Let’s talk about cookies and bread. I’m hoping that these two simple favorites can help to fight hunger in our country. Bread is the most basic of food, recognized all over the world as a staple. And cookies, well, everyone loves cookies! I’ve chosen to donate cookies and bread for the first annual [...]]]>

Let’s talk about cookies and bread. I’m hoping that these two simple favorites can help to fight hunger in our country. Bread is the most basic of food, recognized all over the world as a staple. And cookies, well, everyone loves cookies! I’ve chosen to donate cookies and bread for the first annual National Food Bloggers Bake Sale.

The bake sale is taking place tomorrow, in many different locations! Gaby from What’s Gaby Cooking has organized (what I’m assuming is) the largest bake sale ever. Food bloggers from all over the country are baking their favorite treats. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this!

Since I plan to bake 6 loaves of sourdough today, I had to plan ahead to create the necessary volume of sourdough starter! I call this process “sourdough mitosis”.

The weather is getting warmer, so I decided to make cookies with a “summery” feel. This ice cream cone cookie cutter is just perfect! Except that those tiny little sections meant to stamp the ice cream cone design won’t let go of the dough. Hint: use lots of flour. Lots.

The cuteness factor of the finished cookies was definitely worth all the fuss while cutting them. And now I’m craving ice cream…no, cookies…ah, I can’t decide! Perhaps I’ll just have a cupcake.

All of the proceeds from the sale are donated to Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization that is striving to eliminate childhood hunger in America. Take some time to visit their website. The statistics on hunger are staggering.

I believe strongly that we can all make a difference in the fight against hunger, and it’s so simple to help. Buy a few extra cans of food at the store, and donate them to a local food pantry. Spend some time volunteering (it’s free)! Donate baked goods to a local bake sale, or support my bake sale team with a donation.

If you’re in Los Angeles, stop by our bake sale tomorrow to meet some fantastic food bloggers. And if you’re in another part of the country, find a food blogger bake sale near you!

Bacon on a cupcake. Bacon in a cupcake. Bacon was definitely a recurring theme at this year’s Los Angeles Cupcake Challenge. It’s an interesting combination, but I’ve decided that I like to keep my bacon separate from my cupcakes.

The mission of the challenge is to find [...]]]>

Renaissance Hotel's Maple and Bacon Cupcake

Bacon on a cupcake. Bacon in a cupcake. Bacon was definitely a recurring theme at this year’s Los Angeles Cupcake Challenge. It’s an interesting combination, but I’ve decided that I like to keep my bacon separate from my cupcakes.

The mission of the challenge is to find the best cupcake in LA. Not too long into the event, I realized that there was a second, more important challenge for me and all the other attendees: sample 40 mini cupcakes.

40 mini cupcakes? Why, surely that can’t be too difficult. They look so small. But let me tell you, everyone in that room left with at least one box full of cupcakes that they just couldn’t eat (myself included). Want to see some of my favorite cupcakes?

Cupcakes Couture set up a beautiful display for their unique cupcakes. Strawberry Shortcake and Sunday Mimosa Cupcakes. How divine!

Two Parts Sugar was one part naughty and one part nice. I’ll take one of each, please!

Ugh, this one is so blurry. But hey, it's hard to shoot photos in front of an angry cupcake mob pushing their way towards the chocolate strawberry cupcakes!

Charmed Cupcakes brought a little Mardi Gras flavor to the party. Street lamps, masks, feathers, and all!

Their blueberry cupcakes are delicious! I love the musical note decoration on top.

Blueberry Cupcake from Charmed Cupcakes

Hansen’s Cakes makes a delicious wedding cupcake. They are super sweet and have a beautiful light texture. I do know this: if I ever get married, I want my wedding to taste like this!

Wedding Cupcakes from Hansen's Cakes

Urban Sweets Bakery presented some amazing spiced apple cupcakes! I just can’t resist apple cupcakes.

Spiced Apple Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting from Urban Sweets Bakery

The voting was divided into two categories: “Best Traditional” and “Best Original”. The bakeries went to great lengths to come up with some original flavor combinations. Layers Cupcakes presented a selection of tea-infused cupcakes. I’m pretty sure that makes them healthier.

Back: Chocolate Coconut, Fall Spice from Layers Cupcakes. Front: Red Velvet from Southern Girl Desserts, Breakfast Cupcake from My Delight Cupcakery.

When you taste this many cupcakes within a few hours, it’s pretty obvious which ones outrank the others. In order to get through all 40, I had to limit myself to one bite from each cupcake. This rule was broken for a few of my favorite cupcakes, though. And which ones were my favorites? First, the contenders:

Click to Enlarge

I think that Big Man Bakes knew I was coming. He prepared red velvet and carrot cupcakes. Two of my favorite flavors. Out of all the red velvet cupcakes at the challenge, his were the best. They were not too sweet, and had a beautiful deep red color. I don’t like my red velvet cupcakes to be “radioactive” red as a result of too much artificial color.

Red Velvet and Carrot Cupcakes from Big Man Bakes

Big Man’s bakery is very appropriately named. He’s a big guy with an extraordinary talent for baking! I voted for his red velvet cupcake for Best Traditional.

My vote for Best Original went to Fairy Cakes Bakery for their Pumpkin White Chocolate cupcake. The perfect amount of spice with a touch of white chocolate. Yum!

Pumpkin White Chocolate Cupcakes from Fairy Cakes Bakery

I love that Fairy Cakes Bakery uses real ingredients, and no shortening. This is my personal baking philosophy as well. I have a huge amount of respect for any bakery that takes the time to use real ingredients, and it definitely produces a superior cupcake.

Kerena Mendez, Fairy Cakes Bakery

The results are in! And the winners are:

Best Traditional:
1st Place – Red Velvet, by Big Man Bakes
2nd Place – Sweet and Salty Vanilla, by Blue Cupcake
3rd Place – Red Velvet, by Southern Girl Desserts

Best Original:
1st Place – Breakfast Cake, by My Delight Cupcakery
2nd Place – Caramel Banana, by Jus Minis
3rd Place – Chocolate Covered Strawberry, by Two Parts Sugar

Best Overall:
1st Place – Caramel Banana, by Jus Minis
2nd Place – Breakfast Cake, by My Delight Cupcakery
3rd Place – Chocolate Covered Strawberry, by Two Parts Sugar

I attended this event as part of the Foodbuzz Foodie Correspondent Program. Thank you to Foodbuzz and Drink:Eat:Play for sponsoring me!

So, do you think you could polish off all of these cupcakes within 3 hours?