Pistachio cupcake with whipped cream frosting at Brooklyn Cupcake, plus NYC charity cupcake competition March 25th

This cupcake was delicious! It's a seasonal cupcake at Brooklyn Cupcake; I don't know how long they'll have it, so if you're in New York, get on over to Williamsburg and try it. I fully admit to not being a "pistachio person" but I liked this because the flavor didn't overwhelm you. It was sweet, with more than a hint of pistachio, but not so much that it bombarded my taste buds. And the cake was green! One thing I love, aside from the taste of the cupcakes at Brooklyn Cupcake and the unique flavors, is that they put so much effort into each cupcake, researching, weighing various options and ways of creating any given cupcake flavor. If you talk to the owners, they'll tell you that they truly take the time to perfect each new flavor and make sure it's what they want it to be before selling it. Visit brooklyncupcake.com for more information, and keep up with them on Facebook, because they're constantly innovating and adding flavors.



Also, Sunday, March 25th, at Taj II in the Flatiron District (it's changed from the poster below) they're part of a charity cupcake event in Manhattan to support the group A Young Mother's D.R.E.A.M. - visit Eventbrite for details and to register:

Local pastry chefs in the NYC area compete once again for the $250 GRAND PRIZE and the notoriety and business that come with winning CupCake Wars NYC!

Join us for a great afternoon of networking, food and fun. There will be over 500 cupcakes in the building along with 20 different flavors. As an attendee you can sample every flavor as long as supplies last!

Great Purple Cupcake Project!

It's that time of year again, the Great Purple Cupcake Project is almost upon us. We love the idea of cupcakes helping raise awareness for seizure disorders and epilepsy, and the fact that cupcakeries around the world participate.

The (growing) list of cupcakeries and bakeries participating is here.

You can read more about Purple Day here, and more about the awesome Anita Kaufmann Foundation here.

CupcakeCamp Bournemouth is looking for more cupcakes and prize donations

Here's a guest post from the organizers of CupcakeCamp Bournemouth, which is coming up on March 17th!



As many of you are aware and if you haven’t already heard, Bournemouth’s second Cupcake Camp is due to take place at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth, Dorset UK on Saturday 17th of March from 2-5pm. Cupcake Camps originated in the States and bring together Cupcake lovers everywhere to enjoy and celebrate the cupcake whilst raising money for charity. Last year’s Cupcake Camp took place at the Lighthouse and raised nearly £1700 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the organizers Margaret Hitchman of Cake Heaven and Melanie Kiani of Simply Events are supporting the NSPCC’s Childline – now in it’s 25th year – and have Esther Rantzen opening the Camp as their Celebrity judge. They also hope to raise money for a local charity Diverse Abilities Plus through the raffle. The money is raised is through the public paying £1 - £2 per cupcake, as bakers from as far as Sussex travel with their beloved cupcakes to donate them to charity. On top of the cupcake donations there are various competitions the bakers enter to win the coveted title of Best of show and there are prizes to be won too! SO far the Cupcake tally is at 1864 but more cakes are needed!!

This year the organizers have opened the event up to include Giant Cupcakes, Brownies, pastries, cookies and cake pops so there will be plenty to enjoy for everyone!

Cupcake Camp will also have a live show to include singers and acrobats and cheerleaders, as well as stallholders selling beautiful gifts, jewellery and make up for you to treat your mum for Mother’s day the following day. There’s fun and cupcake decorating as well as creative crafts provided by Creation Station so kids will really enjoy the FREE day out!

Margaret Hitchman the organizer has been astounded at the wonderful support they have received but there’s always room for more cakes. If you are interested in donating to Cupcake Camp to support this worthy cause then please get in touch with Margaret on 07762 788559 or by emailing her on mycakeheaven at gmail.com or via their facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/cupcakecampbournemouth

They are also needing local businesses to donate prizes such as Spa Days, Children’s Cake Decorating sets, Icing sets, Tins and bakeware, Food mixers, Bowls and whisks, Cake stands, Books, Spatulas, Aprons, Books, tea towels, oven gloves in matching sets, weekend breaks, meals out or vouchers or anything that you think you could spare as they have 14 categories they are looking for prizes for as well as the raffle.

