Robicelli's

Anyone actually paying attention to the internet this week? No? Good, because I am EXHAUSTED. Between the wrapping of 10 million presents, watching every single one that took so long to perfectly wrap to my insane standard be ripped to shreds in a matter of seconds, getting everyone dressed and to church, cleaning the house, cooking, having guests, cleaning again, heading to Jersey to see family- I am SHOT. So making this blog a quick one today.

Cupcakes/whoopies/brownies in select stores today. This is the FINAL appearance of both the Hansel and Chocolate Candy Cane until next December, and come next week we’ll be back in “ordinary time”- no more special “once a year” flavors. Know I just compounded your post-holiday depression by a million. It’s hard on us, too.

Good news is that so many of the flavors you love that have been shelved for months for holiday/fall flavors are now back in play, so get over to Facebook and make requests for the January schedule! Because I’ve waited til the last possible minute to write it!

Little side note: Matt has been asked to judge the final projects for the Pastry Arts Department of the International Culinary Center (nee French Culinary Institute), meaning the fate of the pastry chefs of tomorrow is in his hands! ICC is one of the finest culinary schools in the world, so it’s amazing to know I’m sleeping with one of the judges. I’m super proud of him, as always.

Now here’s today’s flavors, and we’ll see you back here on Monday for our final post of 2012! Should be a doozy! Or I may phone it in again- let’s see how tired I am Sunday night.

(forgot picture tonight- here’s a dog in a hula skirt to make it up to you)

Hot Toddy: Honey whiskey soaked cake, honey cinnamon buttercream, candied lemon peel

We thought by pulling out of holiday markets this year, we’d have lots of time to spend with our children.  As always- WRONG.

On Monday we played hooky so we could finally do the one thing that’s been on my “must do” list for 6 years and has never happened- take the boys to Macy’s on 34th Street to see Santa.  It was, like everything I look forward to, a total disaster. The store was hot as hell, so I had to hold everyone’s bulky winter coats, and the bags, and my purse, and the boys coloring books like a frikkin sherpa.  The hour plus we spent on line was NOT spent playing games or enjoying Santaland with our children, but instead spent completely ignoring them with both of us glued to our iPhones as there was a gigantic problem with a big delivery (reminder to everyone dreaming of owning a small business- you are NEVER “off”. We’ve taken calls from clients while on vacation, at weddings, at my grandmother’s funeral….and now at Santaland!). The Santa we got to see ended up scowling in the picture we spent a small fortune for.  And there were tourists EVERYWHERE! Really- someone needs to give out instructions at the airport to these people, explaining to them that the rules of the road in the rest of the world are the same as the rules of WALKING in NYC: you need to look at something, pull over to the right. Stop short in the middle of a walkway to look at something, someone WILL run straight into you and then curse you out. 

I did manage to get off my phone long enough to get this blurry picture of a tree staring at me. So, you know, that was worth it I guess.

THEN I got into a fight with an Elvis impersonator on 34th Street over the fact that he’s NEVER seen, much less heard of, Full House! And then get this crap- he tells me “I grew up in San Francisco- they didn’t air it there”.  !!!!!!  Are you freaking KIDDING me fake Elvis?!?!!  

Uncle Jesse keeps saying “Settle down, pretty mama”, but I CAN’T.  I sort of feel like Christmas is really trying to kill me.

I give up on trying to get the family to Rockefeller center or Saks, give up on having the New York Christmas experience that I had every year of my life before I had kids, and just get the boys back on the train back home.

*sigh*

So there we are on a packed N train, surrounded by businessmen. And my little Toby Bear (age 4), who loves the subway more than any kid on earth, won’t shut up (like his mom). He’s talking to ALL OF THEM. “Do you know we live on the R train? My name is Toby though, and I wish we lived on the T train. They’re building a T train that’s new! I can’t wait to ride it! No one in my family is an R. Well, we had a cat named Robbie, but he died. I’m not allowed to talk about him though, because every time I do, mommy cries a lot. So don’t say ‘Robbie’ to my mommy, ok?”.

