Hoppy Easter!

Today as I sat at my desk in our Annapolis Bakery and watched the snow and rain through the window I thought, surely Spring is about to show us the colorful buds and flowers we have come to expect at this time of year.  Their bright reminder of new beginnings is still hiding under the comfort of the warm earth and their delayed presence dampens our anticipation.

So I turn my sights to our shop and see the example of new beginnings I was missing. Our two new bakery cases are filled with colorful cupcakes, cake pops, scones, cookies and, of course, cakes. What a delight it is to see such a colorful, tasty array! The day is warmed by happy planning of all the bakery items we will be able to offer to our long-time customers in the Annapolis area. My favorites

are our meringue shells and meringue layers that we will fill with fruit, lemon curd, whipped cream, chocolate or caramel. Their lightness will be perfect for the Spring!

Spartanburg is delighting with the wonderful aroma of lemon and coconut as our shipments build for the Easter weekend.  The chocolate ladybugs and bees have found their way onto more cakes than ever. It is such a fun time for the girls in the bakery in 'Sparkle City.'

Tomorrow, at our Annapolis location, the day will be filled with a photo shoot for The Scout Guide. If you do not know of this publication, it may be found at www.thescoutguide.com. Susie Matheson and Christy Ford of Charlottesville, VA, have scouted out the best of the best in twenty of the top cities in the USA to help guide you to the destinations you would not want to miss when visiting these cities. Eleven more guides are planned to debut throughout the Spring and early Summer. We are thrilled to have been sought out to be included in the Annapolis/Eastern Shore guide.

With bunnies to decorate, egg whites to whip and caramel to cook with care, I must hop off to the kitchen.

May you all have a wonderful holiday and may new beginnings fill your Spring.

Hoppy, Hoppy,

Caroline

Celebrating the Super Bowl at Caroline's!

The Team at Caroline's Cakes is on the field!

We leapt into 2013, scrubbed our Bakeries in Annapolis and Spartanburg from

goal post to goal post 

and positioned ourselves on the 10 yard line ready to charge up the field once again.

Catching passes and racing for the end zone over and over................(This is fun:-)).......

The Ravens and 49ers cakes and cupcakes are having a difficult time holding their lines on the front counter as customers scoot in and out of our Annapolis Bakery tucking 'Team Spirited' treats under their arms. ....... Returning to their cars they dodge those entering the Bakery doors from the parking lot.....and the game is on!

The Deli is intercepting those placing

Barbeque Party orders. 

Wings, Barbeque, Carolina Cornsticks,

Marinated Cole Slaw and Brunswick Stew

will fill up their sacks for the big Game Day.

We will allow no one to fumble out on our playing field. 

As we watch the last cupcake pass out the door and the last Team-decorated Cake make its way to the

field goal we will throw our hands in the air and 

do our own Touchdown Dance!

The Caroline's Team wins again........:-)

Thanks to all of you Caroline's Cakes' fans who have  

cheered us on over the years. ..............Enjoy!

'Taking it to the 7th Layer,'

Caroline

Happy Birthday to Jozsef C Dobos!

Happy Birthday to Jozsef C Dobos!

Dobos is the inspired creator of the multi-layer cake. 

In 1883 he created the Dobostorta, a 5-8 layer cake

using chocolate buttercream between sponge layers

and topping his cake with caramel to hold in the moisture.

His Dobostorta was the first dessert to be shelf stable for

up to 10 days in a day of no refrigeration. 

In Celebration of his Birthday  -  Let’s Eat Cake!!!!

Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday!

Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday! 

It is such a special time, sharing the most special gift of all with family and friends.......

time.....our time....It is the most meaningful thing we can give to another and there never seems to be enough of it.

At our shop in Annapolis they are busy baking our adorable 

Terrance the Turkey Cakes  and Cupcakes. Terrance is my favorite seasonal cake.

I remember the first one  we made in Annapolis.........

I just had to give him a little kiss on his beak!

Of course, then he was mine.......all mine.....

and I placed him on the side of my desk until I shared him, to much delight,

with my staff. Over those weeks hundreds of Terrance the Turkey Cakes went out of the shop. Pumpkin, Chocolate, Caramel, Vanilla, whatever the flavor our Terrance the Turkey added great delight to many Thanksgiving gatherings. The shop is, also,

beginning to offer new bakery items for you to enjoy.

  

Here in Spartanburg, in our new 'International Headquarters,'   

time is flying faster that it ever has before. We have been hustling in every area  

of our new space setting our systems in place and making sure

they all work better than ever. Well, I alone, have lost eight pounds dashing

across the bakery floor, helping out in every different department to be sure

all of you are taken care of properly and receive our wonderful cakes

and gourmet items as you always have.

We began baking the middle of September and shipped our first cake

from South Carolina two weeks later.

As my dad would say, 'We have been running like a sewing machine.'  

And that we have. All of our time, that has been spent planning   

how we do things here at Caroline's Cakes to best take care of our customers,

paid off in spades. In our spacious new building, we became more efficient  

as we completed week after week of perfect performance.

Once all of our signature cakes were baked we FINALLY were able to

bake our  7-Layer Pumpkin Cake just in time for Thanksgiving.

It was a sign for us that we were organized and that all the time we had put into planning our move was time well spent. Those of you who had already called in to  

put your name on the list were called back and your Pumpkin Cakes were shipped out.  It has become one of my traditions for Thanksgiving,  so I was especially delighted when it came out of the oven.

Thank you for your patience as we have been quiet these past eight weeks.  

Our time was time spent with thoughts of you and it was time well spent.

So to all of you who are so special to all of us........

Gobble, Gobble..........

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Caroline

Cakes, expansion, passion....and off to Budapest!

August is certainly slipping away from us.Vacations are ending, school is beginning and fall routines are being put into place as our tan lines begin to fade and  fall colors start brightening around us.

What a delight it is to see the notes sent with our cakes to show appreciation for a special vacation!

Some are funny, some are heart felt, and all will certainly put you on the list for next year!

There is so much to share here at Caroline's Cakes as we look towards September.

First, Richard, Laura and I have been working diligently as we prepare for the final

two inspections of our expansion in Spartanburg, SC. It looks as if we will have the 'OK' to begin firing up our ovens there by early next week. 

Laura is beginning to post pictures of the finished bakery on Facebook.

It is BIG and spacious and very, very white.  

From our team of contractors to our building and health inspectors, everyone is thrilled with our progress and the improvements we have made

to our new building.

The bakery and deli in Annapolis is beginning to spruce up with the help of Kathy and Richard.

As the baking and shipping of our signature cakes moves from that location, Kathy will begin working with me to create additional baked goods to offer in the storefront.

Now that our phone stations are moving out of the back of the deli,

Richard is making plans for a more spacious dining area and new recipes for the Fall.

All of our offerings in Annapolis will remain the same and will just get better.  

I invite you to drop in from time-to-time over the next few months to enjoy our evolution.

As if all of this was not quite enough,

I am completing a year of research and investigative work on the history of the layer cake.

In early September I leave for Budapest, Hungary, to begin filming a documentary on this subject and the man who had a passion and a dream in creating the great-great grandfather of all layer cakes.  

This has been a most extraordinary experience in a very busy year for Caroline's Cakes.

So much to tell, but it must wait.

My best to you all for a wonderful Labor Day with your friends and family.

........and to everyone here at Caroline's Cakes..........

we will all be 'Taking it to the 7th Layer' this September......

that I know for sure!

Caroline

                        

  Star Spangled Caramel Cake 

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Our Star Spangled Caramel Cake  

is a scrumptious addition to every Labor Day celebration!
Seven layers of our moist yellow cake are
 filled with our
 World Famous Caramel. 
The seven layer cake is then iced in our 

vanilla butter cream.
 This cake is decorated with delicious and patriotic red and blue stars,
Adding a sweet sparkle to your holiday festivities!

