Bake Sale for Japan Relief

The March 11th earthquake and subsequent tsunami left hundred of thousands of families in Japan in a state of dire need.  April 2, 2011 was a nation-wide bakesale in America for Japan earthquake relief. Families, food bloggers, restaurants, shops big and small, cake and cupcake clubs, baked, bought, and donated for a great cause. If you missed the Big Bakesale yesterday, there are many other ways you can help. Donate to the Red Cross by phone at 1-800-Red Cross (English), 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at Red Cross dot org. NYC Cake Decorators will do our part and send a donation to the American Red Cross this week.

Cake Buzz: Cupcakes with Buddy Valestro!

Join Buddy Valestro ("Cake Boss") and his family for a fun afternoon in Hoboken, sampling purple cupcakes for the benefit of the Anita Kaufmann Foundation. Demos, book signings and more! Please wear purple to show your support.

Visit http://cupcakeswithbuddy.charityhappenings.org or call 201-655-0420 for more information or to purchase tickets.  See you there!

Baking for a Good Cause - Iron Cupcake Challenge

Photo courtesy of Kati Angelini

It's October and the holidays will be here in a flash! So much focus in the media and television has been about cake competitions and reality shows that I thought it was high time that we feature a post on baking for charities and good causes.

During the month of October, NYC Cake Decorators blog will publish several posts highlighting wonderful cakers who bake for a cause and cake related charitable organizations. Please visit their websites and see what they are about.

Kati Angelini, owner Kati's Kupcakes and Gourmet Desserts, is the bubbly and charismatic Organizer of the Iron Cupcake Challenge Moorestown. The Iron Cupcake Challenge is a fun way to get local baking enthusiasts together to vie for the title of Iron Cupcake Champion!! Each month a flavor/ingredient is disclosed and participants must bake their best cupcake based on the given flavor (like Food Networks' Iron Chef Challenge). Prizes are given and judges choose their favorite cupcake based on style, presentation, creativity, and of course FLAVOR. Best of all a portion of the proceeds are donated to local charities!!

Bake your scariest and tastiest cupcake to impress the judges and public at this month's October Iron Cupcake Challenge. The secret ingredient is PUMPKIN! Ruth Drennan, owner of Ruth Drennan Cakes will be a guest judge at this event! The Friends of Fullerton Park is the worthy organization that will benefit this month. Cupcakes+Charities=Perfect Together!! For more information about entering the contest or attending and tasting, contact Kati via the Iron Cupcake Challenge -Moorestown Meetup webpage or call 609-332-2172.

'Tis the Season to Give

Photo Courtesy of member Stephanie Haver

This season why not bake and decorate delicious and amazing cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for a cause: Free Cakes for Kids, Iron Cupcake Challenge -Moorestown, and Great American Bake Sale are three organizations who can use your help. Live in New York City? Contact Elaine Gil, owner Bubbles Playhouse and ask her about her charity organization Kids Gone Giving. Every month Elaine does a good deed for children's charities in Staten Island.

Lynn's Igloo Cake's a Smashing Success!!

Photo courtesy of member, Lynn Carbone

Bubbles Playhouse's December 17th bash for the Pediatric Cancer patients from Staten Island Hospital was a huge success!!!!!!!! Santa and his elves visited the children and there was dancing, caroling, and facepainting. Member Lynn Carbone, Lynn's Custom Cakes, donated a delicious igloo and penguin cake that stole the show!

Tasty Summer Treats for Kids!

Cake Decorators are caring and sharing people and what better way to show how much we care than using our skills to bring smiles to kids and their families who are less fortunate than ourselves. NYC Cake Decorators partnered with Elaine aka Bubbles the Clown, Bubbles Playhouse at a BBQ for kids held at Project Hospitality on June 30th. Everyone --but especially the kids-- had a great time!

Katherine baked and beautifully decorated the tasty watermelon butter cookies. Each watermelon slice and seeds were lovingly handcrafted. Just the sweet treat to bring to a backyard BBQ.

Lynn's ladybug cupcake was inspired by one of Elisa Strauss' designs. Lynn handcrafted each ladybug and caterpillar from sugarpaste and colored with edible ink. This cupcake would be welcomed at any garden party, picnic, or BBQ.

Schenequa's cherry topped sprinkles cupcakes were so colorful and yummy--the kids couldn't help but smile and ask for "one more'.

Cancer Care for Kids - Cupcakes for a Cause

The NYC Cake Decorators were pleased to join forces with CupCakes Take The Cake Meetup and baked and decorated cupcakes for Cancer Care for Kids fundraiser. What a wonderful way to indulge in our passion for cake decorating while helping a worthy cause.

Nichelle, Organizer and Allison and Rachel, Assistant Organizers are warm, down to earth folks who were so savvy to pick such a great location for the fundraiser, the Brooklyn Flea, situated in the historic Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. There was a constant buzz around the table and plenty of smiles as cupcakes were swiftly purchased and consumed. All in all a great day and a great fundraiser for Cancer Care for Kids. Special thanks to Lynn, Tonya, and Betty who took the time to represent NYC Cake Decorators at this event.

Two bloggers from blondie and brownie brought the most delicious s'mores cupcakes--soft billowy clouds of marshmellow topping, chocolate cake center, and crunchy graham cracker crust---yum. Alex, one of the bloggers, was recently a winner in Martha Stewarts "cutest cupcake" contest.

Dozens of cupcakes were baked and brought to the Brooklyn Flea. Coconut, spice, pumpkin, chocolate mint, chocolate orange, and peanut butter were just some of the yummy flavors available. Crumbs Bakery donated several boxes of cupcakes to Cupcakes Takes The Cake for the fundraiser.

Lynn created white vanilla cancer awareness cupcakes which were sold at a brisk pace. Dina baked and decorated chocolate cupcakes embellished with royal icing pink flowers.

Tonya dropped by with adorable son in tow and carrying a tray of amazing wolf and owl cupcakes. The cupcakes were sold almost as soon as they were placed on the table. Kids and adults alike were fascinated by the cupcakes. Tonya said that she was inspired by the cupcakes featured in "Hello Cupcake" by Karen Tack.