I know every parent says this, but Toby is one of those kids that seriously, almost unnaturally adorable, and without question the most charming kid I’ve ever met. Everyone is smiling at him.

Then he looks at a businessman standing near the door, a tall slender man with thick glasses, nice black suit, completely bald. And Toby says to him “I’m going to Brooklyn! Where are you going- to go buy some hair?”

Oh God, no.

“Everyone, look! That guy lost his hair! Maybe he dropped it!”

Matt avoids the guys gaze, starts shushing Toby the best he can. “Toby- STOP. That’s not nice. Let’s talk about Santa”

Does this stop him? OF COURSE NOT!!!!

“I have lots of hair! You need to go to the hair store and get some. Or maybe you need to get off the train, and get on a train going back to your office. Maybe your hair is still there and you left it on your desk! You need to go back and look for it!”.

In the event that man reads this site- sir, I am SO SORRY. I know you were laughing, even though I couldn’t make eye contact with you. But really- so so so so so so sorry.

And Toby, thank you for once again doing something ridiculous and saving Christmas from being a total painful crapshow for the 5th year in a row. I may not get to see the windows at Bergdorf’s or the Nutcracker anymore, or be able to go Christmas shopping without wanting to throw myself through a plate glass window, or make it to December 25th without having at least one small nervous breakdown. Yet somehow, Christmas is better now than it has ever been before. Because with you and your brother, EVERYTHING is better. 

Hope all of you have managed to find some little moments that have made the holidays less insane for you. Maybe you could have a moment with one of these cupcakes? Maybe a Robicelli’s brownie or a cup of our hot cocoa? That sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?

Photograph property of Instagram. 

From front: Creme Brulee, Hot Toddy, Chocolate Orange, The Hansel

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Hot Toddy: Honey whiskey soaked cake, honey cinnamon buttercream, candied lemon peel

Creme Brulee: Vanilla cake, custard buttercream, caramelized sugar

Hey.

So I don’t know how to write today like I’m ok, because I’m not. We’re a week before Christmas, and I should be talking about cutting off mail orders or how you should order cupcakes/whoopies/etc for your holiday table. And I know no one on earth is coming to the Robicelli’s website for topical news, but it doesn’t seem right to go about business as usual like everything is ok.

I’ll say this: we are a mom and pop. Literally. Meaning we have two little boys, ages 4 and 5 at home. And like every person on earth who is a parent, we are hurting more than I can articulate. I have never even imagined I could love anything the way I love these kids. And it’s nearly heartbreaking in the fact that no matter what I do for them, no matter what I say, no matter how many adventures I take them on or presents I buy- it will just never seem like enough to make them realize how I feel. That I love them so much that I feel that I’ll explode. That I live every moment of my life just to make them proud of me. That every day I try to be the kind of person who is worthy of the love of the two most perfect little boys I have ever known.

I wanted to write something funny today. I wanted to make jokes and put up funny pictures and close out our busy season hoping that you’ll buy buy buy. But I, like every other parent in the world, am hurting far too bad right now to just conduct business as usual.  Because the moment you become a parent, your empathy gene goes into overdrive. You can barely watch the news on a normal day, much less how we watched this weekend. You become the person who looks at every human being as somebody’s son, somebody’s daughter. Your heart becomes a thousand times bigger to let more people in, to let more love in. And when we open our hearts to all that love, we open it to all the hurt out there as well. When other parents hurt, we hurt with them, because we understand how it is to love in a way none of us had ever dreamed possible.

So I will be brief today: if you’d like to place an online order for Christmas, today is the last day to do so- final UPS 2-day shipment is going out on Wednesday morning. We are taking cupcake/etc orders for Christmas eve/day delivery in NYC until Saturday. Everything is delicious and we won’t let you down.

Before I get to today’s flavors, I leave you with this. This is my favorite Christmas carol, and I share it on this blog every year as it’s not the most well known. I won’t pretend that I haven’t spent all weekend crying, wondering how I’m supposed to feel the joy I should during Christmas, how I celebrate despite all the pain I, and all of us, are feeling. These past three days, more than I ever have before, I’ve found this song as comforting as a soft blanket. I pray that maybe it will bring you some comfort, too.

