Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Still a fave: Triple chocolate Nanaimo bars!

Why add honey to a recipe with baking soda? Interesting response.

Healthy desserts? Just say no.

Just another reason to move to Canada!

Should Starbucks stop using Palm Oil in their baked goods?

Does singing "Happy Birthday" actually make cake taste better?

Lemonade Peeps? Believe it. Bubblegum flavored, too.

People. Cotton candy ice cream!!

A Syrian-style baklava...with no honey!

Bakery I wanna visit: Donut Divas, Miami.

In Buttercream, there are a few major players.

From the archives: this one time I made bread and then got all feisty and sweet with it.

Fantastic rainbow cakes! View a collection of 'em here.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of 4th of July Links!

Linking up early for the holiday weekend--enjoy, sweeties!

Still a fave: pop rocks cookies that taste like fireworks!

Cake that looks like the American flag! Cool!

Patriotic rose cake. Red white and yum!

Hot dog cookies! Adorable and not savory, but sweet!

Red white and blue pinwheel cookies!

America the Sweet: Hartford Election Day Cake from United Cakes of America.

Totally sweet trompe l'oeil: hot dog and hamburger style!

Why can't I be eating it right now: pop rocks pound cake!

Grilled Poundcake!

A nice cool-down: watermelon pudding.

Love these red white and blue cupcakes!

Homemade berry rocket pops. Yum!

A roundup I did of cakes for cookouts on Craftsy should also serve as great inspiration! 

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Custom Request

Above: A real life custom order I did: cupcakes in their undies, eating soup, and watching Dawson's Creek. For more of my artwork, shop here.

A sweet reflection, after 20 years in the baking biz.

In case you missed it: part 2 of my book tour was awesome.

Raspberry rhubarb muffins? Sounds tasty to me!

A bakery I love: Make My Cake, NYC.

Marshmallow panna cotta. Fantastic!

Sweet n summery: watermelon pudding, served in a watermelon shell.

Buttercream fundamentals. A delicious education.

I love that this recipe combines fancy wine and cake mix.

16 ice cream sandwich recipes. Yum!

DOUGHNUT HOLE CROQUEMBOUCHE. OMG.

The Poor, Misunderstood Wendy's Frosty.

Do you own my first book? If not, buy it now: CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

A brilliant and beautiful unicorn cake by Retro Bakery in Las Vegas.

Speaking of Retro Bakery, remember when I went there?

IMPORTANT: How to make a fondant unicorn cake topper.

YUM: Apricot Lemon scones!

Wow! Look at this earth cake, with a three level core! (thanks, Farida!)

Enticing to a spy: Undercover cake!

In case you missed it: why cupcakes are nutritious!

I hope this becomes a trend on restaurant websites: dessert  gallery!

Great idea: Zipzicles!

The best kid-cakes in NYC for birthday parties? Right here.

Cronuts go viral; doissants, not so much.

Banana Twinkie Bread Pudding. I wanna carb-o-load on it!

Remember this? Chocolate covered cake on a stick.

Donut sundae. Let's make this a thing!

Homemade Andes Mints. I like this!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Swirlz Cupcakes = super tasty! Try them in Chicago (pictured above).

Best breakfast baked goods in New Hampshire?

Thank god! Now, your sugar can be caffeinated, too.

The state of the retail baking industry? So-so, says this article.

Six new dessert trends, in Columbus.

Pineapple muffins? Sounds yum to me.

Almond Flour Pancakes. Yum!

A regional specialty in Oklahoma: Aunt Bill's Brown Candy!

Twinkies return to production..what does it mean for a small town?

Warm and gooey deep dish chocolate chip cookies. No part of that is wrong.

Need a graduation cake idea?

Dessert trends on the rise: dacquoise and fig cookies. Huh!

Selfies with pop-tarts. My new favorite thing.

Don't forget to enter this totally sweet contest: share the secret life of YOUR favorite baked good!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Secret Lives Illustrations

I still have some book tour dates coming -- find them here!

Some of my recipes were featured on the REDBOOK website! Cool! 

Total bakery meltdown.

Chocolate chip cookie bite with cookie dough buttercream.

A tasty tale of Kipferl, and a recipe too!

OMG cute: pop-tart earrings!

What an amazing idea: dream dollhouse cake!

The low-down on soft-serve.

A sweet summer dessert table!

Love-love-love these cookies: Chocolate mudslide cookies.

How to eat an oreo more awesomely.

What the heck is a cronut? Something you wanna eat, trust me.

Tastes better than actual tiger: dark chocolate "tiger" cookies.

Contest: share the secret life of YOUR favorite baked good!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Portland ice cream

OMG! I am on book tour RIGHT NOW. Come see me!

