Crave Cookies and Cupcakes

With Mother’s Day fast approaching we gathered some very special thoughts from the fabulous Crave staff.  ENJOY!

What my mom means to me….

It would be hard to put in words what my Mom means to me. She is a lady full of strength, never gives up and is always a phone call away when I need her. She is my best friend and my Mom means the world to me! – Aldene

Someone I can turn to that will always be an unbiased advisor, someone that I can count on to always be there and someone who is a spectacular role model in life! – Jayde

My mom is my world and I can only hope that one day I can be as amazing as her – Melannie

My mom is everything to me.  My best friend, my teacher, my biggest fan, my therapist, and so much more.  I love her more than words can say. – Amanda

She is incredibly considerate, gentle and giving.  Plus she makes the most delicious suppers and goodies – Lyndsay

She is my #1 supporter – a great mom is better than a best friend.  She is hard-working, independent and extremely loving – Kathryn

She is my role model of an empowered, driven woman – Kayla

She knows me better than anyone and supports me in anything I do – Sara

My mom is my best friend – Maria

I love my mom, she cooks me bacon – Shannon

My mom is the best person I’ve ever met – Emma

My mom is so amazing I can’t put it into words – Courtney

I haven’t felt the embrace of my mother in over 18 years but I can still feel her overwhelming love. My mother had 13 years to shape me into the woman I am today. She taught me to never second guess myself to trust my abilities and to never give up. I am where I am today because of her.  I am lucky enough to be a mother now myself and can only hope I can leave the same impression on my kids.  – Catherine

I learn from my mother every day!  She’s a teacher; it’s in her nature.  She is also the most caring. Loving, open-minded person I know.  I love her very much – Alex

My mom taught me everything there is to being awesome.  I love her and she gives me great life advice whenever I need it.  Lovely lady she is! – Joe

My mom is the reason I choose to get into culinary arts.  If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have the passion for cooking or baking that I have now, Whether it’s a simple dinner or an old Ukrainian favorite she’s the reason I learned to cook and the reason I continue to love it. – Anonymous

My mother taught me how to be the person I want to be – Jodi

Aren’t Mom’s swell – we wish all the mom’s out there a very Happy Day….

Seven years ago accomplished pastry chef Cynthia Blindenbach (then Cynthia Zacharias) applied for a job in our Kensington bakery.  Hiring a pastry chef was slated in the business plan in year 3, but six months after opening we were crazy busy trying to keep up with the demand for cupcakes and cakes.  We thought some professional help was just what we needed, so we hired Cynthia the day after we met and she has been a part of the Crave Family ever since!

The past couple of years have been busy with expansion, opening a total of 6 bakeries. During this time Cynthia came out of the bakery and into our Head Office where she coordinated our bakery operations.  Busy overseeing 6 bakeries, Cynthia’s custom cakes, once so popular, were no longer on the menu at our stores.

Recently, after much thought, Cynthia has returned to our Kensington location to put custom cakes back on the menu. Cynthia has a true gift for cake decorating and a passion for baking and we are so thrilled to have her in the bakery again.

When Cynthia is not busy decorating cakes, she is busy training our many fabulous bakers so we will be able to offer custom cakes in our other bakeries as well!  For now, if you are looking for a custom cake for your next party, you can reach Cynthia at the Kensington Bakery (403-209-4906).

Below is a small sample of cakes she has created, many of them personal ones from our own children’s birthdays!

A dirt bike themed cake and matching cupcakes.

For a December 29th birthday party – fondant on the outside with plenty of buttercream below for the children to enjoy!

An under the sea themed cake with matching cupcakes found below!

Custom cake for a 60th birthday party.

One of our favourites, letter cookies on the side of the cake with matching mini cupcakes on top.

Super fun cake for a western themed party!

Growing up we were lucky to have been blessed with a mom that really knew how to bake.  One of our favourite things she made were the one time a year valentine cookie. Mom would make the dough, roll it out and cut perfect hearts.

Each year we would watch as she spread on a generous layer of pink vanilla buttercream and finished it with a cinnamon heart on top.

The cookies would then be placed on a paper plate embellished with a red paper heart, wrapped with saran wrap and carefully carried by my sisters and I to share with our classmates.

A few times each year we bake our mom’s Valentine cookies in each of our stores the same way she once did in her kitchen.  We always struggle with trying to find a true description for the cookie and end up calling it a sugar cookie.  It is not a true sugar cookie, but more of a simple not sweet vanilla biscuit cookie made incredibly addictive when iced with our vanilla buttercream icing.

We hope you love the cookies as much as we do – but come early, as they are just too good to resist!

The Classic Heart Shaped Valentine Cookie will be packaged in a clear square box and tied with a pink satin ribbon.  It will be available February 9th to 14th for $6.95.

The Love Letter Cookie will be packaged in a re-suable white tin and tied with a pink satin ribbon.  It will be available February 9th to 14th for $5.95.

At Crave we love to bake and believe that an on-site bakery baking fresh product stocked with real ingredients is an integral part of the experience in our shops.  For that reason, we made the decision to close our 17th avenue location on December 24th 2011.

Thank you to all of our fabulous customers who have supported us over the years.  We look forward to seeing you at one of our other Calgary bakeries:

Kensington – 1107 Kensington Rd NW

Aspen Landing – 318 Aspen Glen Landing SW

Willow Park – 222 10816 Macleod Tr SE

Crowfoot – #57 Crowfoot Terrace NW

Thank you!

The crave sisters, Jodi and Carolyne

In the seven years we have been serving guests our classic 13 flavour cupcake menu, we have received many requests for custom flavours.  This month – and in the months to come we are pleased to be satisfying all of your cravings and creativity by offering custom cupcake and icing combinations.

