Category Archives: Cupcakes

March 16, 2010

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake Roundup

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cupcakes, Los Angeles, Sweets
Say what?
Crumbs Bake Shop's Lucky One cupcake.

Crumbs Bake Shop's Lucky One cupcake.

I found the perfect way to make it through St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow: go on a bakery hop! Fortunately a ton of L.A. bakeries have created Irish-inspired goodies for the holiday and I rounded them up in a post for LA Weekly’s Squid Ink. There’s Kiss My Bundt’s Bailey’s Irish Cream cake with Irish cream butter cream and Yummy Cupcakes‘ Guinness cupcakes. And you know Sprinkles‘ Irish chocolate cupcake with Belgian dark chocolate and Baileys Irish cream cheese frosting is not to be missed.

For foodies who’d rather bake than crowd the bars tomorrow, Kiss My Bundt is also teaching a baking class where you will learn to make baked treats from scratch as well as tipple a complimentary beverage of Baileys, Guinness or Irish whiskey.

See my Squid Ink post here.

On a boozier note, if you’re a discerning drinker on the hunt for good St. Paddy’s Day cocktails, take a look at this.

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December 30, 2009

This Weekend: Champagne Cupcakes, Detox Cocktails, Penguin Swim

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Cupcakes, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Recreation, Shopping & Sales, Sweets
1 Comment

Here we are; the end of 2009! Yippee! And tear. Happy New Year, crackheads! May you have an awesome holiday and an even better 2010. You all be safe out there!

Wednesday, December 30

Champagne Cupcakes at SusieCakes
This cupcakery is so smart! It has created cupcakes with which to toast the New Year and to accompany a hangover brunch the following day. Real champagne spikes its pink champagne (brut rose pink cake with white frosting) and Morning-After Mimosa cupcakes. These holiday beauties are only available today and tomorrow so get ‘em while you can. $3 each.

Friday, January 1

New Year’s Day Detox Cocktails at RH at the Andaz
Ow your pounding head? Why not grab some detox cocktails at the Sunset Strip’s airy hotel dining room? Don’t forget your sunglasses though cuz it’s bright in there with those huge windows looking out at Sunset Boulevard. There will be Bloody Marys as well as hangover relief in the form of fresh limonatta, organic multivitamin juice and green smoothie (avocado, pear, arugula lettuce, lemon and ginger). See Food GPS’s post for the brunch food details.

  • 10am-5pm. RH at the Andaz, 8401 W. Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood (map).

50th Annual Venice Penguin Swim
No doubt you’ve heard about the Polar Bear Plunge where crazy folk back east dive into icy waters during the winter donning nothing but skivvies and a swim cap. In L.A. our version is the Penguin Swim. OK, it’s not as cold here as it is, say, in Coney Island, but it’s still an insane, albeit invigorating ritual…so I imagine. This event has been going on for 50 years and last year 80 participants did it. Will this year bring more? Sidewalk Cafe will provide snacks and hot drinks to the shivering masses.

  • 11am-1pm. Free. The breakwater at the end of Windward Boulevard in Venice Beach (map).

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day
For a change, a good deed goes rewarded! Starting January 1, when you sign up to volunteer for a day at a participating organization (and your service is completed and verified) you’ll get free one day admission to Disneyland! Get your family involved, too, as the offer allows for a maximum of eight members of your household to sign up.

Post-Parade Showcase of Tournament of Roses Parade Floats
I always found the Tournament of Roses Parade painful-boring-depressing to watch because it’s always right after that raucous NYE and who can stand people that cheery so early in the AM? But if you still want to see the beautiful flowery floats in person, you can as they will all be parked along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards in Pasadena for public perusal after the parade. You can even download a Tournament of Roses-produced audio tour of the floats off iTunes to listen to as you view them! Allow for two hours to enjoy the display and don’t forget comfortable walking shoes, bottled water and your camera.

  • 1-5pm. $7. Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards, Pasadena (map).

Saturday, January 2

Get $10 Groupon Bucks When You Buy Two Deals
When you purchase two separate deals on Groupon, the daily deal Web site, before midnight of January 3 you get back $10 Groupon bucks to apply to your next deal! The site already offers deep discounts on events, shopping, and venues so it could mean that you get $40 worth of food at a place like Ciudad for $10 or a $188 spa treatment for $40!

