The Cupcake Activist

Closed: SweetSpot Baker's Workshop

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend my husband and I were at the Irvine Spectrum and noticed that SweetSpot Baker's Workshop is gone. To be honest, I was actually surprised it lasted as long as it did. They had a fun concept idea (I wrote about it back in 2008), but I just didn't see too much potential for it at the Spectrum. SweetSpot replaced Sweet Lorraine's, another failed cupcake shop, so I wonder what will be the next replacement?

Review: The Sugar Me Bakery

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

New year, new me. I went from being a full-time accountant/obsessive triathlete/cupcake lover to a full-time mom/semi-obsessive triathlete/cupcake lover. I love being a mom, especially since I can now get things done in the middle of the day. The old me had to review cupcakeries at night or on the weekends. The new me can visit cupcakeries at any time of day. That means more reviews! I'm on a mission to review every cupcake shop in Orange County.

My first stop is The Sugar Me Bakery, located in a Bagel Me! store in Orange, CA. Hard to believe this was the first time I've tried these cupcakes since they are just down the street from my house!

I picked up three cupcakes to devour, I mean taste. My first thought was that the cupcakes were decorated, something that you don't see often at a cupcake shop. How could I resist getting a cupcake with a cute little umbrella?

Tequila Sunrise: Orange cake with tequila filling and topped with grenadine buttercream. This cupcake was full of all kinds of flavors. The orange cake was moist and tasty. The consistency of the frosting was different than you'd expect because of the grenadine. I've never had a frosting like this before. It was delicious! Since I'm not a drinker, the tequila was a little strong for me.

Black & Tan: Guiness cake with harp lager buttercream. I loved the chocolate cake on this cupcake. Very moist and chocolaty. The frosting had a thick consistency and you could definitely taste the harp lager.

Marble: Chocolate and vanilla cake topped with chocolate/vanilla buttercream. This was my favorite of the three. Both the chocolate and vanilla cakes were moist. I loved how they were swirled together so each bite was different than the other. Both frostings were thick and creamy. The combination of the chocolate and vanilla was perfect!

Cupcakes at Sugar Me Bakery sell for $3.75 each. That's more expensive than Sprinkles! Since they are BIG cupcakes, I guess that justifies the higher price. Since I stopped by late in the afternoon, the selection was slim. Also, the cashier didn't know much about the cupcakes. I guess that's what happens when cupcakes are sold in a bagel shop. The cake was moist in each of the cupcakes I tried. I also enjoyed all of the frostings, which happens pretty infrequently to me.

The cupcakes weren't the only beautiful-looking items at the store. I was eyeing the decorated sugar cookies too. Yum! I'm saving those for my return trip. The Sugar Me Bakery is a great place to stop for a quick, decent cupcake.

The Sugar Me Bakery

3533 E. Chapman Ave., #C

Orange, CA 92869

cupcakes available 9am daily

cupcakes, cookies, & pie, oh my! is here

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Karen Tack and Alan Richardson have done it again! Authors of "Hello, Cupcake!" and "What's New, Cupcake?" have come out with a third book, "cupcakes, cookies, & pie, oh my!"

I got my hands on a copy and am amazed by their talents again! I've already picked a few that I want to try right away. I'm thinking of making the sk8er cake for my husband for Valentine's Day.

Have you seen the new book yet? Which decorated dessert are you excited to make?

Valentine's Day Cupcakes 2012

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just over a week away and I'm so excited because it's all about yummy, sweet desserts for me. Every year my husband surprises me with a special treat. Wonder what it will be this year?

If you're planning on baking cupcakes for your special someone, here are a few ideas from some of my favorite blogs.

Valentine Baby Bundt Cakes from Love From the Oven

Valentine Neapolitan Cupcakes from Six Sisters Stuff

Strawberry Fudge from Cookies and Cups

Red Velvet Cupcakes from Bakerella

Valentine's Rose Cupcakes from Bakers Royale

Cupcake Wars: I Love Lucy

2012-02-03T07:05:00.000-08:00

Bakers competed for a chance to display their cupcakes at an "I Love Lucy" 60th Anniversary party. This was one of my favorite shows growing up, so I LOVED this episode!

Cupprimo Cupcakery (Austin, TX)

Ava's Cupcake Shoppe & Cafe (Rockaway, NJ) **Winner**

Baby Cakes (Torrance, CA)

*(I met and tried their cupcakes at the LA Cupcake Challenge two years ago.)

East End Cupcakes (Portland, ME)

Cupcakes for a Cause: Help 4-year old Brayden

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

We already know cupcakes are wonderful, but I've found that they taste so much sweeter when they are baked for a good cause.

The 4-year-old nephew of one of my best friends has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Renowned Events Care Foundation is hosting a 5k walk this Saturday to raise money to save Brayden's life. My friend's kids spent yesterday afternoon selling fresh-squeezed orange juice and cupcakes to raise money for Saturday's 5k walk. I love homemade cupcakes and these chocolate cupcakes tasted so delicious! Due to the generosity of their neighbors, the kids raised $95. Those are some powerful cupcakes!

You too can donate money to help Brayden by attending this Saturday's 5k walk in Corona, CA or by sending a check to Renowned Events Care Foudnation at:

625 S. Pale St., La Habra, CA 90631

You can read more about Brayden here.

Only 5 More Days!

2012-01-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

This Saturday is the annual LA Cupcake Challenge!

According to Drink Eat Play: "Cupcake Challenge roster is complete: 4 previous Cupcake Challenge winners, 3 Cupcake Wars winners, and some iconic LA bakeries. This is panning out to be the toughest cupcake challenge yet."

Will you be there? I will! There are still tickets left. Don't be left out. See you Saturday!

Yay for Girl Scout Cookies!

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

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I LOVE Girl Scout cookies! But I don't waste my time with Trefoils or any of those new flavors. I go for the good ones -- Samoas, Tagalongs, and of course Thin Mints. Who hasn't enjoyed an entire box of frozen Thin Mints?! Yum!

That's why I'm in love with Java Cupcake's Thin Mint Cupcakes! Chocolate stout cupcakes, whipped, chocolate ganache, and vanilla bean peppermint buttercream. I think this will hold me over until I get my actual Girl Scout cookies.

Super Bowl Buffalo Chicken Cupcakes from Cupcake Project

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

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I'm not a big football fan, but I do love the Super Bowl. Sadly, not for the football, but for the food. The Super Bowl is less than two weeks away and I'm already starting to see lots of great food ideas for the big day.

Cupcake Project posted these Buffalo Chicken Cupcakes, which would be perfect for any Super Bowl party. You may be wondering, like I was, if these cupcakes are sweet or savory. Cupcake Project answers this question, as well as others, in her post (answer: they are savory).

What is your favorite Super Bowl snack?

Cupcake Wars: American Music Awards

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Four returning Cupcake Wars champions fight to present their cupcake to music's biggest celebrities at the after party for the American Music Awards.

Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats (Washington, D.C.) **Winner**

Bake You Happy (Valencia, CA - they opened shop with their prize money. Check it out!)

Sugar Bakery (East Haven, CT)

Jilly's Cupcake Bar (St. Louis, MO)

I was really hoping that Bake You Happy would win again. I've tried their cupcakes on several occassions and LOVE them! Glad to see they made it to the final round.

Bacon Frosting: Yum or Yuck?

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

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Uncrate recently posted about a product to add to your cupcakes: bacon frosting. Yes, I said bacon frosting. I love a good cupcake with bacon, but artificial-flavored bacon frosting? Count me out. Would you shell out $3.96 for this product and use it?

The Key to True Happiness

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks for thinking of me, Enthusiastic Runner

Coming Up: LA Cupcake Challenge 2012

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's almost time for my favorite cupcake contest of the whole year: the LA Cupcake Challenge! I've had the privilege of judging this event the past two years and I'm excited that they asked me to come back again!

Maybe you're wondering: what IS the LA Cupcake Challenge? It's the best of the best cupcakes in Los Angeles and Orange County. Many of the competitors have been contestants on Food Network's Cupcake Wars. The winners are picked by the public and a panel of celebrity judges (oooohh, I like the sound of that). Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here. A ticket gets you a sample of each cupcake entered in the contest.

The event takes place at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 4pm-7pm. Last year the contest happened to fall on the day before I ran the Surf City Half-Marathon. You can check out the article the Orange County Register published about attending the cupcake contest and running the next day. This year I won't be running the next day, but I will be bringing my new little munchkin with me to the event.

Who's going to spend the afternoon eating lots of cupcakes with me?

You can check out my coverage of past LA Cupcake Challenges, along with all of the cupcake contests I've judged here.

Cupcake Wars: Final Cup(cakes)

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Four cupcake bakers try to score their way into the celebration of the Major League Soccer Cup finals.

KissiCakes-n-Sweets (Dublin, OH)

Cravings (Pleasant Grove, UT)

Ava James Catering (Temecula, CA) **Winner**

Cupcakes for Courage (Chicago, IL)

Cupcake Wars Winner has Grand Opening This Weekend

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I distinctly remember this episode of Cupcake Wars because I thought it was the best one. Decorating cupcakes for Comic Con sounds like a fun time! Wonderland Custom Cakes was the winner of the Comic Con episode in August, but at the time they were just an online company.

This weekend Wonderland Custom Cakes will open their doors to their own bakery. Join them Saturday, January 14 from 10am-5pm for their grand opening celebration. The flavors of the day include: Royal Red Velvet, Evil Twin (jalapeno carrot cake), Orange, Chocolate Pretzel, Coconut, Vixxxen (red hot red velvet), Peanut Butter Cookie, CinnaSwirl, and Hunka Hunka.

