We love you Caroline (Mom)! Happy Birthday!
Eat Cake. Be Happy.
Richard R. Reutter
]]>Caroline’s Cakes is not only about delicious dessert, but the spirit of hospitality, grace, and tradition that is baked into every offering. This season, we’re tapping our community to share in that spirit. Read our interview with Lela Rose– designer, author, and entertainer– who shares her family’s traditions, tips for a special tablescape, and must-haves around the holidays (7-Layer Caramel Cake included)!
Follow Lela Rose on Instagram @lelarose for more.
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions when it comes to entertaining or celebrating with loved ones?
We have a lot of holiday traditions in our family, and we all feel strongly about celebrating them every year. One of them is Christmas breakfast and having the same meal that I have had my entire life. 30 years ago, I painted my brother and soon-to-be sister in law a set of plates depicting the 12 Days of Christmas. Each year, we eat on those same plates and quibble over who gets which one (seven swans is a crowd favorite).
Please share a few tips for making a tablescape feel special?
I love to mix textures & patterns to my heart's content. I pick up vintage textiles on many of my travels and love the stories they tell. Mixing that with interesting tableware, candles (always a must as they add so much to any table), and some fresh branches or berries is a perfect way to set a holiday table that really tells a story of past & present!
What are 3 of your favorite songs to set the mood for a festive holiday/winter party?
Santa Baby, Bing Crosby’s Christmas album, and Wham’s “Last Christmas”
It wouldn’t be the holidays without ____
My family.
What is your favorite Caroline’s Cakes flavor for the holidays and why?
The caramel cake is an all-the-time favorite no matter the month. The delicious decadence is truly divine!
Shop the Lela Rose x Caroline’s Cakes custom cake collab here, which was featured in the 2023 Garden & Gun Holiday Gift Guide!
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions when it comes to entertaining or celebrating with loved ones?
My favorite tradition when entertaining family and close friends is setting the table with my mom. She’s an amazing self-taught florist, and we love making centerpieces together for our tables. We both enjoy entertaining, so between the two of us, we own a massive collection of tablecloths, china, glassware, and silverware to pull from. It’s like we get to “shop” before every dinner party. We mix and match new pieces with older items, and so we never get bored hosting together over the holidays.
Please share a few tips for making a tablescape feel special?
In my opinion, the most special tablescapes are those that feel personal. I love incorporating my grandmother’s sterling silver flatware and candlesticks, especially around the holidays, as our family has so many memories of those same pieces on her table before she passed away. I also think candlelight is the best light to use at dinner parties, so while I don’t often style and shoot tables by candlelight, that’s the lighting I prefer to use when hosting family gatherings.
What are 3 of your favorite songs to set the mood for a festive holiday/winter party?
Three of my favorite songs to use on a festive holiday party playlist are: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams, “Winter Wonderland” by Bing Crosby, and “White Christmas” by Michael Buble with Shania Twain
It wouldn’t be the holidays without ____
Turkey and Twinkle Lights. We serve turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we put up our holiday lights in early November, so we can enjoy them the entire holiday season.
What is your favorite Caroline’s Cakes flavor for the holidays and why?
I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Caroline’s Caramel Cake. I served caramel cake at my wedding, and I think there is something extra special about Caroline’s Caramel Cake. It’s not too rich but is hearty enough for the cooler temperatures we have around the holidays in the South. A good caramel cake isn’t easy to make, so I especially love ordering from Caroline’s Cakes, as there’s no way I’d even come close to recreating it at home myself. Their caramel cake tastes and looks divine!
Pictured: Caramel Apple Spice Cake
Please share if you have a special way that you decorate layer cakes, have a favorite cake stand, or how you dress up a cake stand…
If you follow my Instagram account, you will see that my “signature move” for decorating one of Caroline’s cakes is to add fresh flowers to the top. Whether I’m styling and shooting for a magazine or serving up a cake to friends and family at home, I always cluster a few fresh blooms together on top. I use flowers that coordinate with my tablescape, so that the cake becomes part of the décor as well. The best part is that they look great prior to serving, but when it’s time to cut the cake, the flower heads are easy to remove and discard.