I hope that you all find something beautiful in the world to smile about today. 

Clockwise from front: The Hansel, Chocolate Chestnut, Eggnog, Chocolate Candy Cane

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Chocolate Chestnut: Chocolate cake, chocolate chestnut buttercream, candied chestnuts

Eggnog: Eggnog cake, eggnog buttercream, fresh nutmeg

Chocolate Candy Cane: Mint chocolate chip cake, peppermint buttercream, crushed candy canes.

Christmas is 11 days away!!! ACK!!!! And New Year is, um, little more than that? I’m writing this at 1am- I am way too tired for math right now.

With the end of the year quickly approaching, it’s now time for every publication and their mother to be putting out their “Best and Worst of 2012” lists. And we’ve made a big one!

We’ve won the distinction of Worst Case of Wretched Excess for our Salty Pimp cupcake, an exclusive of the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, courtesy of Esquire Magazine!

Ok, technically we’re on “The Worst” list, but hey, we made Esquire, right? Let’s see what they wrote about us:

“New York’s Big Gay Ice Cream and Robicelli’s Cupcakes are now 
selling the Salty Pimp, made of vanilla cake around dulce
 de leche pudding, topping it with dulce de leche 
buttercream frosting in fudge.” - Esquire

Oh. My. GOD. Looking back on this with fresh eyes- seriously guys, I am so sorry. I see where we went overboard with this. When you guys are eating dessert, you don’t want wretched excess- you want sensibility! Cupcakes should:

a) not get you too excited over anything. Know what happens if we get people all riled up at 2 or 3 o’clock in the afternoon?  People start flipping their desks and walking off the job, and the economy collapses. That’s what.

b) fill your daily fiber requirements. Maybe we could add some raisins for extra vitamins.

c) put 300+ calories into your body that you instantly forget, so you can keep mindlessly stuffing your face all day. Don’t enjoy your cupcakes- tolerate them!

Maybe we can talk the Big Gay Ice Cream guys into letting us do a nice bran cake with a schmear of cream cheese instead? Or what about a sensible coffee cake? Who doesn’t like coffee cake?

Until we figure all this out, we’re going to have to keep peddling in wretched excess. In fact, if you use the code “WretchedExcess” in our online store, you’ll get 10% off for the rest of the holiday shopping season! (which ends Tuesday at noon for us)

And if you’re the type of heathen who things that, well, wretched excess is really what dessert is supposed to be all about, the go visit the Big Gay Ice Cream Shops, which are the ONLY place to get the Salty Pimp Cupcake. And now, they’ve got two locations for you to choose from! Now open in the West Village at 61 Grove Street, in addition to their East Village location (125 E.7th).

We’ve also got holiday flavors going around to lots of other, non-Big Gay stores, including the FINAL appearance of the Blatt until next Hanukkah. You’re going to be really sad if you’re one of the poor people who doesn’t get one this year- the Blatt is magic. Honest. And today is the FIRST annual appearance of our ultra-popular “Creme Brulee”, which is also incredibly popular and tremendously rare, like unicorns. (See how I tied all that together? Nice, right?)

Clockwise from front: The Hansel, The Blatt, Creme Brulee, Eggnog

The Blatt (limited editon for Hanukkah! Last appearance til next November!): Vanilla cake, raspberry jam, cheesecake buttercream, fried cookie dough

Creme Brulee: Vanilla cake, vanilla custard buttercream, caramelized sugar

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Eggnog: Eggnog cake & buttercream, freshly grated nutmeg

For a few weeks post-Sandy, it looked like we weren’t going to be able to get our hands on any Biscoff spread as our suppliers were damaged. Many of you don’t know what Biscoff spread even is, and I won’t tell you because it will simultaneously both destroy your life, and enhance it in ways you never even thought were possible without illegal substances.  All you need to know is that it’s a key ingredient in several of our most awesome cupcakes, which we’ve had to sneakily pull out of rotation the last few weeks.