You can read more about Wonderland Custom Cakes in their interview with Cupcakes Take the Cake. You can also follow them on Twitter (@wonderlandcc) and like them on Facebook.

Meringue Bake Shop Coming to Orange Farmers Market

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Beginning January 21, Meringue Bake Shop will be coming to the Old Towne Orange Farmers and Artisan Market. I'm super excited about this because the farmers market is exactly two blocks from my house. Now I have easy access to cupcakes and Meringue Bake Shop's famous Push Cakes! The Orange farmers market is every Saturday from 9am-1pm, 304 N. Cypress St., Orange, CA.

Cupcake Wars: Wicked

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Red Jett Cupcakes (Fort Worth, TX)

Frostings (Richmond, VA)

The Cake Mamas (Glendora, CA) **WINNER**

I fell in love with their Autumn Apple cupcake at Cupcake Camp IE in 2010. They were also at LA Cupcake Challenge last year. I can't wait to visit their shop this year!

Blondies Baking Company (North Beach, MD)

New Year's Resolutions 2012

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you know that I think that running and cupcakes pair together quite nicely. Don't believe me? Well, I set a personal half-marathon record the day after I ate 32 cupcakes at the LA Cupcake Challenge last year. (Check out my post and newspaper article here.) So it's no surprise that my New Year's Resolutions for 2012 are split between cupcakes and running.

New Year's Resolution #1: Cut out all soda in 2012 (boo! I'm already regretting this one)

New Year's Resolution #2: Run a marathon, either in a full-distance Ironman or stand-alone. If by itself, run under 4 hours.

New Year's Resolution #3: Visit and review one new cupcake shop every month.

New Year's Resolution #4: Run a 6:15 mile (not in a race).

What are your New Year's Resolutions for 2012? Do you usually keep them?

Favorite Review of 2011

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

2011 was another great year of reviews! One of the highlights of the year was my first trip to New York City where I got to review not one, but six cupcake and dessert shops! I got to taste the famous Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (surprisingly not that great).

At the beginning of the year my cupcake adventures led me to My Delight Cupcakery in Ontario, CA. This wasn't my first encounter with them, as I had previously tasted their cupcakes at several cupcake contests in 2010. I was thrilled to discover that not only do they have one or two award-winning cupcakes, but ALL of their cupcakes taste AMAZING! They have easily become my FAVORITE REVIEW OF 2011, as well as one of my top cupcake shops of all time!!

Want to learn more about My Delight Cupcakery? Check out some of the many posts I've written about them.

Review of My Delight Cupcakery

My 2nd Visit & Birthday Cupcakes

LA Cupcake Challenge Results 2010 (1st Place and 2nd Place)

Cupcake Camp OC Winners 2010 (Most Childhood Inspired Cupcake)

LA Cupcake Challenge Results 2011 (Three 1st Place finishes, including Best Overall Cupcake)

My Picks for LA Cupcake Challenge 2011 (Best Overall and Best Traditional Cupcake)

You can check out all of my reviews here. There are still so many cupcake shops that I haven't tried yet. Do you know a cupcake shop I should visit and review? Let me know so I can add it to my list of shops to visit in the future.

Looking forward to another year filled with lots of cupcakes! Happy New Year!

Double Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes from Sweetapolita

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

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I love this time of year because I get to enjoy pumpkin and gingerbread treats. Sure, I can eat pumpkin muffins or gingerbread cookies in the middle of June, but it just isn't the same.

How delicious does this recipe from Sweetapolita look?

Double Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes = Lola's Chocolate Cupcakes + Gingerbread Swiss Buttercream + Chocolate-Dipped Gingerbread Cookie Toppers

The holidays aren't over yet. There is still time to make these. AND there is still time to deliver your finished cupcakes to me. I'll let you hold my beautiful baby boy!

Review: Patty's Cakes

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago I got to try out a new cupcake delivery service called Cupcakes Express. Cupcakes Express allows you to order cupcakes in 22 metropolitan areas and contracts with local bakeries to deliver cupcakes to the recipient. I reviewed the service last week. Since Cupcakes Express delivered my cupcakes from a bakery I hadn't tried yet, I also got to review the bakery.

Patty's Cakes and Desserts is a bakery located in Fullerton, CA. The cupcake package I picked from Cupcakes Express was the Baker's Choice. I received four different kinds of cupcakes, three of each flavor: Lemon Drop, Chocolate/Peanut Butter Mousse, White/Chocolate Fudge, Red Velvet/Cream Cheese Mousse.

I have to start off by adding a disclaimer that I don't like whipped cream ("mousse," as Patty's Cakes calls it.) All four cupcakes were either topped or filled with mousse. This is just a taste preference of mine.

Lemon Drop: lemon cake topped with lemon gel and filled with whipped cream. I don't see gel on cupcakes often, but this was pretty good. The cake was moist and there was a good amount of whipped cream in the center.

Chocolate/Peanut Butter Mousse: moist chocolate cake topped and filled with peanut butter mousse, topped with chopped peanuts. The mousse was pretty good considering it was whipped. I would have loved it if it were a little thicker and less sweet.

White/Chocolate Fudge: yellow cake topped with chocolate fudge frosting and filled with whipped cream. I loved this thick, fudgy frosting. It was definitely my favorite frosting of the bunch.

Red Velvet/Cream Cheese Mousse: red velvet cake topped with cream cheese mousse, filled with whipped cream, and topped with sprinkles. I am very picky with my red velvets, mostly based on the frosting. This cream cheese mousse didn't have enough cream cheese tanginess. The red velvet cake didn't taste chocolaty enough. Not a top choice for red velvet.

The cupcakes at Patty's Cakes didn't wow me. They reminded me of something I could buy in the bakery section of a grocery store. Patty's Cakes and Desserts specializes in cakes and I think they jumped on the cupcake bandwagon when cupcakes gained popularity. Their cupcakes were ok, but not something I would go out of my way for. Patty's Cakes sells their cupcakes for $3 each.

Patty's Cakes and Desserts

www.pattys-cakes.com

104 N. Raymond Ave., Ste. A-4, Fullerton, CA 92831

Facebook: Patty's Cakes and Desserts

Review: Cupcakes Express

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the opportunity to try out Cupcakes Express. I was very curious because I had not heard of the company before, but thought it was a great concept. Cupcakes Express services 22 metropolitan areas, with Los Angeles being the closest one to me.

The website allows you to order from 10 different cupcake arrangements. I chose Baker's Choice so I could be surprised. The price for this arrangement, which includes a dozen cupcakes, is $36. Of course prices vary by location.

And then I waited. I was very curious to see which local bakery these cupcakes would come from. That's the interesting part about this delivery service, you don't know who they've contracted with in the area.

My cupcakes were delivered during the two-hour time frame I was given, which was perfect for this busy, sleepy mama. The cupcakes were from Patty's Cakes in Fullerton, CA. I haven't been to Patty's yet so I got to review the cupcakes too! The cupcakes that I received were exactly what I ordered.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the service that Cupcakes Express provided. This is a great alternative to trying to deal with the hassle of shipping cupcakes. Have you tried Cupcakes Expss yet? Have you had cupcakes shipped by mail? Thoughts?

Stay tuned for a review of Patty's Cakes

Cupcake Wars: The Closer 100th Episode

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

This week's episode of Cupcake Wars was a redemption episode. The bakers competed to have their cupcakes displayed at 100th episode party for The Closer.

Mr. Cupcakes (four locations, NJ)

Crushcakes (Santa Barbara, CA)

Crave Bake Shop (Lake Oswego, OR)

Just Cupcakes (Virginia Beach, VA)

Have You Tried Cupcakes Express?

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I was recently contacted by Cupcakes Express to try out their services. This was the first I had heard of them, but was anxious to see how the service worked. Here's a little info about the company:

Through Cupcakes Express, locally-baked cupcakes can now be ordered online and hand-delivered to cupcake lovers across the United States. (www.cupcakesexpress.com).

Cupcakes Express allows you to order from anywhere and have fresh, delicious cupcakes delivered to your friends, family and co-workers. Since cupcakes are impossible to ship from one central location, Cupcakes Express associates with cupcake shops in each geographic market to produce and deliver fresh cupcake orders.

Cupcakes Express is modeled after 1-800-Flowers. While the cost of sending a nice bouquet of flowers can exceed $75 plus shipping, all of the arrangements at Cupcakes Express are affordably priced at $36 per dozen plus the cost of delivery. Currently, Cupcakes Express delivers to 22 major metropolitan markets in the United States, but has plans to expand in the near future.

I got my cupcake delivery on Wednesday. Want to know what I thought? Check back for full review. In the meantime, tell me what you think about this concept.

Cupcake Wars: Hollywood Parade

2011-12-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

The second episode of the season aired on Sunday night and my first thought was: why do the bakers wear matching outfits? Just seems kinda weird to me. Maybe that's a new rule now.

Pick Your Poison Bake Shop (Las Vegas, NV)
Sugar Cat Studio (Santa Barbara, CA) *WINNER
Cako (San Francisco, CA)
Sweet Ride (Chicago, IL)

Cake Mix and a Can of Soda

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe you can make cupcakes using only a cake mix and a can of soda.

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But Cookies & Cups does it. That's right, you only need a boxed cake mix (any flavor) and a can of soda (any flavor, not diet)

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I like easy recipes, especially since I have less time to do things now. Who knew that caring for a newborn would be so time-consuming? Well worth it though. You can find the recipe for Soda Can Cupcakes here.

Return to My Delight Cupcakery

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

All I wanted for my birthday was cupcakes.

I turned 30 last month (yikes) and I was one week away from having my sweet little boy (although I didn't know I was that close).