I'll be at Crafty Wonderland in Portland this weekend!

Burger cake! A tutorial!

Things that I love: the fact that you can search for candy by color on this website!

Rice Krispie birthday cake!

Sometimes you feel like a nut. At those times, make almond joy inspired brownies!

Cinco de Mayo is over, but pinata ice cream cones are always in style.

Pretty, so pretty: Cherry vanilla layer cake.

SUPERPUDDING!

Oreo and fudge ice cream cake. Need this!

Beer cupcakes with potato chips: tasty!

A bakery is revived...but how to stay profitable?

Tasty: easy hot fudge cake.

Need a new cake stand? These ones are sophisticated and pretty.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

First off, a special link - and easy way to win an autographed copy of my new book, which is released on Tuesday! All you have to do is go over to my book's Facebook page and "like" it! I'll choose a winner at random next friday from the people who like the page. So if you've already "liked" it, you're already entered! If you haven't already liked it, go do it now to get yourself entered! How could that possibly get any easier?

Related: ahem...buy my book, please.

Citrus tutti-frutti muffins--I'm game!

What is volador? Find out!

For fans of the book Matilda: Bruce Bogtrotter's chocolate cake!

What can I say? Girl Scouts Love Me.

I could get into it: Marshmallow Popcorn cake.

I like: rhubarb crumble pie.

I also love: So Suzette's crumb cake.

30 Gorgeous Literary Cakes!

I wish I was eating a cookie dough truffle right now.

Wine blogger Jameson Fink has some sweet things to say about my new book!

It's almost Cinco de Mayo. Time to make a tortilla torte!

Or...perhaps some Margarita cupcakes!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Bountiful, Los Angeles

I saw all of these great cake plates at Bountiful in Venice, CA.

The best article ever about the "bursting of the cupcake bubble".

Love love love love love: Thiebaud Pink Cake.

Buckeye state ice cream!

Learn the fascinating story of Chiffon cake!

I basically despise flan, but this one looks likeable.

Whipped caramel ganache frosting. Be still my beating heart!

A good list of baking basics tips.

Remember when I went to Retro Bakery in Las Vegas? Yum yum.

I love what Joy the Baker loves: doughnuts with pink feather boas.

10 best doughnuts in Los Angeles? 

C'est fantastique: pink lemonade layer cake!

Always tasty: Elvis Whoopie Pies.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Reminder: buy my new book.

Bakery I wanna visit: Prince Street Bakery, Bedford MA (Thanks for the tip, Rob!)

This is obviously my new favorite thing...

Bavarian doughnut pie. Sweeeeeeet.

A beautiful article on the merits and history of stack cake.

Almond Butter. Chocolate. Coconut. All good things, all in these cookies.

A good kind of glossary: chocolate glossary.

Important: cupcake wrapper sizes.

Yuck or yum? A little bit of both? Salad Dressing Cake!

Cocoa nib polvorones. So good you'll want to marry them!

Chocolate pop-tart pie. I love this!

Frozen cupcake ice cream pie. I also love this!

Look at these rainbow striped cookies. They make me happy!

Quel yum: Oreo Souffle!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Fine Art Cuppies

Got leftover Girl Scout cookies? Do-si-do pie time!

This pink ombre cake makes me so happy!

What is butter? Find out here.

I got so excited when I read "butter shake". Turns out there's no butter, but it still sounds interesting.

This looks tasty: Strawberry rhubarb coffee cake.

Cake that looks like steak and other trompe l'oeil treats always make me smile!

Hooray! In addition to the CakeSpy online shop, I'm also selling on Etsy again! I know that some shoppers prefer that interface...so there you go! 

I'm intrigued: cucumber cake!

Also intrigued by: Radish pudding!

This is so adorable: pizza cake!

Lovin' this ruffle cake!

Getting married? Some reasons why you might want to consider cupcakes for your wedding.

In case you missed it...my book tour dates!

Five Spring Cakes to Make You Smile

Image: Whipped BakeshopSpring has sprung, people! With it comes a sense of refreshing newness, not to mention an awfully pretty palette of blossoms and greenery beginning to sprout. Inspired by the pretty colors and the utter happiness that comes with the world coming to life again after a long winter, here's a collection of sweet Spring-like cakes to inspire you and get your appetite going for the season.

Pinwheel Cake (pictured above): Philadelphia bakery Whipped Bakeshop always inspires me, but this sweet cake takes the...well, you know. A delicate pastel pink cake garnished with adorable pinwheels evokes the gentle breezes and free-wheeling spirit of the first warm spring days. 

Image: Southern LivingStrawberries and Cream Cake: What says spring-into-early summer like strawberries? They taste like sunshine and happiness, especially when paired with rich cream. This lovely cake takes advantage of seasonal produce and dresses it up in its finest spring party outfit. Find the recipe here.

