Chicago Baking News

Cupcake Mondays Begin Tonight At Lincoln Square's Grafton Pub

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:31:42 -0600

The Huffington Post Reports: “The Grafton Pub & Grill in Lincoln Square is known for its...

JOHNNY CUPCAKES is coming to Columbia College TONIGHT (October...

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:50:00 -0500

JOHNNY CUPCAKES is coming to Columbia College TONIGHT (October 7th)!

Johnny Cupcake’s lecture talks about how he turned a simple idea into a multi-million dollar clothing brand with nontraditional methods and focuses on the importance of branding, small business management, product development, marketing, and communication.

This is perfect event and opportunity students to get a comprehensive picture of how small businesses get off the ground. It is open to the public!!!!

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpcjIM2LMDg

October 7th @ 6:30PM

The Conaway Center

1104 S Wabash

Sorry for the leave of absence, friends. Work and life have gotten in the way. Hopefully, we will...

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:47:04 -0500

Sorry for the leave of absence, friends. Work and life have gotten in the way. Hopefully, we will...

Check out Natalie from Bake and Destroy and Charlie, the...

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:41:00 -0500

Check out Natalie from Bake and Destroy and Charlie, the Community Manager at Threadless, talk on WTTW Chicago Tonight about Threadcakes.

It has inspired me to make my own submission!

Happy Shark Week! If you are not aware, it is the infamous Shark...

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Happy Shark Week!

If you are not aware, it is the infamous Shark Week on Discovery Channel this week. In honor of this special holiday, I made shark week cupcakes using the recipe from Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson.

A few tips:

I couldn’t find the cookies that were called for to make the fins, so I tried fondant instead. Fondant was a failure due to collapsing fins, so I tried graham crackers and they worked great!

When cutting the oval mouths for the sharks out of the fruit roll up, leave the plastic on while cutting to make it easier and less sticky.

Instead of using swedish fish, I used the colored cheddar Goldfish. I like them better because they are more colorful!

Don’t make the sharks to big – they will make the cupcake too top heavy.

(Click on the photo above to see more pictures of the baking process on my personal blog.)

Chicago Baking News is taking a bit of a hiatus for a few days due to a wedding, fun, and...

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:22:08 -0500

Chicago Baking News is taking a bit of a hiatus for a few days due to a wedding, fun, and...

Chicago Etsy Sellers Cook Up Their Own Chicago-Inspired...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:14:00 -0500

Moxiedoll - Useful Utensils Art

Laineys Pawtique - Cookies for Pups

Bees Knees Creative - Bears Cookies

Milestone Memories - Cupcake Toppers

Chicago Etsy Sellers Cook Up Their Own Chicago-Inspired Goods

From cupcake toppers to dog treats, Chicago Etsy sellers are creating their own expression of baking and Chicago.

Check out these Etsy treats:

Moxiedoll - Useful Utensils
Laineys Pawtique & Bakery - Laineys Coconut Milk Chocolate n’ Coconut Cookies (for the pups!)
Bees Knees Creative - Hand Decorated Bears Sugar Cookies
Milestone Memories - Chicago Sports Cupcake Toppers

August Iron Cupcake Chicago: Summer Fruits IronCupcake is a...

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:59:47 -0500

August Iron Cupcake Chicago: Summer Fruits

IronCupcake is a friendly cupcake competition where amateur and professional bakers put their skills and recipes to the test. Each month features a special ingredient that needs to be incorporated into the cupcake. August’s theme is summer fruit!

Summer fruits are juicy and delicious – and now is your time to use them in your own unique recipe and compete in IronCupcake.

If you are not a baker, don’t worry there is still fun for you! You can taste all the cupcakes, vote and be entered in a raffle, all for just a $5 fee.

So either baking, competing, or tasting, you are sure to have fun at the IronCupcake Chicago Challenge!

When: Monday, August 9th at 6:00 p.m.

Where: Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro (3905 N. Lincoln Avenue)

(For more info click the pic.)

Paintings and Produce.

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:07:20 -0500

Remember today is the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Farmers Market from 7am to 3pm. The open...

It’s Sprinkles Time! Sprinkles opened with a bang today at...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:00:29 -0500

It’s Sprinkles Time!

Sprinkles opened with a bang today at their new Chicago location (50 E. Walton Street). Just look at that line!

Why the rush? Well in 2004, the first Sprinkles was fonded in Beverly Hills by Candace Nelson. That Sprinkles was the first cupcake bakery in the US! Today, Sprinkles makes simple yet satisying cupcakes from scratch everyday at all 10 locations throughout the country. You know it is a Sprinkles cupcake by their signature dot topper.

So stop by today, join the line and get a taste of history!

Insider Tip: I opted to pre-order my cupcakes online to skip the line/rush. I suggest you do the same by going here. You can even have them delivered, but you will miss seeing their adorable shop.

Yesterday, I stopped by Bleeding Heart Bakery (1955 W. Belmont)...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:48:00 -0500

Yesterday, I stopped by Bleeding Heart Bakery (1955 W. Belmont) to pick up their new cookbook, Who You Callin’ Cupcake?, and of course some treats! I picked up a vegan chocolate chip cookie (my favorite) and two of their July featured cupcakes; Blueberry Pie and Ice Cream Sundae.

