Monthly Archives: March 2015

Mar 18 2015
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Bread, Cake, Cupcakes

Banana Cake, Banana Bread, and Banana Cupcakes

Banana Colada Cake from Phipps Bakery Cafe - Photo Courtesy of Phipps Bakery Cafe (Toronto)

Banana Colada Cake from Phipps Bakery Cafe – Photo Courtesy of Phipps Bakery Cafe (Toronto)

Even though I sometimes prefer gooey, rich Cake, when I think about Cake with Banana, Banana Bread usually first comes to mind.

Starbucks' Banana Nut Bread - Photo Courtesy of Starbucks

Starbucks’ Banana Nut Bread – Photo Courtesy of Starbucks

And why not?  There’s certainly nothing wrong with a good, classic Banana Bread.  For home bakers, it’s a good way to use up overripe Bananas.  And we want to purchase, in addition to bake, our Banana Bread.  As reported by Bloomberg News, after Starbucks purchased French-style bakery, La Boulange, it stopped selling its Banana Nut Bread.  What happened?  You guessed it. Customers missed the Banana Nut Bread and Starbucks brought this classic back.

Banana Caramel Cupcake from Kara's Cupcakes - Photo Courtesy of Kara's Cupcakes (CA)

Banana Caramel Cupcake from Kara’s Cupcakes – Photo Courtesy of Kara’s Cupcakes (CA)

Of course, as with so many other desserts, Banana Cake has gotten fancy.  Not just layer cake fancy.  But fancy in terms of the added ingredients.

Paradise Cake from Kara's Cupcakes - Photo Courtesy of Kara's Cupcakes (CA)

Paradise Cake from Kara’s Cupcakes – Photo Courtesy of Kara’s Cupcakes (CA)

Alfredo Garcia, of California-based Kara’s Cupcakes, summarizes the evolution of Kara’s Banana offerings.  First, there were Banana Cupcakes.  Then Banana Caramel Cupcakes joined the line-up.  And after Kara’s expanded its Cake line, passion fruit filling and toasted coconut flakes were added to Banana Cake and Paradise Cake was created.  Alfredo remarks “We feel Banana Baked Goods have always been popular, but we are now seeing more creative ways of offering the delicious treat.”

Banana Cupcakes from The Sweet Stash - Photo Courtesy of The Sweet Stash (Nashville)

Banana Cupcakes from The Sweet Stash – Photo Courtesy of The Sweet Stash (Nashville)

And alcohol pairs beautifully with Banana Cake.  The Whiskey Banana Cupcake is the most popular Banana item for Nashville-based Sweet Stash.  Whitney May, who owns The Sweet Stash with her husband, says “We find Banana is a polarizing flavor for the masses.  It seems like people either love it or hate it. But I think the whiskey [in the Whiskey Banana Cupcake] brings more people to the dark side…”

Even though Banana Cake is popular, Chocolate Cake isn’t going anywhere. 

Phipps Bakery Cafe's Chocolate Banana Cake - Photo Courtesy of Phipps Bakery Cafe (Toronto)

Phipps Bakery Cafe’s Chocolate Banana Cake – Photo Courtesy of Phipps Bakery Cafe (Toronto)

Janet Schreiber, owner of Toronto-based Phipps Bakery Cafe has this to say “Although anything with Bananas is popular, I would have to say the most popular Banana Cake would have to be the Chocolate Banana Cake.  Probably because chocolate is such a popular dessert ingredient.”

Banana Cake from Piece of Cake Bakery - Photo Courtesy of Piece of Cake Bakery (Portland, OR)

Banana Cake from Piece of Cake Bakery – Photo Courtesy of Piece of Cake Bakery (Portland, OR)

Marilyn DeVault of Portland, Oregon-based Piece of Cake Bakery also agrees that Banana Cake is not as popular as Chocolate Cake. She offers up one of her Banana Cake secrets:  Mash your own Bananas instead of using commercially prepared pre-mashed Bananas. 

I’m tempted to make Banana Bread this weekend.  Maybe I’ll include some ground hazelnuts and Chocolate Chips for good measure.  That’s the problem with writing about Desserts – I want to eat them all!

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Mar 01 2015
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Donuts, Doughnuts

Doughnuts (or Donuts)

 

 

 

Blue Star Donuts - Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

Blue Star Donuts – Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

What’s not to love about doughnuts?  When they’re just out of the fryer, their sweet, greasy goodness is irresistible.

A box of Union Square Donuts - Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

A box of Union Square Donuts – Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

While I salivate over the descriptions of some very interesting sounding Doughnuts, (Jelly Doughnuts with freshly made jelly, Crème Brûlée Doughnuts, etc.,), really, there are just two Doughnut types: Cake Doughnuts, leavened with baking powder and fluffier Yeast Doughnuts.  (I recently came to the realization that I’m more of a “Cake” person, but I digress.)

