Sweet Giveaway: Matryoshka M-Cups Giveaway!

Things that are sad: CakeSpy's birthday week is over. And (bad spy) the giveaway schedule had a slight hitch: friday's giveaway never went up! Yikes (must have been too busy eating Birthday Cake French Toast!).

Things that are glad: There's a final giveaway to cap the week and say thank you for the totally sweet memories. 

That's right: here's another giveaway, this time for the lovely and amazing M-Cups by super-creative company FRED! Here's a description:

This set of 6 dry-measure cups nests neatly just like traditional Russian matryoshkas. They accurately measure 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 full cup, and they’re built from heavy-duty, food-safe, long-life engineering plastics. M-Cups are useful, easy to store, and quite charming...so why not doll up YOUR kitchen with a little Russian folklore? Each set is packaged in a full-color printed giftbox.

They're a popular seller at CakeSpy Shop, and now you can win a set for free! How? Simply answer the following pressing cake question below. US and Canadian entrants only this time, please! The giveaway will close next Tuesday, September 7, at 12pm PST. Good luck!

Here's the question:

What is your least favorite dessert, and why?

Update on Thursday, September 9, 2010 by Cakespy

Update: The winner! 

We have a winner, friends! It's Andrea, who has a least favorite dessert which may prove controversial:

I'm not a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. I'd rather eat the chocolate chips straight out of the bag or have the cookie minus the chips.

Well, she can just bake something else with these totally sweet cups, I guess! Congratulations!

Sweet Giveaway: Win a CakeSpy Mug and Tote!

Are you still drinking your coffee (or tea, or vodka--whatevs) from a nondescript cup like a jerk? 

Well, it's time to upgrade, by winning the sweetest giveaway prize, like, ever: a CakeSpy mug with a conversation-starting image: a cupcake surrounded by empty cupcake wrappers. 

And, because it's CakeSpy's birthday week blitz, you'll win a matching tote bag!

How do you put your name in the running? It's easy. Simply come up with your cleverest caption for the image shown on the tote and mug--leave it as a comment below.

I'll choose my favorite one (and declare a winner!) on next Thursday, September 2 at 12pm PST! US and Canadian entrants only, please.

Update on Friday, September 3, 2010 by Cakespy

Friends! The giveaway is closed, but give us a day or two to deliberate! There are so many good ones! Winner will be announced on Monday!

Update on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by Cakespy

UPDATE: The winner!

It's Andrea, who sums it up sweetly with her caption: 

"Who's Next?"

Congratulations, Andrea!

Sweet Giveaway: Macaron Art!

Guess what? It's that special time of year when CakeSpy's Head Spy Jessie celebrates her birthday. Booyea!

What does that mean for you, though? Well, if you're in Seattle, it means that there will be free birthday cake every day this week (Tue-Sun) at the CakeSpy Shop! First come first served. 

But even if you're not in Seattle you can enter to win some totally sweet stuff! There will be giveaways all week, starting with this super sweet prize pack, perfect for macaron lovers: a miniature original watercolor CakeSpy painting (the original! Not a print!) of macarons and burger hanging out, and the cutest crochet macaron you've ever seen, made by the lovely and amazing Alicia Kachmar! 

Want to put yourself in the running? Simply put your answer to the important baked-good question below in the comments section below. This giveaway will close on Sunday, August 29 at 12 p.m. PST, and the winner will be contacted shortly after. US and Canada entries only this time, please!

Are macarons "the new cupcake"?

Update on Monday, August 30, 2010 by Cakespy

Update: The Winner!

We have a winner! The lucky girl is Amy, who says the cupcake isn't going anywhere (at least she hopes not!). Congratulations Amy!

Sweet Giveaway: Win a Handmade Apron by Curry Kay Designs!

Who is the cutest baker in the kitchen?

You, when you wear this adorable handmade apron by Curry Kay Designs!

First, why not get to know the artist? Here's what she has to say about herself:

I am a Connecticut based textile artist and event planner. I have always loved to bake in my free time (especially cookies and cheesecakes), but had difficulty finding textile kitchen accessories that fit my sense of style. Earlier this year I decided to leave my full-time corporate event planning job in order to pursue the perfect apron and dishtowel! I opened my Etsy shop in June with original aprons, dish towels and market totes that feature flattering styles, bright colors, and simple motifs. I especially enjoy creating custom pieces to match my customer's kitchen colors! Curry Kay Designs can be found on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter.

So how do you put yourself in the running? It's easy: just weigh in on this important cake issue in the below section.

What is your favorite cheesecake flavor? 

Oreo? Key Lime? Strawberry? Thin Mint? Or just plain? Inquiring minds must know.

US entrants only, please. The cake poll will close one week from today, on Tuesday, August 24, at 12pm PST. The winner will be announced shortly after. Can't wait to see if you won? Shop for sweet stuff on the Etsy site!

Update on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Cakespy

We have a winner! Our randomly chosen winner is Ellen, who says that Oreo is the finest flavor of cheesecake. Well, she'll be able to keep clean when making her next cheesecake in this totally sweet apron! Thanks everyone for participating.

Cake Poll: Cupcake Tote Giveaway!

Win it!You know what's tote-ally awesome?