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December 15, 2009

Best of L.A. Cupcakes Tour With Bloggers and Chevy

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cupcakes, Dining, Los Angeles, Sweets
10 Comments
cupcakes 026

Crumbs' Old School Cupcake

Bloggers on Best of Tours

Happy National Cupcake Day! Yup, that’s today. And last Saturday I celebrated it early with a bunch of bloggers via a “best of L.A.” cupcakes tour thanks to Tara of Tara Met Blogs/LA Cupcake Meetup and Chevrolet. She normally does cupcake meetups at one location at a time but the carmaker was willing to supply the rides in the form of Equinoxes and one Transformer edition Camaro and chauffeur us to top cupcakeries Crumbs Bake Shop, Sprinkles, SusieCakes and Vanilla Bake Shop. We got treated to free cupcakes at each stop and received a gift bag at the end.

This is part of a grassroots effort by General Motors to reach out to the community. Last week they had shuttled 500 USC students in nine Equinoxes and Camaros to area fast food joints for a study break during their finals. I had asked the GM rep at the event about the possibility of doing one with cocktails because that’s when you really need a designated driver. Surprisingly he seemed open to it but we’ll see.

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December 3, 2009

This Weekend: Repeal Day on Ice, Bloggers Who Bake, Unique LA

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Cupcakes, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Nightlife, Recreation, Shopping & Sales, Sweets
2 Comments

Lots of cool things going on this weekend, filled with cheer and the giving spirit. Makes me like the holidays again.

Thursday, December 3

New Happy Hour at Froma
Froma on Melrose, the boutique European cafe, wine bar and gourmet marketplace in West Hollywood, kicks off its new weekday (4-7pm) Happy Hour today. Enjoy specials like $4 beers (Yanjing, China’s No. 1 selling beer), $5 glasses of wine (prosecco and Torrontes) and small bites like parmesan fries ($3) and kobe sliders ($4) in the venue’s intimate 15-seat bar-style space.

  • Monday-Friday, 4-7pm. Froma, 7960 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map). (323) 653-3700.

Friday, December 4

Hatchi Roku Four Elements Fondue Friday
Santa Monica restaurant Four Elements debuts Fondue Night featuring a potato martini bar ($5 a glass) and fondue from the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. And each night there’s a $25 prix fixe menu offering an appetizer, entree and dessert based on the four elements theme of earth, water, fire and air.

  • 7-10pm. BreadBar, 602 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica (map). (310) 395-9490.

Saturday, December 5

Free Breakfast at Beachcomber Cafe at Malibu Pier
Malibu’s Beachcomber Cafe is giving out a free breakfast in exchange for one new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more to donate to Toys for Tots. Freebie brekkie choices include cinnamon roll French toast or scrambled eggs with bacon or sausage and coffee or tea. One toy per person for one breakfast entree.

  • 7-10am. The Beachcomber Cafe at Malibu Pier, 23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (map). (310) 456-9800.

Eat My Blog Charity Bake Sale
Meet some of your favorite food bloggers like H.C. of LA/OC Foodventures, Diana of Diana Takes a Bite and Cathy Danh of gas*tron*o*my and enjoy their tasty wares at the first ever “Eat My Blog” bake sale. This yummy occasion will feature the likes of which you’ve never seen or tasted — bacon brownies with bourbon caramel sauce and black sesame cupcakes with matcha frosting — as well as classics like whoopie pies, rum balls and red velvet cupcakes. Click here for the full menu. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Awww!

  • 10am-4pm. Zeke’s Smokehouse, 7100 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood (map).

Unique LA 2nd Annual Holiday Show
Forget mall madness and instead support 300 local designers and artists. This two-day shopping event will also have free workshops like how to hand-stitch robot ornaments and make your own Daily Monster as well as a lounge area and a couple of cafes, including a pop-up Tiara Cafe. For $10 you get unlimited entry for both days as well as a limited-edition tote bag with a design from Studio Number One by Shepard Fairey. Partial proceeds of the cost go to the local non-profit 826LA.

  • Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm. California Market Center, 110 E 9th Street, Downtown (map).

