Long Over Due at Billy's Bakery

This title has a number of hidden meanings.

First and foremost it refers to the fact that this post should have gone up a very long time ago. You'll see what I mean by the rainy dreary day captured in the pictures, as well as the winter caps and coats that also make appearances.

Another would be the fact that Billy's and I (and Nicole) were supposed to meet quite a long time ago. Almost a year to be exact.

And finally, I was accompanied on my visit by fellow blogger and all around great gal (and new MOMMY to be!) Miss Sofia Zimmerman. She chronicles her life as a savvy foody in Brooklyn, here, on Brooklyn Baba.

Billy's is adorable with a kitchy old-school feel and atmosphere that's reminiscent of both Magnolia and Babycakes Bakeries. Two former Cuppie Tour stops. The taste -- we both opted for vanilla on vanilla cuppies -- very similar to Magnolia and Buttercup Bakeshop. I believe I'd heard that Billy's is also owned by one of the founders of Magnolia (as is Buttercup). Does anyone know if that's true?

Anyway, here are a couple shots of the shop:

And one of my fellow cupcake lover:

Sofia says another good choice, although a bit on the sweeter side, is the banana cupcake. I brought home the red velvet and carrot cake to try as well and both were D-LISH!!!!!!!!!!

~AnnMarie

Happy Easter!!

How adorable are these little Easter basket cuppies, made by our little cousins Marissa, Francesca and Adrianna! The brown strips you see on top were tootsie rolls that were serving as handles. Unfortunately...they melted.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day:)

~AnnMarie

Odd Cupcake News

This is pretty stupid. And not funny. But yet cupcake-related.

I'm in a bad mood this dreary Sunday, in case you can't tell.

Do you have any other odd-ball cupcake lore related stories to share?

Don't forget to enter our DinaCakes giveaway. Last day...

~AnnMarie

Ammie's Breakfast Cuppie

Often my breakfast of choice ends up being a banana and a cup of coffee, usually due to time constraints.

Right now my mother is frowning and shaking her head in disgust.

Anyway, it got me thinking that if Nicole and I ever do realize our dream of opening up our own cupcake shop, I'd insist on offering "Ammie's Breakfast Cuppie." This would of course be a banana coffee cupcake.

But the question is which part would be the banana? Would it be a banana cupcake? Or banana frosting? I think I'd prefer a banana cake with a creamy espresso frosting. MMMmmmmmm......

What would your perfect breakfast cuppie be??

Skinnygirl Cake

Just because I love Bethenny Frankel. How freakin' ADORABLE is this, made by DinaCakes!

Check our their facebook page which I link to above for more images, especially of their cuppies:)

~AnnMarie

Happy Blogoversary

I know, I know, we've (more like I'VE) been seriously slacking on the blogging lately. But I couldn't let today pass without letting everyone know that not only is it St. Patrick's Day, but also our one year blogoversary.

 I guess I should get Nicole a set of paper towels.

It's been a very busy couple of months between wedding planning and finding a new job, so my blogging duties have gotten neglected. But at least it wasn't all for naught as I did indeed start a new editorial position just last Monday. Please hold your applause.

Since I'm finally speaking up I thought I'd give you all an update on our wedding cuppies. At first, we'd thought a cake was included in our contract. So I had to swallow my pride and let go of having cupcakes for dessert rather than the traditional cake as we couldn't turn down a free cake given how ridiculously expensive it is to throw a wedding.

But we found out recently that it is NOT included so after feigning extreme anger and disappointment I realized it meant we (and by we I mean Nicole and I) would get to see our dream of having wedding cuppies come true.

So we immediately contacted our fave cupcakery: Kumquat. I've written about them numerous times on The Road to Sweetness. They do not delivery outside of the city but thought it couldn't hurt to ask. Unfortunately all I got was radio silence on the other end:(

So here's just one of the places we're considering: Lulu's Cake Boutique. I thought I'd share with you all their amazing menu. I've got my eye on "the glazey river."

Happy drooling.

~AnnMarie

New Year, New Cupcakes

I'll admit it…we play favorites.

Can you blame us? When you find a good stand-by and someone who never lets you down it gets hard to step out of your comfort zone and trust someone new.

Especially when it comes to cuppie shops.

So I know we've sort of missed the boat on the whole resolutions thing as it's the 18th at this point but hey…at least it's still January. But we've decided to expand our horizons this year.

And we plan to do that with the help of Red Velvet Diaries.

Brave soul Kara has decided to chronicle her journey to find the perfect red velvet cupcake. And she's really made the rounds!

Kara rates from 1-5 and let me tell you she knows her stuff and is a tough critic. She's visited many NYC bakeries, Jersey bakeries and beyond!

And do I need to mention the adorable art work that accompanies her posts, along with the "Sweet Moment of the Day." She also holds a special place in my heart as she is currently planning her wedding as well, which she also writes about on Red Velvet Diaries. I think I can speak for myself and the world when I beg this question: will she be having red velvet cuppies at her wedding!?