We weren’t worried too much about it- there will be plenty of time in 2013 for us to make our famous S’mores cupcakes for the masses. Besides, we have like 4,000 other flavors to pick from, or something ridiculous like that. 

But then, the holidays rolled around and our lack of Biscoff spread became a Level 4 Cupcake Emergency. For reference, a Level 3 Cupcake Emergency involves someone losing a limb in one of the industrial mixers. A Level 5 Cupcake Emergency……..sweet Jesus I don’t even want to think about a Level 5 Cupcake Emergency. May God have mercy on each and every one of our souls if that ever happens.

We’ve all been through enough this year.

The holidays may feel as if they last an eternity, but I assure you they don’t. We only have a few short weeks to get all our immensely popular limited editions holiday flavors out. With us not doing holiday markets this year or having a retail storefront, we’re slaves to the rotation and have to make those moments count. 

And this brings us……to the Hansel.

You may remember the Hansel as the holiday cupcake we introduced last year and couldn’t make fast enough. Moist gingerbread cake hiding a liquid core of silky white chocolate pudding, topped with velvety Biscoff buttercream, and then topped with the pièce de résistance- a teeny handmade gingerbread cookie dipped in white chocolate, acting as a proverbial nacho to scoop and savor that luscious buttercream while teasing yourself with the remainder like the dirty boy it is.  People could come buy one, then turn around and buy 6 to take home. In the four short weeks it was in release, the Hansel truly lived up to it’s name: it was so hot right now.

We put it on the rotation immediately after Thanksgiving, but alas, no Biscoff. We had emails requesting them but still, none. We didn’t even offer them as a Christmas option because of the uncertainty. The year 2012 may very well have been a Christmas without Hansel. You now understand our Level 4 declaration, and why things have been so tense over here. Matt’s barely slept for weeks.

But lo, an angel heard my cries for Biscoff! Actually, they follow me on Twitter. Angels are really tech saavy, you guys.

Soon enough we were in touch with Biscoff headquarters who arranged it so we have LOTS of their delicious, sinful spread, meaning that yes Virginia, there IS a Hansel! AND HE IS STILL SO HOT RIGHT NOW!

Now go eat the crap out of him before it’s too late…..like it soon will be with The Blatt! Only a few more days of Hanukkah, then it’s gone, leaving you only with the memories of the good times you’ve shared together.

The Blatt (limited editon for Hanukkah!): Vanilla cake, raspberry jam, cheesecake buttercream, fried cookie dough

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Hot Butter Rum: Rum butterscotch soaked cake, hot buttered rum buttercream and drizzle

The Siobhan: Chocolate cake, bourbon butterscotch buttercream, chocolate chips, bourbon butterscotch drizzle

Next Wednesday is our first ever PEOPLE’S CHOICE day, where you can select from some of our favorite flavors we introduced in 2011!  So get voting already!

Now onto today’s flavors- these are the FINAL flavors you’ll find at Union Square Market, where you’ll be able to pick up your last minute gifts and Christmas cupcakes from 10-9 today, and 10-4pm Christmas Eve! Our shop at DeKalb is closing at 4pm Christmas Eve as well.  We’re closed Christmas Day and are taking Monday off from deliveries, so we’ll see you all next Wednesday!

Hot Buttered Rum: Butter rum soaked cake, butter rum buttercream and drizzle

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Chocolate Panforte: Chocolate cake, mascarpone buttercream, homemade Italian panforte

Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, chocolate chip cookies

Available at:

Robicelli’s at Union Square Holiday Market: C34

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Corner of Flatbush & Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off Third Avenue, Bay Ridge

Aloha Grinds: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge

Bagel Schmagel: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge

Crespella: Seventh Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope

Brooklyn Standard: Nassau & Jewel, Greenpoint

Cake Shop: Ludlow St btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island 

Red Hook Lobster Pound: Van Brunt Street, Red Hook; Brooklyn Flea; Roving Food Truck (Whoopie Pies Only)

Who’s done with their holiday shopping? NOT ME! I spent so much time concentrating on what to get my kids that I totally forgot there are other people in my life I need to shop for.  I’m sure there’s lots of you in the same boat, so I put together a little gift guide for you. 

