So…no Castle last night…no Hawaii 5-0….what’s a girl to do? Oh, right…read a good book! I started Addison Fox’s BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE. Cute story! Enjoying so far… What are you reading?

I know what the critics are reading…and that’s my upcoming December 27 release, SUGAR RUSH! We’ve been working so hard this full last year, getting ready to launch the back-to-back releases of the first two books in the Cupcake Club Romance series (SWEET STUFF comes out late January!) And it’s exciting that the first book is finding it’s way into hands other than mine, my editor’s, and my mom. It’s also scary, since those first hands usually belong to the book reviewers and critics!

So far, the reaction has been pretty, well….sweet! First the starred review, Pick-of-the-Week from Publisher’s Weekly, then the call from USA Today to do an interview about the series, and yesterday this popped up from RT Book Reviews:

“Fans of cupcakes and TV chefs will like this first installment of the back-to-back Cupcake Club series that comes with recipes. For those looking for more, not to worry — this isn’t a light, spun sugar tale. It has more substance, like a rich, chocolate ganache. The supporting cast of characters are delightful, and one hopes they will appear in future books.” 4 Stars!…Joyce Morgan, RT Book Reviews

Mostly I can’t wait for it to get into the hands I want most to have it…YOURS! I’m already writing book three (BABYCAKES, October 2012) and want you all to meet my Sugarberry Island peeps!

Want to join the critics and have an advance copy of SUGAR RUSH righthisverysecond? (Well, or as fast as your mailman can bring it to you?) Enter this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest! See Monday’s post for all the details!!

And while you’re entering contests, don’t forget to check out Kensington’s contest, which runs till the end of December. You can win $50 certificate Crumbs Cupcakes. (Best. Ever! I’ve had them!!) Click on the photo below to get an upclose look at entry details!

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I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday and survived the shopping hoards this weekend!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Free Stuff “Black” Friday contest! A record turn out! And now the moment has arrived!! The happening Blog Babe winner of the full set of the Hot Scot Trilogy: SOME LIKE IT SCOT, OFF KILTER & UNWRAPPED is…..Monica R-W!!! Congratulations, Monica!! Just email your address to me at donna@donnakauffman.com and your prize will go in the mail.

Also wanted to send a happy shout out of thanks to Rachel, Nichelle & Stacie over at the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog! It’s #1 cupcake blog on the ‘net, and one of my must-stops! So, color me happily surprised to discover their lovely blog post promoting my Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcake recipe (Miss it? They link to it in their blog), my Cakes by the Cup blog AND my upcoming Cupcake Club Romance series on their blog this weekend! They SO rock! Check it out!

Cupcakes Take the Cake

New contest? Did someone say new contest?? Oh, right, I did! I know, the fun never ends with me. And this promises to be Super Fun!!

Today is Cyber Monday, the online after-holiday shopping extravaganza. So, it seems like a perfectly reasonable time to keep the fun contest stuff going…and offer up an advance copy of Cupcake Club Romance #1 - SUGAR RUSH - to one lucky Blog Babe!! And cost to you is….nuthin’! Can’t beat that deal!

To enter this week’s Cyber Monday-Free Stuff Friday contest, send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Hey, Cupcake! Send me a book!” in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from the entry pile and announce the winner here on Friday. (Don’t forget to check in to see if you’re a winner!)

Good luck!!

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I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and are surviving the shopping hoards out there today! I played it safe and stayed in the kitchen! But you all will benefit…because I bake and share. And don’t forget to enter this week’s Free Stuff “Black” Friday contest for your chance to win the Hot Scot trilogy! Runs till Midnight, Sunday Nov 27. See Monday’s blog post for all the details.

In celebration of the holiday season kickoff…this week we’re making Eggnog Cupcakes!

This recipe comes from Annie’s Eats…and the complimentary Eggnog Cream Cheese frosting is thanks to Food & Wine’s Kathy Casey. (She pairs it with red velvet cupcakes, which…I’m totally trying for my Girls Night Out Christmas party next week!)

Easy recipe, which you can use with or without the rum or bourbon…and that goes for cake and frosting. (Hey, you toast with a glass, I toast with a cupcake. )

Eggnog Cupcakes
Yield: about 18-20 cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
¼ cup dark rum or bourbon (optional)
1 cup eggnog
¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar

Directions:
1.To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
2.In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; whisk to combine.
3.In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the rum, eggnog, vegetable oil, vinegar, and sugar. Beat on medium-low speed until well blended.
4.Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until incorporated.