We know there are lots of customers who have come into our stores or have called our order line with custom flavour requests.  In the past we have not always fulfilled these requests and regret any disappointment.

We are looking forward to creating the unique cupcake you are craving – just ask us!  For the month of November, let your cupcake server know you read this blog and we will make it for you for free!  Let us know what you thought of your unique cupcake by commenting below.

Please note that although we would love to bake all kinds of recipes we are currently offering mix and match options for cupcake and icing flavors currently on the menu:

Cupcakes: Chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, coconut and lemon

Icing: Vanilla (pink, blue or white), chocolate, cream cheese, strawberry, raspberry, lime, peppermint and fresh coconut.

Please ask us about out sprinkle selection to top off your creation!

If you need some inspiration, here are some great recommendations from our staff (they are always experimenting in the bakery!)

Jackie and Tim at Willow Park love the lemon cake with raspberry icing

Faith at Kensington loves the lemon cake with vanilla icing

Felicity at our Aspen location loves the coconut cake with chocolate icing rolled in coconut

In Crowfoot we had a customer request for red velvet with strawberry icing!

Have fun with your creation – make it yours, make it unique, just like you!

Each and every day Crave staff members work extremely hard baking and serving our fabulous baked goods in each of our stores! Last Sunday September 25^th we closed all of our Calgary stores to host a Crave Family Picnic to reward our staff that work so hard.

We hosted the picnic in beautiful Bowness Park down by the river and were treated to a beautiful warm and sunny fall day.  The picnic was hosted “potluck” style so each of our employees could share with each other one of their favorite recipes.

We had a super fun day enjoying each other, each other’s food and playing a few classic picnic games (see pictures below).

Part of the Willow Park Crew!

Christina’s Fabulous Cobbler!

Tug of War – boys vs girls…..the boys won!

We tried really hard though……

The kids tug of war.

Scott and Laura – the winners of the three legged race!

Modified version of egg on spoon – Cupcake on Spoon!  If you look closely you can see Jacquie’s cupcake falling off her spoon!

We had such a great day – we think we may have a spring version – but maybe baseball in the park!

My sister and Crave Co-Founder Carolyne McIntyre Jackson completed her first IronMan Canada Triathlon in Penticton on August 28, 2011.

With a little cheering from some special fans she was able to Swim 3.8km, Bike 180 km and Run 42.2 km. While fitting in 5am runs and 8pm bike rides (with laps in the pool in between), Carolyne continued to successfully balance her roles as a mother, wife and growing business owner. Her strength, courage and passion which led her successfully to the finish line are an inspiration to me.

7 years ago on September 7th, 2004, we opened the very first Crave Cupcakes location in Calgary at 1107 Kensington Road NW.  With no money spent on advertising, Jodi and I started baking at 5:00am, opened the doors at 10:00am and hoped customers would come to buy our cupcakes!  The first day was a success!  We sold all of our cupcakes and were excited to return the next morning to start everything again.

From the very beginning we set out on a mission to make the very best from scratch baking Calgary had ever tasted.  There would never be day olds, we would only use butter and we would always crack fresh eggs.

Well, here we are 7 years later and we are still doing the same things Jodi and I started doing.  Making the best from scratch baking, cracking our own eggs, delighting our customers and making each day a little sweeter one cupcake at a time.

To celebrate our birthday, each Wednesday in September, when you purchase 6 regular sized cupcakes you will receive a 7^th cupcake free!

Thank you for all the Support for the past 7 years.  We hope you come to one of our stores to enjoy a cupcake on us!

Carolyne and Jodi (sisters and Co-Founders)

Two years ago we took our love for ice cold summertime treats into the bakery, aiming to craft a knock-your-socks-off ice cream sandwich.  After indulging in more spoonful’s of ice cream than we care to admit we’re pleased to be sharing our take on an old classic.

Like any exploration in the kitchen, once we started testing ice cream recipes we came across a richness of possibilities.  Boundless flavor combinations and the subtle variances in texture and consistency amazed and made every new batch exciting to taste.  After months of testing we found a classic vanilla bean ice cream that we just can’t get enough of.

When it comes to vanilla ice cream nothing beats the simplicity of real cream, fresh eggs, sugar and whole vanilla beans which emerge from the freezer creamy and lush with flavor.  We’ve paired this ice cream with our favorite dark chocolate chunk cookie and a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce.

We make all of our ice cream in small batches throughout the week.  Below are photos of our Pastry Chef preparing enough ice cream custard for a busy upcoming weekend.

All ice cream sandwiches are assembled to order with super cold ice cream and fresh room temperature cookies.

Visit the recipe section of our website for the fabulous vanilla ice cream recipe.http://www.cravecupcakes.ca/crave-insider/our_favourite_recipes.html

We hope you enjoy our ice cream sandwiches as much as we do!

Crowfoot is busy working away at the recipe challenge…..see below what they have in store for you this week:

At the suggestion of our fabulous owner, Carolyne (one of many inspiring women we work with everyday), the team at Crave Crowfoot embarked on a mission to perfect a recipe she had found. It was a bar or square, whichever boot fits you best, that had an oatmeal-brown-sugar-butter crust and topping, and a centre of chocolate chips, pecans and caramel. After making the original recipe we had found a good bar recipe that had the potential to be just plain unreal. A few tweaks here and there, including replacing the chips with Callebaut Dark Chocolate Chunks and most definitely upping the caramel to topping ratio and we had this:

You should really stop by and give it a try.