Image: Juliet Stalwood Cakes and BiscuitsDaffodil Cake: It's hard not to love daffodils--they're like little yellow sunshines growing from the earth! This cake captures the bursting blossoms of happy daffodils, and happily, this piece of art is bursting with sugar, too! Created by Juliet Stalwood Cakes, it appears to be reatively shaped fondant that give the sides and top its sweet look.

Image: Martha StewartCrocus Cake: You know that spring is starting when you start to see crocus buds peeking through the cold ground, sometimes even through snow! This cake perfectly shows the first flush of spring, complete with cocoa "earth" and a bird's nest made of phyllo dough! 

Image: Better With ButterSunshine Ombre Cake: This cake by Better With Butter just makes me smile. I imaging that a slice of this orange ombre cake is like eating graduated rays of sunshine. If you are what you eat, then I'd warrant a guess that you'd have a good sunny glow going on after a slice of this delightful cake.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Wow!

Sweet fusion: the rise of the cafe-bakery hybrid in NYC.

Tasty: 15 bright and shiny Spring desserts.

Which flowers are edible (and therefore can be used for dessert)? Find out here.

Buttercream rose sugar cookies: pretty and sweet!

Bakery I wanna visit: Maier's Bakery, Illinois. They start the doughnuts at 1am!

Yum: how to make sweet and salty caramel.

Apploffi pie? New to me! And intriguing.

I like them: choco nachos!

Speaking of Nachos, you should buy the book Ultimate Nachos: From Nachos and Guacamole to Salsas and Cocktails. Why? Because I contributed a recipe, for a DESSERT Nacho Torte! 

Delicious: Five French Sweets We Love in Santa Fe.

Good news: if you have leftover Girl Scout cookies, they make for great shakes.

Great if you still have Easter candy leftovers: Candy Pie!

I'm selling myself. I mean, I'm on auction for charity!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Love is in the (hot) Air

I'm intrigued: Sugar Cookie Pretzels!

Where can I find tasty vegan sweets in Boston?

OMG: Easter Krispie Cones!

Rainbow white chocolate brownies. A winning idea!

Easter Candy Dessert Taco Plate. Do it!

I like this idea for beating those "it still doesn't feel like Spring" blues: a bouquet of cookie pops!

For kids: how to steal easter candy without your parents noticing.

Happy happy joy joy: a rainbow cake on its side!

Tasty: Easter Candy Cookies!

Adorable robot onesies by CakeSpy! On sale!

Rice cookies? I'm intrigued.

An interview with me, on the Dry Soda blog.

Americandy: a chronicle of regional American candies.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Love CakeSpy

Green Baby Unicorns

Photo: flickr user Dragons and Beasties

Happy St. Patrick's Day, sweet ones. Here are some links that I think you'll enjoy!

Homemade Shamrock Shake. YES!

Forget Red Velvet. Today, it's Green Velvet!

This cake is also very magical.

A rather magical St. Patrick's Day Cake.

Meet the Irish Potato Candy!

Chocolate Irish Cream Pie. YUM.

Wearing o'green cake, by Taste of Home!

SpyMom's Irish Soda Bread. It's tasty.

Chocolate Mint Pie. Yum again.

Peanut Butter St. Patrick's Day Truffles. Yum!

Make Irish Soda Bread Awesomer.

You know, Nanaimo Bars would taste great with some Irish Cream...

Or just pick up an Irish Cream Donut.

The Curious Case of the St. Patrick's Day Frog Cupcake.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Master-piece of cake: cakes that look like famous works of art.

OMG: Peekaboo shamrock cake tutorial.

Because it's almost St. Patrick's Day: SpyMom's Irish Soda Bread.

Once upon a time, I got really gross with Irish Soda Bread. Enjoy!

A different way to be green for St. Patrick's Day: avocado pie!

I love every sweet (not to eat) thing in this etsy store!

Can't miss this post: what to do with leftover pancakes!

Restore the shore: Chocolate Bar opens a new location in Manasquan, NJ!

Yum: discover Doberge cake.

Cadbury Egg Cookie Cake Bars: thank you, world, for permitting these to exist. (via Kim--thanks!)

I want to eat: Cinnamon Raisin Brioche Loaf.

Important: How to make cookies with a waffle iron.

Behind the baking blog: a sweet video by Best Friends for Frosting!

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

Guess what? I'm spending 2 months in Santa Fe. I plan on eating here every day.

Follow your frog--cupcake, that is. A NY Metro area phenomenon!

This cake with hearts carved in the center is alarmingly adorable.

Best German buns in Philadelphia? Hit up Fritz's!

Love this: carrot cake ice cream sandwiches!