Photography by Lela Fain @lelefainphoto
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It’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and we support the fighters, admire the survivors, and honor those we’ve lost. We will never give up hope, and that’s why we are pleased to partner with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where our founder, Caroline, received treatment. We will be donating a percentage of all our 7-Layer Caramel Cake sales this month to their important work in her honor.
We remember in September, and we wear teal. The fresh teal look of our website is a testament to hope and your enduring support makes our Caramel Cake all the more special.
Eat Cake. Beat Cancer.
]]>As you may know our shipping partner, UPS, has been mentioned frequently in the news lately as negotiations continue with their labor union. We hope that they can reach an agreement that is favorable to all parties and avoid a strike, however, it remains a possibility. Whether or not a strike takes place does not change the fact that you all will still have celebrations soon, and we encourage you to place and receive orders for these events as soon as possible. I encourage you to take advantage of the freezability of our cakes (remember they can be frozen AND refrozen for up to 6 months).
We are making every effort to establish a strong contingency plan in the event of a strike and have been in close contact with our UPS reps, but, we strongly recommend placing and receiving orders for celebrations in the near future as soon as possible.
I appreciate your continued support and look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Eat Cake. Be Happy.
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What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your dad? Growing up in Miami meant we were Disney kids - it was a car ride away and our favorite place to go. So it was very special and nostalgic to get to take my oldest son when he turned three with my Dad. When a child discovers Disney World for the first time it’s magical - but getting to see your own experience it while holding your Dad’s hand (just as you did) is another level. We’re already planning to go again next year - this time it will be my youngest son’s first time.
What is something your father always says/said? (a catch phrase, a piece of advice, something he was right about! etc.) Love what you do, never work a day in your life.If I turn on ____ song it immediately brings a smile to my father's face? Under My Thumb - The Rolling Stones
You can't go wrong with cake and a day spent….? Spending the day with our family: a perfect boat day followed by his beating us all in tennis.
What is your dad and/or husband *actually* hoping to receive for Father's Day? Quality time with his children & grandchildren. Next best thing would be a Dukes’ martini.
We have to ask...what would be your dad's and/or husband's favorite Caroline's Cakes flavor to celebrate with? Key Lime! A taste of the Caribbean for our Havana-born patriarch.
Find Natalie on social @thenatnote
In preparation for Father’s Day, we’ve gathered our friends to share their favorite memories with their dads, fatherly advice, multi-generational traditions, favorite cake flavors and more. Read below to hear from Markey Mossman, Founder of Hatch Cove Designs.
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your dad? My dad has always done this cute little act where he will point to his eyes, cross his heart, and then point to me as our secret way of saying "I love you". It has carried us through high school tennis matches, heading back to college after a weekend at home, wedding send offs, and many moments in between. Now he's taught it to my daughters and it's just precious.
What is something your father always says/said? (a catch phrase, a piece of advice, something he was right about! etc.). "When you know, you know." Like the concept of "trust your gut." With a little prayer and a little instinct, you'll be on the right path.
If I turn on ____ song it immediately brings a smile to my father's face? "Somewhere over the rainbow" My dad has always loved this song!
You can't go wrong with cake and a day spent…..? Together! Either at his farm/garden or trolling the creeks of Murrells Inlet, SC.
What is your dad *actually* hoping to receive for Father's Day? My dad is a salt of the earth kind of guy, with a heart full of generosity and sentimentalism - things don't mean much to him. His ideal "gift" would be all of his children and grandchildren together at his farm, where he was raised and where he continues to cherish + honor the memories of his father/upbringing. Although I'll say, he's been known to put us to work!
We have to ask...what would be your dad's/husband's favorite Caroline's Cakes flavor to celebrate with? The 7 layer Caramel Cake, hands down! We've always had a caramel cake to celebrate our biggest milestones (even my wedding!) and Caroline's Cakes are always the perfect addition.
Find Markey on social at @markey.mossman @hatchcovedesigns
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your dad? Safari in Kenya – my dad took me when I graduated from college and then took me along with 2 of my children a few years before he passed away.
What is something your father always says/said? (a catch phrase, a piece of advice, something he was right about! etc.) When things in life got hard, my dad would say, “pull yourself up by the boot straps and figure it out.” I hated when he would tell me that, but I often find myself saying the same thing to my children!