So why not pop along on 17th of March to the Pavilion, Bournemouth and grab yourself a cupcake – you know you want to!

Cupcake chuck, cupcake samples and cupcake decorating at KC Cakefest

Tomorrow is official the start of KC Cakefest, which, according to The Pitch, is:

Cake challenges look incredible on television. They’re even more amazing in person. That’s the idea behind celebrity baker Mike Elder’s charity CakeFest on Saturday and Sunday at the Kansas City Convention Center. A dozen cake artists, each of whom has appeared in a televised competition, battle it out. Events include cake demonstrations, a cake decorating expo, a cake dive and a cupcake chuck. And at 1 p.m. Saturday, Elder attempts to break the world record for the world’s fastest edible car — it’s a hot rod made of cake. KC CakeFest is a benefit for the Whole Person, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities lead independent lives. Admission costs $40 to each of the celebrity cake battles, taking place Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.

There are classes today, and you can find out more and get the scheduleat their website and Facebook page. I'd love to know more about what a cupcake chuck is - if anyone goes and has photos and would like to do a guest post, email us at cupcakestakethecake at gmail.com with "KC Cakefest" in the subject!

Lady Gaga love, bravery, acceptance cupcakes by Sweet celebrating her visit to Harvard

Cupcakery Sweet in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, is sweet on Lady Gaga and celebrating her visit tomorrow to Harvard University and her Born This Way Foundation, with cupcakes! This, of course, is not the first time Lada Gaga has been immortalized in cupcake form.

In honor of Lady Gaga’s visit to Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education tomorrow to unveil her Born This Way Foundation, Sweet has created the Be Sweet cupcake with custom-made Lady Gaga and inspirational word edible fondant toppers.

100% of the proceeds of Be Sweet cupcakes sold at Sweet’s Harvard Square location tomorrow will go to the singer’s non-profit Foundation. Prices are $4.25/each, $48/dozen and $64/for 16. After tomorrow, Be Sweet cupcakes will be available by special order online (sweetcupcakes.com) until March 29, 2012.

Photo by Michael Blanchard

Mission of Born This Way Foundation, via their website:

Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, the Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2011 to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a braver, kinder world.

We believe that everyone has the right to feel safe, to be empowered and to make a difference in the world. Together, we will move towards acceptance, bravery and love.

Or your cupcakes could say "Stop Talking. Start Eating."

Via General Assembly (@GA on Twitter). Cupcakes by NYC custom cupcake makers (they also ship) Baking for Good, where you get to choose a charity to benefit from your purchase!



Baking for Good is also making custom St. Patrick's Day cupcakes for sale at Sanctuary Hotel New York as part of their "Sanct" Patrick's Day Package. Via Baking for Good on Facebook.

Donate a can, get a free cupcake at Chicago's Southport Grocery

Great promotion on great cupcakes by Southport Grocery in Chicago! Via Roscoe View Journal - see southportgrocery.com for more information:

Now, as the grand finale to its Four Fortnight promotion, Southport Grocery is asking customers for something in return–cans. From Feb. 13-26, the cafe will be giving away one of its signature cupcakes to any customer who donates a canned good. So to recap: You give a can and get a free cupcake in exchange. It’s fair trade at its finest.

Southport Grocery will then turn over all donations to the Lakeview Pantry, which operates an East location at 3831 N. Broadway Ave. and a West location at 1414 W. Oakdale Ave. The pantry, established in 1970, provides food to people living below the poverty line, serving neighborhoods bounded by Lake Michigan and Damen on the east and west, and Irving Park and Fullerton to the north and south.