1: Robicelli’s Brownie/Whoopie Pie Gift Boxes: This is what I give most of my family members every year.  Seriously, what the hell does my 56 year old aunt with 3 grown kids need from me? A vase? Wind chimes? Does anyone really need freaking wind chimes from a relative they see once a year?

Here’s what’s awesome about food gifts:

-You don’t need to dust them. You eat them, they’re gone, you have room for a new gift next year. Everyone already has enough crap in their houses- they don’t need more.

-They work for the whole family.  My aunt’s got 3 kids from 13 to 24.  Now I COULD buy separate gifts for the 3 boys, my aunt, and her husband.  OR I can give them a giant box with 3 dozen brownies that they can stick in their freezer and all go to town on for the next few months.  

-They’re a good gift for everyone.  Whether it’s a close relative, a relative you barely know, a neighbor, a doorman, a coworker, or your first cousin’s weirdo boyfriend you’ve never met who’s coming to Christmas for the first time- food’s a great blanket gift that makes anyone happy.

-Nobody has to “pretend” to like brownies.  You know when someone you barely know gets you another basket of assorted shower gels and you have to do that whole awkward “Oh thank you! I really needed this- I’m never, you know, smelling good, and I was really hoping someone would give me some apple shower gel to fix it- you’re so thoughtful!” moment.  No one wants to be told they’re smelly on Christmas.  Sweets? You don’t have to fake liking that. 

2. Robicelli’s Hot Cocoa Mix: Same as all that stuff I talked about above, but in liquid form.  And hot.

3. The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival by Ken Wheaton: 

Mr. Wheaton is a fan of ours, and I’ve been promising myself that I would read his book for over a year now.  Finally last week, I was in need of a new book and remembered to buy it. And I feel so incredibly stupid it took me this long because it was without question one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read in my entire life.  Better than “The Babysitter’s Club”. 

If you saw me this morning at Union Square with my nose in a book, blowing off work and simultaneously laughing and crying, it’s all Mr. Wheaton’s fault.  I did not want to put it down, and I didn’t want to let the story go, but I had to finish it.  And it was so good that when I got on the train tonight, I turned back to page one and started reading it again.  

Plus, there’s recipes for gumbo and etouffee in the back, and who doesn’t like those? So if you know anyone who likes reading, who likes laughing, loves travel or food or just likes to smile, you should buy them this book.  Then buy a copy for yourself, read it, and then find me so we can talk about how great it was.  Maybe we can meet up for gumbo too- that stuff is delicious.

And if any of you have written a book I should read, let me know! I’m always looking for a good one.

4.  A Lion:

Who wouldn’t want a lion? Who doesn’t respect a dude riding a lion? 

5: Tauntaun Sleeping Bag:

If you don’t know what this is or agree that this is the coolest thing ever, I don’t know if we can be friends.

6. Cupcakes

What did you think I would say? Macarons?

Clockwise from front: Milk & Cookies, The Blatt, Port Poached Pear, The Hansel

The Blatt: Raspberry jam filled vanilla cake, cheesecake buttercream, raspberry jam, fried cookie dough

Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, crushed chocolate chip cookies

Port Poached Pear: Pear cake, vanilla buttercream, port poached pear, port wine reduction

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Available at:

Robicelli’s at the Union Square Holiday Market: Booth Number C34

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Hom: 88th & 3rd, Bay Ridge

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Joe Columbia University: West 120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights

Red Hook Lobster Pound (whoopie pies only) 

Happy Hanukkah!!!

Before we begin today’s Tumblr, I issue an important reminder that I am not Jewish, but I love latkes.  And since I’m Italian-Catholic, this means I have to live with an agonizing lack of latkes in my world.  Therefore, I will gladly take all charitable donations of latkes, so if you have any lying around feel free to bring them to me in Union Square. Booth C34 people.  You know how to find us.