If I turn on ____ song it immediately brings a smile to my father's face and/or husband's face? When I hear Barbara Streisand it immediately brings a smile to my face as it reminds me of my dad – he was a whistler and it would drive me crazy at the time, but what I would give to hear that whistle one more time.
You can't go wrong with cake and a day spent….? You can’t go wrong with cake and a day spent outside enjoying nature. My dad loved being outside working in his garden. My husband would like nothing more than a day on the golf course!
We have to ask...what would be your dad's and/or husband's favorite Caroline's Cakes flavor to celebrate with? My dad loved caramel cake and there is none better than Caroline’s. My husband would prefer the carrot cake.
Find Claudia on social @shoplenora
In preparation for Father’s Day, we’ve gathered our friends to share their favorite memories with their dads, fatherly advice, multi-generational traditions, favorite cake flavors and more. Read below to hear from Megan Stokes, Founder of MeganStokes.com
In preparation for Father’s Day, we’ve gathered our friends to share their favorite memories with their dads, fatherly advice, multi-generational traditions, favorite cake flavors and more. Read below to hear from Maggie Revel Mielczarek, Founder of Leland Gal.
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your two dads?
“The Men, The Cake, The Legends. ”I am lucky enough to have TWO dads! My dad, Jim, and my stepdad, Smitty are both very special to me. I would say that my favorite memories with my Dad have been learning how to connect with people anywhere, anytime, and the ability to stay in touch with so many. He doesn't know a stranger. He also taught me the love of racquet sports, and we spent hours in the basement perfecting ping pong, all the skills learned I now use in pickleball. :) . My Stepdad equally has held long standing friendships and annual trips with friends from elementary school and has greatly influenced a love of golf, the art of making a delicious soup, and the importance of enjoying a classic vanilla ice cream cone.
What is something your dads always say? (a catch phrase, a piece of advice, something he was right about! etc.).
My Dad- We chuckle about his "A failure to plan is a plan to failure".... Generally speaking, my heart does love spontaneity, but as a business owner, I have come to love a good plan of action, and I completely get where he is coming from on this one. As much as I don't always love the time it takes to plan things, it does allow for so many more things to get accomplished!
Smitty - Smitty is known to hang on to catch phrases through time like "Been there, done that" and "Not" which always makes me laugh, but he also has been a calming voice when we have come to him with a problem which usually he can downplay to help me get perspective. He will say "Mags, nobody died, we can work through this".
If I turn on ____ song it immediately brings a smile to my dads faces.
Sweet Baby James - James Taylor for my Dad
Feelin' alright- Joe Cocker for Smitty.
You can't go wrong with cake and a day spent……?
Dad- Driving vintage cars. My dad has been a collector over the years, and we do also share this affinity for the color and lines of old cars.
Smitty- Treating ourselves to a round of 18 followed by cake! (and vanilla ice cream :) )
What are your dads *actually* hoping to receive for Father's Day?
I can agree that both of them enjoy the gift of time with family more than anything else!
We have to ask...what would be your dads’ favorite Caroline's Cakes flavors to celebrate with? I've never had a Caroline's cake that I didn't love, they are all so delicious and special in their own way. It's a hard call between the carmel and the coconut! We personally LOVE the caramel! XX
Find Maggie on social
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your dad?
One of my favorite memories with my dad is “jumping waves” at the beach. When I was a toddler, I’d hold his hand and and hop over the (what I considered) massive waves that crashed on the shoreline. I truly felt like a daredevil and D1 athlete.
What is something your father always says/said? (a catch phrase, a piece of advice, something he was right about! etc.)
My dad never fails to remind me to "bring a jacket" should it be under 70 degrees out. It makes me chuckle, but he’s also right— I’m very cold natured!
If I turn on ____ song it immediately brings a smile to my father's face.
What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong— it was our father-daughter dance at my wedding!
You can't go wrong with cake and a day spent…..?
At the beach… or in the sun! My family lives in Atlanta, so not near water. Nevertheless, my dad will still spend 15 minutes (at least) a day in the sun on our back porch. He truly does “find his beach” anywhere!
What is your dad *actually* hoping to receive for Father's Day?
My dad loves Popeyes fried chicken. Every father’s day he looks forward to that meal!
We have to ask...what would be your dad's favorite Caroline's Cakes flavor to celebrate with?
