For those looking to kickstart a sourdough hobby in the new year, the countertop device for warming the sourdough starter is now available for purchase from Williams Sonoma.
Goldie by Sourhouse uses its warming puck to offer precisely the right amount of warmth to maintain a starter in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ – 75-82ºF or 23-27°C – the ideal temperature range that strikes the perfect balance for the optimal development of a sourdough starter, neither too hot nor too cool.
In addition to Goldie by Sourhouse ($129.95), Williams Sonoma is also offering Sourhouse’s Starter Jars, available in pint ($14.95) and quart ($17.95) sizes or as a bundle ($34.95).
To unleash the magic of sourdough, bakers simply switch on Goldie, place the starter jar inside the transparent warming dome, and let Goldie's consistently warm, draft-free environment propel bacteria and yeast to be at their most active for a robust and flavourful starter.
The Starter Jars are made of durable borosilicate glass and printed with incremental dots to let bakers know when their starter has doubled or tripled. Unlike traditional jars with threads and grooves where the starter sticks, the jars use flexible silicone lids that are easy to clean and that prevent contaminants from entering while releasing excess gas.
Dedicated to building a global community of bakers, Sourhouse also provides free online workshops to bakers and has created the free crowd-sourced Sourhouse Community Cookbook – to-date, downloaded by nearly 30,000 bakers – which is filled with recipes, tips, and tricks from Sourhouse co-founders Erik Fabian and Jennifer Yoko Olson.
Inspired by festive #brrbaskets trending on TikTok, Cheez-It has created the coziest, cheeziest Cheez-It Brr Bask-It Bundle for gifting to cheese-obsessed friends this season.
Complete with everything you need to snack in snuggly style, the Cheez-It Brr Bask-It is packed with merch, snacks and a custom card to keep the holiday spirit 100% real (cheese).
Fans can shop the limited edition drops on the Cheez-It website.
What’s in the Cheez-It Brr Bask-It Bundle?
From extra cozy to extra toasty, the Cheez-It Brr Bask-It Bundle includes a stylish Cheez-It OG Cracker Beanie, an ultra-soft Cheez-It Plush Throw Blanket and the cutest, cracker-covered Cheez-It Custom Dress Socks, all served alongside the perfect set of snacks – both Cheez-It Extra Toasty and Cheez-It Extra Toasty Cheddar Jack – complete with a few festive finishing touches: a custom cheezy holiday card, basket and red tissue paper.
Best of all, you can customise your Cheez-It Brr Bask-It:
- Order the Bundle online.
- Add as many Cheez-It boxes as you want. You’ll get two to start.
- Toss in the cozy hat, socks and blanket accessories.
- Once you receive your Brr Bask-It, go shopping for other things to personalise it even more. Add something sweet, something boozy or something for self-care – luckily, Cheez-It pairs well with just about everything.
- Use the card to add a cheezy message.
As the popularity of baking continues to grow, home chefs everywhere are seeking out specialty ingredients that will help them deliver that je ne sais qua.
To meet this exacting demand, Diamond Crystal Salt Co. has created Fine Kosher Baking Salt, developed specifically for baking.
The salt’s finer-cut crystals dissolve, mix and blend faster and more evenly than table salt into batters and doughs, producing more satisfying results. Using Cargill’s proprietary Alberger refinement process, this unique baking salt delivers more flavour and is 100% additive free.
“We believe our new Diamond Crystal Salt Co. Fine Kosher Baking Salt is the very best salt for baking,” said Sonya Roberts, president, Cargill’s salt business.
“The salt’s finer-cut crystals will enable home chefs to up their game when it comes to making the breads, cakes and cookies they love to share with family when celebrating this holiday season – or anytime of the year.”
Diamond Crystal Salt. Co. salt brand products are available on store shelves across the US, as well as from Amazon.
Diamond Crystal Salt range is produced without additives, bringing out the flavour in both time-tested recipes and new cooking projects. A staple in professional kitchens for decades, Diamond Crystal Salt Co. provides Kosher Salt Flakes, Coarse California Sea Salt and Coarse Himalayan Pink Salt varieties.
Sakuraco is a one-of-a-kind Japanese snack subscription box that provides a truly authentic and immersive experience into the rich and diverse snack culture of Japan.
Each box contains 20 carefully selected artisanal snacks, Japanese tea and kitchenware that represent the best of what Japan has to offer, as part of a deep commitment to support local Japanese snack makers.
Every snack in Sakuraco's subscription box is made with the utmost care and attention to detail, from delicate dorayaki to sweet mochi and savoury senbei. Each product is a true representation of the distinct flavours, textures, and ingredients that distinguish Japanese snacks.