The canned goods drive comes at a time of year when food pantries start to deplete the stockpile of donations that poured in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lakeview Pantry has expressed a particular need for canned tuna, canned meats, canned fruit, peanut butter and shelf-stable fruit juice. Pop-top cans that don’t require a can opener are always greatly appreciated.

CupcakeCamp Bournemouth is happening March 17th

The second annual CupcakeCamp Bournemouth is coming up March 17th! We'll have more info on it but wanted to give you a proper heads up about this fun event that will benefit a local charity. They are actively looking for cupcake donations (they're looking to get 4,000 cupcakes donated), and more information at cupcakecampbournemouth.co.uk and Facebook and @CupcakecampBmou on Twitter. More info on what they need in terms of bakers and volunteers is here. Questions? Contact organizer Mags Hitchman of Cake Heaven at mycakeheaven at gmail.com or 07762 788559.

Win $200 earrings and other prizes in cupcake eating contest to benefit food bank in Lawrence, Kansas

We love when the cupcake community bands together and raises money for charity and has fun doing it! This just in from Lawrence, Kansas' bakery Cupcake Construction Company, who you can also find on Facebook.

EAT CUPCAKES, WIN DIAMONDS AND MORE
Cupcake Construction Company will host a cupcake-eating event on February 4th to benefit Just Food Food Bank.

Cupcake Construction Company along with other Downtown Lawrence merchants is hosting a cupcake-eating contest on Saturday, February 4th to benefit Just Food, the primary food bank for Douglas County.

Over $350 in Valentine’s Day-themed prizes will be distributed to contestants in three rounds. The grand prize is a pair of sterling silver and diamond heart earrings, donated by Mark’s Jewelers. Contestants will have five minutes to eat as many cupcakes as they can. Whoever finishes the most cupcakes will go home with the earrings, a $200 value. The other two rounds have a set number of cupcakes, and the person who finishes them the fastest will win. Englewood Florist is donating a Valentine’s Day arrangement valued at $50 to whoever eats four cupcakes the quickest. The other round will have contestants eating 6 cupcakes. The winner will receive dinner for two at Pachamama’s and a movie at Liberty Hall.

“We are fortunate to have wonderful customers in Lawrence, and we want to give back to the community,” says Michael Kricsfeld, owner of Cupcake Construction Company. “Since we’re an Interactive Cupcake Bar, we thought we should have an interactive fundraiser. Not everyone is fortunate enough to stuff their face with cupcakes, so we thought it would only be appropriate to donate all proceeds from the contest to help those less fortunate.” Kricsfeld hopes to raise between $500 - $1,000 for Just Food. “This one fundraiser could provide enough funds for nearly 3,000 meals.”

Entry fees range from $10 - $30, depending on the round. “Winning a $200 pair of earrings for $30 isn’t a bad deal,” says Zach Dillon, an employee at Cupcake Construction Company. “Plus you will be eating a lot of cupcakes!”

The first round begins at 1:00PM on Saturday, February 4th. Each hour a new round will begin. All events are open to the public, and people of all ages are encouraged to sign up. Contestants are required to register prior to the 4th. All the contest information and rules, as well as online registration, can be found on Cupcake Construction Company’s website (www.cupcakeconstructioncompany.com).

Cupcake Construction Company opened their doors at 727 Massachusetts St. in May 2011 as Lawrence’s first and only Interactive Cupcake Bar. Their concept is a little different than most cupcake bakeries. Each guest gets to choose her “foundation” (base cake), “interior” (filling), “roof” (frosting), and “luxury amenities” (toppings). In addition to the cupcake bar, CCC also offers a rotating variety of mini cupcakes daily.

Find out more at www.CupcakeConstructionCompany.com.

More about Just Food, from their website:

Open five days a week, Just Food operates as the primary food bank resource for all of Douglas County as well as an emergency food pantry for low-income customers seeking food assistance. Just Food relies on the food and cash donations of the local community to sustain its operation. To donate to Just Food, go to www.justfoodfund.org.



From Cupcake Construction Company on Facebook: