Okay, so I’m doing a giveaway but there is a catch. This will not be random, the winner will be picked solely at the discretion of my taste buds.
In less than a month, I will turn the big 3-0. I’m totally okay with it, I’m excited to have my twenties behind me, actually. But I need to figure out what treat will be the capstone on the last decade of my life. That’s a really heavy responsibility, isn’t it?
So I need you help. Leave a comment with your suggestion for my birthday treat. It can be anything- this is not cake-exclusive. It doesn’t need to be from my books, it just needs to be delicious. 
The winner (selected by myself in the throws of a sugar fit) will get a copy of one of my books, their pick. (And if you don’t like games of chance, I’m still running an awesome sale on copies of my books here.)
So put on your thinking caps and help me plan my celebration!
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It’s here!
Ha, that’s pretty clever: almost a month of birthday treat sampling! Well, I was actually planning on doing that kind of sampling this coming month in order to choose which desserts I’ll bake for my wedding, so we’ll kind of be doing it together!
I’ll see what I choose to try and will be sending you my suggestions along the way.
I highly, highly suggest the Mint Julep Cupcakes from Krystina Castella’s Booze Cakes cookbook. They are delish and cute and not too punchy. Everything else in her book that I have made so far has been great too!
Hi! I’m new to your blog!
My birthday is coming up this month and I was going to make Mama Peas Chocolate Lava Cake (from peasandthankyou.com). I love chocolate and gooey chocolate inside a cake is even better! It’s a single serving type of thing, so I going to have me and my friends all make their own at my party, that way they can choose how much chocolate they want inside and it could be a fun activity to do
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes from Post Punk Kitchen!
These cupcakes are the best thing I have ever eaten since I converted. I top mine with vanilla icing instead of the chocolate ganache. I never tell a lie, trust me on this one.
http://www.theppk.com/2010/11/vanilla-bean-cupcakes-with-chocolate-ganache/
I would say a classic birthday cake like the chocolate cake with the sacher torte variation at the ‘Have cake, will travel’ blog couldn’t be wrong with 30 little candles on it.
Here’s a variation on your standard birthday cake. Use cake mix to make these cookies! Absolutely delicious.
http://homeparents.about.com/od/cakemixrecipes/r/double_choc.htm
i think cookie-cakes are pretty yummers. make your favorite cookies, your favorite cake batter, and your favorite frosting (the combinations are endless!!!). crumble up the cookies and fold them into the cake batter. bake your cake layers the way you love them the most then frost away and enjoy!
I would recommend a deliciously sweet fruit pizza! There are a few recipes floating around (I think there’s one on Oh She Glows, but I haven’t made it yet). Fruit pizza is the best – crunchy, creamy, fruity. Mmmm.
Okay, here’s what you gots to do: (My friend made this for my on my b-day last year!)
Pick out your favorite ice creams (Tempt is mighty fine!). Make an ice cream cake! Chocolate ice cream bottom layer, classic fudgey cookie crumble layer, vanilla mint ice cream top layer, buttercream frosting, and plenty of chocolate shavings on top!!
*drool*
This is a great idea! And a meeting of great minds. I’d say, since it’s mid-September birthday, go with the beginning of autumn theme. I saw an awesome recipe today (not vegan though) for a spiced apple-sour cream cake with a caramel glaze that sounded amazing. I’m sure you could veganize that easy.
I can only assume that you love chocolate (as much as I do).
I have a birthday coming up in the next month too.
The recipe that Ina Garten has for Brownie Pudding is wonderful.
It is so so good. My family loved it last time I made it.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/brownie-pudding-recipe/index.html
OK, so my idea for your birthday treat has multiple parts but the big 3-0 is deserving of no less, in my opinion! First, you should make pains au chocolat–lots and lots of pain au chocolat! After you’ve stuffed yourself full of the buttery, chocolaty goodness, use the leftovers (very important to have some leftover) to make chocolate croissant bread pudding. Serve with coffee or caramel ice cream; vegan whipped cream optional.
BROWNIE BLIZZARD ICE CREAM CAKE!! http://www.adashofcompassion.com/2011/07/perfect-party-cake.html
Yes, it’s very important that I put it in all caps. It’s your friggin’ 30th birthday, after all!
Chocolate Avocado Cake!!!
http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/07/vegan-chocolate-avocado-cake/
I keep meaning to make this, but I always forget. Maybe you’ll beat me to it. Meanwhile I’m in love with the colour combo.
For my 30th I had an ice cream sundae party along with root beer floats. I bought a few types of ice cream and every topping I could think of, bananas, whip cream, chocolate chips, nuts, cherries, sprinkles, different sauces, etc. Then everyone built their own.
It was really fun and participatory and summery. We played bocce ball and video games too. I went a little overboard guessing how much I’d need though, so I’d caution you need less than you think you will.
How about a margarita cake with margarita-lime frosting?
If you love coffee as much as I do…. how about a coffee flavored cake with mocha icing? Perhaps you could write happy birthday on the cake with dark chocolate dipped expresso beans 😀
I make a Mint-Cream-Torte using your chocolate cake recipe as the base which has had people drooling for more (someone even ate 3 big pieces!) though it’s a 4 layer cake!!!! Or my gran’s Moccatorte, which I have veganized. for sth savoury I am always happy with a Persian cinnamon-spice pilaf with green beans and TVP or an African chickpea-cassava-spinach stew in a peanutty cocomilk sauce with brown rice….. starters would be a mixed leafy green salad with pomegranate, crushed walnuts and an agave-sweet mustard dressing because that is MY fav salad. refreshment would be a watermelon frappé (which you can easily turn a bit boozy ;^))
!Buon compleanno bella signora!
You’re special day will complete if you bake yourself a delicate & beautiful tiramisu with vegan amaretto to boot. And please, go heavy on the amaretto, after-all it is your 30th so you can do whatever the hell you want. (that’s a written law by the way!)
Tiramisu, or as my mom calls it “happy cake” is one of the best things to indulge in. And what’s better is the history behind this amazing cake: this sweet dessert was named in honour of an apprentice baker’s (Francesca Tiramisu) culinary skill back in the day in Italia.
http://insomniacchef.blogspot.com/2007/04/vegan-tiramisu.html
<3 pick me <3
I made your Torta Limone recently and then crumbled it up and layered it with vegan lemon curd, blueberries, raspberries and coconut cream. It was the best thing ever! I have already made it twice and can’t wait to have fall raspberries and make it again.
Cake needs to be done: vanilla sponge, 3 layers of nutella, frosted with Italian Meringue!
Happy Almost Birthday, Kris! Exciting
Obviously this will depend on your tastes, but I love brownies. Give me a dense, fudgey brownie over a cake any day. SO…brownies! And since I know you love the peanut butter and chocolate combo, I say go for a rich chocolate brownie with a peanut butter swirl
Courtney
Man, so many amazing ideas! I’m salivating in anticipation! You guys have great ideas!
Cake pops! They are the ultimate birthday accessory! They are portable and every bite is the perfect mix of cake and frosting. Have a giant cake pop birthday cake – with different flavors of cake pops for the layers – vegan red velvet cake, birthday cake flavor (of course), German chocolate – whatever strikes your fancy! And serve some homemade coconut milk ice cream too – because it’s fantastic.
You can even have a Vegan Princess themed party – with a huge blow up bouncy princess castle of course! Those things aren’t just fun for kids ya know… and what better way to celebrate the turning of a page in your life than to party like a 5 year old???
Ooh, it’s so hard to pick just one dessert! Lately I’ve realized that I really miss lemon jelly-roll cakes like the ones you can get in Chinatown. Using the method for your rolled pumpkin cake (can’t remember the name of the recipe right now), I’d make a more grown-up vegan version of the Chinese bakery specialty, with a vanilla sponge cake, Meyer lemon curd rolled inside it, and a crunchy glaze drizzled over the top.
And happy pre-birthday! We’re only a few months apart :).
Happy pre-birthday!
I suggest cake pops, but no ordinary cake pops. Root beer float cake pops. I have no idea how they would be conceived but i propose them. Yep. Root Beer Float Cake Pops.
I love herbs and flowers mixed in with my cakes and cupcakes. i think I would go with:
Strawberry-Basil Cake w/ Meyer Lemon Buttercream
Earl Grey Cake w/ Lavender Buttercream
Blueberry-Strawberry Pie or Galette w/ Lemon zest and Thyme mixed in the crust
Chocolate-Blackberry Cake w/ Blackberry icing or glaze
OKay, that was several ideas. We were probably only supposed to put one, but I couldn’t help it. Sigh, I think I need some dessert now 😀 And happy early birthday!
For the one and only grand 30, you have to treat yourself to whatever you crave all the time. For me, I can never say no to a pumpkin cheesecake-chocolate cake. It’s a two layer delicate, moist chocolate cake with pumpkin cheesecake frosting as the layer in between and the icing all around. With a little white cream cheese frosting piped on top too, it is a perfect cake with that hint of warming fall goodness I always love. Happy Birthday!
You know how Ben & Jerry’s does ice cream flavors named after famous people and such? I would do that-make the ice cream you’ve always imagined, give it a clever name, and draw up labels. I miss extravagant ice cream flavors.
A birthday yay! Well 30 is rather special so I would have a rtake party and get everyone to bring their favourite vegan cake and then you can have lots of different cake
But, how about this “Roasted banana cheesecake with maple rum sauce”, a little bit of alcohol now you’re all grown up!
Would love to win one of your books.
Anything chocolatey and fudgey would do it for me! Perhaps a double layer bar/cake kind of thing? A hybrid, if you will. Maybe a Brownie base with something else on top, like a blondie or some other treat you crave and can’t decide between?
How about a chocolate cheesecake? Anything cheesecake, and then add chocolate? How can you go wrong…
I’d start the day with some ice cream and then go from there..
It’s your day it’s all good.
Have a very Happy Birthday!!
I’ve been all about the cherries this summer- I say a vegan cheesecake with cherries on top.
My absolute favourite is a golden cake with chocolate icing, but sometimes there are other desserts that are irresistible.
The two desserts I used to take to dinners were apple crisp made with nice tart granny Smiths and crispy oat/brown sugar topping, and Pavlovas. If you have a vegan meringue recipe, I’d love to see it. I miss fresh fruit piled on crisp meringue and a fluffy mixture of drained vanilla yogurt and whipped cream. The creamy whipped filling is the easy part. Either whipped coconut milk, or one of those nut-based whipped toppings.
Vegan donuts! Mmmmm
Happy Birthday! So far, the 30’s have been the best years yet. I was only able to narrow it down to three desserts.
Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake
Vegan Pumpkin Pie (extra spicy)
Rhubarb Pie (strawberry & rhubarb is acceptable)
I hope your birthday is great!