DoCo's Honey Glazed Donut - Photo Courtesy of DoCo - Donut & Coffee Company (NJ)

DoCo’s Honey Glazed Donut – Photo Courtesy of DoCo – Donut & Coffee Company (NJ)

A word about spelling: While I’m using “Doughnuts” to refer to these tasty treats, if a specific product is known as a “Donut,” that’s what I’ll use.

Dough's Mixed Berry Doughnut - Photo Courtesy of Dough (NYC)

Dough’s Mixed Berry Doughnut – Photo Courtesy of Dough (NYC)

Move over Powdered Sugar Doughnuts and Glazed Doughnuts – here come very sophisticated Doughnuts.  (Not that I have anything against good traditional Doughnuts.)

Dough's Doughnuts - Photo Courtesy of Dough (NYC)

Dough’s Doughnuts – Photo Courtesy of Dough (NYC)

While New York City-based Dough offers Glazed and Cinnamon Sugar Yeast Doughnuts, it’s better known for its more creative flavors.  Fancy Gerson, Dough’s Chef/Founder, reports that the flavors most in demand are Dulce de Leche with Toasted Almonds and Salted Chocolate Caramel.

Blue Star's Blueberry Bourbon Basil Donuts - Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

Blue Star’s Blueberry Bourbon Basil Donuts – Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

Stephanie Thornton, pastry chef at Portland, Oregon-based Blue Star Donuts, indicates that Blue Star’s Donuts are brioche-based (so they’re yeast leavened).  And the most favored Donut?  Blueberry Bourbon Basil.

A Blue Star Donuts location - Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

A Blue Star Donuts location – Photo Courtesy of Blue Star Donuts (Portland, OR)

And it looks like we’re going to keep seeing these more innovative Donuts.  Stephanie said “The trend I see in Donuts is making them spicy, trying very different combinations of flavors, and taking them to a new level all together.”  She also thinks Donuts are becoming more popular.

As Doughnuts don’t keep well or travel well, freshness is key.  (I’ve revived day-old Doughnuts with a few seconds spin in the microwave, but the texture definitely changes.)  I’m guessing that’s why you don’t often Doughnuts available for sale online.

A DoCo Store - Photo Courtesy of DoCo - Donut & Coffee Company (NJ)

A DoCo Store – Photo Courtesy of DoCo – Donut & Coffee Company (NJ)

Since freshness is so important, some Doughnut shops fry their Doughnuts to order.  New Jersey-based DoCo (Donut & Coffee Company) offers a variety of freshly made Cake Donuts.  Also on DoCo’s menu are Stuffed Donuts – freshly made Donuts with different fillings, including Boston Crème, Cannoli, and Chocolate Mousse.   Vinny DePaola, co-owner of DoCo, also thinks Donuts are becoming very popular – similar to how sought after Cupcakes were and still are.

A Union Square Donuts store - Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

A Union Square Donuts store – Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

Union Square Donuts, based in Somerville, MA, specializes in brioche-based Yeast Donuts.  Flavors on its line-up include Maple Bacon, Coffee Cream, Berry Pistachio, Peanut Butter + Jelly, and Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch.  Josh Danoff, Union Square’s Co-Founder, reveals the most requested Donut is Maple Bacon.  Vegan Donuts and Donut Muffins can also be found here.

Preparing the Donuts at Union Square Donuts - Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

Preparing the Donuts at Union Square Donuts – Photo Courtesy of Union Square Donuts (Somerville, MA)

Josh had this to say about Doughnuts:  “There is something beautifully timeless about Donuts.  And right now, Donuts are in the midst of a resurgence – especially Donuts like the ones we are making – hand-rolled, hand-shaped, everything from scratch Donuts.”

Crosstown Doughnuts' Rocky Road Doughnut - Photo Courtesy of Crosstown Doughnuts (London)

Crosstown Doughnuts’ Rocky Road Doughnut – Photo Courtesy of Crosstown Doughnuts (London)

Doughnuts are also in vogue across the pond.  The Financial Times reports that gourmet Doughnuts are readily available in London.  Crosstown Doughnuts, with several locations in London, offers unusual flavors.  How about a Rocky Road Doughnut?  It includes raspberry jam with dark Belgian chocolate ganache, marshmallow pieces, biscuit crumble, and freeze dried raspberries.  Or a Morello Cherry Doughnut?  Or an Apple & Pear Crumble Doughnut, which is topped with a maple glaze and crunchy pecan crumble?

Dominique Ansel's Cronut - Photo Courtesy of Dominique Ansel (NYC)

Dominique Ansel’s Cronut – Photo Courtesy of Dominique Ansel (NYC)

A Doughnut posting would not be complete without mention of the Cronut – Dominique Ansel’s Donut-Croissant hybrid that has taken the dessert world by storm, spawned countless competitors, and regular lines snaking outside his New York pastry shop.

It might be a bit over the top, but I’d like to see a Triple White Chocolate Doughnut – with White Chocolate Chunks, a White Chocolate filling, then glazed with White Chocolate.

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