Sift Dessert Bar was born during the last recession in 2008, and over the years it has become a cherished part of many celebrations. From baby showers, birthdays to weddings and retirement parties. From appearances on the Food Network to desserts shipped across the nation, our mission has always been to spark delight and create memorable celebrations through our desserts.
Unfortunately, the cumulative impact of various challenges, particularly those brought on by the pandemic, have led us to this difficult decision. Despite weathering various storms, fires, and a 100 year pandemic, the current economic climate and rising inflation costs have made it unsustainable for us to continue operations.
Our last day of service will be on March 23, 2024...
To our incredible customers, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support over the years. Your smiles, celebrations, and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind our passion for creating delightful desserts. We hope the memories and celebrations shared with Sift will linger sweetly in your hearts.
To our dedicated and ultra talented Co-Stars, past and present, we want to express our deepest appreciation for your hard work, creativity, and commitment to our vision. YOU were the cherry on top.
As new entrepreneurs we had so much to learn but we persevered because of you. Each one of you played a crucial role in making Sift the success it has been, and your contributions made this journey the celebration of our lifetime.
As we say goodbye, please visit us one last time or ship yourself a box to enjoy your favorite treats and share your fond memories with us. Our doors will remain open until the last crumb is savored.
Once again, thank you for being an integral part of Sift Dessert Bar's story. While this chapter is coming to a close, the memories and connections forged within these walls will last a lifetime.
With gratitude and a bittersweet farewell,
Andrea & Jeff Ballus
]]>Mother's Day is a special occasion to show our love and appreciation for the amazing women who raised us. It is a time to celebrate all the sacrifices our mothers and mother figures made for us and to thank them for their endless love and support. It’s a day to honor and pamper them. Are you still searching for the perfect gift? Look no further! Here are some amazing gift ideas that will make her feel loved and appreciated on this special day.
Don't forget... Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14th.
Personalized gifts have been trending for the past few years, and they're a great way to show your mom that you put some thought and effort into her gift. Consider getting her a personalized piece of jewelry or a customized photo album filled with your favorite memories together. You can also create a personalized throw blanket that's just for her. These gifts are guaranteed to bring a smile to your mom's face every time she uses them.
Personalized Throw - Bauble Bar
Custom Name Necklace - Bauble Bar
Something just for her - Mark & Graham Build Your Own Crossbody
Choose the style, color, and monogram, make it exactly how she would love it!
Something for the home - Mark & Graham Wood and Marble Wine Chiller
Another popular trend for Mother's Day is to treat your mom to a relaxing spa day. After all the hard work she's done for you over the years, she deserves a day of pampering and relaxation. You can book a massage, facial, or any other spa treatment that your mom would enjoy. You can also create a DIY spa day at home by lighting candles, playing soft music, and giving your mom a mani-pedi or a foot massage.
Kallista - 15 At Home Spa Ideas for Ultimate Relaxation
Treat her to something she craves! Have an unforgettable and sweet gift box delivered to her door with our fast and free 2-day nationwide shipping.
Send her a box of delicious cake cruffles covered in rich chocolate.
Looking to make a statement and remind her who her favorite kid is? Send a box of our best-selling Mother's Day Cupcakes.
In conclusion, Mother's Day is a time to express our love and gratitude for the most important woman in our lives. The perfect gift for your mom depends on her personality and interests. You can choose a personalized gift to show her how much she means to you, spoil her with a relaxing spa day, or celebrate with something sweet. We recommend the latter. ;) Whatever way you choose to celebrate, make sure to remind your mom how much you love and appreciate her. Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!
]]>On Saturday, April 15th, Sift Dessert Bar turns 15! Can you believe it?!
15 years of pure magic, celebrations, and sugar!
HOW WE'RE CELEBRATING
With FREE CAKE... duh! April 15th is now officially FREE CAKE day at Sift Dessert Bar and we're celebrating Saturday, April 15th in all locations.
Be sure to stop in, get your free cake, spin the prize wheel, and join the party! #SiftTurns15
WHY WE'RE CELEBRATING
Because who doesn't love free cake?! But seriously, We want to celebrate our amazing customers and co-stars and thank everyone for 15 sweet years. We wouldn't be here without all of you! We've perfected fun, fresh baked desserts over the last 15 years and can't wait to keep the party going. Thank YOU for your support!
Sift Dessert Bar started back in 2008 while owners, Andrea and Jeff Ballus were searching for the perfect desserts for their upcoming wedding. The rest is history... Read more about how it all started here.
Want to know why Sift is The Cherry on Top? Click here.
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
Join us in Santa Rosa, Napa, and San Francisco for free cake, prize wheels, giveaways, and more on Saturday, April 15th.
Looking to celebrate from afar? Sign up for our newsletter to get VIP details on how we're celebrating nationwide on April 15th.
]]>Now what's Easter without delicious and decadent desserts? Single serve desserts are not only cute and tasty but they also double as the perfect name place setting. Print a tag with your guests name and place it right on the desserts. Our 24 Carrot Bundt Cake is the perfect size.
WIN 2 TICKETS + ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE
To the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in
Las Vegas March 25, 2023
HOW TO ENTER
Enter at any Sift location through March 3rd, 2023
GRAND PRIZE
1 Pair of (2) tickets to see Taylor Swift perform in Las Vegas on March 25, 2023. Includes round trip airfare for two on Avelo Airlines*
*Accommodations, food, and any additional transportation is not included.