I reviewed My Delight Cupcakery back in January and fell in love with their delicious cupcakes! Since then, I've been dying to go back. A big birthday was the perfect excuse.

I picked up a dozen assorted cupcakes to eat all myself....I mean, share with my family and friends. Some of my favorites were back: Peanut Butter Chocolate, Red Velvet, Chocolate Salted Caramel. I devoured one of my all-time favorites: Cherry Red Velvet. I like the unique spin on a red velvet.

I also got to try some new-to-me flavors: Snickerdoodle, Sweet Potato Pie, and Chocolate Chip Breakfast. The Snickerdoodle was hands-down the best Snickerdoodle I've ever tasted. Everyone who tried it was in love with it! The flavor was perfect. I really enjoyed the whole snickerdoodle cookie that adorned the top. The Sweet Potato Pie also was delicious. The walnuts sprinkled on top gave it a good crunch. The Chocolate Chip Breakfast cupcake had a great combination of chocolate, bacon, and maple flavors. You must try this cupcake!!

If you haven't tried My Delight Cupcakery, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

My Delight Cupcakery

1520 N. Mountain Ave.

Ontario, CA 91762

909-988-4151

www.mydelightcupcakery.com

Twitter: @My_Delight

Facebook: My Delight Cupcakery

Cupcake Wars is Back

2011-12-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Cupcake Wars is back! I had no idea it was starting again until I saw it recorded on my DVR. The first episode had the bakers competing to display their cupcakes at the New York City Ballet Nutcracker. Sometimes I wonder if the bakers have ever seen an episode or practiced at home. Are you still watching or have you lost interest?

Cupcakes in Bloom (Berlin, MD)

Flavor Cupcakery (Bel Air, MD) *Winner*

Cream by Crystal (Los Angeles, CA)

Cupcake Fairies (New Orleans, LA)

Neighborly Cupcake Love

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's been one week and I'm falling more in love with my little guy everyday. He's so sweet and cute and he's a great sleeper.

My kind neighbors heard the news about our baby and dropped off some delicious cupcakes from The Perfect Circle Cupcakery. I already knew I loved the Pumpkin, but the Chocolate Peppermint was new to me. Delicious!

I'm slowly making my way back into the computer world. Can't wait to blog about my cupcake baby shower and my recent trip to My Delight Cupcakery. Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful holiday season!

Meet the newest member of the Cupcake Activist family

2011-11-28T17:29:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple days. My little cupcake in the oven finally decided he was done.

Meet Desmond... the milk activist.

Turkey Day Cupcakes

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

I seriously LOVE Thanksgiving! I'm not so much a turkey girl, but I enjoy the sides and desserts. This year we're doing two Thanksgiving meals in one day. Normally I would be thrilled, but since I have a huge baby sitting on my stomach, I don't have much of an appetite lately. If you're still looking for dessert ideas, check out these Thanksgiving-themed cupcakes. Happy Thanksgiving!! (Hopefully I won't be having this baby until after Thanksgiving!)

Photo: i heart baking

Photo: Annie's Eats

Photo: Taste and Tell

Photo: Bakerella

Photo: Tonya Staab

Busy Weekend

2011-11-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Between my surprise baby shower/birthday party, a day-trip to San Diego, my family birthday party, my 38 week check-up, and two trips to cupcake shops, I'M EXHAUSTED! But I'm excited to have two more reviews to post soon, including the newly-opened Bubba Sweets. Stay tuned for a recap of this weekend's events!

Thanksgiving in Cupcake Form

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a tip from a friend, I found these delicious-looking Thanksgiving "cupcakes." They are not quite the cupcakes you'd expect, but Thanksgiving dinner in cupcake form. The idea and recipe for these Thanksgiving Plate Cakelettes comes from the website Fetette.

"These little cups of joy have a base layer of turkey meatloaf that is topped with cornbread apple sausage stuffing. Mashed potatoes are piped like frosting and topped with a dallop of whole cranberry sauce. Turkey gravy is served on the side so guests can drizzle or drench to their hearts' content."

The fun doesn't stop there. They also developed a full menu that includes Candied Yam Tartlettes, Green Bean Casserole Quiche, and Wild Arugula Salad with Mini Brie en Croute.

I really love this menu because everything is in bite form. This Thanksgiving I will be 39 weeks pregnant and my stomach is tiny (thanks baby boy), so I won't be able to stuff my face like I normally do. Check out the recipes and photos on Fetette.

Super Athletes Don't Always Eat Healthy Food

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

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Just because you're an Ironman Champion, doesn't mean you only eat healthy foods. My triathlon hero, Chrissie Wellington, knows how to indulge from time to time. She recently tweeted a picture of her eating a black forrest cupcake. Well, we definitely have that in common.

Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes from My Baking Addiction

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

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I've seen my fair share of pumpkin cupcakes (which I LOVE), but this was the first one that contained crystallized ginger. My Baking Addiction creates a recipe with some great autumn flavors. Although I've never used crystallized ginger before, she notes at the bottom of the page where to find it (spice aisle) and what else it is known as (candied ginger). Thanks for the tips and recipe.

Cupcake Decorating Tips

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

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As much as I LOVE cupcakes, I actually don't bake them as much as you'd think. So any time I see baking tips, I pay close attention. Bakers Royale recently had a guest post by Created by Diane, which detailed cupcake decorating tips. I've never attempted to frost a cupcake with anything but a butter knife. And you can guess how that turns out. Using her tips, I might have a chance to make some pretty cupcakes. You can read the whole post here.

Happy National Vanilla Cupcake Day!

2011-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know today was National Vanilla Cupcake Day? Doesn't matter if you did or not, eat a vanilla cupcake to celebrate!

Turning 30 with Cupcakes

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Next week I turn...................30! I can barely say it.

I'm scared. Scared of being considered old. Scared of being a new mom. Scared of not knowing how we will survive without me working anymore. It's all 30's fault.

All I can hope is that my birthday is filled with lots of cupcakes and sweets.

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And my favorite...

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Goodie Girls Grand Opening November 20

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

I've met Annette Starbuck, owner of Goodie Girls on several occasions. She made her first appearance at the LA Cupcake Challenge this past year and she was a fellow judge at Cupcake Camp OC a few months ago.

On November 20, Annette will be opening her first storefront shop in Glendale, CA. Goodie Girls will serve up her gourmet cupcakes, including her signature variety Pumpkin Pancakes, along with her Cake Ups push pops during the "petite treat affair."

According to her press release:

The grand opening event will also feature live music from DJ Arthur Galenstian, savory appetizers catered by Kitchen 12000, a chocolate photo booth by Images Printed on Chocolate, wine by Cupcake Vineyards, decorations by Pom Flair, and sample cupcakes from Goodie Girls. A full menu of Annette's treats will be available for purchase to take home, along with Flirty Girls Aprons, and t-shirts. Also, exclusive specials will be offered for pre-orders on Thanksgiving cupcakes.

Here's the event info:

Goodie Girls Grand Opening Celebration

November 20, 2011

5-8pm

415 East Broadway #100

Glendale, CA 91205

Free street parking is available. Gift bags will be distributed to the first 75 guests..

Baking FAIL

2011-11-04T06:00:00.001-07:00

Photo: FAILblog

At least they tried. Thanks for the laugh FAILBlog.

I Baked a Pie!

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I volunteered to bring a pie to my church Halloween party. Yes, I was aware that it was pie month at Marie Callender's and that all pies were $6.99. But I've been nesting (I wonder why) and really wanted to make my own pie. Since it's autumn, I wanted to do something with apples, but not a traditional apple pie. After searching a few websites, I settled on an Apple Cheesecake Pie recipe from Tasty Kitchen Blog. After purchasing all the ingredients, I again realized that buying a pie would have been way cheaper. But this was way more fun.

Of course I don't have a handy-dandy apple corer/peeler/slicer. That would have been too easy. I did everything by hand.

Glazing the apples with cinnamon and sugar was my favorite part. I might have saved a stash to eat myself. After glazing the apples, I made the cheesecake part of the pie. It would eventually get poured on top of the apples pieces inside the pie crust.

The bummer part about baking a pie is that you can't taste the final result without showing that you took a bite. My solution was baking a mini pie in a ramekin. It didn't have crust to complete it, but I think it was my best idea ever. (I might have eaten it for breakfast the next day!)

I don't want to pat myself on the pat, but I definitely deserved it. This pie was delicious! I could have eaten all of it myself.

The dessert of the night at the Halloween party was pies. I had to choose from 100 pies. Let me tell you, that's a hard decision. Of course I ate a piece of mine, and I also went for a lemon cheesecake. I will admit that it was better than mine.

I paid the consequences for eating so much sugar. My baby boy was turning summersalts in my belly all night long. I guess he likes pie too.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

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Mini Chocolate Chip Maple Pancake Cupcakes from Two Peas & Their Pod

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love mini cupcakes. They are the perfect size to not make me feel too guilty for eating a few. Two Peas & Their Pod recently posted a recipe for Mini Chocolate Chip Maple Pancake cupcakes inspired by a cupcake from Baked by Melissa in NYC. I can see why she wanted to recreate this recipe, as it was one of my favorite cupcakes from Baked by Melissa too! (Check out my review here.) You can find more photos and the recipe here. Enjoy!

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Last weekend I baked up a different recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod's website. These Pumpkin Gingersnap cookies were delicious, especially when saturated in milk. You can find the recipe for these cookies here.

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Welcome new bakery

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Orange Circle by my house has sprung a lot of new life over the past couple of years. With the additions of Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches, The Perfect Circle Cupcakery, and soon Wahoo's Fish Tacos, I don't have to go far for great food. My husband spotted this sign in front of Watson's Soda Fountain and Drug Store the other day. Might be hard to compete with The Perfect Circle and Blue Frog Bakery, but I always welcome a new bakery to the area. Must check it out soon.