9" Round 

Serves 14-20

$58 +Shipping

 

Back to School Cakes! Let's give a big cheer for a new school year!   Customize Caroline's Cakes with School colors and your favorite cake flavor!    Don't see your school?  We would like to add it!    Email your school and colors to Caroline@carolinescakes.com  9" Round Serves 14-20     $58-$68 + Shipping

Coconut Lemon Delight One of our favorites   for the Summertime!    A special twist on Caroline's classic Coconut Cloud Cake. Our lemon curd is the filling between four delicate layers of yellow cake. This Delight cake is then iced with our fresh coconut icing for the finishing touch.   Fantastic!  9" Round Serves 14-20     $58 + Shipping

Lemon Raspberry Delight This is the perfect Summertime cake! The delicate lemon cake layers are filled with our lemon curd buttercream alternated with our new  raspberry buttercream.  We then ice the cake  in the lightest  lemon flavored buttercream.                                                                         It had us waving our forks before we dove in for more!  9" Round Serves 14-20     $58 + Shipping

Customize Caroline's Cakes with  Sorority colors and your favorite cake flavor!      Don't see your Sorority?  We would like to add it!    Email your Sorority and colors to Caroline@carolinescakes.com        9" Round Serves 14-20     $58-$68 + Shipping

7-Layer Lemon The layer cake  for the Summer Season! The seven-layers of Lemon Cake   are filled with our crisp and tangy lemon curd infused buttercream   and delicately iced with our   lemon flavored buttercream.     This is the best Lemon Cake ever!!!     9" Round Serves 14-20 $58 + Shipping

Be on the Lookout for New Cakes this Fall! September: 7-Layer Pumpkin A Fall Favorite!  November: 7-Layer Chocolate Bliss German Chocolate* Chocolate Dobos Torte* *Cakes and other products containing nuts are produced and stored in a separate facility.

Labor Day Weekend Cupcakes!    Available for pickup at our Annapolis Bakery! WE CATER!  Caroline's Gourmet offers an extensive catering menu including our famous lobster rolls, crab cakes and delicious Carolina style Barbeque! Click HERE  to view our Catering menu.        Call us at 888-801-2253(CAKE)  to place your order for local pickup or delivery from   our Annapolis Bakery and Deli.

Carolina Barbeque Party  A Labor day weekend favorite and a tailgating tradition! A Southern staple and  a barbeque lover's dream come true!   Party includes: -64 oz. Pork Barbeque -8 Buns -4 oz. Bottle Carolina  Pepper & Vinegar Sauce -4 oz. Bottle Barbeque Sauce -18 Corn Sticks -1 Quart Baked Beans -1 Quart Marinated Cole Slaw          Or try our Beef Barbeque Party!                                                                              Pork Barbeque Party: $65.00 + Shipping*  Beef Barbeque Party: $65.00 + Shipping*  *Barbeque Parties require overnight shipping.

Summer entertaining at it's finest!

The 'Dog Days of Summer'  

have never been truer than this year.  

These are the hot steamy days of my youth.  

Memories of catching fire-flies,  

flying kites and roller skating fill my head.  

We were a gaggle of kids back then.  

Our secret bike paths through hedges,

across back yards, waving to Mrs. Flowers  

as she plucked the early morning flowers

from her garden was our summer way of life.

If we were very lucky and happened to be out  

in the afternoon riding through Mrs. Hyman's yard  

she would often call us over and  

serve all of us 7-Up floats as we sat  

on her back steps. You know, it just did not

get much better than that.

So at this sticky, muggy time of the year,

we move a little slower, drink more lemonade

and enjoy lighter cakes. I am up with the sun,  

checking off my list before the sun gets high

in the sky and bakes all of us below.  

Quiet lunches in cool houses and possibly

a nap in the afternoon. It is summertime and it

is so important to slow down

and enjoy life at this different pace.

Wishing you all a few fun memories

of childhoods and always moments with loved ones.

-Caroline

PS: I love to promote my friends and am so very, very

       proud of my friend Dr. Ballentine Carter, who not

       only grew up in my home town Lake City, SC,  

       but our families go back over 50 years.

       His book, The Whole Life Prostate Book, came out

       in June and has been the top health book on

       Amazon. He is so brilliant and equally so very

       nice and kind that I must share him with all of you.

   The Amazon link is:

     http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Life-Prostate-Book-Maintaining/dp/1451621213/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342799082&sr=1-1&keywords=ballentine+carter 

The History of the Montana Gold Cake

THE MONTANA GOLD CAKE

Our Montana Gold Cake was created one summer day years ago as result of a customer's request for a chocolate cake iced with caramel icing.