1ST PRIZE(S)
3 - 1x $100 Sift Gift Cards
2ND PRIZE(S)
13 - 1x Party Cakes
SAVE THE DATE!
💗 T-SIFT Theme Day at all Sift locations💗
Theme Day: March 3, 2023
Sift's evolution to the present day and beyond is about community; bringing people together to share and celebrate life's special moments. While we will always have cake (who could live without cake), we are committed to creating new, delightful pastries and desserts for treating, gifting, and celebrating.
Over the years, you've stood by us as we've grown our Sift Family, made it on the Food Network, expanded our product line, held strong through a pandemic and so much more...today we introduce a new SIFT: bold, invigorated, and ready to party!
]]>Sift Family + Friends,
Since our opening day in 2008, almost 15 years ago, our goal has been to make delightful desserts, stay relevant to our guests, and remind ourselves why we do this everyday...for the Cherry on Top Experience.
Sift has been shared at countless birthdays, baby showers, breakups and marriages in all the communities we've served. It all started with just a cake recipe and an apron and through it all our loyal guests have always chosen us for a bit of nostalgia. What started as a little cupcake shop is now so much more than just cupcakes! Flashback: Winning Cupcake Wars on Food Network!
Sift's evolution to the present day and beyond is about community; bringing people together to share and celebrate life's special moments. While we will always have cake (who could live without cake), we are committed to creating new, delightful pastries and desserts for treating, gifting, and celebrating.
Over the years, you've stood by us as we've grown our Sift Family, made it on the Food Network, expanded our product line, held strong through a pandemic and so much more...today we introduce a new SIFT: bold, invigorated, and ready to party! Check it out below!
xoxo
Andrea + Family
Branding Design: DELUXEMODERN DESIGN
Ok, ok... don't @ us! You can totally still have Pumpkin Pie this Thanksgiving...No matter what dessert is at your table this year, we hope you have a Happy + safe Thanksgiving. We're here for you, sugar. Order online, pick up safely in-store or ship nationwide.
Give Thanks | Gift Sift.
]]>Which by the way is TWO weeks away! {have you made your shopping list yet?}
We just think there are other treats that will wow your family + friends more than your average pumpkin pie. Speaking of WOW, have you tried our Caramel Pumpkin Churro cupcake? A pumpkin cake filled with gooey caramel + topped with cream cheese frosting and the sweetest dusting of pumpkin spice + sugar. Yeah... we did that. {adds to cart} Gingerbread more your jam? Well, Awe Snap! Try our Awe Snap {see what we did there?} ginger molasses cake topped with cream cheese frosting + a gingerbread buddy. {don't worry, he doesn't count towards your guest count}
Looking for something extra festive? Our Thanksgiving dozen is the perfect addition to your dinner table.
Want a pop of color? Our French Macaron Assorted Dozen is a MUST, all of our french macarons are naturally gluten free too! Some of the flavors include Caramel Apple Cider (so Fall!), Cranberry Almond (yeah, yum), Churro, and Pumpkin Pie (see, I told you, you could still have your pumpkin pie).
For some fun baking inspo for your Thanksgiving desserts, checkout Sprinkles for Breakfast! She's whipping up Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispy Treats + Pumpkin Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies... YUM!
photo cred: Lindsay Nathanson - Sprinkles for Breakfast
Prefer chocolate to pumpkin? We've got you covered, Sugar! Check out our Cruffle Gift Box. 12 delectable cupcake truffles hand dipped in chocolate, you're going to want to try these.
No matter what dessert is at your table this year, we hope you have a Happy + safe Thanksgiving. We're here for you, sugar. Order online, pick up safely in-store or ship nationwide.
Give Thanks | Gift Sift.
xo,
]]>Whether you’re looking to pack for a family celebration, a romantic picnic for two, or a girls’ brunch, we have you covered with the best delicacies for your picnic and desserts that are sure to impress! Don’t forget to pack your mask + social distance too! ;)
Family Celebration
Family picnics in the park are a great way to make fun summer memories. But when you’re planning a family celebration, be sure to bring a variety of food and desserts that tickle everyone’s taste buds!
Main Course:
Traditional picnic fair is popular for a reason. When there’s a crowd, keep it simple with hot dogs and burgers that can easily cook on a park grill.
Sides: Throw in some variety with classics like potato salad and a pop of sweet freshness with a fruit salad.
Desserts: A picnic for all ages calls for universal favorites, and you can never go wrong with a cupcake and whoopee cookie sampler to delight even the pickiest of eaters! Classics like lemon cupcakes and chocolate chip whoopie cookies are always in demand, but our fun twists like PB&J cupcakes will certainly become new favorites! Pick out at least two flavors of each dessert so everyone can have their choice, as well as options for the gluten-free+ vegan picnic members.
Picnic for Two
A blanket under a tree and a bottle of wine are the perfect ingredients for a romantic picnic. But you’ll top the romance charts when you bring a scrumptious picnic basket filled with upscale delicacies, like our cruffles!
Main Course:
Give your picnic a ritzy feel by bringing fancy versions of traditional favorites. Trade standard sandwiches for a fresh loaf of French bread and a selection of high-end meats and cheeses, such as prosciutto and white cheddar.
Sides: A fruit and cheese board never disappoints in romantic situations and looks so classy next to champagne!
Desserts: For a mess-free picnic, bite-sized desserts are best. Stock up on fancy treats like macarons and cruffles that are easy to eat with your fingers and still look oh-so classy. Blackberry lavender macarons and our Sky is Falling chocolate cruffles are always date-night winners, but be sure to grab a variety of flavors you’ll both enjoy!