Angel Food Cupcakes from Cupcake Project

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

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Don't these cupcakes look so light and delicious?! Cupcake Project posted these Angel Food Cupcakes, complete with angel wing cookies. You can find the recipe and decorating instructions here.

Halloween Cupcakes 2011

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just around the corner! I knew time would fly when the holidays got here. Today marks 6 weeks that I have left until my bundle of joy arrives. I can't believe I'm coming down the home stretch.

Halloween is one of the best times of year to be creative in your cupcake decorating. I've come across lots of great Halloween cupcake ideas. Enjoy these ones from this year, as well as the cupcakes I've found in previous years.

Photo: Love From the Oven

Photo: Taste and Tell

Photo: The Cooking Photographer

Photo: Cookies and Cups

Photo: Kirbie Cravings

Halloween Cupcakes 2008

More Halloween Cupcakes 2008

Halloween Cupcakes 2009

More Halloween Cupcakes 2009

Halloween Cupcakes 2010

Everything Fall Cupcake from Cupcake Project

2011-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

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If you're like me, then you love this time of year because of flavors. My favorite autumn foods include pumpkin and apples. Cupcake Project is brilliant and has combined all of my favorite flavors into one super cupcake: The Everything Fall Cupcake. This cupcake has pumpkin, apple, maple, spiced rum, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cranberry. All of our fall flavors in one cupcake! And that isn't even the best part: this cupcake has a cupcake inside!

Drool over the description, then make it yourself. The recipe can be found here.

Pumpkin, spiced rum, and maple cupcakes topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and dried cranberries - with brown sugar frosting-topped apple cobbler cupcakes baked inside.

I just wish the weather would cool down so I would feel like baking. It was really 105 degrees last week. Fall....where are you?

Spaghetti Cupcake at Disney's Hollywood Studios

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

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Don't be deceived, this isn't what it seems. It's not the savory spaghetti cupcake that it looks like. On Top of Spaghetti is available from the kid's menu at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano at Disney's Hollywood Studio. This chocolate cupcake is topped with yellow-tinted vanilla buttercream that's piped to create the spaghetti look. The chocolate cake meatball rolled in chocolate sprinkles is drizzled with strawberry "red sauce" and dusted with white chocolate shavings. Nine dozen are sold every day.

Blog Sugar Treats

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently attended my first blogger conference. I have to admit that I was lured in by the name: Blog Sugar. Although I did learn a lot that night, the highlight was the desserts. Even after stuffing myself full, I still wanted more. What else would you expect from a pregnant woman?

The desserts pictured here were provided by Modern Foodie. The pink frosted sugar cookies in my swag bag were made by Baby Boy Bakery.

Can't remember the last time I had a Shirley Temple. Wish I drank them more often.

Halloween Treats from Love from the Oven

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is such a fun holiday to make treats for! Love from the Oven has some great ideas. I especially love these Halloween Push Pop Peeps.

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Chocolate Covered Oreo Pops

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Halloween Cupcake Cake Pops

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The Cupcake Classic Virtual Race

2011-10-10T06:00:00.001-07:00

Cupcakes and running. I'm in. Oh wait....let's hear the details first.

Running blogger Run with Jess is hosting a virtual race to raise money for DetermiNation - American Cancer Society. The Cupcake Classic Virtual Race will take place the week of October 17-23 and participants will be running 3.7 miles (in honor of Jess' 37th birthday). After you run, you submit your race time and photos for a chance to win prizes! You can get all the info here on Run with Jess' website.

SusieCakes October Specials

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love fall because it's the start of holiday baking! SusieCakes is offering some delicious treats during the month of October.

Pumpkin Maple Cupcakes
Apple Crumble Pie
Caramel Apple Cake
Frosted Sugar Cookies (Candy Corn, Ghosts, Spider Webs, Pumpkins)
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Rice Crispy Treats
Praline Sweet Pie
Pumpkin Pie

SusieCakes also has a few other announcements. First, they now offer online ordering for store pick-up or local delivery.

Second, you can send free cupcakes to four friends by becoming a Facebook fan. I'm never used the OnMe program before, but it's telling me that each of my four friends can bring in the coupon to redeem for 3 free cupcakes. Pretty awesome!

Last, SusieCakes is offering fall baking classes at each of their six locations. Learn pie baking basics for $75.

Review: Merely Sweets

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for Merely Sweets to open for several months. I announced in March that they would be opening within 60 days. Even though it took longer than expected, Merely Sweets was worth the wait.

Merely Sweets is located on Birch Street in Downtown Brea. North Orange County was in desperate need of a cupcake shop and I think this is a great location for one. The store was very clean. There were two display cases that greeted me as I entered the shop. The first one contained beautiful cakes, pastries, and tarts. The second case had the goodies I was there for: cupcakes!

Next to the cupcakes was a display of French macarons. I loved how pretty they looked with the rainbow of colors.

Toward the back of the shop was a wall display of decorated cakes. Another wall had this painted art.

I gathered my treats and headed home to try them out. I seriously couldn't wait!

First was the cupcakes. I had six cupcakes to choose from at the time I visited the shop. I chose three: Nutella, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Red Velvet (of course).

The Nutella cupcake was a vanilla cupcake with Nutella frosting. The cake was moist and the frosting had a good consistency that wasn't too thick. The flavor wasn't too exciting though. Maybe it would be better as a chocolate cupcake?

The Peanut Butter Chocolate cupcake was a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting. The frosting was my favorite part because it was smooth, but not too heavy or overwhelming, as some peanut butter frostings can be. The chocolate cake had decent moistness.

Last, but not least was my favorite cupcake of the three: Red Velvet. I always get a red velvet cupcake when I visit a new shop because it's the standard that I go by. This red velvet had dark red velvet cake (which means it's real) and a tangy cream cheese frosting. The frosting wasn't too light or whipped, it was more silky. The cake was also moist. This was a great red velvet.

Although I'm partial to cupcakes, I'm a lover of all sweets. I couldn't resist getting this Lemon Meringue Tart. The tart crust was baked perfectly. It wasn't too hard, but also not too soft or crumbly that it fell apart. The meringue was well done. I would have thought I was eating a lemon meringue pie. The best part though was the lemon. I only wish that there had been more lemon in the tart. I would definitely order this again!

French Macarons are bite-size treats that are beginning to show up more frequently in pastry shops. I had to get one of each color to make sure that all of them tasted good. That's my excuse anyway. I bought these on a Friday night and my first thoughts of them were that the centers were gummy and chewy. I have very little eating experience with macarons, but they just didn't wow me. The next day I nibbled on them again and thought they tasted better. How could that be? Sunday night I finished them off and thought they were fantastic! Maybe my pallet prefers them to be a little crunchier. They certainly weren't crunchy at the end, but there weren't as gummy as the first day I tried them. I loved them! Maybe it is me that is the weird one. My favorite flavors were the dark chocolate, salted caramel, and vanilla bean. I'm really looking forward to eating them again!

I love cake shops that have more than just cake. Merely Sweets delivers on providing delicious cupcakes, as well as other desserts. Their shop is clean and set-up well. Since they're located in a popular downtown area, they are open late (yeah!). The selection of cupcakes was a bit small (only 6 flavors), but there they have rotating flavors so you'll find something different each time. The packaging was well done, as my cupcakes didn't tip over while I transported them home. The appearance of the cupcakes and other desserts was professional. The cake on the cupcakes was moist. The frostings on the cupcakes were well-made and not overly sweet. The taste and consistency of the cupcakes and other desserts were delicious and make me want to come back for more. The prices were competitive and not unreasonable.

I would recommend Merely Sweets as a great shop to go to for cupcakes and other desserts.

Merely Sweets

260 W. Birch St., Brea, CA 92821

714-529-9909

Facebook: Merely Sweets

Twitter: @merelysweets

Website: www.merelysweets.com (currently under construction)

This Prego Can Still Run

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I enlisted your advice to help me decide what to wear at the Disneyland Half-Marathon. This 28-week-along prego Minnie Mouse ran the full 13.1 miles and did it will a smile on my face. It wasn't easy and I was certainly slow, but I had a blast! If you're ever considering signing up for a running race, I definitely suggest a Run Disney race.

And yes I did indulge in a cupcake after the race. Luckily I live close to The Perfect Circle because my feet did not want me doing anything else for the rest of the day.

P.S. The Orange County Register wrote a little story about my race. Check it out here.

The Rise of Cupcakes

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love this graphic I spotted on Cupcakes Takes the Cake the other day, courtesy of All Culinary Schools. I'm a stats person so of course this graphic intrigued me. It also lists the history of cupcakes. Looks like cupcakes are here to stay. Enjoy reading!

Merely Sweets is Open

2011-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

About six months ago I reported on a new cupcake shop to open in downtown Brea. My mom informed me that it's open and delicious! Merely Sweets isn't just a cupcake shop though. They also sell macarons, cookies, puff pastries, and cakes. My mom stopped by a week ago and tried her first macaron. She loved it!

Since Merely Sweets is located on Birch Street in downtown Brea, it is open late (yeah!): 9:00p on weekdays, 10:00p on Friday and Saturday, and 6:00p on Sundays. I stopped by last weekend to sample a little of everything. Want to know what I think? Watch for my full review soon!

Facebook: Merely Sweets
Twitter: @merelysweets
Website: www.merelysweets.com (currently under construction)

OC Register Names "The Best of Orange County"

2011-09-26T06:00:00.001-07:00

Each year the Orange County Register puts out a publication called "The Best of Orange County." It is derived from a survey where residents of Orange County vote for the "Best (blank) in Orange County." The publication was delivered today and of course the first category I looked at was "Best Cupcakes." For the most part, I can agree with the masses.