As more and more customers called requesting our  

'Chocolate Caramel Cake,'   the word of its incredible taste began to spread.  One day as Caroline was talking with a customer who had received one of the new  Chocolate Caramel Cakes, she was surprised to learn that this special cake had a history all its own.

 The customer shared how thrilled she and her family had been to receive this specific cake.  She said that every year they spent their summers in Montana and the cake had become a traditional dessert for all of them.  

She went on to explain that their main  difficulty was the making of this cake as it  had to be made on the most perfect sunny day of  the summer when  everyone wanted to be out boating or hiking. They had always called it the Montana Gold Cake. So the name was changed here at Caroline's Cakes to Montana Gold to keep another  tradition alive and many Montana  vacationers got back their day in the sun as they began ordering their special traditional cake to be delivered to their cottages and cabins. 

The things we learn in the cake world.  

     Memories, traditions, moments together........the Cake Walk of life!

-Your friends at Caroline's Cakes

Here's to continuing our traditions and starting new ones!

Mother's Day.........here we are again. This special time of the year that brings with it so many memories and so many feelings of appreciation.

As I knew I would not be with

my mother for Mother's Day I took a day off last week and went to Charleston

to spend the day with her.
We made a leisurely drive up to Georgetown  

and across the beautiful marshes  

of South Carolina.
After an enjoyable lunch at The Rice Paddy

we continued on to the country house  

where she had enjoyed entertaining friends and my father's customers for so many years. It was wonderful to walk the grounds and listen to the memories unfold once again.

On our drive back I kept us both in hysterics  

as I remembered many of the crazy,  

mischievous things I did as a child.  

Mother often threw her head back,

putting the back of her hand on her
forehead and exclaimed  

how she did not know how she had made it through all those times.
Then, with wonder in her voice she would say,
how had I, after being such a rascal as a child,
built a business like Caroline's Cakes.
"Well, I guess it was all worth it," she said.
And I reassured her that her influence in my life
was such a great part of everything I am doing
as I expand this wonderful cake company, keeping true to the values of quality and taking care of others......just as she taught me to do.

Thank you, Mother......and the biggest of hugs!

I am so very lucky she is here to enjoy this incredible ride with me.  

Every story you email or call to share with us,  

I share with her. She delights in hearing it all.

I wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day  

and thank you so much
for the time you take to

share your experiences with our cakes,  

our gourmet food items and  

your times in our shop, for they in
turn are a gift I share with my Mother.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Caroline Ragsdale Reutter

Caroline's Cakes

1580 Whitehall Road

Annapolis, MD 21409

888-801-CAKE(2253)

 www.carolinescakes.com

 caroline@carolinescakes.com

It's Not too Late to order something special
 for Mother's Day!

 

 Lemon Raspberry Delight 

 This is the perfect Summertime cake!  

The delicate lemon cake layers are  

filled with our lemon curd buttercream  

alternated with our raspberry buttercream.  

We then ice the cake in the  

lightest lemon flavored buttercream.  

It had us waving our forks before we dove in for more!

 

   

9" Round  

 Serves 14-20

$58 + Shipping

 

7-Layer Lemon Seven-layers of Lemon cake are filled  with our crisp and tangy  Lemon Curd infused Buttercream and delicately Iced with our  Lemon Flavored Buttercream. This is the best Lemon Cake ever!!!       9" Round    Serves 14-20 $58 + Shipping

Coconut Lemon Delight One of our favorites for the Springtime is  coming back this March!  A special twist on Caroline's classic  Coconut Cloud Cake.        The taste of Springtime! Four moist layers of yellow cake are filled with our Lemon Curd all gently iced with our  fresh Coconut icing.  What could be more perfect! 9" Round    Serves 14-20 $58 + Shipping

7-Layer Caramel Cake      This is our most popular layer cake by far! The moist yellow cake layers are filled with  Caroline's Famous "melt-in-your-mouth" Caramel Icing. A traditional Southern favorite,  this cake may be frozen and refrozen  for up to six months, giving you the luxury of elegant entertaining at your finger tips.     9" Round   Serves 14-20 $58 + Shipping

 

 

Introducing our Delicious
Petit Fours!
Perfect for Mother's Day! 

   

Available for pickup at our Annapolis Bakery!

Call us at 888-801-2253(CAKE)  

to place your order.