She's featured a few bakeries that have been on our radar, particularly Two Little Red Hens. We'll make it our business in 2011 to sample them ourselves. And of course keep them in the running for Cuppie Tour 2011!

Butter Lane Cupcake Class TONIGHT

Butter Lane Cupcakes at 123 East Seventh St., New York, NY is hosting a cupcake class tonight and there are two spots left!

Running from 4-6 p.m., email Joe@butterlane.com if you’d like to reserve: first-come, first-serve.

For more information on Butter Lane's classes, Like them on Facebook or click here.

~AnnMarie

It's National Cupcake Day

Happy National Cupcake Day everyone!






















How did YOU celebrate. Tell us here or on our Facebook page.

~AnnMarie

Extra Extra, Read All About IT!!!

BIG CUPPIE NEWS:

The Magnolia virus is spreading and we couldn't be more excited.

My all-time favorite cupcake shop is opening even more branches, according to Eater National:

"In the docket locally is a Magnolia planned for the uptown Bloomingdales (where they'll kill it no doubt), one for Long Island, and one for the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey."

Mmm hhmmm on the "no doubt." What she said.


We reported on this tragedy at Magnolia Bakery earlier this year.

~AnnMarie

Holy Moley

If I weren't on the bride diet (and Nicole on the maid-of-honor diet), I'd get my but over to Flour & Sun Bakery tomorrow and pick me up one of these puppies:

That'd be a chocolate hazelnut nutella cupcake to you.

I'm salivating at the mouth right now.

Then I'd try me out a French Toast cuppie.

Then a Pink Champagne.

A-MAZING flavors goin' on tomorrow! So get over there, send us a pic with a little review. We can live vicariously...

~AnnMarie

Missed Opportunities

So, I've been trying to get my act together and post about this for over a month. Seeing as it's going to be December this week...I figure the time has passed.

But that doesn't mean I can't share a picture or two.

As you guys know, we did a 100 cupcake giveaway a couple months ago on Sumo's Sweet Stuff. After a couple tries, we finally had a winner: Crystal from Crystal's Craft Spot!

Crystal is all the way in Washington State! So you can imagine the challenge this posed to us.

Thanks to this amazing suggestion though, from the equally fab cuppie blog i heart cuppycakes, we were able to get 100 cupcakes all the way across the country to Crystal in great condition. See for yourself!

Crystal requested them for a family Halloween party, so we put together the following for her:

-Vanilla purple monsters (vanilla cuppies with violet-tinted vanilla frosting)
-Red velvet mummies (with cream cheese frosting under white fondant pieces)
-Chocolate spider webs (chocolate cuppies with chocolate icing and a spider web decoration and small plastic spider)
-Ghost stories carrot cakes (with cream cheese frosting and marshmallows) 

So after a very late Wednesday evening in October of blood, sweat and even a few tears, we were able to overnight them on Thursday and have them arrive in Washington on Friday for Crystal's Saturday party.


Looking forward to our next trial...one that's not on the other side of the country:)

Just kidding Crystal! We had a great time!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...

~AnnMarie

Cinnabon Cupcakes!

We were just at the Palisades Mall (Nyack, NY) to see an afternoon showing of The Social Network (which was awesome PS!) and were of course immediately taken by the hand upon entering by the intoxicating smell of Cinnabon. Which is conveniently placed just a few steps away from the theater.

And we found this:

They now have cupcakes! I didn't sample, but just thought I'd deliver the news. They had mini and regular sizes available.

Cute frosting on the vanilla ones above, meant, I assume, to resemble a Cinnabon!

Cupcakes and Facebook...takin' over the world!

~AnnMarie

100 Cupcake Giveaway on Sumo's Sweet Stuff...'til Tuesday!

Our big giveaway is still going on! If you haven't checked it out yet, it's being hosted by Sumo's Sweet Stuff and all who follow the three simple steps will be entered to win 100 of our cupcakes! It will be, not THE, but ONE of our first big taste tests. So be the first to sample our wares. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Spread the word to all your friends. Click here to see the official giveaway and to check out Sumo's Sweet Stuff.



~AnnMarie

ps, a big happy welcome to all our new followers! I hope you enjoy our cupcake adventure...

Cupcake Encounters

I've had a few in the past week and thought I'd share.

These big beauties are from Stein's Market in Montvale, NJ, brought in by a co-worker after a successful company event the night before:

Clockwise from bottom left that's a cookies 'n' cream, black and white cookie, red velvet, and classic vanilla.

And the next, which came later in the week, was in celebration of a very special guy. Colleagues both past and present gathered together to raise a glass in honor of Steven Betts, art director/real estate agent extraordinaire. He can design your dream house, then sell it to ya too!

Here he is, posing with the ultimate accessory: a box of a half-dozen Buttercup Bakery cupcakes! Brought to him by yours truly.

Ah, fun co-workers (especially those who share a love for cuppies) make the world go round.

:)

~AnnMarie

The Red, White, Blue, and Yummy

Our parents taught us never to show up to a party empty-handed. Can't say I always abide by that rule, but Flour & Sun Bakery in Pleasantville, New York, gave me a good excuse today to follow it.