First Place: Sprinkles Cupcakes

It's hard to compete with such a large, well-known brand. But it's even harder to compete with Sprinkles when they are so good. Along with their great tasting cupcakes, Sprinkles gives you the experience of a gourmet cupcake. They makes their cupcakes feel special and well worth the price tag of $3.25. One thing I really like about Sprinkles is, along with the dozen or so flavors they offer daily, they sell different holiday and season-themed cupcakes throughout the year. I'm looking forward to trying their Caramel Apple available October 7-31.

Second Place: The Perfect Circle Cupcakery

This shop was bound to be successful with the popularity of the revamped Old Town Orange Circle. The Perfect Circle has become my local shop, as it is only blocks from my house. I love the cream cheese frosting that is present on top of the red velvet, pumpkin, and banana cupcakes. The owner has appeared on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars twice and even grabbed a win the second time. Mixed reviews from readers and reviewers have left me surprised that The Perfect Circle was one of the top cupcake shops in Orange County. Bad customer service and dry cake don't seem to be holding down The Perfect Circle's popularity. Cupcakes are $3.25 each and run out quickly, so make sure you plan your visit accordingly.

Third Place: SusieCakes

I've proclaimed SusieCakes as one of my favorite cupcake shops. They offer very simple, very delicious cupcakes. My favorite part about their cupcakes is the dollop of frosting hidden in the middle of the cupcake. Yum! Their cupcakes sell for $3.00 each. SusieCakes doesn't just sell cupcakes though, they have many other delicious desserts too. I love their chocolate chip cookies and have been eyeing all of their cakes for a while. You won't be disappointed!

Critic's Choice: Meringue Bake Shop

I can honestly say that cupcakes from Meringue Bake Shop are my favorites in Orange County! From the time I reviewed Meringue over 2-1/2 years ago until now, her cupcakes just keep getting better. Meringue Bake Shop currently sells her cupcakes at the Great Park Farmer's Market on Sunday and through direct order. Meringue has differentiated herself by introducing the world to Push Cakes. These delicious treats are modeled after a childhood candy called PushPops and are out of this world! My dream is that Meringue Bake Shop will open it's door at a real shop so I can eat her delicious cupcakes any day of the week!

Cupcake Camp OC 2011: The Winners

2011-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Although I LOVE being a judge at cupcake competitions, it's no easy job. Sometimes there is a clear-cut winner, other times I have a hard time choosing. This was one of those times. There were so many delicious cupcakes at this year's Cupcake Camp OC, so picking my overall favorites was hard.

There were three categories at Cupcake Camp OC: Most OC, Most Childhood-Inspried, and Spirit of 9/11. Here are the winners for each category:

Most OC Winners
1st: Bubba Sweets - Sea Salt Caramel
2nd: Hollicakes - Chocolate Orange
3rd: Design Cakes and Cupcakes - Churro

Cupcake Activist's picks for Most OC
1st: Sweet September Cupcakes - French Toast
2nd: Design Cakes and Cupcakes - Churro
3rd: Bubba Sweets - Sea Salt Caramel

Most Childhood-Inspried Winners
1st: Michelle Chang - Banana Split
2nd: Hollicakes - Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies
3rd: Bubba Sweets - PB&J

Cupcake Activist's picks for Most Childhood-Inspired
1st: Hollicakes - Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies
2nd: Michelle Chang - Banana Split
3rd: Judy Nguyen - S'mores

Spirit of 9/11 Winners (design only)
1st: Hollicakes
2nd: Hey Cupcakes
3rd: Design Cakes and Cupcakes

Cupcake Activist's Picks for Spirit of 9/11
1st: Hey Cupcake
2nd: Michelle Chang
3rd: Hollicakes

The Winners: Bubba Sweets, Hollicakes, and Michelle Chang

Of course I snuck a few of my favorite cupcakes home with me, to share with my husband of course....well, mostly just so I could eat them when I got my second wind. Turns out my baby belly is the perfect cupcake stand. Pretty soon I'll be big enough to hold a jumbo cupcake!

Thank you to all of the bakers at Cupcake Camp OC. It seems like this year the best of the best came out. Keep baking and I'll keep eating!

Cupcake Camp OC 2011: The Cupcakes

2011-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cupcake Camp is all about the cupcakes. Couldn't be a better way to raise money for a good cause then getting together to eat lots of cupcakes! Although this year's Cupcake Camp OC had less entries, the majority were of high quality. (Sadly, last year I had to spit out a few.)

This year's event had a few familiar faces, but mostly new ones. My favorites from last year (Meringue Bake Shop, My Delight Cupcakery) did not attend this year. I don't know if this was due to poor advertising for the the event or what, but that doesn't mean there was a shortage of great cupcakes.

The Best of OC category

Best Childhood Inspiration category

Several entries from the Spirit of 9/11 category

How can you possibly choose a favorite? That's a job I don't take lightly. Results to be posted on Friday.

Winner of 101 Gourmet Series Cookbooks

2011-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

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And the winner of the 101 Gourmet Series cookbooks is.....Southern Girl! Congrats! Hurry and email your address to me, so I can get these fabulous cookbooks mailed off to you. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Charity Never Tasted Sweeter!

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

I attended the 2nd annual Cupcake Camp OC last Sunday and had a great time! Any time I can get together with other cupcake lovers and eat lots of cupcakes is always a success. This year's event benefitted Children of the Night, a non-profit organization that helps fight child prostitution.

This week I'll be highlighting the event, introducing you to the winners, and of course sharing my favorite cupcakes with you.

Cupcake Clothing from Hey Cupcake Threads

2011-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love the website Hey Cupcake Threads! I want everything on it, especially this cupcake tank.

But my life isn't about me right now. I'm most excited about the baby clothing! As you know, I'm 29 weeks pregnant, only 11 weeks from seeing my baby boy. I'm pretty sure my baby will be living in onesies for the first few months. And of course I'm super picky about clothes.

But I want, no...I NEED these cupcake onesies. I think they are still boyish enough.

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This stegosaurus one is my fav. Must have!!

Cupcake Dog Toy for a Guilty Dog

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I was picking up dog treats at Target and spotted this cupcake dog toy.

I know my dog would love it because she loves real cupcakes too. Last night after leaving the room for about 30 seconds, I came back in to find a trail of cupcake crumbs and this guilty face...

She's almost too cute to get mad at. Looks like I need that cupcake toy.

Don't forget about my current giveaway for the 101 Gourmet Series cookbooks.

Giveaway: 101 Gourmet Series Cookbooks

2011-09-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wendy Paul's bestselling 101 Gourmet Series has simplified the task of creating gourmet desserts for every occasion! 101 Gourmet Cupcakes and 101 Gourmet Cookies have taken the home baking world by storm. The addition of her newest cookbook, 101 Gourmet Cake Bites, completes the perfect cookbook trifecta.

I got my hands on a copy of 101 Gourmet Cupcakes two years ago and I love it! All of the recipes in this cookbook are based off a store-bought cake mix. Perfect for a busy person like me.

In honor of the release of 101 Gourmet Cake Bites, I'm giving away the whole series!

Here's how to enter: [Please leave separate comment for each entry]

LIKE 101 Gourmet Series on Facebook - leave a comment "I want to win the 101 Gourmet Series from Cupcake Activist http://www.cupcakeactivist.com

Extra entries:

1. Follow Wendy Paul on Twitter and tweet: I want to win @reasonstobake 101 Gourmet Series from @CupcakeActivist
2. Follow Cupcake Activist on Twitter @CupcakeActivist
3. Follow Cupcake Activist on Facebook

**Winner will be chosen at random and will receive all three books in the 101 Gourmet Series. Contest ends at midnight PST on 9/16/11. US residents only.

If you can't wait to see if you're the winner, you can purchase all of the cookbooks on Amazon.com. Each cookbook is approximately $13.

"Breakfast of Champions" Cupcake

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

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I Heart Cuppycakes recently posted a recipe for a Breakfast of Champions cupcake. Although this cupcake doesn't have any actual cake in it, it still looks delicious. This protein-packed cupcake is made out of bacon, eggs, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, salsa, and bread. You can find the full recipe here.

Cupcake Camp OC 2011: The Judges

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

The 2nd annual Cupcake Camp OC is only a few days away and I'm so excited! Not only do I get to taste the best cupcakes in Orange County, I get to hang out with some awesome people too.

I was asked to judge again this year and I'm honored to be judging alongside some amazing people. Here are the other judges:

Annette Starbuck, founder of Goodie Girls Cupcakes and winner of Cupcake Wars.

Stefanie Gaxiola, aka "Red Velvet Stefanie" and "Platinum Blonde Chef." She also appeared on an episode of Cupcake Wars.

Jason Iehl and Kim Nelson, editors of Saturday Night Foodies and food connoisseurs. I've judged with Jason and Kim at several other cupcake events. They are fun and know their food.

You can read more about the judges here.

Review: Lovely Confections

2011-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my husband flew to Denver to race the Leadville Trail 100. It's a 100-mile mountain bike race that climbs up to 12,400 feet elevation. It's a monster of a bike race, maybe one I'd even like to do someday (I'm crazy like that!). Of course I gave him an assignment to bring home some cupcakes. He succeeded.

Per a suggestion from Saturday Night Foodies, Lovely Confections Bakery was the place to go. It is located in downtown Denver, on the way to the airport, so my husband didn't have to go out of his way.

Of course my husband couldn't just pick up cupcakes for me. He tried them out himself. He wouldn't tell me if he liked his or not until after I tasted mine. Thanks for making my review completely unbiased.

