Tag Archives: Buttercup Bake Shop

Jan 05 2015
Leave a comment
Dessert Trends

Dessert Wish List

Grilled Coffee Cake from Southport Grocery and Cafe

Grilled Coffee Cake from Southport Grocery and Café – Photo Courtesy of Southport Grocery and Café (Chicago)

Around this time last year I devoted a posting to favorite desserts of mine that, sadly, are no longer available.  I’ll be more optimistic this year, and instead, will focus on desserts which I hope will start receiving the attention they deserve.

Here’s my Dessert Wish List:

Buttercup Bake Shop's Blueberry Coffee Cake - Photo Courtesy of Buttercup Bake Shop (NY)

Buttercup Bake Shop’s Blueberry Coffee Cake – Photo Courtesy of Buttercup Bake Shop (NYC)

  • Coffee Cake:  It’s funny—when I was younger I didn’t give Coffee Cake a second glance.  It was the rich, fancy desserts that captured my fancy.  While I still enjoy gooey desserts, now I often find myself craving Coffee Cake.  And lest anyone think Coffee Cake is only a “Plain Jane” dessert, the image at the top of this posting, of Southport Grocery’s Grilled Coffee Cake, shows that Coffee Cake can certainly be gussied up. My wish is to see Coffee Cake appear more frequently on restaurant/bakery menus and to change its image—from that of a brunch/breakfast food only to one of a Dessert that can be enjoyed any time.  (Also see the Dessert Surveillance posting on Coffee Cake.)

 

Graeter's Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - Photo Courtesy of Graeter's (Cincinnati)

Graeter’s Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Cream – Photo Courtesy of Graeter’s (Cincinnati)

  • Coffee-Based Desserts:  Granted, this is a very broad category, encompassing Coffee Ice Cream, Mocha Cake, Espresso Cookies and Biscotti, Chocolate Bars with Coffee, and much more.  In addition to relishing the jolt from the java, I adore the taste of Coffee, and think it enhances most desserts.   One of my favorite Coffee Desserts is Graeter’s Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  Since Coffee pairs so beautifully with so many dessert ingredients, my wish is for the rich tang of Coffee to be found in all manner of desserts—from fancy pastries to homey Chocolate Chip Cookies and Brownies to luxurious cream-based Desserts. 
A Slice of Tres Leches Cake from Ruggles Cafe Bakery - Photo Courtesy of Ruggles Cafe Bakery (Houston)

A Slice of Tres Leches Cake from Ruggles Cafe Bakery – Photo Courtesy of Ruggles Cafe Bakery (Houston)

  • Tres Leches Cake:  I can’t overlook one of my favorite Milk/Cream-based Desserts—Tres Leches Cake, a Cake made with three different types of Milk/Cream.  It’s one of these simple Desserts that’s just amazing.  Of course it can be spruced up so it’s no longer simple. My all-time favorite Tres Leches Cake sported a Cheesecake layer, in addition to a Raspberry filling.  And, unfortunately, it’s no longer available at my local Mexican restaurant although a Salted Caramel Tres Leches Cake is on the menu.  My wish is for Tres Leches Cakes to be available at most bakeries and restaurants.

 

Tiny Tarts from Dufflet Pastries - Photo Courtesy of Dufflet Pastries (Toronto)

Tiny Tarts from Dufflet Pastries – Photo Courtesy of Dufflet Pastries (Toronto)

  • Smaller-Size Portions of Desserts:  Anyone who reads the Dessert Surveillance blog knows that I’m a Dessert Glutton—I just love Desserts and can’t get enough of them.  To prevent my cholesterol level and weight from skyrocketing, I try to ration my dessert intake.  (Of course during the holidays, I’ve been a bit, shall we say, lax, in my rationing, but I digress.) That’s why I welcome the smaller-size dessert trend.  It saves me from having to cut a Dessert in half and either enjoying the 2nd half the next day or trashing the 2nd half.  To be brutally honest—it’s not so much that the smaller size saves me fat, calories, and sugar.  It’s more that I can indulge in two desserts instead of one!
Small Pastries from Wanda's Pie in the Sky - Photo Courtesy of Wanda's Pie in the Sky (Toronto)

Small Pastries from Wanda’s Pie in the Sky – Photo Courtesy of Wanda’s Pie in the Sky (Toronto)

All the best wishes for a wonderful 2015 filled with delicious Desserts!

Tagged , , , , ,
Mar 09 2014
Leave a comment
Cake

Carrot Cake

Extraordinary Carrot Cake from Extraordinary Desserts (San Diego, CA) - Photo Courtesy of Extraordinary Desserts

Extraordinary Carrot Cake from Extraordinary Desserts (San Diego, CA) – Photo Courtesy of Extraordinary Desserts

 

I like Carrot Cake.  I really do.

But that doesn’t stop me from thinking that Carrot Cake is a bit like a chameleon.  Since Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, Carrot Cake is sometimes viewed as a “health food.”  And certainly some recipes for Carrot Cake call for modest amounts of oil or butter and sugar.  (Perhaps they’re more Carrot Tea Loafs than Carrot Cakes).   But traditional Carrot Cake is usually quite rich and sweet — and is often made even more delectable and decadent with a cream cheese frosting and filling.   Yet even these rich Carrot Cakes are still covered by a “health food halo.”  In fact, according to Sylvia Lovegren, author of Fashionable Food: Seven Decades of Food Fads, in the 1970s especially, Carrot Cake was found at many health food restaurants.

Sweet Celebrations: The Art of Decorating Beautiful Cakes by Sylvia Weinstock with Kate Manchester - Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

Sweet Celebrations: The Art of Decorating Beautiful Cakes by Sylvia Weinstock with Kate Manchester – Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

And in keeping with the Jekyll & Hyde aspect of Carrot Cake, this “health food” is the centerpiece of many celebrations.  A recipe for Carrot Cake appears in “Sweet Celebrations: The Art of Decorating Beautiful Cakes” by Sylvia Weinstock, noted wedding cake master baker and decorator.

So, how popular is Carrot Cake?

 

Carrot Cake from Buttercup Bake Shop (NYC) - Photo Courtesy of Buttercup Bake Shop

Carrot Cake from Buttercup Bake Shop (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Buttercup Bake Shop

Nathaly Abreu, Director of Operations for New York City-based Buttercup Bake Shop said “Our Carrot Cake has gotten more popular through the years.  It seems to be that one Cake that everyone comes in asking for. We do make Carrot Cupcakes for special order and if there are extras, we do sell them to our walk-in customers.  Seems to me that Carrot Cake is giving Red Velvet Cake a run for the money.”  (Also see the Dessert Surveillance posting on Red Velvet Cake.)

 

A Slice of Super Chunky Carrot Cake from Icing on the Cake Bakery (Los Gatos, CA) - Photo Courtesy of Icing on the Cake Bakery

A Slice of Super Chunky Carrot Cake from Icing on the Cake Bakery (Los Gatos, CA) – Photo Courtesy of Icing on the Cake Bakery

According to Lynn Magnoli, owner of Icing on the Cake Bakery in Los Gatos, California, “Carrot Cake has been on the Icing on the Cake Bakery menu since day one, 29 years now.  It has not lost popularity.”  It’s the Bakery’s third most popular Cake (behind Fresh Banana and Chocolate Buttermilk).   Known officially as Super Chunky Carrot, this Carrot Cake is studded with raisins and walnuts.

Cookies from Renaissance Confections (NYC) - Photo Courtesy of Renaissance Confections

Cookies from Renaissance Confections (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Renaissance Confections

Renaissance Confections, based in New York City, is known for its Carrot Cake.  Renaissance’s founder, Debonda Kay, also thinks Carrot Cake is becoming more popular. “It seems to be everyone’s favorite Cake, and customers can’t get enough of it in any form.  We do sell Carrot Cake Cookies — regular ones as well as gluten-free, fat-free and vegan.” Renaissance Confections also sells Carrot Cupcakes.

Two Varieties of Carrot Cupcakes from Carrot Cake by Mike (Orange Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting and Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting) - Photo Courtesy of Carrot Cake by Mike (Seattle, WA)

Two Varieties of Carrot Cupcakes from Carrot Cake by Mike (Orange Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting and Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting) – Photo Courtesy of Carrot Cake by Mike (Seattle, WA)

Mike of Seattle-based Carrot Cake by Mike also thinks Carrot Cake is becoming more popular.  “When I started this adventure I thought there would be a small cult following of Carrot Cake purists, but I am amazed at how many people tell me that Carrot Cake is their absolute favorite Cake…”  He reports that his most popular Carrot Cake is the 8″ Double Layer Round Cake.  “I find that the majority of our individual orders are to families wanting to celebrate the birthday of the Carrot Cake connoisseur of the group.  Our 8″ Cake is perfect for 10 – 12 servings and when you make it a double layer those servings are quite generous.” Of the various frosting varieties, the Traditional Cream Cheese frosting is definitely the most popular but people also request the Lemon Cream Cheese frosting and the Coconut Cream Cheese frosting.

Carrot Cake-cup from Bee's Knees Baking Co. (NYC) - Photo Courtesy of Bee's Knees Baking Co.

Carrot Cake-cup from Bee’s Knees Baking Co. (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Bee’s Knees Baking Co.

Carrot Cake doesn’t have to look like Carrot Cake.  New York City-based Bee’s Knees Baking Co. creates portable Cakes, known as Cake-cups.  A Carrot Cake-cup is on the menu and Billy Mayer of Bee’s Knees said that spring brings increased demand for the Carrot variety.

I think it’s time for a slice of “healthy” Carrot Cake!

.

Tagged , , , , ,
Feb 09 2014
4 Comments
Cake, Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cake from the Buttercup Bake Shop (NYC) - Photo Courtesy of the Buttercup Bake Shop

Red Velvet Cake from the Buttercup Bake Shop (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of the Buttercup Bake Shop

With red cake and white frosting (usually cream cheese), Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes are some of the most striking of desserts.

Although Red Velvet Cake is often thought of as a Southern specialty, its origin may be a little murkier. According to Colman Andrews, author of The Taste of America, Red Velvet Cake was popular at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York in the 1920’s. This might be before it was enjoyed in the South.

How do you get the cake to turn red? Typically red food coloring.  However a pigment in cocoa powder (an integral Red Velvet component) helps the red hue along, especially when mixed with acidic ingredients.

Red Velvet is certainly a showy dessert, but is it a popular one?  The answer seems to be “yes.”

Red Velvet Cake from SusieCakes Bakeries (Northern and Southern California) - Photo Courtesy of SusieCakes Bakeries

Red Velvet Cake from SusieCakes Bakeries (Northern and Southern California) – Photo Courtesy of SusieCakes Bakeries


Susie, of SusieCakes Bakeries, located in both Southern and Northern California, said  her Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes are extremely popular.

Red Velvet Cupcake from Bumblebee Bakeshop (San Francisco) - Photo Courtesy of Bumblebee Bakeshop

Red Velvet Cupcake from Bumblebee Bakeshop (San Francisco) – Photo Courtesy of Bumblebee Bakeshop


Red Velvet Cupcakes and Cake are so popular, they’re the top seller for the Bumblebee Bakeshop, based in San Francisco.

Red Velvet Cake from Ruggles Café Bakery (Houston) - Photo Courtesy of Ruggles Café Bakery

Red Velvet Cake from Ruggles Café Bakery (Houston) – Photo Courtesy of Ruggles Café Bakery

 Houston-based Ruggles Cafe Bakery offers 30 different desserts on a daily basis. And Red Velvet Cake is one of the 10 most ordered desserts at the bakery.  Ruggles’ Alexia Nino speculates that one of the reasons Red Velvet is so well liked is the frosting “….. the general crowd is looking to get their cream cheese frosting fix…”

The Cheesecake Factory's Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake, Distributed by Harry & David - Photo as Seen On the Web Sites of Both Companies

The Cheesecake Factory’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake, Distributed by Harry & David – Photo as Seen on the Web Sites of Both Companies

 Of the many different Cheesecakes offered by the Cheesecake Factory, Harry & David distributes 9 different ones.  It’s probably safe to assume these are the 9 most popular flavors.  And yes, you guessed it, Red Velvet Cheesecake is in this group of 9.  (Also see the Dessert Surveillance Posting on Cheesecake.)

Blue Dot Donuts' Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Donuts (donuts to the left) - Photo Courtesy of Blue Dot Donuts

Blue Dot Donuts’ Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Donuts (New Orleans) – Photo Courtesy of Blue Dot Donuts

 What’s more, Red Velvet is not restricted to Cake and Cupcakes.  Blue Dot Donuts in New Orleans offers a Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Donut.  “Red Velvet Cake” is a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream flavor, complete with Red Velvet Cake pieces and a Cream Cheese Frosting Swirl.  You can find plenty of recipes for Red Velvet Cookies – usually with a Cream Cheese Frosting or Filling.

 Let’s hear it for showy desserts!

Tagged , , , , , , ,