5.Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners, filling the cups 2/3 full.
6.Bake 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) salted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon eggnog
1 tablespoon rum
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (16-ounce) package confectioners’ sugar

Steps:
1.With an electric mixer in a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
2Then beat in the vanilla, eggnog, rum and nutmeg.
3.On low speed, add the powdered sugar, a little at a time, beating until smooth.
4.Frost the cupcakes when they are completely cool. Keep frosted cupcakes refrigerated.

Hope you enjoy them! Have a wonderful weekend. I’ll see you back here Monday morning with the announcement of the contest winner!! Good luck!!

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I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m so thankful for your friendship and your support. You all are definitely the most happening Blog Babes anywhere!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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I enjoyed the finale of DWTS more than I thought I would. Sure, sure, I did my fair share of fast forwarding, but I watched more than I anticipated I would. It was a toss up which was more entertaining, the final dances of the three remaining contestants…or Carson Kressley’s return performance. Okay, who am I kidding? It was Carson, hands down (and up, and all over Maks and his bro!) Come on everybody…..VOGUE!

For a season that wasn’t all that gripping, I did like the final three contestants a great deal, in that none of them were “ringers” or so super talented that it was an obvious win. Yes, JR had enormous support all season, but he was definitely shaky the last few weeks, with Rob getting better and gaining confidence, and Ricki and Derek doing so consistently well…I truly thought it was anyone’s game last night. And, in the end, any of the three winning would have been fine by me.

I was also struck by just how close the contestants were. You see this every season, but this season seemed even more so to me. With the exception, perhaps of Hope and Nancy (who both did like their partners despite the endless drama) the contestants even made me enjoy some of the pros that I don’t normally feel that much love for.

Derek has long seemed headed down the Mark Ballas path of self-centerment, but whereas Mark still seems stuck in the relatively immature “me me me” phase of his career, Derek seems to be maturing out of it and become a far more professional professional. He works hard to make his partner’s look good and his support has more empathy, even as he pushes them very hard to maintain his established level of excellence. (Louis does this, too, as does Tony.) Maks tries to do this, but hasn’t quite conquered the people skillz needed as yet. I’ve never been a big Karina fan, but truly enjoyed her this season and was happy she won her first trophy. I can’t imagine feeling that way in her previous seasons. She also seems to be maturing and gaining a more objective view of things.

All said and done…I’m actually looking forward to the spring and the next season. I hope they cast the show a little better. I still think that, overall, this was one of the least interesting casts they had. I ended up liking a lot of them, especially those who lasted until the end, but it was pretty lackluster, as a group. (Show of hands who fast-forwarded through a lot of the returning contestant performances last night? Just me? I’m thinking not…. )

Still enjoying my other reality fixes….Amazing Race (great leg this week! And a half nekkid Phil! Complete with eyebrow porn!!) Top Chef:Texas is just getting started. Jury is still out for me so far… But I am loving (loving!) The Next Iron Chef. Now that is tension in the kitchen!

Don’t forget to enter the Free Stuff Black Friday contest this week! It’s running all the way until midnight Sunday, Nov 26. Winner gets the whole Hot Scot trilogy! See yesterday’s blog for details and get your entry in! Good luck!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Yes, yes, I know it’s Tuesday and I said I’d post this on Monday, but it FEELS like Monday, so does that count?

I promise I am going to SO make it up to you, Blog Babes and Bargain Hunters Extraordinaire! This week’s Free Stuff Friday contest is a Special Holiday Giveaway! It starts the moment you read this and runs allllll the way until midnight Sunday, November 27. Winner announced in Monday’s blog.

What, you may ask, will the winner receive? Signed copies of the complete Hot Scot trilogy! Including SOME LIKE IT SCOT, OFF KILTER, and my current release, UNWRAPPED.

To enter, send me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “And I don’t even have to leave the house!” in the subject line. I’ll draw one name from the stack and announce it in Monday’s blog post.

Good luck! So….hurry up and enter already!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Hello Happening Blog Babes!

What a week! It just flew right by. And I will be away most of today, so we’ll have to continue to enjoy the Pumpkin Cheesecake cupcake recipe from last Friday. (It’s well worth a two week stint in the spotlight!) My sons loved them so much we’re doing those for Thanksgiving instead of pumpkin pie. Yep….that good! And this time we’re going with Cool Whip on top, which….why didn’t we think of that sooner???

Before we get to the Free Stuff Friday Contest winner…I want to thank all those who came out to Reader’s Night Out at Nora Robert’s Turn the Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, Md last night. Was fun to see everyone (and have those adorable cupcakes! Mmmm!)

I will be back at Turn the Page on Saturday, February 18 for a signing with Nora (and other authors as well….more info on that as I get it!) I’ll be signing both SUGAR RUSH and SWEET STUFF along with the mass market release of BAD BOYS IN KILTS! I hope to see you all there!