I contacted Lovely Confections by Twitter beforehand to let them know my husband was stopping by. They did a great job of making sure my cupcakes were airplane-proof. These babies made it all the way home in one piece.

Delivery to my kitchen. I wish I had a cupcake courier for every cupcake shop.

The three cupcakes from Lovely Confections that I tried were Red Velvet, Bees Knees, and Chocolate Salted Caramel.

Red Velvet: I always use red velvet as a standard for a new cupcake place. Lovely Confections passes the red velvet test. The cake had a decent moistness and wasn't bright red, so I knew it was a true red velvet cake. The cream cheese frosting was tangy, as it should be. Proportion of frosting to cake was 1:3, which meant there was a lot of frosting. I didn't mind.

Bees Knees: This lavender cake also had decent moistness. At first I was a little put-off by the flavor because I normally associate lavender with soap. After a few more bites, I began to enjoy the cupcake how it was meant to be. The honey lemon frosting was "buttery good." I think I wrote this because of the strong butter taste, which is a good thing. The frosting had a good, thick consistency.

Chocolate Salted Caramel: My favorite of the three! The chocolate cake was very moist, although I could have enjoyed a heavier chocolate flavor. The salted caramel frosting was excellent! It tasted just how I imagine a Werther's would taste as a frosting. The frosting really made this cupcake great.

Lovely Confections has my recommendation for anyone living in or visiting the Denver area. Their organic, local, natural cupcakes are high quality and taste delicious. Their regular-size cupcakes are $3 and their minis are $1.50.

Lovely Confections
1489 Steele St., Unit C
Denver, CO 80206
720-524-7770
Facebook: Lovely Confections
Twitter: @Cupcakes_Denver

Will Run For Chocolate

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you know me, then you know that I love triathlon and sweets. So of course this new race appealed to me: Hot Chocolate 15/5k.

What makes this running race different than any other race? Well, the post-race party has chocolate fondue and hot chocolate from Ghirardelli! I always indulge on sweets after a race, so now I don't have to go searching for any.

This race series takes place in 8 cities, so there's a good chance that there will be one near you. The 15k race is $65 and the 5k is $45. I can't wait to run for chocolate next year! Who's with me?

Hot Chocolate 15k
Facebook: Hot Chocolate 15k & 5k
Twitter: HotChocolate15k

That's a Cake?!

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Saw this featured in Reader's Digest a few days ago. Just thought it was a pretty photo of asparagus.

Photo: Sweetapolita

Totally surprised to turn the page and see it was a cake. Sweetapolita could be one of my new favorite blogs.

Photo: Sweetapolita

Cupcake Cruise to Bermuda

2011-08-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

Photo: cakespy

Who wants to go on a cupcake cruise?! I do, I do! Could a vacation be any more perfect?

Cupcakes Takes the Cake recently announced that they are organizing a Cupcake Cruise to Bermuda. The cruise takes place August 19-26, 2012. Yes, that's a whole year away, but that's a whole year of anticipating cupcake fun!

For details, go to the official website: www.cupcakecruise.com.

A Look Back at Munchathon

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Two words sum up my life: eating and triathlon. Total opposites, but totally me. When I first heard about Munchathon I knew this was my event! A 5k race with food stops in between. What could be more perfect?

Race day came and I pulled on my Team Sparkle skirt over my pregnant belly, and was on my way to a day of fun!

The race had a wave start, which was great for spreading out the "racers." I put racers in quotes because no one was really running...except for me. Yes, this pregnant lady was running between food stops. I needed to burn off some calories so I could eat more!

The race course also had obstacles, such as tunnels, fences, walls, and a slide. I avoided all of them due to my big baby bump.

The first food stop was Fresh Fries food truck.

Loved these sweet potato fries dipped in hummus!! I also like how the sign says "protein boost." Sweet potatoes are actually pretty good for you, although when you deep-fry them I think all nutritional value is lost.

Drink stop with Honest Tea Honest Ade.

I didn't drink all of it right then because I still had 2.9 miles to go. I saved the rest of this Pomegranate Blue drink for later.

Pop Chips were next. I love these, especially since their not fried.

First time trying the Sour Cream & Onion flavor. Thumbs up.

Another drink stop: 8th Continent Soy Milk.

I'm a huge chocolate milk fan, but this would have been better served at the end of the race. Milk and running don't really go together. Chocolate milk is my favorite post-workout drink though. I wish 8th Continent was sold at Fresh & Easy. I would switch brands.

A third drink stop: Kern's. I didn't even try this one until I was finished because my stomach was too full of liquids. I loved the flavor though. I'm a huge pineapple coconut fan.

New food truck: Slapfish

A food I couldn't eat: oysters. A very unusual food to have on a race course. Obviously I had to pass up because of my state of pregnancy, but I am glad I had an excuse anyway.

Most appropriate food stop: KIND Healthy Snacks

I didn't eat this snack bar until a few days later and it was delicious. Cranberries, almonds, and honey made this a perfect pre-workout snack.

Next stop: Front Porch Pops

My camera wouldn't focus, but that doesn't mean I didn't like this popsicle. Popsicles are wonderful and this grilled pineapple one was probably the best popsicle I've ever eaten.

I see cupcakes!

The booth I was most looking forward to: Meringue Bake Shop! I was so happy to see Kristin.

Her cupcakes were like mini PushCakes: a shot of frosting topped with a piece of cupcake. They were a portable snack, which was perfect for eating and running at the same time.

This was the one stop where I wanted to stay all day. I have to admit that I tried all four flavors and stole a PushCake. I'm pretty sure Kristin wanted me to steal one because now I'm addicted to PushCakes! They are so perfect! If you haven't tried one, you must. You can find Meringue Bake Shop at the Great Park Farmer's Market every Sunday afternoon.

Sadly, the "race" was over and I finished my 5k in the longest time possible. But the eating didn't stop there. After the race, the food truck festival began. I had my pick from 50 different food trucks, some of which normally only roam in LA.

I started with the CheeseBall Wagon. Could a food truck be any more perfect? I ordered a "Sloppy Cheesy Chaz" slider. Absolutely wonderful! I could have eaten four more, but I wanted to try some other food.

I brought home a snack for my husband from the India Jones Chow Truck. I ordered him a Lamb Frankie and he loved it.

Lastly, I had to try Great Ball on Tires, partly because I love the name and partly because Saturday Night Foodies recommended them.

I am sad that they don't roam the streets of Orange County because my food was out of this world. The item I got isn't on their online menu so I wonder if it was a special item. Either way it was great. Two chicken balls covered with buffalo wing sauce, topped with mac & cheese and blue cheese. Yes, it is just as awesome as it sounds! I took some of it home to my husband and he loved it too.

Munchathon was a ton of fun and I hope to participate again next year. But next time I'm bringing a big group of friends! Oh, and I can't resist photo ops with cut-outs. I really am a cheeseball.

Cupcake Wars: Word Series of Poker

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Four gifted bakers will ante up for a chance to have their cupcake creations featured at an exclusive party for the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

This week's episode featured:

Corner Cupcakes (San Diego, CA - mobile cupcakery) **winner**

Luli Tuli Cupcakes (Los Angeles, CA - custom only)

Sweet Retreat (Minneapolis, MN)

Cupcake Royale (Seattle, WA) I've heard great things about this cupcake shop.

I also recorded the season premiere of Top Chef: Just Desserts. Can't wait to watch it tonight!

Cupcake Camp OC Tickets on Sale

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cupcake Camp OC 2011 is less than three weeks away (9/11)! Who's going to join me in eating lots of cupcakes and raising money for Children of the Night? Tickets are $15 and are available in 2 time slots: 12p-2p or 3p-5p. You can also purchase VIP tickets for $30. Tickets available for purchase here. See you there!

What Should This Pregnant Runner Wear?

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

In just a few weeks I will be "running" the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon. I signed up for this race way before I got pregnant. If this was any other race, I would just skip it, but Disney races are so much fun (and also a little expensive), so I just had to do it, even if I will be 28 weeks pregnant.

Now the big question: what to wear? It won't be easy to hide this big belly. Normally I wear my Hot Pink Team Sparkle skirt, but this time my friends and I are dressing up as Disney characters and pairing with a skirt. Carrie is going as Snow White. Kelly will be Tinkerbell. I still haven't decided yet.

Here are a few of my favorite options, along with matching post-race cupcakes:

Minnie Mouse

Photo: Team Sparkle

Photo: B Sweet Catering

Rapunzel

Photo: Team Sparkle

Photo: Cakes from the house of fudge

Cinderella

Photo: Team Sparkle

Photo: CakeCentral.com

Help me out! Which do you like best? Or do you have another idea for me?

OC Fair Cupcake Classic Carnage

2011-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

After tasting nearly 30 chocolate cupcakes at the OC Fair Cupcake Classic, I vowed to never eat a chocolate cupcake again. I am happy to report that I've already broken that vow.

Cupcake Wars: Comic Con Cupcakes

2011-08-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Four talented bakers will have to use their super powers if they want a chance to have their delicious display take center stage at Comic-Con's exclusive Masquerade Party.

Choco Patisserie (San Antonio, TX)

Wonderland Custom Cakes (online-Los Angeles, CA)

Three Babes & a Baker (Columbus, OH)

Sugar Mommy Cupcakes (Denville, NJ)

I have to say that this was my favorite episode of the season. I absolutely LOVED the theme. This gave the bakers opportunity for great decorations. Usually the bakers do an ok job at round 2, but this time all of the bakers did outstanding with their decorating. I loved Wonderland's decorating and cupcake flavors best. I would love to try those...looks like I need to track them down.

