Amy is my partner in sugar, and we are all about the sugar capers. She heard about a mysterious “bakery” that offers specialty cakes as well as 68 cent cupcakes, by order only, so of course we had to investigate. The bakery is called Holiday Essence, and for the life of me I cannot remember that name. I tend to call it Essential Holidays or something like that. Anyway, they have tons of mouth-watering flavors. Amy ordered two varieties of cupcakes: pound cake with marionberry buttercream frosting and espresso cake with mocha buttercream frosting. I went to pick them up and nearly got lost.
It’s a good thing that van was parked in the driveway! The place looks a little crazy when you get close up. There are several outbuildings in the back, a mechanized gate to keep the dogs in, and rows of stainless baking racks under awnings. They were very gracious and sent me off with a box of cupcakes, which I promptly took to Amy’s.
We had no clue what they were going to look like, but we certainly weren’t expecting anything as festive as these! They went crazy with the Halloween sprinkles, and check out the color of that marionberry frosting! Woohoo! These guys sported A LOT of frosting, but it wasn’t sickeningly sweet, so it wasn’t overwhelming at all. The cupcakes were quite tasty, and we are excited to try more flavors.
As if the cupcakes weren’t enough, Amy placed a secret order from Holiday Essence the same week:
Check it out! Swedish Princess Cake! I have been a little obsessed with Swedish Princess Cake ever since I ate one from
Gayle’s Bakery in Santa Cruz a million years ago. I am not even a big fan of marzipan (the exterior of the cake is marzipan), but these princess cakes are SO BEAUTIFUL and so delicious! They are filled with whipped cream, a very light vanilla cake, raspberry jam, and pastry cream. Super yum. Apparently Holiday Essence is one of the only bakeries in the Pacific Northwest that offers princess cakes. I had to really hold myself back from eating the entire thing. Oh, and the slogan on there? Apparently I am in trouble because I did not tell Amy when it was my birthday (it was in August).
Princess cake is my FAVORITE! It is like the Barbie of cakes–all pink and sugary and sweet–and there is no earthly reason why I should like it, but I love it so, so much. And the slogan is hilarious.
Ha! I love how dainty the cake looks and the “You Suck” in script. So funny. =)
I am SO jealous you have a partner in sugar. I need one of those.
I think I had that cake at IKEA once. Or at least the IKEA version of that cake, which I’m sure was nothing like that delicious looking specimen you have there. And the message cracks me up. I think I am going to have to make it a point to put offensive messages on every cake from now on, just because it’s so crazy.
I love the sentiment. Ah, friendship!
ack! i love that cake. happy un-belated-birthday to you!
YOU AREN’T GOING TO GIVE ME ANY CAKE ARE YOU?
YOU SUCK!
Heh.
I didn’t know it’s called princess cake. That’s what I had for my wedding; made by local Larsen’s Bakery. Yum! Good stuff!
Belated Happy Birthday, you sugar-addict, you!
I thought it said YOU LUCK… wondering if it was some inside chinese joke…..
and you mentioned your birthday in a post awhile back…. being in august…I remember because my birthday is in august, too.
looks like good cake to celebrate a birthday with. Happy!!!!!!
“You Suck” is quite possibly the best ever message written on a fancy cake.
Good to know this bakery is still around. They were located in a store front around NE 109th & Halsey. Was sad to see the store empty.
great write up! I didn’t know you got photos of the house, you spy-
and I just ordered 3 different flavors of cupcakes for the shower. I will report back.
Oh, looking at all that gorgeous deliciousness is giving me a sugar rush.
we are totally getting one of those cakes next time i am in portland. yum. sounds delish. maybe with “you rock” on it next time.
If you ever make it down this way again, I’d love to meet up at Gayle’s or the Buttery, both equally yummy.
Dude! That cake is awesome! I so want one now – hmmm – google here I come.
Happy (belated) Birthday!
I do believe that Splatgirl is right- IKEA has a version of this cake. It’s in their “Market” section and they call it a “princess torte”- it’s a quick fix to any “princess cake” cravings that might arise. I think thats enough quotation marks for the day.
i’m half hyperventilating over their menu. something about many layers with things in between. this coming from the anti-icing girl.
Ok, this cake is way way too funny. I love it! Only a true friend would go that all out. Very impressive.
That’s it! I am moving to Portland. Good fabric stores AND this bakery. I need to be there. Nice to be hearing from you more regularly.
That’s it! I am moving to Portland. Good fabric stores AND this bakery. I need to be there. Nice to be hearing from you more regularly.
someone told me princess cakes are for little girls. like two and three year olds or something.
are those jelly beans on the cupcakes?
marionberry swiss buttercream. I think I’m going to die now.