Girls Brunch Out
Skip the crowded café and bring your girls and mimosas to a peaceful picnic instead! Lucky for you, fun picnic twists on brunch fare are as easy as they are delicious.
Main Course:
Make your favorite brunch delights picnic-ready by bringing petite versions that are easy to pack in your basket, like mini quiches. Then throw in some fancy finger sandwiches or wraps to round out your flavors. Try grilled chicken with sundried tomato spread, spinach, and a thick slice of mozzarella cheese to put a savory twist on this classic brunch fare!
Sides:
Fresh fruit is always in style at a picnic, but you can easily brunch it up by putting together mini mason jars layered with fresh fruit and yogurt for adorable parfaits!
Dessert:
A fancy girls’ brunch requires extravagant-tasting desserts, so why not add some zing to your sweets with a little dash of bubbly? Pink champagne cupcakes pair perfectly with peach bellini and rosé macarons for a delectable and upscale dessert spread your girls will rave about!
Closing Thoughts
Whatever your ideal picnic looks like this summer, be sure to make it memorable with the picture-perfect dessert for the occasion. If you like our recommendations, you can find all these sweet delicacies and more at Sift Dessert Bar! Visit us online to see our full dessert menu and pick out the perfect treats to complete your picnic.
]]>3 desserts paired with 3 wines!
]]>Look, not everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day…totally get it. However, I also don’t like to be left out of a good celebration. I suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out). So, that is why I'm so excited they've made The Jade Room a space for everyone. No reservations, nope on the 5-course prixe fixe menu, come here after all that…or before, come here with yourself, your girls, your mom, co-workers or gym buddies (you get it, right?). Right in the heart of Sonoma County - Santa Rosa.
The newly opened Jade Room is letting Sift Dessert Bar take over along with Pastry Chef, Victoria Madrigal, doing what we love to do…treating ourselves to dessert and wine.
This Valentine’s Day we will be offering a trio of desserts paired with a trio of wines from 3pm-closing (unless we run out first!). If you haven't checked them out already, check out their art-deco, Palm Beachy vibe and #poppinbottles sign! They will also have their regular (shareable) menu and happy hour until 6pm.
Hope to cheers you soon!
xoxo
]]>Ah, corporate events. An excellent time to rub elbows, get to know your coworkers a bit better, impress your boss, and enjoy some food and drink on the company. Even so, these events can get pretty stagnant on the refreshment front. We’ve all been to events and mixers where we see the same crudité tray, chips and salsa, and various other finger foods. They’re not super flavorful, they’re super easy to overindulge on because you’re grazing, and they’re frankly pretty boring.
Yes, really! The person who brings donuts into the office on Friday is popular for a reason. We don’t recommend swinging by for a $6 dozen, however. Instead, impress everyone with a fully thought-out dessert tray. Why? Here are our answers.
Going to a corporate event can occasionally feel like going back to work. For the event planners, it is going back to work! You have to be “on” for your coworkers and boss because it’s expected of you. It’s not a let-your-hair-down sort of party – at least, not if you’re doing it the right way. This is why people like to indulge a little at these events. It makes it feel less like an obligation and more like a, well, party. A sweet treat feels special and brings the event outside the ordinary.
When you’re bringing out platters of finger food, you’re probably going to end up with a picked-over wasteland of leftovers at the end of the night. Dessert trays rarely have this problem. It’s tough for people to say no to something so sweet. Plus, you can very easily offer up to-go treats at the end of the night and people will actually take you up on it.
Ask anybody their least favorite thing about the food at corporate events and they’ll probably tell you there’s too much of it and it was too easy to keep going back to the appetizer table between conversations. It’s not at all uncommon for event goers to overindulge. When you offer up dessert, people are more likely to only take one cupcake or piece of pie and call it a night. The food is rich and sugary, which makes most people feel more satisfied.
Setting out a veggie platter is pretty basic party planning – anyone can do it. You can instantly raise your event to a new level by setting out attractive desserts. It feels like you expended more effort on planning and putting everything together. People will notice, we guarantee it. Especially if the desserts are customized for the event!
Whatever your reasons for choosing a dessert bar for your next event, it’s sure to be a hit. Your guests will feel like they were worth the extra mile and your coworkers will appreciate having something different to nibble on. Desserts have the effect of making people feel like they can stick around for longer and try one more thing. Seriously, there’s a psychological effect that shows presenting food variety makes people feel less bored and more interested! There’s no doubt that offering up something unique will help make you the talk of the party and everyone’s hero.
Need some help planning your next event? We’re so glad you asked – we LOVE parties. We’ll help you figure out the perfect dessert table for your event!
]]>On April 15th, Sift Dessert Bar celebrated our 10-year anniversary, and what a decade it’s been. We’ve come such a long way since our first shop opened in Cotati. Owner Andrea Ballus found so much to learn and love along the way. She shares some of her thoughts below!
In the beginning, there was an obsession with finding the perfect cream cheese frosting and vanilla cake. That obsession turned into days, weeks, and months of experimentation to find the perfect balance of fluffy crumb and moist texture. Once Andrea finally had it locked down, it was time to take the next step: open a cupcake bakery, of course! The menu grew, and the red velvet was a particular favorite of the early taste testers (which were mainly friends and family at the time).