I have a well documented love affair with Jewish food: from my childhood noshing on corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, to the years I spent working in kosher kitchens, to our family’s annual Jewish deli crawl for Matt’s birthday (Three delis! Four hours! Five days of recovery!).  What I love more than the meats, more than the schmaltz, is the stories.  Nearly EVERYTHING on the Jewish table is filled with rich tradition and passionate storytelling.  Why this is not seen as one of the worlds most exciting cuisines, I’ll never understand.

The food of Hannukah has two major elements: oil, and dairy.  Oil is obvious- we all know the story of the Macabees and the miracle of the oil in the lamp lasting eight nights.  This is why fried foods like latkes are so popular, and on the dessert end sufganiyot- jelly donuts.  

Dairy dishes, such as blintzes and cheesecake, are eaten to celebrate the story of Judith.  As the legend goes, thousands of years ago the Babylonian army was destroying her village, and as a woman of legendary beauty, she was able to seduce her way into their camp and into the tent of their leader, bringing with her baskets of salty cheese to eat and wine to quench his thirst.  And when he finally consumed so much wine that he passed out, Judith picked up his sword and chopped his freaking head off.

Eff YEAH Cheesecake!!!!

We’ve got two special Hanukkah inspired sweets to celebrate the Festival of Lights.  First is a cupcake filled with jelly, topped with cheesecake buttercream and more jelly, then sprinkled with fried cookie dough bits.  Then at Union Square and DeKalb, we’ve got our first ever Hannukah whoopie pie, filled with blueberry cheesecake buttercream.  Because in my opinion, blueberries are the most superior of all the blintz fruits, and it’s damn tasty sandwiched between two chocolate ca-ookies.

And don’t forget- we’ve got lovely blue and silver boxes at Union Square and DeKalb that fit three festive whoopies for only ten bucks, so if you’re looking for a nice gift, there you go!

Now let’s all enjoy this lovely photo taken by our good friend Eric Isaac of the Snap Food blog- we’re today’s features photo essay!

Nice, right?

Clockwise from front: Port Poached Pear, The Hansel, Eggnog, The Blatt

The Blatt: Vanilla cake filled with raspberry jam, cheesecake buttercream, jam topping, fried cookie bits, powdered sugar

Port Poached Pear: Pear cake, vanilla buttercream, port poached pear, port reduction

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Eggnog: Eggnog cake and buttercream, freshly grated nutmeg

Available at:

Robicelli’s at Union Square Holiday Market: Booth C34

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Flatbush Ave Ext and Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery:  94th off 3rd, Bay Ridge

Aloha Grinds: 77th and 3rd, Bay Ridge

Bagel Schmagel: 76th and 3rd, Bay Ridge

Crespella: 7th Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope

Tazza Cafes: Clark off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Cake Shop: Ludlow btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES

Joe Columbia University: W 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights

Jem: Broadway off Franklin, Tribeca

Queen City Cupcakes: West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island

Red Hook Lobster Pound Classic Whoopie Pies Only

You like our hot cocoa.

You like our candied bacon. 

Well now…..

HOW ABOUT OUR CANDIED BACON HOT COCOA?!!??!

We just blew your minds, didn’t we.

This weekend at the Bust Craftacular- at 82 Mercer-

CUPCAKES:

The Mikey: Chocolate CocaCola cake & buttercream, cola ganache, Pop Rocks

The Elvis: Banana cake, Peanut butter buttercream, candied bacon

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped homemade gingerbread cookie

Brown Sugar Pumpkin (yes, it’s a fall flavor, but you all asked for it so you got it):  Brown sugar cake, chocolate pumpkin buttercream, ganache

WHOOPIE PIES:

Classic: Vanilla Marshmallow filling

Mint Chocolate: Peppermint buttecream, crushed candy candy canes, ganache

BROWNIES:

Classic: with a touch of French Sea Salt

The Fany: with Cajeta & Cinnamon

The Maltz: with Bourbon & Bacon

When I got home at 10:30 tonight all amped up to dive into a big pile of paperwork, I found Atticus (the four year old) not only up, but completely wired.  I took TWO HOURS to get him down. Mind you, there was no sleeping late today, no naps- just pure adrenaline.  Now it’s 2am, I’m ridiculously behind on my normal crap, and I need to be up at 7am tomorrow.  Living the dream!