At Columbia University, a Nutella craze.

So simple, so sweet: Golden Pound Cake.

Not frozen, but very sweet: Sno-cone cupcakes!

Not literally sweet, but TOTALLY sweet at the same time: Unicorn Slippers for Adults! (Thanks, PW!)

Love it: bubblegum sugar cookies!

Artisinal doughnuts: on trend!

Curious about what it would be like to go to a bakery in Sioux Falls, SD? Here's what it's like.

Did you know the Oreo turned 101 this week? Here are 50 uses for them you may not have considered.

My new book, The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America's Favorite Desserts, is available for pre-order. How exciting!

Baker's Dozen: 13 Books I Love

This list is not too scientific: it's just 13 books (in no particular order) that I love. I thought I'd share the love in case you've never heard of some of them! 

Bake It in a Cupcake: 50 Treats with a Surprise Inside It's clever, the photos are adorable, and who wouldn't be delighted by a cupcake that's not just a cupcake but a vehicle for stuff like mini pies and rainbows--as well as frosting? Buy it.

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book: Originally released in the early 60's, this groovy volume is my go-to source for cookies of all sorts. The retro-kitch stories and simple, solid recipes--not to mention the weirdly technicolor photos--make scoring an early edition of this volume a MUST for any baker. 

Baked Elements: Our 10 Favorite Ingredients: I am a huge fan of every book by the BAKED boys, and the newest one is no exception. In fact, I'd say it transforms the previous two books into a unit with this one: a true trinity of awesome. The latest book focuses on key ingredients and snailshells out from that, with recipes which speak to the uniqueness of regional specialties while retaining an aspect of deliciousness that nobody can deny. What I love about these books is that they gently educate, and deliver delicious results.

The Daily Cookie: 365 Tempting Treats for the Sweetest Year of Your Life : When I started my website nearly 6 years ago, I reached out to a few websites which struck my fancy in order to get advice, introduce myself, and just kind of sweetly network. One of the earliest websites I loved was Cookie Madness. And now Anna Ginsberg, who I have since met, has a great book. It focuses on the most delicious year of your life--one in which you can indulge in a daily cookie fantasy. It pays homage to wacky food holidays and seasons with a cookie for every day. It's a fun read even at your bedside, no baking required, but it's even better if you dig in to some of the recipes. 

The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America's Favorite Desserts: Yes, this is my new book. But I am awfully proud of it, and you can conveniently pre-order it now! :-) 

The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion: The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook: This is a fantastic all-around baking book, including sweets and savories and breads. I love how it includes informative, sometimes storytelling-esque headnotes and the recipes are just perfect.

A World of Cake Krystina Castella: Again and again I kept coming back to this book this year. Engaging stories about all sorts of cake, and recipes too? It is a global cake adventure, perfect for bakers and travelers, of which I am both. 

Paris Sweets: Great Desserts From the City's Best Pastry Shops by Dorie Greenspan: Who is immune to the lure of Parisian sweets? So beautiful, so buttery. This is a sugar-coated love letter to the city of light, and a pleasure to bake with.

Beat This! Cookbook: Absolutely Unbeatable Knock-'em-Dead Recipes for the Very Best Dishes: A re-issue, this book is packed with so much butter in its recipes that it will make you fat just reading it. But a happy fat, you know? Plus, the writing style is so delightful and slightly bratty that you'll fall in love with the writer, just like I did!

Taste of Home Baking All-New Edition (with Bonus Book): 125 Bake-Sale Favorites!: The recipes in this book may not surprise you, but every version of the classics is spot-on, from cakes to cookies to pies and fancy desserts. I've never baked anything and had it come out wrong. 

Sweets for Saints and Sinners: An illustrated little gem which includes the original recipe for Chocolate Decadence from Narsai's. I like the "sinner" section better than the "saint" section, of course.

Rare Bits: Unusual Origins Of Popular Recipes: A very fun book with the stories behind popular recipes. A majority are savories, but there is a respectable amount of sweet, too. Regardless, a book that reads like a particularly pleasurable novel.

Alpha-Bakery Gold Medal Children's Cookbook: A classic, and a favorite of mine growing up. Recipes both sweet and savory, one for each letter of the alphabet. My favorite? X-tra Special Celebration Cake, of course. 

The Wizard of Oz Cookbook: Breakfast in Kansas, Dessert in Oz : This odd but charming book contains recipes inspired by...well, you guessed it, The Wizard of Oz. Funny, retro recipes. Each chapter is themed: think a dinner party in Kansas, a kids' party in Munchkinland, a dessert party in Emerald City, et cetera. Recipes include "Emerald Castle Cake", "Kansas Crullers", and "Yellow Brickle brownies".