jacksonville, FL! What is she gonna make in her Jessie Steele apron? Maybe her "desert island" dessert: "Smores made from my homemade marshmallows and graham crackers to go with my bonfire by the sea". Congratulations to Elizabeth, and come back soon for a new giveaway!

Brownie Points: a Simply Divine Brownies Giveaway!

Brownies are a masterpiece of American cookery. This is not opinion--it's fact. They are--to sum it up concisely--a simply divine treat.

Oh--what a perfect time to introduce the treasure of Portland, Maine--Simply Divine Brownies. They boast a retail bake shop, and will ship their brownies nationwide.

And oh, the brownies. At Casa de CakeSpy, we'd been mildly obsessed with these brownies since having discovered the adorable brownies that look like cupcakes, with the other items on the menu--like dense, chewy brownies in a plethora of flavors and sizes--just adding to the obsession.

And now, dear, lucky readers, you too can share this sweet joy.

Yup: Simply Divine has kindly offered a brownie care package for giveaway on this site.

What can you win? A parcel of pure pleasure, including a sampler of 12 assorted brownie flavors, a package of sweet brownie bites (perfect for smaller appetites, or, you know, eating 3 at a time), and one of those adorable aforementioned trompe l'oeil brownies. Not for nothin', but based on my calculations this is a parcel worth over $75, considering shipping and stuff.

Yeah, you wanna win this.

So how do you enter? It's easy. Just answer the following important brownie questions below in the comments section and you'll be entered to win this sweet package of postal bliss! Of course, if you couldn't possibly wait for brownie bliss, you can mos' def check them out online here and check out their blog here!

Fine Print: The giveaway will close on Sunday, February 22 at 12pm PST; the winner will be announced within the next 48 hours. Entrants in the US only, please. Good luck!

1. What's your type of brownie: chewy, cakey, or fudgy?
2. Frosting on brownies: yes or no?
3. Which brownies in the pan do you covet most: edge or middle?

UPDATE: THE WINNER!

We have a winner, friends! It is Pruittiporn from New Haven, CT, who has this to say about the above brownie poll:

1. I oscillate between fudgy and chewy.

2. No - I prefer my brownie add-ons baked in!

3. I prefer edge, but I'm not opposed to the middle either

A-Weigh We Go: A Cake Poll and Kitchen Scale Giveaway!

Bad Idea: Obsessively weighing yourself. It leads to non-enjoyment of cake, plus you're perfect the way you are (awww).

Good Idea: Obsessively weighing your ingredients when measuring them out for baking. Why? Weighing ingredients is common practice for professional bakers, allowing precision and control over the final outcome of your sweets, so that you'll have reliable results. Don't believe it? Check it out this entry on Brown Eyed Baker, where she experimented to see some of the real differences.

And happily, the supercool Eat Smart Products has kindly offered up one of their Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scales for giveaway! Not only does it have handy functions like a tare feature which allows you to remove the weight of the container your ingredients are in, but it can measure ounces, pounds, grams and kgs -- perfect for if you're trying a recipe from one of those metric system-usin' countries.

How do you enter? It's easy! Simply weigh in (get it?) on the important question below, leaving your response in the comments section below:

Which do you prefer: pie or cake? Why?

Good luck! 

The fine print: This giveaway is open to US entrants only, please. Winner will be able to choose their favorite color scale: they're available in red, white, silver, black chrome, and white chrome. The giveaway will be up until 12 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 31st; the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Please include your contact information (email) in the comment form so that I know where to find you if you win!

UPDATE: THE WINNER! Congratulations to Laura from New Haven, CT who is definitely on Team Cake! Her prize has been sent out!

Thanks to everyone for participating in the cake poll!

Cake Poll: Sweets In Movies, and a Sweet Giveaway!

Are you ready for some Christmas magic? Heck yes! With that in mind, how 'bout another giveaway?

This time, it's a totally sweet prize pack brought to you by the movie It's Complicated, featuring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, which was directed by Nancy Meyers and will be in theatres on December 25. Why this movie? Well, because as you know I am fascinated with dessert in movies, and this one features the inimitable Meryl as a baker!

Here's what you can win:

Prize 1: “Uncomplicate Your Holidays with a Visa Cash Card!” -- one winner will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card, and an It’s Complicated tote bag filled with an apron, t-shirt, blanket and the official soundtrack!