Ten years ago, cupcakes were seeing a kind of renaissance. You couldn’t turn around without seeing another place trying to crack the cupcake code, or an experimental cupcake on a menu, or a cupcake in a jar, or a cupcake show on television. In fact, Sift itself made a mark on the map by appearing on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars for the first time in 2011 and walking away a winner. We appeared on Food Network three times, and Andrea recalls, “Boy, was it hard work being on a show like that!” Since that first airing, Sift opened two more stores and worked hard to make the transition from cupcakery to full-fledged dessert bar. Customers were always begging for delicious new cupcakes, but they wanted to see how Sift could treat other desserts, too, and we were happy to rise to the challenge.
Sift got its start right in the heart of Northern California wine country, and it’s impossible to forget our roots. Nor would we ever want to! The Sonoma and Napa wine country communities have always displayed a fierce sort of loyalty, supporting local businesses and acting as the backbone to Sift from Day One. It’s thanks to this community that we were able to grow to four stores in only five years. As Andrea says, “We never want to let them down, so we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be able to continue to bring value through the creation of fun and delicious desserts served with a great customer experience. We feel that if we can continue to serve our customers in this way, we’ll be around for a long time!”
Dessert isn’t all that’s in store for Sift in 2018, however. This year, our team is taking a step into a brand new area by opening a wine bar called The Jade Room in downtown Santa Rosa. Making the transition from giving customers an experience that they can take and enjoy at home to one that involves hosting groups in a lounge and giving them a memorable encounter will be different, but we strongly believe that hospitality is key. Our success has always come from carefully creating a great experience for our guests, and that’s a philosophy we can stick with regardless of whether we’re handing over a cupcake or pouring a glass of wine. We’re challenging ourselves to create an experience that leaves guests wanting to come back with friends, family, and coworkers time and time again.
Although it’s been ten years of constant work and learning, there’s still so much more to learn, and we’re looking forward to it. When Andrea founded Sift, she and her team really didn’t know much about running a business. Through the years, we’ve learned and grown so much thanks to customer feedback and advisors, and we’ve never been too proud to ask for help. We’re so excited to continue learning something new every single day!
In the coming years, you can expect to see Sift continue to expand throughout the Bay Area, but we’re in no rush to go exponential. Our goal has always been to create a warm, welcoming business that’s growing the right way, with the right people. For as long as we exist, we’ll make sure that our customers are leaving our shops and restaurants with wonderful memories. For all the places we can’t be, we’ll ship cupcakes and other desserts wherever they’ll bring someone a smile.
]]>We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a mention of this famous restaurant’s literal golden sundae in our lineup. Reportedly costing a whopping $1,000 for a single dessert, this towering sundae boasts one of the world’s most expensive chocolate syrups and a staggering amount of real, edible gold. You know, for people who like to eat money as well as spend it. However, even this mind-blowingly pricey treat pales in comparison to their Frozen Haute Chocolate Sundae, which offers up five whole grams of 23-karat gold and is topped with a truffle that costs $250 all by itself. Plus, it comes with a bonus gold and diamond bracelet. Très chic. The damage? $25,000.
These desserts don’t have a specific price tag, but that’s because they only come with the restaurant’s base $310 per person prix fixe menu. That’s not including the wine or any supplemental additions to your meal, which can easily send the price tag soaring even higher. However, when it comes to dessert, this wine country classic doesn’t skimp on the sweets – you can expect a variety of different treats to make sure you leave your meal completely satisfied, plus bonus shortbread cookies in a French Laundry tin before you leave. On a typical day, you may receive plates of pink lemonade macarons, assorted chocolate truffles, handmade ice cream, delicate layered cake, filled pastries, and so much more, each one a delight on the palate.
When you think of Krispy Kreme, you probably think of swinging by for a quick dozen for the office as a Friday morning treat. For all intents and purposes, this well-known donut staple is imminently affordable. But did you know that in 2014 they created a single donut that cost a whopping $1,685? It was filled with Dom Pérignon champagne jelly and was beautifully decorated in gold leaf, edible diamonds, and a sculpted white chocolate lotus flower. This one-of-a-kind donut delicacy was created to raise money for The Children’s Trust, and it’s unlikely that it’ll ever exist again. Wild!
David Klein is best known for his mega-popular Jelly Belly brand jelly beans, but he also has a line of beans made from natural ingredients that includes flavors like wasabi, thai chili, Himalayan sea salt, and the ever-popular fruit flavors more commonly associated with these little candies. The jelly beans themselves aren’t ridiculously expensive, but occasionally you’ll find the price soaring up to $500 when they’re coated in gold leaf and offered inside a unique crystal container. It’s certainly a conversation starter for your next party!
This isn’t an area we’re exploring ourselves, but there’s no doubt that the cannabis edibles market is on the rise in California, as well as elsewhere in the country. The creativity is impressive, honestly, and you’ll find cannabis taking the form of gummy bears, sipping cocoa, marshmallows, cookies, and of course, brownies. That special additive doesn’t come cheap, and these brownies are made with brown sugar, cocoa, cannabutter, and more. They’ll cost you $16 a brownie.
We’ve admittedly noticed a trend with a lot of these expensive desserts, and that trend is “when in doubt, throw some gemstones on it.” This one is no exception, especially since you have to hop a plane to Sri Lanka to get it. The price is a jaw-dropping $14,500, mostly due to the giant aquamarine gemstone it comes with. However, the dessert itself is nothing to sneeze at. We’re talking a pomegranate and mango compote made with Dom Pérignon champagne, plus a chocolate sculpture of – you guessed it – a fisherman. It’s beautiful to look at and (we’re guessing) very tasty.