OC Fair Cupcake Classic: The Cupcakes

2011-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This year's OC Fair Cupcake Classic took place in the Exhibit Promenade hall with the Live, Eat, Grow exhibit. The room was packed! Whoever said the cupcake trend is dying is definitely wrong. This contest is unique in the fact that the bakers are present in the audience and are watching you eat their cupcakes.

There were five categories that the cupcakes were divided into: Professional, Amateur-Chocolate, Amateur-Fruit, Amateur-Other, and Kids. Each of the judges took a category to judge. I picked Amateur-Chocolate, as I was having a huge chocolate craving that day.

My category had nearly 30 entries. Could I survive?

All of the cupcakes were on display after the event. No public tasting though!

Each judge from the Amateur category picked their favorite cupcake to determine which would be Best in Show. My favorite was a Chocolate Cannoli cupcake. It had cannoli filling piped into the middle of the cupcake. The other two judges picked a strawberry/coolwhip/pretzel cupcake, and a lemon blueberry cupcake.

And the winner was.....the Lemon Blueberry cupcake.

The best part of the event was calling the winners on stage to receive their awards. I loved seeing the smiles and the happy tears! It made my slightly-upset stomach feel better. Congrats to all who entered the contest! I hope to see you all again next year.

Casey's Cupcakes to Overtake Sprinkles?

2011-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

According to an interview with the Fast Food Maven, Casey Reinhardt, owner of Casey's Cupcakes, is expanding her company with hopes to become a national brand. Casey's Cupcakes has been in the news a lot this year with the opening of a new location in Laguna Beach and an appearance (and win!) on Cupcake Wars. And now she's adding two more locations: Irvine and Newport Beach.

Her Newport Beach store will be at Fashion Island, just a hop, skip, & jump away from Sprinkles Cupcakes. Can Casey's Cupcakes compete with Sprinkles?

Not only is Casey dotting the map with her stores, she is also adding more products. Doggie cupcakes and cupcake lollipops will soon be available for sale.

Some people believe that the cupcake craze will fade, but Casey and I share the same thought when she says, "I believe that people will always eats sweets. It makes people feel better."

OC Fair Cupcake Classic Judges 2011

2011-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Photo: Babette

I was asked to be a judge again at this year's OC Fair Cupcake Classic. I had such a blast judging last year, so I was thrilled they asked me back again. Since there were way more entries this year, they needed more judges. I was honored to be judging alongside these ladies.

Babette of Bake Space

Amy of Amy's Culinary Adventures

Me (in a giant chef's coat covering my giant baby bump)

Rachel of La Fuji Mama

Rachel of Blackmarket Bakery

What's at the Bottom of Your Cupcake?

2011-08-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

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How often do you find a chocolate chip cookie at the bottom of your cupcake? I'm guessing not that often.

How Sweet It Is posted a recipe for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bottomed Cupcakes. These cupcakes have a cookie layer, a cake layer, a frosting layer, and are topped with a cookie. Sounds delicious to me! You can find the recipe here.

Cupcake Wars: Going for Gold: ESPYs

2011-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Four amazing bakers will have to put their game faces on if they want to have their cupcakes eaten by the biggest names in sports at this year's ESPYS.

Frost Bake Shoppe (The Woodlands, TX)

[Desi]gn Cakes & Cupcakes (Riverside, CA)

Coccadotts (Albany, NY)

Cake Dreams (Rockville, MD) **Winner**

Little Man Baby Shower Cupcake Toppers

2011-08-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I helped host a baby shower for a friend who just had a baby boy. I was in charge of decorations and was directed to Remarkable Home where I found the cutest cupcake toppers. Being a perfectionist and not too crafty, I made each topper by hand. I had forgotten how much using scissors for an extended period of time really hurts. But the result was worth it. How adorable!

Cupkates Opens in Vegas

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

Las Vegas has some great cupcake shops. A recent article on vegasinc.com highlighted a fairly new cupcake bakery in the area called Cupkates. Katie Thompson opened Cupkates by Kate in 2010, amid the recession, and it has slowly grown into a successful cupcake company.

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Cupkates by Kate's main product is their cupcake bouquets ($48), which is a bouquet of flowers that you can eat. I'd rather have this than regular flowers any day! They also sell mini cupcakes for $1 each.

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I've reviewed many Las Vegas cupcakeries, since I'm in the area several times a year. I can't wait to stop by Cupkates by Kate the next time I'm in Vegas.

Cupcake Wars: Miss USA

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Cupcake Wars, did you catch this week's episode titled Miss USA?:

Four gifted cupcake makers will compete to be crowned the winner and have their cupcake creations take center stage at a huge party celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas.

OllieCake (Phoenix, AZ) ~Winner~

Treet Shop (New York City, NY - online only)

Bliss Old Market Bakery (Omaha, NE)

Sweet Escape Cakes (Van Nuys, CA - catering only)

You could be the next baker on Cupcake Wars. Casting for Season 4 is going on right now. Go here for more details.

Casting Call for Cupcake Wars Season 4

2011-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I received the following press release from the casting director of Cupcake Wars:

NOW CASTING SEASON 4 OF THE FOOD NETWORK’S HIT NEW COMPETITION SHOW, “CUPCAKE WARS”!

We are casting bakers (store owners, caterers, pastry chefs, bakers with online companies…) NATIONWIDE, so get in touch with us ASAP to apply for the show.

If you think you and your cupcakes have what it takes to compete against the best bakers in the country, then we want to hear from YOU! The winner of the show will have their cupcakes featured at a HOLLYWOOD EVENT and receive WORLDWIDE PRESS! The winner of each episode also wins $10,000!!!

We’re looking for great bakers with AMAZING personalities in every city.

To be considered for the show, please e-mail us your name, phone number, photo (and website if available!) to: CupcakeWars4@gmail.com

Be sure to tell us what makes you the perfect candidate for “Cupcake Wars”!

**I know of quite a few cupcake shops that I'd love to see on Cupcake Wars. Get your applications out there!**

Review: Momofuku Milk Bar

2011-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here it is: my last review from New York City. This place was completely amazing! Let me tell you right now that you've never eaten any desserts like these before.

I didn't know much about Momofuku Milk Bar except that my husband's co-workers had raved about this place. We stumbled upon it in the middle of a summer rainstorm. I was only going to try one thing, but my husband pretty much ordered one of everything. And I'm certainly glad he did. This is what we got:

Grasshopper Pie ($5.25/slice): a chocolate and mint pie

Crack Pie ($5.25/slice): contains butter, heavy cream, brown sugar, sugar, and corn flour (found a recipe for it here)

Birthday Cake Truffles ($4 for 3): vanille confetti cake covered dipped in icing

Cornflake-Chocolate Chip-Marshmallow Cookie ($1.85): just as it sounds

Blueberry & Cream Cookie ($1.85): contains blueberries and white chocolate chips

Compost Cookie ($1.85): contains pretzels, potato chips, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coffee grounds, graham

Cereal Milk ($5): contains milk with cornflakes, brown sugar, and salt

I can't say one bad thing about anything we tasted! That's pretty amazing! I did enjoy the Crack Pie more than the Grasshopper Pie. I heard someone describe the Crack Pie as pecan pie without the pecans. It was seriously addicting, hence the name. Also, I loved the two cookies with salty ingredients in them. That combination of sweet and salty is just so satisfying. And last, the cereal milk. I know it sounds weird, but it was delicious!! I'm tempted to make my own at home. The prices of each item were a little higher than you'd normally pay for a small dessert (such as a cupcake), but because of their uniqueness I would say it's worth it.

If you're visiting New York City, you absolutely MUST stop by one of the Momofuku Milk Bar locations. You'll definitely thank me.

Momofuku Milk Bar (midtown)
15 W. 56th Street
New York City, NY
8am-11pm

Cupcake Graffiti

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

New York City

Cupcake Wars: Dodgers Cupcakes

2011-07-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

This week's episode of Cupcake Wars featured an OC-based cupcake competitor: Dolce Vista Sweets and Treats. Although she didn't win, it was great to see Orange County represented.

Dolce Vista Sweets & Treats (Orange County, CA) - I loved the cotton candy garnish on their Round 1 cupcakes.

Carrie Cakeaway (San Francisco, CA) - I was pretty sure that hot dogs in cupcake batter would not do so well. It bugs when I can't find a website for a company that was on Cupcake Wars. Marketing matters.

Heaven Cupcake (Salt Lake City, UT) - Their churro cupcake looked awesome! I would love to try this one. This was the first time I've seen a baker not decorate all of their cupcakes or get them all on the display.

Bonbon Bake Shop (Cleveland, OH) - WINNER! Although they also did not get all of their cupcakes on the display.

OC Fair 2011

2011-07-27T06:00:00.001-07:00

I count down until the OC Fair every year. Forget the rides, the concerts, and the games...I'm only there for the food. I manage to eat pretty healthy throughout the year, but when I enter the gates of the OC Fair, all bets are off.

This year I was provided complimentary tickets and food vouchers. Maybe a "thank you" for judging last year's OC Cupcake Classic?

The one bummer about this year's trip was my husband. I love him, but his no-fried-food resolution put a HUGE damper on the night. I mean, who goes to the fair and doesn't eat fried food? We started off with some healthy BBQ corn on the cob. Then dipped in a bucket of butter, sprinkled on cajun seasoning, and turned it from healthy to yummy.

Next we hit up Chicken Charlie's: the ultimate booth for fried foods. We had our pick of fried frog legs, fried Krispie Kreme chicken sandwich, fried Thin Mints, fried Kool-Aid, fried zucchini, and much more. I went with the fried avocados because avocados are a pregnancy superfood. I really wanted to sample the fried Klondike bars, but by the time I was ready for dessert, I couldn't handle any more fried foods.