Quick notes of what I wanted to talk about today:

HOLIDAY ORDERING: We’re now taking orders for holiday parties, corporate gifts, offices, and Christmas Day.  Hannukah ordering will be up tomorrow night once I finalize the last few items for the menu- head on over to Facebook to give me suggestions. I could use them.

BUT ALLISON, WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE FANCY GIFT BOXES I’M SEEING AT UNION? HOW DO I ORDER THOSE?: Tell my kids to go to sleep on time so I can get the ordering page up.  They’re having a sleepover at Grandma & Papas house tomorrow night, so I should get it done by Saturday morning.

ANYTHING SPECIAL FOR THIS WEEKEND?: We’re going to the Bust Craftacular, and we’re bringing cupcakes, brownies, whoopies, and our hot cocoa.  And in true Robicelli’s fashion, we’re going to do something nuts, because we can and are drunk with power. DRUNK WITH IT!

WAS THAT SOME SORT OF CODE SAYING YOU’RE SPIKING THE COCOA?: No. But if you want to bring a hip flask of bourbon, I’m not judging you. *Note: Robicelli’s LLC and all associated companies do not endorse smuggling booze, hooch, or fun-time juice into the Bust Craftacular, Union Square Holiday Market, or any other venue.  And for legal purposes, we ARE judging you.

WHEN WILL PACKAGES OF COCOA TO MAKE AT HOME BE ON SALE FOR US TO BUY? It will be debuting this weekend at Craftacular, and will go to Union Square & DeKalb next week.

CAN I ALSO PLACE A CORPORATE ORDER FOR BAGS OF COCOA AS A GIFT? Yup. We’re gifting cocoa, brownies, and whoopie pies this year.  Give us a call or shoot us an email to start setting up your order, and we can delivery the whole shebang to your office.

I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN’T BEEN ANSWERED! HOW DO I MAKE THAT HAPPEN?  Facebook. Twitter.  And if you follow us there, you get access to our special December deals. So, you know, DO IT.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CUPCAKE TODAY? I hate answering that question when we’re in seasonal mode.  Port Poached Pear will only be around for another few weeks, as will Hansel and Chocolate Candy Cane.  Milk and Cookies is new today, and it’s awesome. Just keep in mind that most of what you’re seeing for the next few weeks will disappear right after Christmas, so no matter how much you beg us, you’re going to have to wait another year for them. Perhaps you should get them all?

Clockwise from front: Port Poached Pear, Hansel, Chocolate Candy Cane, Milk & Cookies

NEW! Milk & Cookies: Brown sugar chocolate chip cake, mascarpone buttercream, chopped chocolate chip cookies

Port Poached Pear: Pear cake, vanilla buttercream, port poached pear, port reduction

Chocolate Candy Cane: Chocolate cake, peppermint buttercream, crushed candy canes

The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

Available at:

Robicelli’s at Union Square Holiday Market: C34

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: Corner of Flatbush & Willoughby, Downtown Brooklyn

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off Third Avenue, Bay Ridge

Aloha Grinds: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge

Bagel Schmagel: 76th and Third Ave, Bay Ridge

Crespella: Seventh Ave off 9th Street, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope

Eastern District: Manhattan Ave off Eagle Street, Greenpoint

Brooklyn Standard: Nassau & Jewel, Greenpoint

Cake Shop: Ludlow St btwn Stanton & Rivington, LES

Joe Columbia University: West 120th btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights

Queen City Cupcakes: 62 West Main Street, Patchogue, Long Island 

Red Hook Lobster Pound: Van Brunt Street, Red Hook; Brooklyn Flea; Smorgasburg; Roving Food Truck (Whoopie Pies Only)

Today we’re supposed to be debuting our “Gingerbread Man” cupcake, but we hit a bit of a snag……the gingerbread men never came.  Now normally, we produce nearly 97% of the extras we use right here in the Robicelli’s kitchen- we make fresh fruit compotes, make our own cookies for toppings and crumbs, our own malted milk balls and candies and sauces and, well, everything.  But itty bitty little gingerbread men? That would just take waaaaaaay too much time, so we ordered them a few weeks back from a company in upstate New York.  And then, they never showed.  Apparently, the company didn’t realize that after we had ordered them we wanted them “right away”- they thought we’d just want to receive them “eventually”.