Perhaps we’ll never get to taste even half of these treats, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream. What’s the most expensive dessert you’ve ever had the pleasure of trying? Which one is on your bucket list?
]]>Here’s a new one: have you had boba tea or a milkshake out of a light bulb yet? If not, you’ll likely be seeing them soon at a smoothie shop or dessert bar near you! One of the weirdest, but coolest, trends we’ve seen popping up lately is serving any sort of drink – from the sweet to the alcoholic – right out of a light bulb. Yes, you read that correctly. The uniquely-shaped “glass” lets you really see the swirls and pops of color in your drink, which makes them extra appealing.
Also known as “raindrop cake,” this weird and truly delicious concoction looks exactly like a giant glistening water droplet. In Japanese, they’re called Mizu Shingen Mochi, and some clever dessert lovers have been making their own and even including blooming “flowers” in the middle for an added effect. Made with superfine sugar and Japanese agar powder, this delicate dessert has to be chilled and eaten quickly when served, or else it’ll melt back to nothing. You can find a recipe for water cake on this blog!
If you just did a double take, you’re not alone. Chicken’s not the first ingredient we think of when we think about dessert, either, but in Turkey, it’s called tavuk göğsü and it’s considered a delicacy. Chicken is typically boiled until it’s super soft, then pounded to a delicate consistency and mixed with sugar, milk, rice, spices, and other flavors until it becomes a pudding. Sounds weird, but it’s apparently beloved by locals.
Rice pudding doesn’t sound unusual at all, and chocolate is far from being considered “weird” when it comes to dessert. In the Philippines, both are used to create a tasty rice pudding called champorado, along with milk and sugar for sweetness. Sounds delicious! However, this treat is often served alongside a salty dried fish called “tuyo.” Puts a new spin on sweet and savory, doesn’t it?
This one’s our own weird local creation: a pie in a pie in a pie in a cake. Huh? You’ll find it in Los Angeles, where it started out as a joke. It’s all America’s favorite pies – apple, cherry, and pumpkin – layered on top of one another and surrounded in spice cake with sweet buttercream icing. That’s a sugar bomb if we’ve ever heard one!
People who frequent Hawaii won’t be strangers to shave ice, and they may not even bat an eye at the azuki beans mixed with sugar that can serve as its base. However, in Malaysia, this dish is taken even further with the addition of flavors like lychee, green grass, corn, or even pungent durian fruit. Top it all with red syrup or condensed milk and you’ve got a rainbow colored concoction of interesting flavors!
Enough said, right? These are exactly what they sound like: insects with a chocolate coating. Most frequently, they’re crunchy crickets, but you’ll also find grasshoppers, mealworms, or even spiders. In America, we tend to be squeamish about eating bugs, but they’re an excellent source of protein and, by all reports, quite tasty.
Have you heard of any weird or unusual desserts from around the world? Share them with us! We’d love to hear all about them. Have you tried any of the desserts on this list?
Check out our list of the most expensive desserts we've come across.
]]>Experimental dessert gurus have always liked to use boozy flavors in their goodies (goodness knows we do!), and this past year was no different. We noticed a few particular flavors took the lead – rosé wine, for example. In fact, we’re releasing our very own Rosé All Day Macarons on May 1st! Sugarfina also released some absolutely amazing rosé gummy bears, and we’ve also seen it appear in ice creams, paletas, gelées, and more. The rosé flavor profile brings out strawberry and floral notes, which is wonderful in desserts. Humphry Slocombe ice creamery in San Francisco loves to make their Jesus Juice sorbet with red wine, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll notice wine-y treats popping up all over the place. The love has moved beyond wine country! If you love wine check out our blog on wine and dessert pairings.
2017 saw lots of dessert pros step up their game to a whole new out-of-this-world level with gorgeously designed custom cakes featuring galaxies swirled with stars or multi-tiered rainbow “unicorn” concoctions. Novelty cakes have always been a big draw, but the designs are growing ever more sophisticated with the addition of technology that allows pastry chefs to literally design the cakes of their dreams with software before crafting them by hand, or even using special printers to make edible designs.
New York City and San Diego in particular saw the rise of the aptly-named “Rainbow Bagel” in 2016, which is, you guessed it, a bagel featuring a tie-dye burst of bright colors. In 2017, we saw a lot of places take the next step to elevate them to dessert status! Just add sweet cream cheese and toppings, and you’ve got yourself a tasty multicolored sugar sandwich. Watching someone make them is almost as much fun as eating them – it involves a whole lot of colored dough, much swirling, and a hefty serving of tasty icing and sprinkles.
We don’t think it’s a big secret that Americans can be drawn to excess, and dessert’s no exception. Lots of restaurants have taken that to heart and come up with absolutely massive towers of sticky sweetness, whether it’s an ice cream sundae piled high with every candy known to mankind or a monumental mound of hotcakes topped with sticky caramel, cream, and bananas foster. There are even places taking hot cocoa to the next level by topping it with treats like biscotti or donuts, including our very own! Sometimes that sweet tooth just demands more, more, more. You can visit us for cocoa topped with cookies, macarons, and sprinkles over the whipped cream. Yum!