My husband is a huge bratwurst and sauerkraut fan. Me, not so much.

Another one of my favorite fried foods is the fried cheese curds. I can never pass these up. And I didn't. But I did forget to take a picture.

Dessert time! My husband picked a vanilla soft serve ice cream. Serious? How boring can you be? I went with a chocolate dipped frozen banana with sprinkles ("there's always money in the banana stand" -- name that quote). It was delicious!

This is how I felt by the end of the night. Doesn't help that my baby bump makes me look huge too.

How cute is this little guy? Just 3 days old!

Before we left we visited the Ice Museum. They were handing out coats to borrow before you went inside the room. Lame! Or so I thought. I stepped in the room and immediately regretted by decision. I guess I should have expected a room full of ice sculptures to be extremely cold.

Although I am 5 months pregnant, I was able to go on one ride. Oh to be a kid again!

Thanks OC Fair. You are awesome once again.

The OC Fair is open July 15 - August 14.

Announcing Cupcake Camp OC 2011

2011-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, time for Cupcake Camp OC!!

I had such a blast eating way too many cupcakes last year and I can't wait to do it all again! The details have been announced and we will be eating cupcakes together on September 11, 2011 from 12p-5p at the Atrium Hotel in Costa Mesa, CA.

Registration is open for cupcake bakers. Make sure you register early (by July 31st) to get a discount. Registration is not yet open for ticket "sales" (donations). You can find updated info on the Cupcake Camp OC Facebook page and through Twitter.

You can also check out my coverage of last year's event here:

Cupcake Camp OC Event Summary
Cupcake Eating Contest
The Judges
Featuring The Cupcakes
Cupcake Camp OC Results
The Aftermath

I'll keep you updated with all the latest information. But for now, mark your calendars and practice using that sweet tooth.

Local Award-Winning Baker to be on Cupcake Wars

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to Dolce Vista Sweets & Treats last summer at the OC Fair. I was a judge at the OC Cupcake Classic and their cupcakes won 1st place and Best in Show. Later that year I was treated to a special winter wonderland cake from Dolce Vista. There are certainly perks of being The Cupcake Activist!

I'm excited to announce that they will be contestants on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars. Well, they already taped the episode, but it will air this Tuesday, July 26 at 8:00pm ET/PT. In this episode titled "Dodger Cupcakes," Dolce Vista and three other cupcake bakers will face off for the chance to have their cupcakes featured at a celebration honoring the world renowned LA Dodgers at a VIP party at the stadium.

I can't wait to watch!

Lemon Meringue Nest Cupcakes

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

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I have to admit that I've never seen a meringue nest on a cupcake before. These cupcakes from Made With Pink are lemon cupcakes topped with a bit of whipped cream and a homemade meringue nest filled with lemon curd and fresh strawberries and raspberries. Sounds like the perfect summer treat! You can find the recipe for all parts of this delicious treat on Made With Pink.

Cupcake Wars: Work of Art

2011-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Four talented cupcake makers will go head to head in hopes of having their cupcake creations at the center of an exclusive party for the Festival of Arts, where paintings and statues come to life.

Eat Cake! (Newburyport, MA)

Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. (San Diego, CA) - I've only visited a handful of cupcake shops in San Diego. Looks like I have more reasons to visit soon, especially after their WIN last night.

Hilton's Gourmet Bakery (Davenport, FL)

Cinn-fully Sweet (Anaheim, CA) - Hey, they are just down the street from me. They don't have a shop yet though.

Review: Doughnut Plant

2011-07-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

My trip to New York City wasn't only about cupcakes. I saved room for other treats too. One place I knew I had to visit was Doughnut Plant.

I actually found Doughnut Plant by accident. I had heard about it on another blog and happened to be running past it one day on my trip. I made a mental note to come back that night.

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I made it back and was amazed when I stepped in the store. This was definitely not your typical doughnut shop. One wall was covered by doughnut-shaped pillows. Opposite that was a display case filled with delicious-looking donuts. I forced myself to just choose one. I had already been stuffing my face all week and needed to calm down a bit. My pick was Creme Brulee.

The Creme Brulee doughnut from Doughnut Plant was easily the best doughnut I've ever tasted!! The custard filling was delicious and the caramel topping was torched perfectly. My only problem with it was it was way too small. It was roughly half the size of a normal doughnut. And the price to go with this delicious doughnut: $3.25! Wow! Small and pricey, but so worth the splurge!

All of the doughnuts weren't tiny though, the rest looked normal-sized. I'm definitely spoiled by doughnut prices here where I can get a chocolate cake doughnut with sprinkles for roughly $0.75. But the taste.....wow! This will definitely be a place I always go to when I'm in New York City. You should too.

Doughnut Plant
379 Grand St.
New York City, NY
www.doughnutplant.com
Twitter: @DoughnutPlantNY
Facebook: Doughnut Plant NYC

Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Kit

2011-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love Cost Plus World Market. Have you ever checked out their chocolate and sweets department? So awesome! It's the perfect excuse to buy a lot of candy. Anyways, the other day I was in there and saw this Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Kit. I thought maybe it was just a cupcake baking kit with ice cream cones, but it looks like the cones are silicone. Bummer, I love ice cream cones. I bet it's a fun activity for kids though.

Harry Potter Cupcakes for Harry Potter Geeks Like Me

2011-07-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to lie. I'm actually proud of the fact that I love Harry Potter. Whenever I got my hands on one of the new books, I couldn't put it down for a week.

Of course I am super excited for the final movie to come out this week. I'm not crazy enough to see the midnight showing (I'm pregnant and I get tired super early), but I plan on seeing it soon. What better way to celebrate the final movie then with special Harry Potter cupcakes.

Butterbeer Cupcakes from Birmingham Patch (recipe included)

Harry Potter themed cupcakes from Beantown Baker

Golden Snitch Cake Pops from Beantown Baker

Cupcake Onsesie from CakeSpy

2011-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

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I am 19 weeks pregnant, so I am in full-baby mode. My husband points out every stroller we see and I'm on the lookout for cute baby clothes. CakeSpy has these adorable onesies for sale on her website. The pink cupcake one almost makes me wish I was having a girl. I can't wait for my little boy though!

Cupcake Wars: Tim Burton Bake-Off

2011-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Episode aired 7/5/11:

Four artful cupcake bakers will compete for the chance to have their cupcakes featured at an exclusive party celebrating the art of famed movie director Tim Burton.

Custom Cakes by Tiffany (Los Angeles, CA)

Nancy's Fancies (Providence, RI)

Sassy Cakes (Naples, FL)

Cake in a Cup (Toledo, OH) - winner

Munchathon - Run and Eat, Eat and Run

2011-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I like to run and I love to eat, so this race totally makes sense to me. Munchathon is a food-themed 5k and obstacle course. The sample-sized food that you'll encounter on the course is from gourmet food trucks and local vendors. One of the featured food items is cupcakes from Meringue Bake Shop.

After the 5k, there is a festival of gourmet food trucks, beverages, and entertainment. So far there are 20 food trucks confirmed, including the Go Country 105 Chuck Wagon featuring B Sweet Catering cupcakes, Short Stop BBQ featuring Cupcake Blake cupcakes, the Bakery Truck and lots of food trucks I've been dying to try, like the Grilled Cheese Truck.

The event takes place in July 16 at Santiago Oak Park, next to Irvine Lake. Registration for the 5k includes admission to the festival ($49), but you can buy festival admission separate ($12) if you prefer not to burn calories before. I'll be there wobbling through the run course and stuffing my face after. I hope to see you there too!

Review: Magnolia Bakery

2011-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

If I could only go to one cupcake shop in New York City, it was going to be Magnolia Bakery. This is the place that started it all! Because of them, cupcake shops have popped up everywhere. So let me start off my saying, "Thank you Magnolia Bakery."

I walked into a bakery heaven. So many yummy desserts! But I was there with one mission: eat cupcakes.

The place was packed! This must be the right place.

I couldn't decide which cupcakes to try. There wasn't a flavor that caught my eye, so I picked out Vanilla, Red Velvet, and a special Swan Lake cupcake. Their cupcakes are $2.75-$3.25 each.

Vanilla
Usually I stay away from a vanilla cupcake, but Becky from Utah Loves Cupcakes recommended it. This was definitely the best of the three. The vanilla frosting tasted homemade and the cake was so-so. It didn't wow me, but it was good.

Red Velvet
I already knew that I wouldn't enjoy the red velvet because they don't use cream cheese frosting. Instead, the cupcake was topped with a whipped vanilla frosting. There's nothing I dislike more than whipped frosting. The cake wasn't any better. The fake-looking, bright red cake was dry. This cupcake was a fail for me.

Swan Lake
This chocolate/vanilla swirl cupcake was a fundraiser for something associated with Swan Lake. The chocolate frosting was delicious, but the vanilla frosting was the same whipped vanilla frosting found on the red velvet. The cake was also swirled with moist and dry cake. It was weird.

As much as I wanted to fall in love with this cupcake pioneer, Magnolia Bakery could only be summed up in one word: disappointment. Dry cake, little variety, whipped frosting...the perfect storm.

To be honest, I think that the cupcakes were the least appealing desserts in their shop. I should have tried some cheesecake, pies, or cookies. Maybe I would have had better luck. What do you think? Am I wrong? Did I hit them on an off day?

Magnolia Bakery
www.magnoliabakery.com
1240 Ave of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
NY locations: Rockefeller Center, Columbus Ave., Bleeker Street, Grand Central Terminal.
Also located in Los Angeles, CA and Dubai.
Facebook: Magnolia Bakery
Twitter: @magnoliabakery