Winning a free cupcake tote, as seen in Sex and the City 2, that's what! And the totally sweet folks at Wedding Things, who have plenty of awesome cupcake gear, have kindly offered one up for a giveaway--along with a few packs of designer cupcake liners!

How do you enter yourself in the running? It's tote-ally (stop it, I know!) easy: just put your response to the below pressing cake question in the comments section!

Which is a better combination: chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, or vanilla cake with chocolate frosting?

US or Canadian entrants only, please. The cake poll will close one week from today, on Tuesday, August 17, at 12pm PST. The winner will be announced shortly after. Can't wait to see if you won? Shop for sweet stuff at Wedding Things!

Update on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by Cakespy

We have a winner! Congratulations to Debbie of Squirrel Bakes, whose name was chosen at random! Enjoy your totally sweet tote, Debbie!

CLOSED: Sweet Giveaway: Win a $100 Gift Card For CSN Stores!

We have Corelle to thank for this giveaway, friends.

Yup--you saw that dishware text link. For that, CSN Stores has kindly offered something that is of much interest to cake lovers and bakers: a $100 gift card good to be redeemed at any of their online stores! After reviewing the products available at their Cookware.com website, I find it worth the link, as all sorts of products of interest to bakers and baked-good enthusiasts are available there, including cake pans, cake plates, pastry molds, and my favorite Emile Henry Pie plates!

Want to be entered in the running? OK! Here's what you do: simply leave a comment on this post stating your opinion on this important baked-good subject: if you had to choose your "last meal" dessert, what would it be?

Chocolate cream pie? A banana split? Pop-tart ice cream sandwiches? An entire birthday cake? Inquiring minds need to know! This giveaway will close and a winner will be announced at 12 p.m. PST next Friday, August 6. Entrants only in the US and Canada this time, please!

UPDATE: THE WINNER! 

The randomly chosen winner is MEG, who says that "My last meal dessert would have to be the biggest peanut butter cup in the world." Well chosen, Meg! Congratulations!

CLOSED: United We Bake: A Totally Sweet United Cakes of America Giveaway!

America's about to get sweeter.

That's right, friends--it's time for a totally sweet giveaway!

This time, it's a super-exciting one: three lucky winners are going to win a copy of the delightful new book by Warren Brown (you may know him as the kind-of-a-big-deal owner of the Mid-Atlantic sweet empire CakeLove), United Cakes of America: Recipes Celebrating Every State, in which you'll be treated to many, many delicious cake recipes inspired by different regions of the USA.

How do you get yourself in the running? 

It's easy. Just share your favorite regional cake recipe! It can be from the state or region you're in currently, or perhaps the place you grew up, or maybe just a place that has special meaning for you. Be sure to specify the region and why it has special meaning for you! You can either link to the recipe, or simply copy and paste the entire recipe in the comment section. 

The fine print: the giveaway will be open through next Friday, July 9th, at 12pm PST; the winners will be announced as soon as they have been contacted and their information has been confirmed (usually within a day or so). US residents only this time, please! Oh, and P.S. if you can't wait for a sneak peek of the book, check out some extras (videos, how-tos) here; and check out the recipe for Hartford Election Day Cupcakes I tried from the book here!

CLOSED: Sweet Giveaway: Win a Love n Bake Sampler Pack!

Free stuff is the best--especially when it's sweet and delicious and when it has the potential to make you very, very, happily, fat.

This is all to say: how about a giveaway? Love n Bake, a manufacturer of what I can attest are completely delicious fillings for baking, has kindly offered a sampler pack of some of their most popular products for one lucky winner! It consists of a can each of almond filling, chocolate "schmear" filling (which one would use to make Blackout Crumb bars!), hazelnut praline filling, and almond paste. 

So, first things first. This giveaway is only open in the US--but other than that, entry is open! How do you get yourself in the running? Simply leave a comment letting me know what baking project you'd try first with these sweet fillings (don't worry, you won't be judged on originality--this is just to satisfy this spy's curiosity. Oh, and if you need ideas, get some on the Love n Bake blog). The giveway will close next Friday, June 25, at 12 pm PST, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

So here goes: What sweet recipe would these fillings inspire you to try?

Update: the winner! We have a winner! Katie, who is going to put her prize to good use: "I would use the chocolate on mini chocolate chip cheesecake bites." Nom! Find Katie online here.

Sweet Art, Sweet Prize: A $50 Gift Card Giveaway

Are you ready to win a totally sweet prize?

Sweet Cuppin Cakes Bakery & Cupcakery Supplies has once again 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 submit a drawing of a cupcake, cake, cookie, or pastry.

Nope, you don't have to be a cupcake artiste -- or even very artistic at all, because the winner will be chosen at random, not by merit! (Although we may give a shout-out to some of our favorites!)

It can even be a stick figure cupcake, an MS paint cookie. Or even just supply a link to some favorite dessert-related artwork by someone you love. We just want to see some totally sweet art! Feel free to link to a picture that is on a blog, flickr page or even via Twitter--just be sure to leave a comment telling us where we can find it so your name can be entered!

Since the winner will be receiving a gift card, this one is open to anyone, anywhere; you might want to browse their shop in the meantime to pick out what you'd get, or, you know, just to shop! The cake poll will close at 12 p.m. PST on Wednesday, March 31 (goodbye, March!). Good luck!

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