It’s tough to predict trends, of course, because they come straight from innovators! Who would have thought cronuts would take off like they did? But from what we know now, we’re seeing a lot of buzz in the States for trends that got their start in Asia, including rolled ice cream, Japanese water cake, and tons of tea-based flavors. The founder of Milk Bar is predicting we’ll see more laminated dough, “naked” layer cakes, and experiments with bark and candy bars. As for Sift, we’ve got a few secrets up our sleeve that we’re excited to unveil in the coming months, so stay tuned!
]]>The craft beer movement is strong in the Bay Area (and everywhere else), so we’d be seriously remiss if we skipped out on pondering over the best beer and dessert pairings. Most people don’t usually consider pairing a bitter IPA or a refreshing blonde ale with something sweet, and that’s a real shame because much like wine, good beer has its own flavor profile that launches it to the next level when it’s paired with the right food. Speaking of wine, if you missed the first post in our Bar Series, please go check it out… it’s all about wine pairings!
For now, though, let’s talk beer. Even if you’ve never been much of a beer drinker, there’s no denying that it’s seen a true renaissance in recent years with breweries all over the nation experimenting and revolutionizing the time-honored booze. You can find something to suit every taste bud, from chocolaty to spicy to fruity to sour to sweet. Brewmasters are pulling out all the stops to blend hops with ingredients ranging from genius to downright weird. If there’s ever been a time to revisit the stuff and see if you can find something to your liking, the time is now! We’ll help you get started with our favorite pairings below.
How about we start out with something crisp and refreshing? That’s exactly what you’ll find with this pairing. When most people think of beer, this is the mental image that comes to mind – a golden beer you can see through with a foamy white head. It’s easy to drink, has low IBU (International Bitterness Units), and the flavors aren’t overpowering.
This makes it the perfect mate to bright, acidic desserts like lemon bars or, of course, our Lemony Snicket Cupcake. Vanilla cake, lemon curd filling, and lemony buttercream icing offer up the ideal blend of sweetness with a tart edge, and it’s pretty easy to find a blonde ale that will meet it head-on with notes of vanilla or a hint of spice.
Now we’re getting to the good stuff. If you live in the Bay Area, you’ve no doubt seen IPAs of all stripes everywhere you go. Despite its name, this beer isn’t actually from India – it’s from England, where it became popular with members of the East India Trading Company and was among the first beers exported to India. It’s a beer that can be challenging to drink, being well known for its hoppy bitterness, but the people who love it find that it boasts flavors from various hops and can be citrusy, spicy, or malty.
West Coast IPAs, in particular, are known for being hoppy as heck, so it’s a good idea to find one you like before pairing. Once you’ve found one with a great balance and lots of great flavor going for it, you can pair it with something citrusy or spicy – like the Ginger Molasses Whoopie Cookie. A prominent ginger flavor can really hold its own against the powerhouse that is the IPA, and your mouth will never be quite the same. In a good way!
When people think of beer and dessert pairings, their minds often go straight to chocolate and stout. There’s nothing wrong with that at all because stouts are incredible rich beers with notes of coffee and malt, which goes phenomenally with chocolate. But there’s another option when you're indulging your chocolate craving, and that’s porters!
Porters blend characteristic Chocolate Strawberry Cruffle contains strawberry cake and chocolate mousse, then it’s all dipped in dark chocolate, offering up that loveable berry-cocoa blend we all love so much. The fruit comes out especially well when paired with a good porter.
If you love beer and you love dessert, why not plan a pairing with your closest friends? It’s so much fun. Nothing brings people together quite like food and booze! Be sure to follow along for the next entry into our Bar Series (Cocktail Pairings!), and remember that you can order Sift desserts and cupcakes online for delivery or to be picked up locally. Ready for that party yet?
]]>Just about everyone’s heard of dessert pairings with wine or beer, but there’s one more unexplored frontier in the world of booze and sweets: cocktails. This is a big challenge considering that cocktails are usually made more for sipping on their own or enjoying with a meal than an after-dinner dessert. However, it’s a challenge we’re totally up for.
Mixed drinks bring a whole new complexity to the table. By their very nature, they combine flavors in a way that’s intended to bring out a unique flavor in the drink itself, which means it can be tough to pair it with food that meets it beat for beat. Mixologists are both chemists and innovators, coming up with all kinds of cool, experimental cocktails that linger on the palate long after you take that last sip. So we had to choose our cocktails carefully. Enjoy the results!
Salt and liquor just seem to go together, particularly when you’re trying to enhance the other flavors of the drink. That’s why we chose Hot Buttered Rum for our first cocktail. It’s a delicious cold-weather treat, and it has a delightful level of spice and sweetness that pairs beautifully with salted caramel and white chocolate.
To make spiced buttered rum, you can make your own spiced butter by following a recipe online – usually, it’s softened butter mixed with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. All your favorite holiday spices. From there, take one ounce of spiced rum, add a tablespoon of the butter, and top with hot water. Blend well, and add some honey, an orange slice, or maple syrup for more sweetness. Yum! Enjoy alongside plenty of cookies.
Coffee and chocolate, are we right? Of course, we are. This is a long-beloved pairing, and with a little creativity, you can kick it up a notch. There are a few different methods of creating this cocktail – you can brew and cool espresso and add it to vodka, or start with espresso-infused vodka, either purchased or homemade. Blend with coconut rum, a splash of amaretto, and a touch of chocolate liquor for a wonderful coffee lover’s dream cocktail.