The Edison’s Repeal Day Skating Party
In celebration of Repeal Day, the Edison is throwing a skating party at Pershing Square’s ice rink, where for $25 you get rented skates, skating time, cocoa and cookies as well as a visit from Santa and his missus. And after the skating rink (8-9pm), everyone will adjourn to the Edison for a sample of Edison’s Christmas blend of Woodford Reserve bourbon and food, drinks and eggnog. Get your tickets asap as there are only 100 spots. Hope to see you there. Just give me lots of room on the rink. I might fall on you. Proceeds from the event go to the Midnight Mission Downtown.

  • 6pm. Pershing Square, 532 S Olive Street, Downtown (map). Click here for tickets.
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November 26, 2009

This Weekend: Giving, Gobbling and Gluttony

Written by Caroline on Crack in Beauty & Fashion, Cupcakes, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Recreation, Shopping & Sales, Sweets
1 Comment


Happy Thanksgiving! Since I have a persimmons crumble baking in the oven, I’ve gotta go but I threw the following weekend roundup together for you in case you were already looking past T-Day.

Thursday, November 26

Donate a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Through Goldstar
For just $10 you can provide a turkey dinner for five people thanks to Goldstar and Union Station Homeless Services. Go to the Goldstar site and choose how much you’d like to donate ($10 denominations). The site will be accepting donations through Sunday.

11th Annual Gobble Gobble Give at the Echo
This annual volunteer event has been delivering meals to the homeless around the Echo for 11 years! Join in and lend a hand by showing up with a dish of food and some toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap) or used clothing or blankets. Event starts at 10am but come at 8:30am if you want to help set up. They’ll assign tasks in the morning.

  • 8:30am. The Echo, 1822 Sunset Boulevard, Echo Park (map). (213) 413-8200.

Friday, November 27

Pink Friday at Vanity Room
One of my favorite go-to clothing boutiques for party frocks is celebrating the infamous day-after T-day sales day by offering everything in store tax free! Shoppers will be treated to complimentary mimosas as they browse.

  • 10am-8pm. Vanity Room, 13217 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (310) 821-3088‎.

Saturday, November 28

Inaugural Santa Monica Gobble Wobble
The event is a fun, family-friendly morning featuring a costume contest, music and pre- and post-race festivities. It’s a great opportunity for runners and walkers to enjoy a Turkey Trot on the streets in Santa Monica.

  • 8am. $35 before Friday, $40 on race day. Emerson Reed Park, Santa Monica (map).

Kiss My Bundt Cookbook Release and Author Signing
Bodacious bundt baker Chrysta Wilson is hosting a two-day open house at Kiss My Bundt where she will sign copies of her first book, Kiss My Bundt as well as demonstrate how to make cakes from scratch. Enjoy free samples of cakes like chocolate bacon, lime basil and rum pound cake and sample organic, fair-trade coffee from Cafecito Organico. And oh my, there will also be Perrier Jouet Champagne cocktails made by aphrodisiac expert Amy Reiley.

  • Saturday and Sunday 1-4pm, Kiss My Bundt, 8104 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles (map). (323) 655-0559.
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November 11, 2009

The Great Pumpkin Roundup: How LA Eateries Celebrate Fall

Written by Kaelin Burns in Cupcakes, Dining, Lists, Los Angeles, Sweets
4 Comments

Flickr shot by Teo

Flickr shot by Teo

By Kaelin Burns

I can’t get enough of pumpkin, which is why fall is one of my favorite seasons. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it’s right around November that restaurants really start to incorporate this fall favorite into dishes and I love seeing what they come up with. Pumpkin is such a versatile ingredient, just as good in savory dishes as sweet ones, and a variety of establishments and cuisines are finding new ways to use this amazing ingredient.

First, let’s check out the savory:

Pitfire Pizza makes gourmet pizzas at greatPumpkin Pizza at Pitfire prices. Check out this seasonal pizza special: organic pumpkin, toasted pepitas, wild greens, fontina cheese, and pumpkin seed oil served on their famously crispy thin crust. The pepitas provide a great contrasting crunchy texture to the soft chunks of pumpkin. This is another light dish using pumpkin, which means you won’t be too full for dessert!

  • Check the Web site for locations.

While this certainly isn’t a new dish, Mi Piace serves ravioli al burro e salvia (pumpkin ravioli in brown butter with sage and parmesan cheese). It’s a favorite and for good reason. The delicately buttered pasta, creamy pumpkin puree, and crispy sage are an amazing combination of flavors that shows the quality of their dishes.