Prize 2: Five additional *daily* winners will receive an It’s Complicated Tote Bag filled with an Apron & T-shirt!

These sound like some sweet prizes for movie enthusiasts!

How do you enter?

It's easy: just leave a comment below saying what your favorite food-in-movie scene is! And since I'm feeling generous, feel free to post your favorite sweet or savory food moment in movies!

The giveaway will run for two weeks! In the meantime, check out the trailer below--you can also find out more about the movie on the official website or on Facebook!

Cake Poll: Favorite Christmas Cookies and a Huge Wilton Cookie Exchange Giveaway!

So, check it. Several weeks ago I received an email from Wilton asking if I'd like to check out their new book, Wilton Cookie Exchange--a collection of ideas and recipes for creative Christmas cookies, with plenty of cookie-exchange party ideas. Um, of course I would like to check it out. And to my surprise and delight, about a week later, I received a package--with not only the book, but a veritable truckload of sweet cookie swap schwag--from cookie cutters to decorating gel and sprinkles, to parchment paper and decorative boxes, and even invites--so that I could host my own cookie exchange party. Yes! And so I did. Here are just a few of the cookies people brought:

Pretty much, it was the awesomest holiday party ever, with dozens and dozens of beautiful cookies and great company.

And you know what? You too can experience this cookie nirvana. Wilton has very generously offered to donate the works--the cookie exchange book and comprehensive party package, including what by my estimation tops over $100 worth of cookie decorating and party products--to one lucky CakeSpy reader.

How do you enter yourself to win? It's totally easy. All you have to do is leave a comment saying what your favorite Christmas cookie is (while not necessary, please do feel free to link to a recipe!) in the comments section below. But enter soon: the Cake Poll will close at 12PM PST on Tuesday, December 8, and one winner will be chosen at random. US entrants only this time, please. Good luck!

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UPDATE: The Winner! The winner, chosen at random, is Mandy from Wisconsin! The prize has been received and she reports that she will be hosting a cookie party this weekend! (By the way, her favorite cookie? "Mexican Wedding Cakes/Swedish Teacakes, or whatever you like to call them. Ground pecans, and double-dipped in powdered sugar! Very strong memories of home and baking cookies with my mother.")

Cake Poll: Unusual Cupcake Flavors, and a Chance to Win a $50 Gift Certificate to Sweet Cuppin Cakes!

It's time for a totally sweet giveaway, dudes and dudettes.

Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery & Cupcakery Supplies has kindly offered up a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner! I'm sure you'll have no trouble putting it to good use on cute cupcake and baking accessories: they've got some fantastic cupcake liners, sprinkles and other garnishes, and display items too!

How do you put yourself in the running? It's easy. Just answer the following question:

What is the most unusual cupcake flavor you've ever tasted?

Maple bacon? Chai cardamom? Bananas foster? There are all sorts of unusual cupcake flavor combinations out there--have you sampled any of them? Or if you haven't sampled any unusual flavors, are there any you've wanted to try?

You can enter yourself in the running for a $50 gift certificate to Sweet Cuppin Cakes by entering your response to the above question in the comments section below; you might want to browse their shop in the meantime! The cake poll will close at 12 p.m. PST on Friday, November 13, 2009. Good luck!

Cake Poll: Mixing it Up with the Cake Mix Doctor, and a Giveaway!

Growing up, there were a few things that were forbidden in our house, for various moral or health reasons: Doritos, the show Full House, and cake mix.

As a result, I grew up harboring a secret and dark love for all of these things. The crackle of a Doritos bag opening thrills me; I can't hear the theme song from Full House without feeling just a little shiver of excitement; and while I've come to appreciate homemade baked goods far more, I still don't have a huge problem with cake mix.

So it would stand that I've always been intrigued by the "Cake Mix Doctor" series, and as a result, when Laura at Workman Publishing contacted me to see if I'd like to check out the new and improved The Cake Mix Doctor Returns (a revamped re-release of the original book, with even more recipes), I jumped at the chance.

If you're not familiar with the concept, basically what author Anne Byrne does is take a cake mix and "doctor" it up, offering creative alterations and ingredients that will make all sorts of desserts (not just cakes) with the mix which taste far better than simply mixing-and-baked per the box instructions. And by starting with a cake mix, you have the added ease of not having to make sure you have all of your dry ingredients on hand, which can be helpful for infrequent bakers.

So I tried out several of the recipes in the book, and I have to say, I have been very pleasantly surprised with the results. One in particular though, the "Houdini Bars"--a dense bar cookie with a yellow cake crust filled with a custardy cream cheese, nut, and coconut filling, was so delectable that true to their name, they disappeared in hours (I'll share the recipe in a few days!). Of course, Byrne isn't offering a quick fix to everything--while cake mixes are the core of the book, she insists that you make your own frostings, citing wise words indeed: "frosting is the first and last taste you experience when forking into a slice of cake. It should never be an afterthought", adding that "you can get away with a cake from a mix, but you must make your frosting from scratch."

So, overall, I have to say I was pretty impressed with the book. And I'm not just saying this because Workman donated three copies to give away (although they did)--which leads to the next subject...

Sweet Giveaway!

So, I have three copies of The Cake Mix Doctor Returns to give away! To put your name in the running, simply answer this important ethical question in the comments:

If you make a cake with a mix, is it wrong to hide the fact that it's not completely "homemade"?

Let the games begin! The Cake Poll will close at 12 p.m. PST on Friday, October 2; the winners will be contacted shortly thereafter. If you are leaving an anonymous comment, please be sure to leave an email address so you can be contacted if you win!

UPDATE: THE WINNERS!

The poll is now closed: here are the three winners who were chosen at random!

Felice from Hawaii, who writes the site All That's Left are the Crumbs

Melleah from South Carolina, who writes the site Goode Taste

and finally, Krystel T.!

Thanks everyone for entering!

Cake Byte: Brand New CakeSpy Felt Ornaments, and a Giveaway!

I'm so excited about these new Cuppie ornaments that I can't even come up with a dessert-related pun!

This is a sweet ornament version of Cuppie the Cupcake! This felt puffy ornament is made of layered pink, grey and red felt, finished with embroidery for the eyes and cupcake cup detailing, and of course the pink frosting has some shimmery glittery finish! It measures 3.5" tall. This ornament isn't just for Christmas--it will add sweetness when hung from a window or keep you inspired if hung in your cubicle!

And, happily, they were made in collaboration with local company Party Partners! To purchase, visit cakespyshop.com.

Sweet Giveaway!

Now, this awesome is too good to be contained, so here's a little cake poll to enter to win one of five giveaway Cuppie ornaments! Just answer the following question:

What was the last baked good or dessert you ate?

Just leave your answer in the comment section below before the cutoff of 12 p.m. PST on Friday, 9.25.09; the winners will be chosen at random and announced shortly thereafter. Sorry, US entrants only this time!

UPDATE: THE WINNERS! Five winners have been chosen at random, and have been contacted for the correct addresses to send their prize. Congratulations winners, and til the next giveaway, stay sweet!

Winners:

1. Allie from
2. Sara from Berkeley
3. Julie
4. Cake For Breakfast
5. Kristine from Chicago!

If you are listed here and have not claimed your prize, please email me at jessieoleson@gmail.com.

Cake Poll: Baking Vs. Eating Preferences

It's July, and high time for a sweet giveaway! This time, Carolyn's Kitchen, a very cool company which designs retro-inspired aprons and kitchen accessories, has kindly donated one of their fashionable aqua cupcake aprons (retail value $42!) for the giveaway. I hope I don't need to tell you that this is a totally awesome prize.

How do you put your name in the running? It's easy. Just satisfy my curiosity about sweet preferences. Is what you like to bake the same as what you like to eat? Or are they different? Just answer the following in the comments section below and you'll be entered in the running!

*Please note this giveaway is only open to US Residents. The Cake Poll will close on Monday, July 6 at 12 p.m. PST, and the winner will be contacted for their size/address/info shortly thereafter. If you'd like to shop at Carolyn's Kitchen in the meantime, click here!

• What is your favorite baked good or dessert to make?
• What is your favorite baked good or dessert to eat?

Good luck!

CAKE POLL UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER! Christina of the lovely and amazing blog She Runs, She Eats was chosen at random from over 350 entrants (between emailed responses and comments). Thank you to everyone who entered!