Obviously, the absolute best pairing for this tasty drink is an equally tasty chocolate cake. Our O.G. Cupcake is chocolate cake filled with white chocolate mousse and topped with our signature cream cheese cookies ‘n cream frosting. Each flavor blends seamlessly with coffee, coconut, and amaretto in the drink to leave a lingering creamy, sweet, luxurious taste on your tongue. A must-try!
Who doesn’t love the sweet and sour classic Lemon Drop? It’s tart, it’s refreshing, it’s delightful. Simply blend lemon juice, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup to make it. Take a sip, then turn to your dessert pairing: an Elderberry Macaron. Yes!
Elderberries are tart, sweet, and juicy, exactly like this lemon drop. However, they have a signature berry flavor, which is absolutely wonderful alongside the bright citrus flavor of lemons. You may be familiar with using lemon to brighten up blueberry dishes, and the same principle works here. They play off each other beautifully.
Challenge complete! When you’re indulging in sugary treats, it’s a good idea to use a lighter hand with the sugar in your drinks so that you don’t overwhelm your sweet tooth. The drinks featured here certainly play with sweetness, but they also rely on spice or tartness to balance it out. If you’d like to experiment with your own cocktails, it’s a good trick to keep in mind!
We’re always happy to Sift deliver cupcakes and other sweets to your home or event space. For our local friends, picking up at any of our locations is easy – we’re located throughout the San Francisco and North Bay Area. Be sure to check out the other pairings in our Bar Series!
]]>We’re no strangers to combining dessert and booze. Our test kitchen is a smorgasbord of experimentation, touching on everything from blueberries and tequila to chocolate and stout to sugar and champagne. That’s why we thought it’d be great to start a Bar Series and talk about how to pair desserts with great drinks. It’s a perfect approach for parties, or purely for fun. After all, we’re Sift Dessert Bar, and we know how to create a perfect bar menu in more ways than one!
Our roots are deep in the heart of wine country, so naturally, it makes sense to start with wine pairings. Wine is one of the ideal pairings for sweet, rich, and complex flavors. The natural terroir of the wine imparts notes from everything under the sun, and the expert vintners of Sonoma and Napa Counties know exactly how to make them sing. There’s something for every palate, from the wine novice to the vintage expert. We’ve hand-picked a selection of our desserts and paired them up with the perfect wine, plus a brief explanation of what makes each pairing just right.
This pairing may seem a little on the nose, but it’s absolutely wonderful. Sparkling wines like champagne and prosecco come in a wide flavor range, from very dry to sweeter on the palate. You can find local Sonoma and Napa sparkling wines tinged pink with Pinot Noir grapes or full of delightful residual sugars that dance on the tongue. A “vin vivant,” French for a sweet “lively wine,” is an excellent choice to try with a French macaron.
Sparkling wines are more delicate in flavor, lending themselves best to lighter fare like fruit, oysters, or cheese. Naturally, our favorite raspberry macaron with champagne buttercream filling is an ideal choice. The berry flavor would pair well with a Brut Rosé wine to match its tartness, or a lovely prosecco to meet its sweetness. Look for wines with notes of berry, vanilla, baked goods, custard, and apple.
Let’s turn up the spice, shall we? One of the very best things about wine is the depth of flavor you can find in every bottle, even among wines of the same type. No matter which wine growing region you’re in, you’ll find wines that edge more earthy, or fruity, or spicy. If you’ve ever had a glass of wine with food before, you’ll know how every note in the wine can shift and change depending on what you’re eating. That’s the core of pairing, and when you’re eating a delightfully spiced cookie, you’ll want something that stands up.
The ginger in our Ginger Molasses Cookies is pleasantly warming, so why not help that warmth spread with a beautiful dessert wine? Sauternes wines are very sweet dessert wines that come from white wine grapes and a specific sort of fungus – Botrytis cinerea. Don’t let that name or the fact that it’s a fungus scare you off because it’s exactly what gives this wine its concentrated sweet flavor. These wines taste of apricot and honey, and some have a hint of nuttiness. It’s a flavor profile that plays very nicely with a spiced dessert.
If you’ve ever looked at a menu of dessert wine, you’ve almost assuredly seen a port listed among the offerings. This fortified wine originates in Portugal, thus its name, and is blended with brandy. It comes in a range of flavor profiles and colors, from a dark amber Tawny to a bright red Ruby to a deep purple Vintage wine. They’re often described as tasting of raisins, prunes, figs, oak, and caramelized sugar.
When you’re eating chocolate, a port is the way to go. All the experts pair their chocolate with port for good reason. Chocolate is a bold flavor that will overpower more delicate wines, so you need something that can meet it toe to toe. Different types of chocolate have their own tasting notes, often fruity, and the fruit of a port will bring that out wonderfully. A Fleur de Sel Chocolate Cake, or any smaller chocolate offering, is a perfect compliment, especially because the salted buttercream will amp up any flavor it comes into contact with because salt is a flavor enhancer.
Now you have three perfect wine and dessert pairings to impress everyone with at your next party! One more word of advice before you serve: don’t overdo the sugar. When pairing wine with dessert, it’s best to choose a wine that’s not quite as sweet as the treat you’re serving so you don’t overwhelm the taste buds.
Have you tried any of these wines? What desserts would you enjoy them with? Be sure to follow along to be notified about follow-ups in this Bar Series! Next up: Beer Pairings.
]]>Order by 5/10 for 5/12 delivery.
]]>Order by 5/10 for 5/12 delivery.
]]>Introducing our new line of Combo Gift Boxes
{click image to order}
& how could we forget MOM.