Okay! Onward to the contest winner! Thanks to all who entered this week for a chance to win a signed copy of my current release, UNWRAPPED! The winner is….drum roll……Kelly Mck!! Congratulations, Kelly!! Send me your mailing address and I will get your book out to you! (I have last week’s winner to get out, too, so will send them both right away!)

Hope everyone has a good weekend…will see you back here Monday with a new contest...and maybe a little MAC, too if I can catch up on the DVR over the weekend!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Entries are flying in for this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest (yay!) where the winner will received a signed copy of my current release, UNWRAPPED. See yesterday’s blog post for all the entry details.

But I wanted to also remind you there’s still plenty of time to enter the contest Kensington is sponsoring for the launch of the Cupcake Club Romance series, beginning December 27th with the release of SUGAR RUSH, and followed just a few short weeks later by Book #2, SWEET STUFF. Click on the image above to see the details on how to enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Crumbs Cupcakes, NYC. (And let me tell you, I’ve had them and they are incredible!)

And in the Momentous News Department…

Yesterday I also got my first published review for SUGAR RUSH from Publisher’s Weekly. It’s not often they review romance, especially romantic comedy, so I was thrilled just to be selected by their editors for review. So color me stunned when they not only reviewed SUGAR RUSH, but gave it a “starred” review, which spotlights books they really loved….AND named it Pick of the Week!

I know! It took two pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes to get me over the shock. I may need a few more today, you know, just until it really settles in. Thank you, PW!!

Here’s the review:

STARRED REVIEW! Publishers Weekly PICK OF THE WEEK! (featured on first page of magazine)
* Sugar Rush by Donna Kauffman. (January 2012 / Kensington-Brava)
The opening novel of Kauffman’s Cupcake Club series is as sweet and adorable as its namesake treat. Leilani Trusdale spends 10 years training with charming but tough chef Baxter “Hot Cakes” Dunne, taking over his New York City pastry shop when he leaves to host a cooking show. When she finally escapes the city to open a cupcake shop in her father’s tiny hometown of Sugarberry Island, Ga., Baxter turns up, natch, to start his show’s traveling season, with a secondary agenda of romancing Leilani. The tension leads Leilani to revive her old bake therapy sessions with her best friend, Charlotte, adding Leilani’s quiet new assistant and a lovable town gossip to lend support, share opinions, and add sugar as members of the Cupcake Club. The ladies of Sugarberry will be delightful companions to look forward to in future stories, and readers can bake along with the included cupcake recipes. (Jan.)
********************************************************

So….now I’m really dying, waiting for the books hit the shelves so you all can finally be introduced to Sugarberry Island and all my crazy cupcake ladies (and the hot men who love them!) For all of you who loved the Glass Slipper series and my trio of fairy godmothers from those books, and have written such wonderful letters telling me how much you miss them…well, I think this series will give you that same fix of fun and laughter. I hope you love them as much as I am loving writing them. This is the absolutely most fun I’ve had in my 20 year career. I can’t wait to share them with you!

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Hello Happening Blog Babes!

Beautiful day here in the Virginia countryside, but I wanted to get the new contest up and running before I go hit the trails and plot my next chapter…..and work off those amazing Pumpkin Cheesecake cupcakes from last week. Did you see those in Friday’s blog? I have seen, baked, and consumed. More than my fair share. Seriously, a new Thanksgiving tradition is born. Who needs pumpkin pie when you can just make these???)

Okay, so to enter this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest, send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Me! Me!” in the subject line. Winner gets a signed copy of my current Christmas anthology release (along with stories by Erin McCarthy & Kate Angell), UNWRAPPED!

Here’s a little bit about the book…..

“Gorgeous, sexy heroes are just waiting to be unwrapped in this crackling anthology that is guaranteed to steam up the windows this holiday season.”
— Library Journal

“This anthology of Christmas-themed romances from three noted authors of the genre offers an abundance of sexual tension…”
— Publisher’s Weekly

From the streets of Chicago to the back roads of Kentucky to the wild dunes of a Scottish isle, mistletoe and mischief are this season’s hottest gifts…

New York Times bestselling author ERIN MCCARTHY
Blue Christmas
While a blizzard blankets the world outside, Blue Farrow burrows into the arms of her highway hunk at the No Tell Motel. The road might be closed for dangerous conditions, but the couple navigates their own Kentucky Christmas curves. Nice and oh-so-naughty, Blue and her man open up to each other as they keep the Yule log burning.

