When animal-product-shunning A-listers such as Moby and Natalie Portman want to dig into dairy-free chocolate cupcakes or no-egg cookies, they often head to New York's BabyCakes bakery. The naughty-tasting yet often nutritious vegan and gluten-free treats by owner Erin McKenna star in a new cookbook, "BabyCakes" ($24, Random House). We chatted with McKenna about how she crafted her baking secrets to help change the way people eat dessert.
July 2009 Archives
No-Dairy Queen: Erin McKenna
Rachael Ray on Erin McKenna: "This lady is the answer to your prayers!"
I conducted an interview with Erin which will air shortly on our site. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you more about the bakery so if you are in NYC, you can stop by, even if you have no allergies or dietary restrictions. Her products are delicious and far healthier than the classic versions. If you are a sweets addict, it's not a bad thing to have a less harmful way to indulge.
BabyCakes' Erin McKenna is Lucky Magazine's Beauty Spy
Click the thumbnail for a full-size view.
This made us tear up
Just wanted to share a touching note from customer:
stop me if you heard this before..................
I don't know where to start....I visited your bakery yesterday and got a box of 6 cupcakes and a piece of corn loaf to take home to my wife (we live all the way in Branchburg NJ). Getting a cupcake with frosting home on my 2 hour and change commute was not easy, but to do so for my wife, never a problem. The reason, I love her more than life itself! The issue of course for me is always her happiness, and for us food is one source of happiness. I happen to be an excellent cook yet I am no pastry chef by any means. That is where you came in.
First off your staff (a red headed woman) was a pleasure to deal with and she was very understanding as I explained my wife could not have soy, egg, dairy, casein, nut and gluten. She was very knowledgeable and just downright pleasant to talk to. She was critical in helping me make the "food safe" decisions I needed to make,,,,basically, which delicious cupcakes to buy and how to get them home still looking pretty!
Next stop home; I am a big fan of surprises, so after I cooked dinner I told her to close her eyes and then I sprung the cupcakes on her. With grand expectations (as my wife knows me all to well) she opened her eyes and it looked like she got her first x-mass gift. She knew I was doing research on your bakery and she basically tore into the box. After her first bite I knew they were as good as they looked (confirmed by me 30 minutes later when I had my first).
So long story short; THANK YOU......Thank you so much for baking such delicious goods that my wife now can enjoy such a simple pleasure in life again. Thank you, thank you, thank you!...... I plan on visiting you very often from now on. God Bless You....Paul and Dina Biscione, Branchburg NJ
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Awwww......Cookbook Success
Barbra has been diligently trying out recipes and totally aced the cake! Look at you go girl! America and I are so proud. Way to work that frosting!
2009 Veggie Awards
It's time again to vote for your favorites in this year's Veggie Awards!
Each year, VegNews Magazine compiles the ultimate "Best Of" list to include all things vegan/vegetarian based on your online votes. The survey covers everything from your favorite athlete to your favorite brand of make-up. There's even a category for your favorite vegan bakery!
BabyCakes NYC is lucky enough to be nominated again this year after we were honored with winning best bakery in the 2008 survey!
You can vote for all of your favorites by clicking here. Don't forget to include your name and e-mail address on your entry to enter to win one of their great prizes! 
We're Closed on the 4th of July
We'll be back bright and early Sunday for normal business hours. Happy 4th!