Unfortunately, the chocolate chip cookie was on the very doughy side, and I was a bit dissapointed. I have to confess, this is my problem with Bleeding Heart, consistency. When you get something good, it is so good, but you can’t always get the exact same thing again. I can tell they are working on this, because they FINALLY got a refigerated case to keep their cupcakes in (before they were kept out in the open and often went stale).

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Bleeding Heart fan and their Ice Cream Sundae Cupcake was delish! But they do have some kinks to work out – as many businesses do.

Anyways, I can’t wait to get crackin’ on some of their recipes and see how they come out! I’ll have to channel my inner punk rock baker. If they fail, I still have come left leftover Bleeding Heart cupcakes in the fridge!

Insider Tip: Pick up Who You Callin’ Cupcake? at a Bleeding Heart Bakery location, because they have signed copies by owners, Vinny and Michelle. Exciting!

The Sprinkle Jackpot The other day I was wandering the aisles of...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:24:00 -0500

The Sprinkle Jackpot

The other day I was wandering the aisles of Home Goods (2731 N. Elston) and came scross the sprinkle mother-load! They were just beaming there in all their sprinkle glory… so many colors, so many styles, and so cheap! (The sprinkles ranged from $1.99 to $4.99.)

If you are an avid baker like me and love a good sprinkle, I urge you to go there soon and check out the selection!

Happy Sprinkling!

Delicious Vegan Café put together yet another amazing...

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:00 -0500

Delicious Vegan Café put together yet another amazing animal-free menu for their Sunday Night Dinner.

This Sunday, July 25th, they will be serving up a green salad, jerk seitan, blackeyed peas and mashed sweet potatoes. If you still have room, coconut raspberry sorbet will be for dessert. Be sure to RSVP at rsvp@adelicousvegancafe.com

If you cannot attend Delicious’ Sunday dinner, be sure to stop by the shop sometime soon. Delicious is working hard on their “General Store” and new products will be added every week! Currently, you can pick up OM Bee beauty products, a wide selection of teas, and lots of gluten free baking goodies!

Don't Forget Empty Bottle Farmer's Market TODAY!

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:00:00 -0500

When: Thursday, July 22nd from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Where: The Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) The bar...

Gelato is in the Air Black Dog Gelato (859 N. Damen Ave) is a...

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Gelato is in the Air

Black Dog Gelato (859 N. Damen Ave) is a new treat shop in Wicker Park, and with its unique gelato flavors and owner, Jessica Oloroso’s training under Top Chef’s Stephanie Izard, it has something to prove. Ice cream better watch its back!

You might be deceived by black dog’s demure pink walls and small gelato cases, but that shop holds a lot of punch.

Since gelato holds its peak flavor for only a few days, it is typically only made in small batches which allows for more experimentation with flavors. Jessica Oloroso, is the queen of the testing lab.

Jessica regularly whips up flavors like goat cheese-cashew carmel and sesame fig chocolate chip. The kick of the mexican hot chocolate could have you craving gelato in Chicago’s negative degree weather.

Jessica doesn’t just stop there. She offers up gelato cookie sandwiches, homemade sodas, and whiskey gelato bars – no wonder they are open till 11 p.m., these are some R rated treats.

Check out Black Dog today, and be ready to get your tasting spoon on!

Location: 859 N. Damen Ave

Phone: 773 235.3116

Mon - Thurs: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Fri - Sat: 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Sun: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Empty Bottle Farmer's Market with a side of Happy Hour!

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:01:22 -0500

When: Thursday, July 22nd (Tomorrow) from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Where: The Empty Bottle (1035 N....

Wear Your Shirt and Eat it too! Threadcakes is a fun, online...

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:14:00 -0500

Wear Your Shirt and Eat it too!

Threadcakes is a fun, online cake-baking contest that amazingly combines the designs of Threadless designs with cake decorating.

Visit the Threadcakes website to view the 2010 Contest entries and don’t fret, you still have time to submit your own!

You can pick up any of the t-shirt designs at the Threadless website and/or their retail locations (3011 N. Broadway St. or 1905 W. Division St.)

Whoopie, it’s Saturday!!!!!

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:40:29 -0500

Whoopie, it’s Saturday!!!!!

Get your Vegan on at Pitchfork In between listing to the...

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:04:50 -0500

Get your Vegan on at Pitchfork

In between listing to the tunes at Pitchfork Music Festival, check out the vendors that are offering sweet vegan:

Chicago Diner (3411 N. Halsted) is offering a variety of delicious vegan baked goods
Temptation Ice Cream is offering a selection of vegan ice cream (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Fair Trade Chocolate, Gluten-Free Vanilla, etc.) and air puffed marshmallows!

Happy 5th Anniversary, Swim Café! Go over to Swim Café (1357...

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:06:51 -0500

Happy 5th Anniversary, Swim Café!

Go over to Swim Café (1357 West Chicago Ave.) and celebrate their 5th Anniversary with COMPLIMENTARY Mini Cupcakes, Bridgeport Coffee, and adorable decorations! Be sure to go back at 6:00 p.m. when Lush will be pouring wine to accompany complimentary Mini Strata! How exciting!