Undoubtedly caramel!! That is his favorite cake flavor to begin with, and Caroline’s recipe knocks it out of the park!
Find Wells on social @shopswells @wellsmaley
Caroline’s Cakes was founded by and named after my mom, Caroline. Having her as a mother, mentor, and role model was an invaluable experience for which I am so grateful, and some of my fondest memories were spent with Caroline.
With this sentiment in mind, and in honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve tapped some of our most inspiring friends and colleagues to share their favorite memories, traditions, and occasions with their moms.
Read below, and celebrate these influential women alongside us.
Sandra Campos
CEO, Founder, Board Member and CNBC Contributor
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your mother?
The most important lesson I learned from my immigrant mother was the value of continuing education. In addition to being a full- time working mom to six children, she also attended night school in order to gain skills that would prepare her for greater professional opportunities. This is the main reason I focus on learning new skills to become more well-rounded.
What is something your mother always says/said? or What is something you are always saying to your children?“
“People come and go in life but Families are forever.”
What is a tradition you are excited to carry on or one you're excited to create?
We always played games in my family. My mother loves chess, dominoes, any game that engages the entire family. It’s a tradition we continue each holiday. She also made a special effort to take each of her children to a location of their choice, anywhere in the world, to celebrate their school graduation. I look forward to spending individual trips with each of my kids in order to create a special bond and provide them with unique experiences.
If I turn on ____ song it immediately makes/made my mom want to kick up her heels.
When I hear any old Neil Diamond or Julio Iglesias music, I know it would make my mom smile and be moved.
We have to ask... what Caroline's Cake flavor would you love to celebrate Mother's Day with?
I’m a red velvet lover and Caroline’s Cakes has THE best of the best!! It’s a little blend of chocolate (my Mexican heritage) and red coloring which reminds me of my mother who never leaves home without fully made up red lips.
Find Sandra on social @sandracamposNYC
Caroline’s Cakes was founded by and named after my mom, Caroline. Having her as a mother, mentor, and role model was an invaluable experience for which I am so grateful, and some of my fondest memories were spent with Caroline.
With this sentiment in mind, and in honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve tapped some of our most inspiring friends and colleagues to share their favorite memories, traditions, and occasions with their moms.
Read below, and celebrate these influential women alongside us.
Also, don’t forget to enter our Mother’s Day Giveaway here with Well & Wonder!
Mollie Creason
Founder of Well & Wonder
What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your mother?
My favorite traditions with my Mom start with cooking/baking in the kitchen and end in the kitchen with a LNDP (late night dance party) while doing dishes. Usually these marathon cooking/dancing/kitchen parties revolve around holidays but sometimes they can be on a fun Sunday summer night as well. My mother cannot hold a tune but after a little champagne or bourbon and with a spatula "microphone" in hand she is sure to join in on Tina Turner's Rolling on the River.
What is something your mother always said? or What is something you are always saying to your daughter?
Trust your intuition. Follow your gut. Listen to the voice inside of you! Also, wear a hat and sunscreen. She was right! Her skin is flawless.
What is a tradition you are excited to carry on or one you're excited to create for your little one?
Mom makes every holiday magic. She is a wonderful chef but beyond all the amazing food, lovely tablescapes, flowers, and cakes is the magic she creates. This magic is something I can only hope to replicate for my family! Whether it's her generous spirit of inviting others to join our family at holidays (we always had extra spots at our Thanksgiving table for people that Mom included who may be spending the holiday alone) or her attention to detail (hand-written invitations and place cards, freshly ironed linens, monogramed silver julep cups) I'm not sure how, but the magic is always there.
If I turn on ____ song it immediately makes my mom want to kick up her heels.
Everlasting Love by Robert Knight. Fun fact - Robert was my Mom's Chemistry Lab teacher at Vanderbilt!
We have to ask... what Caroline's Cake flavor would you love to celebrate Mother's Day with?
Easter Caramel Cake. Caramel cake is Mom's favorite plus this one will look extra festive on her pink cake stand.
Find Mollie on social @wellandwonder
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What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your mother?
My favorite tradition that comes to mind with both my grandmother and mom are our trips to New York together. I am the oldest of three girls and when you turn seven in my family, my grandmother would take all the girls to NYC. These special trips were filled with great food, a Broadway play or two, and a slew of museum visits. It opened my eyes to a much bigger world from an early age and most likely sparked my love for the Big Apple - A place I ended up living and utterly fell in love with in my twenties!
What is something your mother always said? or What is something you are always saying to your children?
Life is a blessing.
What is a tradition you are excited to carry on or one you're excited to create for your little one's?
I relish the memories of those NYC trips and I hope to do the same with my daughter when she turns seven.
If I turn on ____ song it immediately makes my mom want to kick up her heels.
“Ain't No Mountain High Enough” - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
We have to ask... what Caroline's Cake flavor would you love to celebrate Mother's Day with?
Easy! The 7-Layer Coconut Cloud cake.
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What is one of your favorite traditions or memories with your mother?
One of my most treasured memories with my mother were the handwritten notes she would tuck inside my lunchbag everyday. Even through high school!
What is something your mother always said? or What is something you are always saying to your kids?
"Don't forget to put your smile on everyday!" is what my mother would say.
What is a tradition you are excited to carry on or one you're excited to create for your little one's?
Since my "littles" are 20 & 30, our new tradition is Sunday suppers on the porch- which almost includes exploring a new recipe followed with great music and dancing!
If I turn on ____ song it immediately makes my mom want to kick up her heels.
Southern Nights by Glen Campbell!
We have to ask... what Caroline's Cake flavor would you love to celebrate Mother's Day with?
Without a doubt, the 7-layer Caramel Cake!
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-Richard
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On Thursday, February 16th we are hosting our official Grand Opening. It will be an all day event highlighting the bakery retail space and the amazing work of Teague Studio, Louise Johnson Interiors, and H General Contracting, as well as all of our delicious cakes, cupcakes, cake bites, and world famous foods. I hope you all will find some time to stop by and say hi, see the space, have a slice. I know that you will absolutely love it!
Eat Cake. Be Happy.
Richard
]]>My Mom was like many of yours, I'm sure, in that she never threw away anything. File folders are filled with post-it notes, tear outs from magazines, and endless amounts of scratch paper with multiple ideas intertwining with each other on both sides. There are carbon copies of order slips from the early days when we operated out of the basement as well as long outdated catalogs of fun retail items that we carried along the way.
One particularly sentimental folder I went through had a note from Mom with a summary of the history of Caroline's Cakes up to that point. I thought it would be fun for you all to read it, so I have copied it below. Enjoy!
"I am constantly asked how I started my business. My background is in design, but food has always been a major player in my life. Growing up in the South, life revolved around entertaining. My mother was constantly entertaining my father's customers and there seemed to be weekly cookouts on our terrace or dinners with friends. There were the 'Family Night Dinners' at the church when everyone contributed their best dishes. You always knew who brought the best Deviled Eggs, the best Fried Chicken and, of course, the best Cakes. Food brought us all together, in happy times and in sad. It was the core of our lives-the hospitality and the grace that we learned to share.
I first served the Caramel Cake eighteen years ago at my youngest son's christening. I served two Caramel Cakes from an old Southern family recipe for dessert and people started asking for more. I found someone near my childhood home to bake my cakes with our special recipe and we started shipping them up to the Washington Metro area four times a year-Christmas, Valentine's, Easter and Thanksgiving.
Well, the word got out and before long we were bringing 120 up at a time in the air-conditioned cab of one of my father's tractor trailers. I would meet them late afternoon at a preplanned spot off the Washington, D.C. Beltway. We would load the cakes into my car and everyone who knew the drill would arrive at my home to pick up their Cakes. The power of word-of-mouth spread this incredible tasty treat across the country and before I knew it I was shipping to every state in the union. WOW!!
My baker became ill and I almost stopped the business. But so many people kept calling to order my Caramel Cake that I started making the cake myself. It was a rough start. Caramel is so difficult to perfect. I can remember days it would take me 1 1/2 hours to get the icing to stay on the cake. I was so determined to make it work and through great perseverance I finally conquered and owned the process.
Now we are making cakes daily and shipping them to all parts of the country. Some of you have even taken them to Europe as gifts. We all shared so much through these last 18 years and the friendships have brought so much richness to my life. I have been told of Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Aunts and family cooks who have made Caramel Cakes similar to ours, and all those memories have flooded back. You, in turn, have shared them with me. Through this delicious Caramel Cake, I have shared in your family gatherings, weddings and family reunions. I have even been told on several occasions it was the only thing a loved one would eat the last days they were living. How privileged I feel to have shared so much with so many.
As we continue to 'make the world a smaller place' with the Caramel Cake, I hope you will check back soon and often to try our other food items and enjoy the unique gift items we will be offering. Thanks for your continuing interest and support these last 18 years.
Caroline Ragsdale Reutter"
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Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there is nothing we love more than a beautiful holiday table setting. With cake as the centerpiece, of course! We’ve tapped our dear friend and colleague Stephanie Summerson Hall of Estelle Colored Glass to share her entertaining tips, holiday traditions, and more. Read the full interview below.
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions when it comes to entertaining or celebrating with loved ones?
“I love gathering with my in-laws on Christmas Eve and exchanging gifts.”
Please share a few tips for making a tablescape feel special…
“I love simple tablescapes with traditional family china and fresh holiday greens mixed in with winter fruit such as pomegranates and berries.”
What are your favorite songs to set the mood for a festive holiday/winter party?
“I like soulful Christmas music of different genres and by a variety of groups….
This Christmas -- Donny Hathaway
All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey
Silent Night - Temptations”
It wouldn’t be the holidays without….
“A fresh pine Christmas tree.”
What is your favorite Caroline’s Cakes flavor for the holidays?
“Red Velvet Traditional and 7 Layer Coconut Cloud.”
Please share if you have a special way that you decorate layer cakes, have a favorite cake stand, or how you dress up a cake stand…
“I like to pull the Estelle Cake stand in Emerald Green and Red during the holidays and like to garnish the cakes with sugared fruit and green herbs such as mint.”
]]>Jacquelyn Tugwell and Elizabeth Stafford White, the founders and sisters behind Twine + Twig– the handmade jewelry and lifestyle brand focuses on naturally sourced materials and having a positive philanthropic impact– answered our questions on holiday traditions and entertaining.
ELIZABETH
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions when it comes to entertaining or celebrating with loved ones?
My entertaining motto has always been the more the merrier. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday to host and it has grown over the years to be close to 50 people. We are so lucky with weather in the South this time of year, so we always kick off Thanksgiving day with an oyster roast and Bloody Mary bar in the backyard. My husband makes homemade chips and we always have a big charcuterie spread. We serve a late lunch and generally have a few different table scales set up which is one of my favorite parts of entertaining!
Please share a few tips for making a tablescape feel special?
Layers and layers and layers! Most of the time I do a very natural table spread and layer textures and natural elements like shed antlers or pheasant feathers. I love using dried wheat and eucalyptus.
What are 3 of your favorite songs to set the mood for a festive holiday/winter party?
Mumford & Sons - Beneath My Feet
Avett Brothers - Laundry Room
Chris Stapleton - A Simple Song
It wouldn’t be the holidays without…
Family! Seems obvious, but truly there is nothing better than having everyone the most important to you in one room
What is your favorite Caroline’s Cakes flavor for the holidays and why?
Obsessed with the Montana Gold. So good!
Do you have a special way that you decorate layer cakes, have a favorite cake stand, or how you dress up a cake stand?
Caroline’s Cakes are so easy to incorporate into a tablescape. I have a vintage African pedestal that is the perfect size for a cake and I normally grab some dried elements or fresh rosemary and do a simple center to the already beautifully simple cake design.
JACQUELYN
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions when it comes to entertaining or celebrating with loved ones?
Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday and the one that I host at my house. Every year it keeps growing bigger with more kids and family. The Family Stone is my favorite movie, I just love the chaos of Christmas and family all coming together. We started a tradition with all of the young cousins playing White Elephant during happy hour - it's so fun to see the excitement and giggles coming from them opening and stealing.
Please share a few tips for making a tablescape feel special?
That is absolutely not my specialty. My sister Elizabeth is the one with the tablescape skills...I'm usually way more focused on creating the perfect playlist for a party. Our dining room table is very reflective of our personalities...we have Grateful Dead Bear salt + pepper shakers, vinyl record plate chargers and lots of table topics - I love having people pass around questions and get good conversations going.
