November 2009 Archives

We were so excited to see the Cinnamon Sugar Toastie recipe in the December issue of Guideposts Magazine. Now, we are happy to share an interview with Erin about her favorite recipe, favorite ingredients and her love for pop!

Publishers Weekly just posted an article addressing how cookbook authors are responding to reader complaints. I was thrilled when Lynn Andriani, the reporter who wrote the article, contacted me for a quote because some BabyCakes cookbook readers have had a hard time with my recipes while others are having amazing results with everything they try. I even put out this video to help people out with common mistakes they were making--I really, really want to help!

BabyCakes NYC: Some Baking Tips! from BabyCakes NYC on Vimeo.

I was sad to see that the article posted a list of negative reviews about my cookbook from a couple readers without balancing it out with positive reviews. The reality is, we get far more emails about successes than failures. If someone emails us citing failures we take the time to email each one back personally to get to the root of the problem. After a while, I realized that so many people were making the same mistakes so I decided to make the video above so that everyone would be able to enjoy better success. So far, it's helped so much. I get so excited when people stop by the bakery and tell me how the video helped guide them through recipes they weren't making right and that they now mastered the recipe. It's even inspired me to make more baking instructional videos for other recipes in the cookbook (more to come on that).

So why do people only post the negative? I don't know. Maybe people reach out on the internet when they are having problems more than they would if recipes are coming out right. In the end (and I can't say it enough) I'm here to help. These recipes aren't as easy as normal cookbooks, admittedly! I didn't master them in one try and I made tons of mistakes along the way too. But if you stick to it, you'll have a kitchen full of delicious desserts and even a few go-to recipes that will never leave your memory.

Until next time...

Ok folks, we are now all booked up for Thanksgiving orders, but don't fret! We will be baking our hearts out on Monday the 22nd, Tuesday the 23rd and Wednesday the 24th to best accommodate walk-in customers. We will be baking on Wednesday until about 2pm, and then we will sell-out.

I'm in LA right now helping the bakery along in it's final stages and it's really exciting! We're picking paint, finalizing our sign, choosing stains for the cabinets--you know, buttoning the place up. In the picture here is Jen, my new General Manager of the LA outpost of BabyCakes NYC. She's acting like she's working but you can tell by the way she's holding that roller that she's totally faking it for the camera! But seriously, she is the hardest working woman I've ever met in LA (I used to live here for 2 years!) and the mother of two wildly gorgeous and sweet children . She'll be the one answering the phone when you call to place your orders so be sweet to her!

We're doing our best to get this thing opened as fast as we can so just hang tight for a teany bit longer, k? I know it's been a really long wait, but we're almost there! Ok, I gotta get back to work. More updates soon!

The latest issue of Guideposts is out, featuring the recipe for a bakery favorite, the Apple-Cinnamon Toastie. There is also a great article you can check out below (click to enlarge).

BabyCakes NYC: Some Baking Tips! from BabyCakes NYC on Vimeo.

Watch me and my super brilliant sister guide you through a few common baking blunders some of you have been having. I'm here to help, y'all!

Oh, hi there! I guess you're wondering what the big announcement is, so I'll take this opportunity to drag it out and tell you a long winded story.

About 37 seconds after "Babycakes" the cookbook came out I was cradling it my arms like a newborn. Just then my editor, Aliza Fogelson, phoned and the conversation went something like this:

Aliza: Hey Erin! The book is doing great, congratulations!
Me: Thanks!
Aliza: How about writing another one?
Me: No
Aliza: Yes
Me: No
Aliza: Yes
Me: Ok

So! It brings me great joy and pride to announce that I've inked the deal for my second book, "Babycakes Covers the Classics and Other Food Fantasies" with Clarkson Potter!!

For the past few months, I've secretly been expanding my imagination and messing around with ingredients to cover my favorite classic desserts. I had no idea how much fun it was going to be crafting up these new lil guys. You're going to lose it! Expect donuts, pancakes, girl scout cookies, candies and more!

Thanks to everyone who commented way back in summer when I was looking for inspiration! I read all the comments and have included a ton of your suggestions in the next cookbook. I'm so excited, you guys!!! Ok, I gotta get back to the kitchen. Bye!

When I wrote "Babycakes" the cookbook, I thought my audience was strictly made up of hopeless allergy sufferers, die hard vegans and virtuous health-conscious eaters alone. Little did I know how many different walks of culinary life would embrace it. So it was to my (super stoked) surprise that "Babycakes" was one of the 16 cookbooks in Food52.Com's annual Piglet Tournament of Cookbooks! Especially because the books in the tournament were considered to be the best of the year.

Quick buzz kill: "Babycakes" lost to "Well Preserved", but in my mind I couldn't have been defeated by a better book. My ego was minimally damaged. So on to the party, right? Here's some details about the event from Food52.Com and Astor Center:

Is the cookbook as we know it still relevant? We think so. In fact, it may be in its prime. From now through November 5th, you can witness the proof: watch the action unfold in the Tournament of Cookbooks on food52.com as 16 of the year's best cookbooks go head to head in a bracketed competition, vying for the coveted Piglet Trophy. Once a winner has been declared, come raise a glass (or several) with both authors and judges as you feast on a variety of dishes from the contenders.

There will be an hour-long panel discussion beginning at 7 pm, moderated by Gail Simmons. Panelists will include Peter Kaminsky, Gabrielle Hamilton, Peter Meehan, Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer, and they will talk about the current state of cookbooks, as well as the direction they're headed. They'll ponder what makes a great cookbook, and how new technology is shaping both the medium and content of the culinary genre.

You can score tickets to the event here. I'll be there with frosted brownie bites if that sweetens the deal!

For the week of Thanksgiving (November 23rd through 25th), we will be making items from our specialized Thanksgiving Menu only. We will be shipping items from the Thanksgiving Menu through FedEx for arrival on Wednesday, November 18th; Thursday, November 19th; Friday, November 20th; Tuesday, November 24th; and Wednesday, November 25th.

We will be taking orders for pick-up in the bakery and Manhattan delivery for the days leading up to Thanksgiving as well. Please get your orders in early! Our holiday orders do book up quickly.

If you are unable to get your order in on time, all of the items on the Thanksgiving Menu will also be available for pick-up at the bakery on a first come, first served basis Monday, November 23rd through Wednesday, November 25th. Please note our special hours for the week of Thanksgiving:

And here it is...

To place an order, please give the bakery a call (212.677.5047) during office hours, Monday through Friday from 10a-5p. Our office staff will be happy to help you with any questions.