  • 25 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena (map). (626) 795-3131.

For a more unique use of pumpkin try the ultra spicy Jungle Curry at Chadaka Thai. This spicy curry is made without coconut milk, so it’s nice and light. It also features green beans, baby corn, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and basil with your choice of chicken, pork or beef. Pour over rice and enjoy!

  • 310 N. San Fernando Boulevard, Burbank (map). (818) 848-8520.

And now on to the sweet, because there’s nothing better than dessert anyway:

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from The Counter

Take advantage of The Counter’s shake of the month and indulge in a super creamy pumpkin pie milkshake. Vanilla ice cream mixed with pumpkin pie filling, a mountain of whipped cream, and topped off with graham cracker crust crumbles! You’re definitely not gonna want to share this one.

  • Check the Web site for locations.

Susina Bakery gives you pumpkin two ways: tarts and cheesecake! These are delicious treats any day, and are also a great addition to your Thanksgiving dessert spread—because with all these pumpkin options, you’re gonna need an entire spread to enjoy them all.

  • 7122 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles (map). (323) 934-7900.

Sprinkles is well known for its cupcakes, so it’s no surprise that it does fall flavors right with a pumpkin spice cupcake and cinnamon cream cheese frosting. It has mastered creating a perfectly light and fluffy cupcake topped with the perfect amount of frosting. This one hits the spot.

  • 9635 Little Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills (map). (310) 274-8764.

I hope you enjoy these pumpkin dishes from across LA — they’re some of my favorites!

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August 3, 2009

Yummy Cupcakes: Happy Hour Cocktail Cupcakes & Concession Stand Flavors

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Cupcakes, Dining, Los Angeles, Sweets
1 Comment

Applying frosting to Happy Cakes

I may not have been crazy about Yummy Cupcakes in the past but I definitely have to give them credit for their creativity and daring with regards to flavors. Pancakes n’ Bacon? Tomato Soup Cake? Chocolate Merlot?

Yup, remember when they had wine flavored cupcakes? Well, cocktail enthusiasts might be happy to know that they can now enjoy some popular cocktails in cupcake form. But not only is there alcohol baked-in goodness, but you can get them for $2.50 between 5 and 6pm on Fridays during the store’s “happy hour.” (The cocktail cupcakes are normally $3 each.) I’m both skeptical of and intrigued by the cocktail choices. But what do you think of them?

Featured flavors include:

  • Apple Martini: Sour apple and vodka cupcake frosted with a sour apple buttercream, rimmed with sugar crystals and topped with a cherry
  • Cosmopolitan: Vanilla/cranberry/lime cupcake baked with a “shot” of vodka, frosted with a cranberry/lime buttercream, garnished with a sugared jelly “slice of lime”
  • Lemon Drop: Lemon Drop cupcake made with fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, baked with a “shot” of vodka, frosted with a lemon buttercream, garnished with a sprinkle of sugar and a sugared jelly “slice of lemon”
  • Long Island Iced Tea: A blend of liquors in both the cupcake and buttercream give you an adult version of a summer iced tea
  • Margarita: Lemon/lime cupcake baked with a “shot” of tequila, frosted with a lime buttercream, garnished with a sprinkle of salt and a sugared jelly “slice of lime”
  • Pina Colada: Coconut/pineapple cupcake baked with a “shot” of rum, frosted with a coconut buttercream, garnished with a sprinkle of coconut, a maraschino cherry and a mini umbrella

Heyyy, where’s the Irish Car Bomb? Now THAT would be something. Interestingly enough, a check of August’s full menu also lists other cocktail flavors like Blue Hawaiian, Fuzzy Navel, Hurricane, Mai Tai, Mojito, Mudslide and Strawberry Daiquiri but none of these are listed on the calendar. Perhaps they’re just available for special orders like that yummy-sounding Elvis cupcake.

BTW, Yummy now also has Movie Concession Stand Cupcakes. That’s right, you’ll be able to enjoy the likes of Junior Mint, Sour Patch Kids, Sno Caps, Good n’ Plenty, Hot Tamale and even Buttered Popcorn in a cute cake. FYI, Buttered Popcorn is described as “a buttery rich cupcake frosted with buttery, salty buttercream, topped with popcorn.” Mmm? Check Yummy’s August calendar for when each flavor is available.

At the Burbank and Santa Monica stores.

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