USA Today bestselling author DONNA KAUFFMAN
Santa in a Kilt
The wind-whipped December sands of the isle of Kinloch invigorate Kira McLeod as she sets out to tame rugged Shay Callaghan, a Scottish bachelor as wary of a wedding ring as a snowman is of the hot sun. It’ll take all the wiles of the canny islanders to weave a perfect Celtic Christmas for all…

National bestselling author KATE ANGELL
Snow Angel
Snowed under in Chicago, free spirit Allie is trapped in Dutton’s department store on Christmas Eve when the lights go off and the holiday romance heats up. Our snow angel finds herself face to face with the dashing Aiden, the heir to the retail riches and her host for a night of winter wonder…

*******************************************************************************
Good luck, everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Happy 11-11-11! A special HUGE thank you this Veteran’s Day to all the service men and women who put their lives on the line for us every single day!

Before we get to the cupcakes, super cool news!! Kensington Books, my fabulous publisher, is GIVING AWAY copies of Cupcake Club Romance #1, SUGAR RUSH. You know, the one that doesn’t come out until December 27th and the reason for all you will read about below? Yeah. That one. So…go follow Kensington Books on Twitter and find out how to win yourself a copy!

So….I was thinking that for this week’s cupcake recipe, I wanted to bake something with pumpkin, to celebrate fall. And, what goes better with a pumpkin ‘n spice cupcake but cream cheese? But….cream cheese frosting is just so….normal. Then I thought…hmm….what if we make some cheesecake filling for the pumpkin cupcakes instead? That would be yumm.

Of course, I could have stopped there. But….why would I do that? I still had to figure out what to frost them with. And, again, cream cheese frosting was the obvious, but who wants to go the obvious route? You might remember I made chocolate pumpkin cupcakes right here, last April, and the chocolate-pumpkin combo was super delish. Well, I could just use that recipe and add the cheesecake filling…and go with that crazy yummy cream cheese mascarpone frosting that was to die for. OR! I could make pumpkin-cheesecake cupcakes and then frost them with chocolate fudge frosting.

Oh…the dilemma!

In the end, I decided that I wanted equal parts pumpkin, cheesecake, and chocolate…. So, I give you Pumpkin Cheesecake cupcakes w/ Chocolate Fudge Frosting! Turns out…it was a verrrry good choice!

(And you can always go back to April in the archives, snag the chocolate pumpkin cupcake recipe, and add the cheesecake filling from this recipe to that one if you reallllly need to do a comparative study. And I totally think you should. Then report back!)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

Cheesecake Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1. Filling: Beat cream cheese and sugar until evenly combined. Add egg and vanilla and mix until smooth. Place in a small Tupperware and put in freezer while you make the cake batter. (If you do this part overnight, put it in the refrigerator.)
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with 20-24 cupcake liners.
3. Mix oil, applesauce, sugar and brown sugar together until smooth.
4. Add eggs one at a time and mix well (do not over beat and do not beat on high.)
5. In a separate bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
6. Add half of the dry ingredients to the oil mixture and mix.
7. Add milk.
8. Add the remaining half of the dry ingredients.
9. Mix in pumpkin puree.
10. Fill cupcake liners ¾ full.
11. Take the filling out of the freezer and place small spoonfuls (between 1 ½ -2 teaspoons) on the top of each unbaked cupcake. Slightly swirl into the batter.
12. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until and inserted tester comes out with no orange batter on it. The cream cheese will leave a little white on the tester, but that is normal. (So is licking the tester!)

They taste good even before frosting them…I’m guessing. You know. Just a guess…..

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup Dutch processed cocoa (I would use dark next time.)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot fudge sauce (store bought)
1-2 tablespoons milk, only as needed for consistency

Blend butter, cocoa till smooth/creamy. Add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar. Add milk for consistency. (I didn’t need any.) Spread over cooled cupcakes. Devour.

Seriously…you have to try this! Incredibly moist, with that surprise bite of cheesecake in the middle, topped with chocolatey fudge goodness. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Now that we’re sufficiently sugar buzzed, it’s time to reveal the winner of this week’s Free Stuff Friday contest! Up for grabs this week was an advance review copy of Cupcake Club Romance Book #2, SWEET STUFF! (Which hits the stands January 24…just a few short weeks after Cupcake Club Romance #1, SUGAR RUSH, is released, on December 27.) And the lucky blog babe is? Ashley B!!!!!

Congratulations, Ashley!! Please email me your address and I’ll get your prize in the mail to you.

Speaking of mailing prizes… I have long since mailed out everything that has been won by anyone on both this site and the sister Cakes by the Cup site. I have experienced several delivery problems (all taken care of now) but, given the issues that have cropped up with the lovely postal service, I wanted to give a shout out to all the winners…if you haven’t received your winning book, you should have by now, so please contact me to let me know and I’ll get a replacement prize in the mail to you!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

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