But Sakuraco is more than just a snack box. Consumers receive a 24-page booklet with every box that contains detailed information about the snacks, allergens and Japanese culture. The booklet is designed to deepen the understanding and appreciation of Japan's snack culture, providing a unique opportunity to learn about the country's traditions, history and customs.
Available from Sakuraco online.
British Bakels has launched a new range of icings under its Ta-Da! home baking brand.
The three-strong range – which are available in 370g recyclable pots – include Ta-Da! Madagascan Vanilla Icing (RRP £2.60), Chocolate Ganache Style Icing (RRP £2.60) and Millionaire’s Caramel (RRP £2.95).
The Madagascan Vanilla and Chocolate Ganache Style variants are ready-to-use icings for fillings and decorating cakes, meaning they are extremely convenient and versatile.
The vanilla variant is made from premium vanilla beans, while the chocolate icing contains Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate.
Simply heated in a microwave and ready-to-use, the Millionaire’s Caramel makes the iconic British Bakels Millionaire’s Caramel now available for home baking. Its rich and indulgent taste aligns with the continuing boom in brown flavours.
“Our new icings are not only an exciting addition to the Ta-Da! range, but they are set to take us to the next level with our first retail presence,” said Michael Schofield, Bakes group marketing manager.
“As a company, British Bakels’ core business model has always been to innovate and develop products to meet consumer and customer needs and Ta-Da! is no different.
“While home baking is steadily increasing in popularity, icing from scratch can be a challenge. Therefore, the new Ta-Da! icing range captures this market and gives us the opportunity to share the joy of baking with as many people as possible.”
Crafted by bakery experts with over 115 years of baking know-how and launched in 2022, Ta-Da! offers a range of sweet and savoury mixes, fillings and now icings.
The new icings are rolling out in Tesco Extra stores across the UK.
The heart is a symbol that is universal all year round, but specifically gearing up for Valentine’s Day 2024, the French pâtissier has launched a selection of heart-shaped macarons designed for the UK food service sector.
Available exclusively from Central Foods, the collection features 10 strawberry and 10 chocolate pieces and, just like Tipiak’s other authentic ‘thaw and serve’ macarons, are produced in a certified gluten-free area to a traditional French recipe.
“We are delighted to be launching our eye-catching Tipiak heart-shaped macarons for food service customers in the UK,” said Marie-Emmanuelle Chessé, international development project manager at Tipiak
“Macarons are one of the most treasured French desserts in the world and these heart-shaped versions are especially appealing.
“Made in France, they are unique to the UK frozen food service sector and can be served in a whole host of ways to brighten up and romanticise desserts, cakes, and beverage menus. Simply thaw and serve, et voilà!”
Tipiak’s heart-shaped ‘thaw and serve’ macarons are perfect for Valentine’s Day but are also ideal throughout the year for weddings, birthdays and to make any afternoon tea rather special. They can also be used to bring a romantic touch to cakes or as toppings for shakes and smoothies.
Made from natural colours – such as beetroot and dark chocolate – each 15g macaron contains just 67 calories. Delivered frozen, they take two hours to defrost in the fridge, plus a further 15 minutes at room temperature. Keep chilled and consume within 24 hours.
The new macarons join Tipiak’s classic French macarons and French pop macaron fruits selections, which are already available to the UK food service sector via key wholesalers.
The better-for-you snack brand has debuted the chocolate bar category with the launch of Dark Chocolate Cookie Bars.
The bars – available direct-to-consumer – redefine decadence by encapsulating a crunchy cookie centre with a filling that blends smooth and creamy (mint or raspberry), all covered in 55% cacao dark chocolate. Plus, with only 2g of sugar per bar, Catalina Crunch presents a low-sugar delight, meaning decadence without compromise.
Catalina Crunch has always been at the forefront of the health-conscious snacking movement, and the Dark Chocolate Cookie Bars are no exception. Boasting only 2g of sugar per bar and a mere 3g of net carbs, these treats provide a guilt-free delight and are gluten-free and keto-friendly.
“We’re thrilled to unveil our newest creation, which represents a significant breakthrough in the healthy snacking industry,” said Krishna Kaliannan, founder and CEO of Catalina Crunch.
“We believe that everyone should have access to delicious and nutritious snacks that support their health goals. Our Chocolate Cookie Bars embody our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional products that not only satisfy taste buds but also contribute to a balanced and healthy lifestyle.”
Following the highly successful launch of Catalina Crunch Pairings Cereal in August, the brand has continued to flourish over the past year, seeing sales growth of 20% YoY.
The new bars are available online for $59.00 per 20ct, with a roll-out into retail planned for 2024.