Carlos Bakery Visit (Cake Boss)

Yes, we had to make sure our itinerary included a visit to Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.  Hoboken is a beautiful town.  We didnt expect a huge line up to Carlos Bakery, so we decided to walk the length of Washington Street, to check out what else Hoboken had to offer.  We returned to the bakery and joined the 2 hour line in the cold day of New Jersey. We finally entered the shop (crowded but overwhelming), we bought a number of cakes and took them back to our hotel room.  I must admit the cakes tasted better than what I imagined. Being a huge Papas cake fan, (http://www.pasticceriapapa.com.au/main.html), (Haberfield, Sydney Australia), it was going to take allot of convincing that Buddys cakes were as good as what he boasts about on his show.

Well the cakes were Great.

Hoboken has many great places to eat. A typical Irish / Italian suburb filled with Italian Delis, pizzerias and Irish pubs. Be sure to visit Vitos Deli (http://www.vitosdeli.com/),  Grimaldis (http://www.grimaldis.com/hoboken.htm) whilst in Hoboken.

The only chance to get a photo infront of the store was late at night.

Inside the store. (Very crowded)

In Search for the Best Red Velvet Cupcakes

My family and I took on the challenge to find the best Red Velvet Cupcake in the US. There are thousands of cupcake shops in every state we travelled to.  Many of them always packed to the rafters with customers.

Yes we found Magnolia Bakery in NYC and to my surprise they were very nice (especially with the cheese cream topping. We also found a bakery called "crumbs" who had a gigantic version of the Red velvet. It too was Yum, with a huge serving of buttercream and white chocolate sprinkles on top.

Off to New Jersey to the famous Carlos Bakery in Hoboken. And Yes they too had a Red Velvet. And to our surprise it was very nice. As a matter of fact all of Buddys cakes were better than what I anticipated them to be, (but not as good as Pasticceria Papa's in Haberfield).  Papa still has the best custard horns, ricotta cake. and cannolies. Las Vegas also had its fair share of Red Velvets. From the new "Sugar Factory" on the main strip, not only selling Red Velvets, but also $30 Chuppa Chupps (made of Gold perhaps!!!), but also the "Cheese Cake Shop" had a great Red Velvet.
To the south in Florida, you can only imagine, even Disney had a red velvet mickey mouse style cupcake.
Then off to San Francisco. Many bakeries. Including Starbucks claim to have the best Red Velvet cupcakes.

Well not sure who wins. They were all yum. Carlos Bakery had the very best moist cupcake. Magnolia had  fresh cupcakes made on the premises as we were waiting (so they too were nice).
Crumbs had the biggest and most calories.

Soooooo the decision is undecided. Keep on trying.

Whoopie Pies

I attempted today to make Whoopie Pies.
A cup cake like sandwich cake with cream filling in between.
Yum.

Ingredients

• Plain Flour          1 2/3   Cups 
• Cocoa powder       2/3   Cups 
• Baking Soda       1 1/2  Teaspoons
• Salt                     1  Teaspoon
• Unsalted Butter       60 grams (room temp)
• Copha                     60 grams
• Brown Sugar          1    Cup
• Egg                         1
• Vanilla Extract        1    Teaspoon
• Milk                        1    Cup

Method

Preheat oven to 170 deg Celcius

Line baking tray with baking paper (parchment). Or use a "Whoopie Pie" special baking tray (available from the USA)

In a bowl sift together the flour, coca, baking soda and salt.

In your mix master, beat the butter, copha and sugar, on low until all combined.

Increase the speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add the egg and the vanilla extract and beat for 2 more minutes.

Add half the flour mixture and half the milk and beat on low until all combined. 

Add the remaining flour and milk and beat until all combined. 

Using a Tablespoon, scoop the batter and drop in onto the baking tray, keeping each scoop 50mm about. (2 inches)

Don't flatten the mix on the tray, just let the mix drop out of the spoon.

Bake for 10 minutes. the cake should be springy.

Remove from oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Mix your cream. I used cream cheese butter cream, then spread onto one cake, and place another cake on top.