What are 3 of your favorite songs to set the mood for a festive holiday/winter party?
William Bell - Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday is my favorite xmas song!
White Christmas - Otis Redding
Blue Christmas - Elvis
I tend to have the Otis Redding Holiday station playing on Pandora from Thanksgiving on...it covers all of the good old soul Christmas songs.
It wouldn’t be the holidays without….
NOISE! I love how loud the holidays are...all of the kids running around squealing, grandparents telling stories, music blasting, cooking in the kitchen with cocktails - holiday cheer in full force.
What is your favorite Caroline’s Cakes flavor for the holidays and why?
The 7 Layer Caramel. There is nothing like that first bite of gooey caramel.
Do you have a special way that you decorate layer cakes, have a favorite cake stand, or how you dress up a cake stand?
Anthropologie always has amazing cake stands - they have glass ones in so many beautiful colors.
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This year we have partnered with National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) in an effort to strengthen our outreach and help support their mission to "save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer and to improve the quality of life for Survivors."
I encourage you to join #teamcaroline in supporting the fight against ovarian cancer. All month we will be wearing our 'Eat Cake. Beat Cancer.' t-shirts, packing Caramel Cakes in custom teal tins, and continuing to proudly wear out #teamcaroline bracelets. I encourage you to visit NOCC's website to find out more about the wonderful work they are doing as well as become informed about the signs & symptoms of ovarian cancer and #knowovarian.
Eat Cake. Beat Cancer.
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Step 1: Cakes are handmade and iced to perfection at our Spartanburg, SC bakery.
Step 3: Cakes are then carefully placed into our custom packaging (Caroline designed our cooler herself!). Each cake is shipped with dry ice to ensure freshness upon arrival.
Step 4: Your order arrives at your door!
Step 5: Eat Cake. Be Happy.
We used to spend summers on Mullet Lake in Michigan and would ship up our BBQ Party to enjoy with friends after an early evening cocktail cruise on the Chris Craft. It's hard to beat the cool summer climate of a Michigan summer and even though the lake waters were frigid, they were incredibly refreshing!
I hope you have an enjoyable summer wherever your travels take you! Please share you adventures with us here. We love hearing from all of you!
Eat Cake. Be Happy.
Richard R. Reutter
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My Dad, Chick, grew up spending summers on Cape Cod and would often times host clam bakes on the beach. Friends and family would gather on Craigville beach and cook up clams, lobsters, corn, potatoes-a traditional New England clam bake. All of this would be paired with cold beer, wine, and laughter.
When the opportunity presented itself to expand our savory options at Caroline's Cakes, Chick immediately suggested we add New England style Lobster Rolls to our otherwise Southern menu, and they were an immediate hit! We started selling them at the National Cathedral Flower Mart in Washington, DC and sold out everyday. After that successful first outing Lobster Rolls became a staple of our deli menu at Caroline's Gourmet and were soon added to our mail order offerings.
The light coating of mayonnaise and dash of seasoning ensures that the lobster, delicately placed into a buttered and toasted New England style hot dog roll, is the star of this summertime classic. I hope that you all enjoy!
Eat Lobster. Be Happy.
Richard R. Reutter
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I first met the team from Pappy & Co. at the Charleston Wine & Food Festival several years ago and we became fast friends. Inspired by the legacy of their great-grandfather Pappy Van Winkle, Louise, Carrie and Chenault founded and built a wonderful business that, like Caroline's Cakes, honors the legacy of their family and celebrates the art of entertaining.
To read more about the Pappy & Co. Kentucky Derby extravaganza, check out this article by Town & Country: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/the-scene/parties/g27684717/pappy-van-winkle-kentucky-derby-party/
Richard R. Reutter
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My mother, Caroline, absolutely loved hearing from all of you throughout the year as you shared stories of your family traditions and travels. You all made her feel like part of your family, just like she thought of all of you as a part of ours. I hope this blog can be a place of celebration and shared excitement for everything in and associated with the world of Caroline's Cakes. Please don't hesitate to reach out with your recipe ideas, serving suggestions, and favorite cake moments. And, just like you would with any great cake, share this blog with your friends!
-Richard R. Reutter
President, Caroline's Cakes
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