Pumpkin Project: Pumpkin Mini Bundt Cake

Today we've got a guest review for the Pumpkin Project. The ladies at Cupcake Crusaders were kind enough to allow me a spot on their blog, so I wanted to return the favor! Plus they have been passing along suggestions of pumpkin items to try, without them I may never had tried the glorious whoopee pumpkin pie from The Corner Bakery. 

Today Stacy is reviewing a mini bunt cake from Au Bon Pain, and Jenn is on deck to review Edy's Pumpkin Ice Cream. Be sure to check out their fantastic cupcake blog as well!

Pumpkin Mini Bundt Cake from Au Bon Pain

Hi everyone! I'm Stacy from the Cupcake Crusaders. I'm very happy that Between and Breath and a Blink has let me join in her quest to taste all things pumpkin this fall. I recently found myself in an Au Bon Pain (which doesn't happen often… if ever) to get my coffee fix, when I noticed a sign advertising pumpkin cake. I immediately thought of Between a Breath and a Blink's pumpkin quest and knew I had to try it. After scouring all the baked goods and finding nothing, I decided to ask for some help. Lucky for me, they had some in the back that were frozen, but assured me that it would thaw quickly. I often do this with cupcakes so know that freezing is the best way to keep cake moist (when it's not baked fresh daily). After letting it thaw back at the office, it was time to dive in. I was really surprised that the cake was actually moist and light. The flavor seemed to lean a little more towards the "spice" side than "pumpkin," but since I don't discriminate when it comes to fall flavors, it was fine with me. Of course, being a Cupcake Crusader, I was missing the frosting on top, but still, this was a very tasty afternoon treat (unlike the vanilla cupcake I also purchased… but that's another story...)

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Pumpkin Project: Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Creme Blend

For the record, I didn't even mean to get anything pumpkin today. I went to B&N in the Inner Harbor with the sole intention of getting a stuffed pretzel before my soccer game. However I'd been hearing all the amazing things about Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and felt like it'd be wrong to not give it a try, for the sake of this blog of course. I don't often drink coffee/lattes though, and especially try to avoid caffeine this late in the day, so went with the Pumpkin Blended Creme instead, which is basically a frappachino without the coffee aspect. 

Pumpkin Spice Creme Blend from Starbucks

This surely is the epitome of liquid cocaine, holy smokes. Though really that can be said for any of the Starbucks creme blends (big fan of hazelnut myself). It is the absolute, perfect version of pumpkin pie in liquid form, you can't get any better. Seriously, out of this world. The only way to make it better? Add alcohol. I'd suggest Kahlua or Baileys, something along the lines of a pumpkin mud slide. Pumpkin Mudslide, hm...

Afterword: This is a bit on the sweet side (I suppose having coffee in it would have helped in that aspect) so I'm putting 1/3 of it in the freezer for tomorrow.

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Pumpkin Project: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

So I have to say upfront, I forgot to take a photo of this. And then once I remembered there were only 2 bites left and I didn't want to stop eating it. THAT GOOD. But I most certainly will be getting more (maybe even today on my way home from work), so will add photos later.

Also I know my blogger friends at Cupcake Crusaders are also reviewing this (they tipped me off) so once their review is posted I'll link to it.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie from The Corner Bakery

This was beyond amazing. I want 3 more right this very second. I usually try to savor the pumpkin treat as I blog so I can make sure I get it just right, but I couldn't help devouring this immediately. The cake was the perfect spice/pumpkin combo of just the right density/moistness. and the frosting middle- OMG. It was the typical whoopee pie frosting (can't really describe it correctly) but this was a cinnamon version. I want a bowlful of it this instance. 

I feel like I'm not giving a good review (and I'm not), but that just means I am required to do better next time. And if that doesn't suffice then multiple times while it's available. All I can say is go buy this now people! 

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U/A at this time. 

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Pumpkin Project: IcedGems Cupcake

I hate to admit it but I've never had a cupcake from IcedGems Cupcake Truck before *GASP* Pretty amazing considering how much I love cupcakes, and the fact I always stand 5 feet from the truck at WTMD's First Thursdays. But when I saw this morning that they had Pumpkin cupcakes and would be 5 blocks from my office, I knew I had to indulge.

IcedGems Pumpkin Cupcake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

First off, the moment I pulled the cupcake from the bag it smelled like pumpkin pie, LOVE. The cake was dense but still moist, with a noticeable pumpkin taste that wasn't too overwhelming. I liked that it was more pumpkin then spice, especially since I think some people/places tend to be heavy handed on the nutmeg. It kind of reminded me of the Panera pumpkin muffin, but better.

I had the option of cream cheese or cinnamon buttercream frosting with the cupcake. The cupcake dude (who was kinda cute btw) suggested the buttercream as the best option. I'm more of a cream cheese frosting girl but couldn't resist the cinnamon, so that's what I went with. If I was thinking at the time (and had more then $4 in cash) I would have bought both cream cheese and buttercream frosted cupcakes, but that just means I'll have to go back again soon!