Perhaps it was fate.  Perhaps the dessert gods wanted us to make our own gingerbread cookies, just like they forced our hand into making up our own hot cocoa (and we will be selling the mix SOON, I promise).  So we made the cookie dough, but there was absolutely no way we were cutting out thousands of little gingerbread men.  I mean, not that we don’t love you, but there’s a TON of labor in this cupcake already, and we don’t want to have to charge sixty bucks a pop for them.  However the name “Gingerbread Triangle” just doesn’t have the same pop as “Gingerbread Man” did.  

Matt and I were trying to think of a good name on the fly, and thought it should be something super German sounding.  And all our German friends have names that are moderately German sounding, but not really awesome kick-you-in-the balls German like “Gottschlak” or “Henirich”.  So we just started talking smack, and came out with the most awesome and holiday-appropriate name we could think of:

Hansel.  Or better yet:

HANSEL.

Lots of people ask us how we come up with names for our one billion flavors and counting.  Some are named after friends (the Noah, the McFadden), people we admire (Julia, Bea Arthur), places that are important to us (the Hinsch).  But sometimes- Matt and I are just dicking around and will do something just so we can make running jokes about it (the Bluth, El Guapo).  This is one of those times.  Let this begin a week of Zoolander quoting for all of us!

If the Hansel wasn’t enough to get you excited, how about ANOTHER new flavor! Port Poached Pear- another classic dessert we’re taking out of the restaurants and trying to get in the hands of the working man.  They’re crazy easy to make yourself, so if you like this one, you should take a stab at making them for your next dinner.  It doesn’t even need to be a fancy dinner- just make it for yourself! You deserve nice things! (like cupcakes! and Robicelli’s branded cocoa mix and whoopie pie gift boxes! and maybe a new pair of shoes too- why the hell not!)

Clockwise from front: Chocolate Chestnut, Port Poached Pear, Hot Buttered Rum, The Hansel

NEW! The Hansel: Gingerbread cake, white chocolate pudding filling, speculoos buttercream, white chocolate dipped gingerbread cookie

NEW! Port Poached Pear: Pear cake, vanilla buttercream, port poached pear, port wine reduction

Hot Buttered Rum: Butter rum soaked cake, rum-butterscotch buttercream and drizzle

Chocolate Chestnut: Chocolate cake, chestnut buttercream, candied chestnuts, ganache

Available at:

Robicelli’s at the Union Square Holiday Market: Booth Number C34

Robicelli’s at DeKalb Market: 138 Willoughby Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Hom: 88th & 3rd, Bay Ridge

Cafe at Sam’s Bakery: 94th Street off 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge

Blue Apron Foods: Union Street off 7th Avenue, Park Slope

Tazza: Clark Street off Henry AND Henry Street off Atlantic, Brooklyn Heights

Jem: Broadway off Franklin, TriBeCa

Battery Place Market: 77 Battery Place, Battery Park City

Joe Columbia University: West 120th Street btwn Broadway & Amsterdam, Morningside Heights

Brooklyneer: 220 West Houston Street, West Village

Red Hook Lobster Pound (whoopie pies only)

IMPORTANT NOTE TO OUR FRIENDS IN WILLIAMSBURG: We regret to inform you that effective immediately, we are no longer associated with Radish on Bedford Avenue.  You can still find our cupcakes on Fridays at The West at 379 Union, and in Greenpoint at Eastern District and Brooklyn Standard.  If you have any leads on locations for us that are closer to your apartment, just contact us and let us know.  We’re South Brooklyn folks.  We know little of your land and it’s customs.  Especially that whole skinny jeans thing.  How do you squeeze into those? Crisco?