You're amazing because she's amazing.
{Order Now}
Order online for in-store pick up & overnight nationwide shipping!
xoxo
Sift Dessert Bar
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Step 1: Print out the template onto colored cardstock and cut out the hearts and arrows.
Step 2: With a ruler, measure the straw every 3″ inches then cut. You will need 2 3″ pieces per balloon.
Step 3: Blow up the heart balloon.
Step 4: Using the hot glue, attach a straw to each side of the balloon.
Step 5: Glue the heart to the top straw.
Step 6: Make two cuts to the second straw (no more than half an inch) and insert the ends of the arrow into them.
Step 7: Spray paint the balloons sticks gold.
Step 8: Attach your finished balloon to the balloon stick.
Step 9: Use paint pen if you choose to write a message on face of balloon.
See the full how-to here!
Whether you need Wedding Favors, Birthday Party Favors, or you just want to make the cutest things ever... here is the how-to for these fab favors!
Materials: Crepe paper, scissors, floral wire, pink cube boxes, x-acto knife, wire cutters
Step 1: Take a fold of crepe paper or tissue paper and cut off a 4″ section.
Step 2: Take the fold and cut along one side about 3/4 of the way through making thin strips of fringe.
Step 3: Cut long sections of wire about 10″ long and short sections of wire 3″ long. If you are making a lot of flowers then cut all the wire at one time for the process to go a lot faster.
Step 4: Fold the long piece of wire in half. Begin wrapping the petals around the center and pinching it tight around the base. When finished, tie a small piece of wire around the fringe to hold it in place.
Step 5: For the petals, take the fold of crepe paper and cut off a 4 inch section.
Step 6: Take that section and cut it in half the same direction as the grain. (Crepe paper has a grain and this will matter later on.)
Step 7: Cut out a petal shape so that the grain of the crepe paper goes from the top to the bottom. It should look like there are lines running from the top of the petal to the base. To save time, you can cut the petals all at one time by putting them in stacks.
Step 8: Take the petals and with both thumbs stretch the crepe paper so it makes a nice curved petal. This is where it will matter what grain the paper is going in so that it stretches right. Again, t go quicker you can even do this to a small stack of petals at the same time.
Step 9: Taking the center of the flower begin placing the petals around and then pinching it and holding it at the base. When you are happy with the fullness of the petals take a small piece of wire and tightly wrap it and twist it to secure it in place. When you are done you should have a nice simple flower.
Step 10: Trim the wire base.
Step 11: Cut out a few leaves using the same process as Step 7-8.
Step 12: Attach them to the base of the flower with wire and wrap tightly to secure in place.
Step 13: Use an x-acto knife to cut an “x” into the top of your box.
Step 14: Slip the flower through the hole and secure with tape on the other side. Voila! Fin.
See the full post here.
Materials Needed: pencil, 160Q long balloons in various colors, mini balloon hand pump, double sided Shurtape
Step 1: Inflate a bunch of 160Q long balloons. Release a little air from each so they have a little more flexibility.
Step 2: Lightly sketch hearts on the wall with a pencil.
Step 3: Apply horizontal strips of double-sided Shurtape within the heart shapes. Leave 2-3 inches between each strip. You can substitute the Shurtape with loops of gaffers tape if you prefer.
Step 4: Starting with the outer edge of the heart, line the shape with long balloons. Pinch and twist the balloon at the sharp turn to create a more distinct point.
Step 5: Continue Step 4 until the heart shape is filled with balloons. You can cut balloons to size by inflating a balloon to the length that you need, knotting both ends, and trimming off the leftovers. Make a many as your heart desires!
See full post & DIY here.
Now advent calendars don't have to be just for kids. Take a look at this fab Wine Advent Calendar for the adults!
Bake Christmas Cookies at Home- We ALWAYS baked Christmas cookies with the family a few days before Christmas. We would make Tea Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Lemon Bars, Chocolate Chip cookies, and raspberry jelly filled cookies. It was one of our favorite traditions. Here is a list of Christmas Cookie Recipes.
Picking Out Your Tree- Did you go to a tree farm every year and pick out your tree, wreath, and mistletoe? We always did, until recently. Now, at home, my new tradition is playing Christmas music, hanging the stockings, pulling out the 6 foot fake tree, and decorating it the Monday after Thanksgiving.
VS.
No matter what your Christmas traditions are, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & a wonderful New Year.
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]]>#4weeksofSiftGifts #spend80get20 #siftdessertbar
]]>For your Haunted House
]]>Looking to throw a SPOOKY soiree? Here are a few of our favorite ideas for tricks, treats, decor, and BOOs.
For your Haunted House
This adorable find brings a little spook and a lot of fun to any haunted hallway. Find it here.
Who doesn't need a Studded Pumpkin at their Halloween Party?! Find this stud of a piece at Target. Click the link for more of their adorable decor pieces.
Spook your friends with this SCARY good-looking Halloween mantel.
We came for the food & BOOs
Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers So mummy... we mean yummy!
We told you we came here for the BOOs. Take a sip of the Witch's Heart.
Trick or Treat? We choose treat.
Order a custom Jack-o-lantern cake from Sift Dessert Bar today!
Ghosts & Ghouls?! Or just the cutest pretzels you've ever seen? Learn how to make them here!
You can't have a Halloween bash with Caramel Apples! Click here to make festive caramel apple slices.
Wishing you a ghouling good time this Halloween! Cheers Witches ;)
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