flavor board #15...cowboy love

I bought an amazing new "bake" book in Santa Cruz last week and was super inspired by their twist on the cowboy cookie, the addition of pretzels, and just had to translate that to a cupcake.  And since it's the 26th annual Vaqueros show in Santa Ynez this weekend, it seemed appropriate to put the cowboy cookie cupcake on our menu this week...Brown Sugar cake, filled with cowboy cookie dough (oats, walnuts, chocolate & ground pretzeles), topped with vanilla frosting & a salty butter pretzel, dipped in our chocolate sauce.  

cowboy boots, horseshoe, western shirt, cowboy cookie cupcakes

here's what sold out today...

come back for fresh one's tomorrow.

Last Sunday Kara & I were dreaming up new cupcake flavors and Kara says, "Snickers Cupcake!"  I've struggled with how to achieve a gooey nougat like filling, but we talked through it & now have Snickers in cupcake form...Chocolate cake, filled with nougat mousse and creamy caramel, topped with chocolate fudge, more caramel & chopped peanuts.

Berry Mint Chardonnay Tart...Brown sugar crust, chardonnay cake, filled with house-made mixed berry, mint syrup, topped with meringue frosting & a little mint leaf.

Coconut Lime Cheesecake...coconut milk cake, filled with lime cheesecake, topped with coconut milk frosting & sugared lime zest.

a wedding full of collections & keepsakes

Meet Lauren & Clark...

Aren't they awesome!

For months before the wedding, Lauren & Clark collected unique trinkets to represent each guest.  The treasures filled 2 massive tables and each person got to go on a mini treasure hunt to find their trinket (with name & table assignment attached).  The cupcakes & cookies were going on the same table so, as I waited for the tables to clear, I was able to observe all the "oohs, ahhhs" & laughter as people found their keepsake.  I could tell it made them feel special & connected to the couple.

They also collected unique vases, jars & tins for the floral arrangements on each table.  Collectively, they looked amazing together.

Our unique collection of stands & platters  for the cupcakes & cookies fit in perfectly with Lauren's collections.  They also collected fun little treasures to decorate the dessert table.

All photos by Andre Vippolis

just so you know...

you can always call & have us reserve your cupcake flights (preferably the day before so that I can make them especially for you the next morning)!   805*451*0284. 

I was at the shop on Sat, when we sold out early and had to tell people (some who had driven quite a distance) that we were all out of goodies - not a fun position to be in.  So next time, give us a buzz and we'll hold your treats for you.

Photos by Jennifer Young

family time for a family business

October was our busiest wedding month to date so we rewarded our efforts with a mini vacation to one of my favorite places, Capitola.  We started our adventure with some trick-or-treating.  Opal decided our costumes.  We were a fairy family :) 

The next morning we went a magical place, Nisien Marks.  It's a beautiful forest full of moss, twisted trees, fog, & creeks and was a complete fairy land through Opal's eyes.  I've run miles through the forest's paths over the years and it was so special to return there and share the beauty with Kevin & Opal.

and the beach is a short drive away...

Opal painted...

and I got to visit one of the bakeries I used to work at, Gayle's...

dissecting cupcakes...

because I want you to see how yummy they look inside.

Pumpkin smores..graham cracker crust, chocolate cake baked with marshmallows, topped with pumpkin frosting, more graham crumbs & chocolate chunks.

Orange clove gingerbread...gingerbread cake, filled with orange clove curd, topped with cream cheese frosting, clove caramel sauce & sugared orange zest.

mama cakes

We worked with a VERY fun bride & groom over the summer and the bride is officially enamored with cupcakes.  She requested some "mama" cakes to represent each flavor of cupcake, so the cupcake became the cake topper & mama cakes were born :)

mama cake #1 ~ Sugar Daddy (vanilla & caramel)

mama cake #2 ~ Peanut Butter Cup

mama cake #3 ~ Ginger Lime Chardonnay

final october wedding...