The cinnamon buttercream frosting was really good, but not amazing. It had just the right amount of cinnamon, but when eaten alone I could easily pick out the powdered sugar taste. However, paired with the cake it made the perfect combo! It was really hard for me to take my time eating the 2nd half of this to give it my best review, instead of wolfing it down like I wanted.

Ideally I would have liked a cinnamon cream cheese frosting on this, which is reflected in my rating for this cupcake. Overall I would recommend the IcedGems pumpkin cupcake, and I look forward to trying their other flavors!

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Pumpkin Project: the Bagel edition

So I went to Panera this morning with the intent to buy a simple bagel (cinnamon crunch, plain). However, I discovered they have a new seasonal bagel and with this blog in mind figured I had better indulge. Boy am I glad I did!!

Panera Pumpkin Pie Bagel with NY Style Cheesecake Cream Cheese

This bagel is AMAZING. Seriously to die for. Not the best selection for breakfast food but a good indulgence every once in a while. The bagel itself tastes just like pumpkin pie, there are bits of pumpkin mix within the dough which makes it   tasty on it's own. The top has the same cinnamon crusty bits as the cinnamon crunch bagel, which is what sells it for me.

Pair it with the cream cheese and it's a slice of heaven. There are only a few things I can eat by the spoonful- peanut butter, nutella, brownie mix...ok maybe more then a few, but I could have eaten this cream cheese with a spoon. It tastes more like a frosting then a cream cheese, as it errs on the sweet side, but not too sweet that you can't put it on your bagel. I usually only use half the CC provided on my bagel, but I used every last bit today (as you can see in the photos). 

I don't get bagels all that often, so not as if it'd be a regular addition to my breakfast repertoire, but I certainly will have one more of these before they go away for the season. 

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Let the Great Pumpkin Fun begin!

As much as I am a huge fan of summer ( not going to lie, I worship the sun) I love everything about fall- Football, the smell of burning leaves, halloween, apples, pumpkins... the list goes on and on. I talk every year about going pumpkin picking, or for a hayride, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. 

But today I got my first pumpkin cupcake of the season and had an epiphany. I am going to taste test every pumpkin cupcake and/or cookie in Baltimore possible and rate it here for you fine folks that read my blog. (Which, at this point is probably no one since I post so sporadically!) So while trying to hold onto good eating habits I'll have to sacrifice some for the sake of this project.

I'd already had the idea to have a pumpkin beer taste test party, so the results from that will come at a later date. For your entertainment, the first pumpkin cupcake review happens here:


Pumpkin Cupcake from the B&N Starbucks, via The Cheesecake Factory

The cake was billed as pumpkin, but it tasted more like a ginger/spice cake. Not bad by any means, but I was looking for more of a stand out pumpkin flavor. The cake itself was kind of dense, whereas I prefer my cupcakes to be light and moist. The frosting, cinnamon cream cheese, was the highlight. I prefer a stronger cinnamon flavor, but for those that like a more subtle cinnamon taste this would hit the spot. The one downfall was the lack of frosting, I enjoy a larger cake to frosting ratio. 

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Things that are annoying me today

So just wanted to take a second to touch on 2 issues that are irritating me today: people hating on Nabisco/Oreos and the uproar over Lupul and racy photos.

#1- So Oreo posted a photo an oreo cookie with rainbow frosting in honor of Pride Day and the comments were horrific. I can't even begin to explain how crude and disgusting they were (see for yourself) It's just amazing to me that people can be so hateful, especially those that bring God and the Bible into the picture. It says in the Bible "God says to not judge others as only he shall judge us" and the basis of religion in love and acceptance. If it is not hurting or affecting you, why must you care so much?? Homophobia needs to end now.

#2- Twitter was abuzz last night and today regarding Joffrey Lupul's request to Princess_Sass for dirty/nude photos. Now, please do not tell me that people have not attempted to get dirty photos online before, especially if you have the clout of celebrity or athlete status of which to do so. The thing that gets me is the epic proportions to which it was blown. Why does everyone care so much?? First of all- PS was in the wrong to tweet about his request. If you are going to start tweeting at him with the promise of photos-and deliver- why the need to call him out publicly about it. Let it be what it is. Many of us have sent or received dirty photos, you simply enjoy and destroy. Use your common sense and be discreet about it. Unless you are trying to blackmail someone (which I do not condone at all!) keep it to yourself. They are both of age, and he wasn't posting her photos up all over the internet. Let it rest people.

Princess Sass- power to you girl for sleeping with hot hockey players, but be kind and don't throw them under the bus.

Lupul- remember you are a well known athlete and make sure you can trust random chicks from online.

That's enough for now. I'm about to go eat an Oreo and hit on hotties online. Don't worry guys, I'm one of the discreet ones.