I knew they were offering Memorial Day-themed cuppies this weekend and have been meaning to try this place out since it's so close to me, so I dragged Marc along to pick up a few on our way to a barbecue.

They had Caramel Apple, S'mores, Rainbow Cloud, and a few other regular varieties to choose from. We bought two Rainbow Cloud, two Red Velvet, and two S'mores. When I went into the kitchen to grab a shot of them, one had mysteriously disappeared. And the thief had knocked over one of the Rainbow Clouds in his haste. Hmmmmm....

I helped myself to the disturbed Rainbow Cloud. Would that be considered rude, Mom?

They had died the cake with red and blue food coloring on the inside too! And it was scrumptious!

I tried to coax Marc into going inside and stealing one of the S'mores ones, but he refused.

Pussy.

Anyway, hope everybody had a really nice Memorial Day weekend. We did...

Can't you tell?

Haha!

~AnnMarie

Cuppie Tour '10

It's May again, and at the end of the month, Nicole will be turning 24-years-old.

I'm trying to prepare her, as 24 is a rough one. For me, that was the year it really set in that no, I would not be going back to college EVER AGAIN, and that I was damned to this life of getting up and going to work EVERY DAY.

I mean, "they" had warned me, but I guess I just never really believed "them."

Anyway, before I digress...last year for her birthday, we started what will hopefully be a very long and carried tradition, and it was probably what spawned our cupcake obsessions: "Cupcake Tour."

Or more aptly known as "Cuppie Tour."

What we did was made a map of five cupcake havens throughout New York City and followed it throughout the day. No taxis were allowed (unless we got lost, which we did on our way to Babycakes) and we were only allowed to walk and/or take subways.  I met Nicole at Port Authority and we went from Cupcake Cafe (545 9th Ave.), to Buttercup Bake Shop (973 2nd Ave.) to Magnolia (401 Bleecker), to Babycakes (248 Broome St.), and we finally ended at Sweet Revenge (62 Carmine St.).

Cupcake Cafe: Voted overall least favorite, but great atmosphere

Buttercup Bake Shop: This is Nicole's favorite and my second favorite as far as flavor goes. Delicious but Magnolia (my #1 will always hold a special place in my  heart). For those of you who aren't icing fans, Nicole is not either yet she admittedly "could eat a tub" of Buttercup icing.

Magnolia: Ammy's fave. Nicole's second fave.

Babycakes: We got lost on our way there and were losing enthusiasm/energy at that point. So we decided to split one and were impressed by the amount of flavor accompanied with freshness. If I remember correctly it was a carrot cake cuppie we got.

Sweet Revenge: We thoroughly enjoyed this place as it again had great atmosphere and the cupcakes were fantastic, served in parchment paper which was a very nice touch. Again though, this was the last stop of the day and we were a bit cupcaked-out. So if it had been up higher on our list we would probably would have enjoyed these cuppies even more. We did each pair a glass of wine with them as Sweet Revenge is known for it's cuppie and alcohol offerings!

So this year, Cuppie Tour '10 is scheduled for Saturday, June 5. Our custom-made tank tops are on their way.

Oh yes, let me repeat, we will be wearing customized tank tops. So keep an eye out for us. This year's slogan?:

"Only the strong survive..."

And that will definitely be put to the test this year, as Nicole wants to add 2-3 more stops onto the five we originally conquered last year. And many of them are in BROOKLYN!!!!

My feet are tired already. We'll be making final selections for this year's stops within the next couple weeks. Stay tuned...

~AnnMarie

28 Red Balloons

I met up with four...woops, I mean five (sorry baby Charlotte!)...very special ladies this evening to celebrate a very special birthday. 

The one and only Red h'editor took one more step on that plank towards 30 this evening at hibachi mall. I mean Okinawa Hibachi Steakhouse in Ossining, NY.

And of course no birthday is complete without personalized balloons, an orange chocolate shoe, AND CUPPIES!!!!

Cuppies made with all the love in the world from a soon to be new-mommy and amazing baker and cake artist in her own right, Miss Samantha Mittler-Eichenberg. She brought chocolate-raspberry and classic chocolate with vanilla buttercream frosting. Did I get the flavors right Sam?

Anyway, Nicole and I have no problem giving credit where credit is due. See her work on her Facebook page.

And I can tell you from personal experience (particularly with this cat and this penguin) that it's visually stunning and absolutely D-LISH! Hmmm....(can anyone say recruit?).

Happy Birthday Becky! Love you lots.

~aMaRAno

HOLY CRAP!

OOooookk....guess I got my answer! Line wrapped around the freakin' block!

Cupcake Camp NYC 2010 from Nichelle Stephens on Vimeo.

I do, however, do not see anyone carrying cuppies and they specifically said if you bring your own you'll get to the head of the line...

~AnnMarie

Cupcake CRAZE

Saw Friendly's ice cream cuppies in the supermarket earlier. It really is taking over everything.

Got more logos today. We'll be finalizing in the next couple days and posting for everyone to take a look at.

~AnnMarie