Croissant + Doughnuts = Cronuts

Now a registered trademark by the Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City. See http://dominiqueansel.com/cronut-101/

Doughnut + Muffin = Duffin

Hold the calories and cross a doughnut with a muffin - Duffins are at Starbucks and elsewhere.

Submarine Shortbread

Caterer Ampersand highlights the naval connection at their Portsmouth Dockyard cafe with submarine shortbread.  'Freshly baked' is emphasised (although the Chelsea Buns appear to have stayed on the seabed).

Six Forty-Four

Krispy Kreme has an interesting take on emphasising the freshness of its product - the dough is prepared at 2.15am and at 6.44am is delivered to their stores.  In terms of bakery, fresh is all.

Rival Dunkin' Donuts have announced another go at European expansion - watch out for doughnuts giving cup cakes a run for their money.

Doughnut Muffins & Fillings

From the USA, Dean & Deluca's Doughnut Muffin

The trend over here is for fillings in the centre of everything that can be baked - muffins and cup cakes. See http://bakeitinacake.com/ for inspiration and ideas.

Red (Chocolate) Roses

Three special ladies in my life - wife and twin teenage daughters - will get Carluccios chocolate roses and a short break to Barcelona - anyone know some great cafes there?

"Marry Me?" cakes and cupcakes at Dobbies garden centre cafe at Ashford - this is one very switched-on cafe operation and a treasure trove of future blog posts.  Tesco, who owns Dobbies, is on to a winner.  Will Dobbies will sort out Tesco cafes one day?

You just cannot get enough heart shapes - Krispy Kreme's doughnuts and Millies cookies.  I prefer the chocolate roses.

Not Just Any Doughnuts

Sourdough doughnuts, with homemade jam, at the Clerkenwell Kitchen.  I just love the new variation of an old favourite.

A far cry from Krispy Kreme's seasonal Gift Tin