Holiday Traditions Old and New

Holiday bakers tend to fall into two camps: traditionalists and neo-traditionalists. Some of us look forward to bringing out our cherished family recipes year after year and wouldn’t dream of changing a thing. And some of us view the holidays as an opportunity to try new techniques and tweak the classics.

At C&H Sugar, we don’t take sides—we believe in equal opportunity for all holiday bakers! As proof, here’s a collection of holiday recipes that will satisfy everyone: those of you who stick to the classics and those who crave a little novelty.

Baker's Profile

Nick Stellino

As a child growing up in Palermo, Sicily, Nick Stellino spent hours in the kitchen perfecting his family’s best-loved recipes. That early training served as excellent preparation for Stellino’s successful career as one of the most acclaimed Italian chefs and cookbook authors of our time.

But before stardom came apprenticeship. Nick left a lucrative job as a Wall Street stockbroker in 1991 and started his restaurant career as a lowly dishwasher. He gradually learned the trade and moved up the ranks; soon he was soon cooking alongside legendary chefs in some of the best kitchens in the United States. Stellino recalls those jobs as “heaven,” but they weren’t quite enough. “I wanted to share my enthusiasm for Italian cooking with more people,” he says today.

In the News

Add a Napa Vacation to Your Holiday Wish List

We know you love holiday cooking, baking, and entertaining. But admit it: don’t you sometimes, just once in a while, dream of escaping to somewhere totally self-indulgent? We thought so. Well, C&H Sugar is your Santa: we’re giving away not one but five luxurious vacations in the heart of California’s wine country.

The Too-Hot-to-Bake Dessert Guide

Turn on the oven? In this heat? Out of the question! But do without dessert? Never! Here’s how to enjoy homemade sweet treats while keeping the kitchen comfortably cool.

Baker's Profile

Carolyn Gurtz

Here's a recipe worth duplicating: Mix together one good idea, six premium ingredients, a heaping spoonful of elbow grease, and a pinch of good luck. Bake till done... and walk away with a $1 million grand prize!

That was the winning formula for Carolyn Gurtz, 59, of Gaithersburg, MD, the winner of the $1 million grand prize in the 43rd annual Pillsbury Bake-Off. Carolyn's Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies took top honors out of tens of thousands of recipes submitted, impressing the judges at the finals with their "layers of peanut butter flavor" and their "delightful taste that combines two classics—a snickerdoodle and a peanut butter cookie."

In the News

Jones Pure Cane Soda—Made with Sugar, Not Corn!

Not all soda is created equal, says Seth T. Godwin, marketing manager of Jones Soda Co. in Seattle. Most soft drinks are sweetened by high fructose corn syrup, but since 2007 Jones has been making its sodas with cane sugar only. Jones, whose corporate slogan is “Run with the little guy … create some change,” made the switch in response to consumer research and customer requests—and because “it tastes better and overall it’s better for the environment,” says Godwin.

Baking for Good

Baking for friends and family is satisfying, but there’s nothing like baking for a worthy cause to bring out the pride and community spirit. School fundraisers, political block parties, church carnivals, charity events—they’re all great opportunities to show off your baking skills while supporting something you care about. It’s a sweet deal all around!

This year, C&H Sugar is proud to be a sponsor of Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, a national campaign to end childhood hunger. Look for Great American Bake Sale information and bake sale recipes on five-pound bags of C&H Sugar, and visit our special web page to learn more about how to get involved!

In the News

Helping Feed Those Who Cannot Feed Themselves

More than 12 million American children go to bed every night wondering whether they will eat in the morning. That’s nearly one out of every six children, in neighborhoods all across America.

Baker's Profile

Seth Bixby Daugherty

What motivates a critically acclaimed chef to step out of the limelight and into the fluorescent lights of a school cafeteria? For Chef Seth Bixby Daugherty of Eden Prairie, MN, the answer is simple: the chance to help people eat real food—food that isn't overprocessed, full of artificial ingredients, and laden with unnecessary fat and salt.

“I’m not a nutrition expert,” Seth is quick to clarify, “but I do know that real food simply tastes better and provides better nutrition than processed alternatives.” C&H Pure Cane Sugar is one of the real food ingredients that’s always in Seth’s pantry.

We ♥ Cupcakes!

Is there anyone who doesn’t love cupcakes? Cute and friendly, hand–size or bite–size, they’re always just–right–size for snacks, desserts, and celebrations. Everyone gets a whole “cake” of his or her own—no fighting over the corners or the center! And when you use paper liners in your cupcake tins, there’s virtually no mess.

But those are side benefits. For the baker, the real joy of cupcakes is having one or two dozen opportunities to express your creative flair with every batch. Cupcakes practically beg to be decorated—and not only with frosting, as we’ll discover. And they offer myriad display options, too. No wonder cupcakes are big news in bakeshops: Many cities now have trendy bakeries that sell nothing but cupcakes, like Boston’s Johnny Cupcakes and San Francisco’s Kara’s Cupcakes and Citizen Cupcake.

Baker's Profile

Elizabeth Falkner

What’s the secret of creating sensational desserts that combine unusual flavors and look as fabulous as they taste?

“Cook with confidence,” is Elizabeth Falkner’s prompt response. “It’s important to stretch your limits to learn new things or try something familiar with a few new flavors and textures.”

In the News

Nick Stellino’s Italian Desserts—Our Gift to You!

Like every enthusiastic baker we know, we at C&H Sugar love collecting and sharing our favorite recipes. So when celebrity chef Nick Stellino, host of public television’s Nick Stellino’s Family Kitchen, offered to share some of his greatest hits, we naturally were thrilled.