Dream Cupcake contest is sweet success

The number of cupcake flavors that exist all around the world are as diverse as the number of combinations anyone can make with the ingredients available.  Our Cupcake Contest for 2012 launched a search for the most creative cupcake that yielded hundreds of very creative and truly unique entries.  Don’t believe those that say Cupcakes are on the way out! 

As usual, the entries were well thought out, hunger-inducing and certainly original.  There are some very creative folks out there!

 

 

We chose 3 winners and their cupcake creations were handpicked by Chef Sylvia, developed into a recipe, and will be put into our bakery case for the entire month beginning in June with “Monkey Business.”  It’s like making them yourself, but without a big mess to clean up.

Entries were judged on the following:

Frosting: Flavor, type, texture are all important and was looked at critically. How well does the frosting marry to the cake? Does the frosting compliment the cake?

Cake: We were looking for moistness, flavor, and texture.  Would the cake support the frosting well? Would the whole thing collapse after you take a bite?

Presentation: How pleasing would the cupcake be to the eye? Are the icing colors appropriate for the flavor? Does the cupcake have flair? Originality?

Ease of Access: Is it too hard to get the wrapper off & when you do get it off,  does the cake hold together or would it make a mess?

Cupcake-ness: Does it remind you of a cupcake or does it push things too far?

 

The 3 winners were invited to taste Certe’s

version of their cupcakes.   

Drumroll, please…

Folks, we have the winners… 

“Coffee Explosion”—Vida Lok

      

 

A heavenly chocolate cupcake with a hint of espresso, filled with a rich coffee crème and topped with an espresso chocolate buttercream frosting infused with espresso bean crunchies. Rich as can be and so original, this one instantly caught our attention.http://mommylok.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/mommylok-meet-your-dream-cupcake/

“Monkey Business”—Sloane Giddon

  

A maple-flavored cake with caramelized banana filling and Nutella frosting, topped with peanut brittle pieces.  The sweetness of bananas and the exquisite goodness of Nutella are two reasons why we selected Sloane as one our winners.

“Snickerdoodle”—Lauren Campbell

A chocolate devil’s food cupcake filled with gooey caramel, mixed with peanuts, topped with chocolate ganache and a piece of a snickers bar. Truly a decadent  cupcake treat, to say the least.

    

  

              

 

  How Can You Get One?

In our pastry case at Certe’,

each one will be featured for

 an entire month.

 

June 5–  “Monkey Business”

July—“Coffee Explosion”

August—“Snickerdoodle”

 

Stop by for a single cupcake, by the dozen, or order in a Cupcake Tower!

Sweet Expansion

 

 

Due to the large demand for “all things sweet,” we recently expanded our 2 kitchens & inaugurated a new Pastry Kitchen!  The new expansion increases the workspace available for preparing gourmet and home-style treats by 50%.  The new kitchen provided an opportunity to invest in new equipment and a totally separate area for delicate temperature-controlled sweets.

Confectionary Kitchen

 

 

 

 

“DIRECTOR OF ALL THINGS SWEET”

Tamra Kirk joined us last month as “Director of All Things Sweet.”  Originally from Brooklyn, she impressed us so much when she came in one day with these….

 

 

 Director of All Things Sweet

She’s working with Chef Edward to change up the dessert menu more frequently. Look for her creations daily when coming into the store or by asking for a special order.  You might find this…

 

 

 

Or this…

 

  And This…

 

  Even this…

 

 

 BE TEMPTED

  We hope these photos got your mouth watering! We’re always working hard to create exciting new desserts, trying fresh ideas in the kitchen, and always experimenting with new inspirations. 

Call us to discuss your own inspiration for Catering Orders!