Yuletide Greetings and Happy Eatings!

Each year, we have a beautiful yule log on display in our showcase. It’s a delicious combination of traditional sponge cake, homemade buttercream icing, creamy chocolate icing, and gumpaste poinsettias.  The yuletide treat has been a staple December product for more than 60 years in our bakery and remains a Christmas tradition for many families.

While we continue to produce the tasty tradition, we invite those who’ve never experienced the flavor, to come in to taste and see what this yuletide tradition is all about.

History of the Yule log

The yule log was originally a large tree cut from a family’s yard before being pulled by a mule or horse through the street. Families would march the yule log around their house three times before bringing it in.  Yuletide songs of blessings were sung as in hopes for good fortune in the new year.

Only a fraction of the oversized log would fit into the fireplace, leaving the rest of it to hang in the common room of the house. Families decorated the remaining length of the log and blessed it with ceremonial spirits until the entire log fit into the fireplace. It was believed anything evil from the year could be left on the log and once burned, the bad luck accompanying it would disappear as well. 

Some cultures would burn their yule log for twelve hours but it’s the Scandinavian’s who are credited with burning the log for the twelve days. This is the span between Christmas Eve until the end of Winter Solstice known as “The 12 Days of Christmas.”. Hence the popularity of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” No matter what tradition called for on the duration of the yule log burn, one common belief remained; if the log went out too soon, bad luck would ensue. 

The ashes were also used as part of the ritual.  When planting day came, ashes from the yule log were sprinkled onto the fields in hopes of spreading good luck even further. 

As years passed, the length of yule logs dwindled. Families chose logs that fit the entire girth of their fireplace rather than have the log stick out into their homes.  The decorations and ceremony, however, did not change. In many cultures today, the yule log is still very much celebrated today.

Who celebrates with Yule Logs today?

In America and some European cultures today, yule logs are offered in a much tastier form.   In Provencal, France, the tradition of burning an oversized log transferred to a celebratory eating of a delicacy on Christmas Eve.  Leave it to the French to reinvent the wheel with something tasty- right? 

The ‘buche de noel’, as commonly referred to, is a tightly rolled sponge cake iced in chocolate cake made to look like a log.  With knobs, roots, and some sort of winter flower such as poinsettias, this sweet cake is designed to mimic the yule log tradition.  With many versions of the classic cake around today-including those soaked in ‘ceremonial spirits’ like the old days, it’s clear this is a popular winter treat.

Yuletide Blessings

The Christmas season is full of wonderful family traditions such as decorating gingerbread houses, singing carols, and spending evenings by the fireplace…that is, when Florida remembers that it’s winter! If your yuletide traditions include a stop at your favorite family bakery, we invite you to come in and share a memory, eat a cookie, and simply enjoy the season.

As always, we thank you for being a part of our family’s dream and wish you all a very merry Christmas season.

Don’t Skip Breakfast! Here’s Why…

We’ve heard it for generations: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s the meal that sets us up for a successful day. And with the school year just starting, it’s the meal that can set our children up for success as well.

Here’s why breakfast is so important.

Eating Healthy

Children who eat breakfast everyday are more likely to eat healthier throughout the day. They can make better food choices at school because they aren’t famished when the lunch bell rings. With seven children of our own, we completely understand that every child is ‘always hungry’. But if children learn to set proper eating schedules, they are more likely to carry those healthy habits into adulthood.

Fuel for School

Eating breakfast boosts concentration, problem solving skills, social interactions, and more. With increased cognitive function, your child’s school performance can increase drastically. Even something as simple as a banana can provide an energy lift to keep your little one going.

With the added energy breakfast provides, children will also be more active. We don’t mean bouncing off the walls, driving teachers crazy. We mean good physical activities such as walking down the hall or playing during recess. With consistent physical activities during school, sports, or playtime each child can create great exercise habits that follow them as they grow older.

The mental and physical boosts breakfast provides is exactly the reason breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

What to eat for breakfast?

Eating a healthy breakfast everyday can certainly be a struggle. Especially when you have a hard time getting those little guys out of bed.

Breakfasts including whole grains, fiber, and protein will keep your child fuller longer as well as aid in meeting their nutrition requirements. A breakfast sandwich with eggs and cheese on whole wheat toast can provide enough nutrients and energy needed for a busy school morning.

Picky eaters?

Grab a blueberry or banana nut muffin while you’re in. The energy these breakfast treats provide will fill their little tummies and put a smile on their sleepy face at the same time.

We have breakfast covered

With so much on your to do list each morning, let us take care of making breakfast. Stop in for a bite of from our full line of breakfast pastries. If you have a bit more time, try our freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches. 

If you’re really in a rush, call and order your food ahead of time.

We’re here and ready.

Are you?

Back to School & Back to Cinotti’s

It’s back to school time in and we’re so excited! We love our children. But the day they step foot on school campus and don’t come home for seven hours, is truly a blessing. Seriously though, we’re not just excited about our own children going back to school. What really has us ecstatic is the opportunity to see you and your smiling children before and after school again.

We’re here getting everything ready to make this school year better than ever. Breakfast, lunch, school treats, and even after school cookies are just part of what we’ve got planned for you this year.

Breakfast

As working parents, we completely understand the morning rush during the school year. In fact, if we didn’t have a kitchen here in the bakery, our kids would probably go to school hungry.

Just kidding…

Anyway, in an effort to help you and your children have a good breakfast before school, we’re highlighting some of our most popular breakfast items.

Breakfast Sandwich

Our breakfast sandwiches are made with freshly cracked eggs and homemade bread. You can add your choice of meat including ham, turkey, bacon, or sausage. Add cheese if you’d like. We offer American, Swiss, Provolone, and Cheddar. Want some veggies mixed in? We can make that happen as well.

If you’re running short on time, give us a call ahead of time. That way, your breakfast sandwich can be hot and ready when you walk through our doors.

Donuts & Danish

A donut may not provide the protein that a breakfast sandwich does, but it will provide energy for your child to start their school day. We offer over 20 varieties of donuts on a daily basis. And if we don’t have what your little angel wants, we will do our best to whip one up.

Cheese pockets are among our most popular Danish in the morning. And other Danish such as apple or pecan, provide a little more protein as well as energy. Our daily Danish variety includes cherry, blueberry, lemon, and meltaway.

Parents, don’t forget your own needs. We have hot coffee brewing all morning long.

Lunch

Do you know we also offer cold sandwiches in the morning?

If you’re low on time or even sandwich supplies, we can make your child’s school sandwich while you eat breakfast. Ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, even peanut butter and jelly can all be ready by the time you leave for school. If you call ahead, you’ll have time to pick out a cookie too.

Fletcher Lunch

For more than 10 years, we’ve created a special menu for high school students and teachers. This menu is designed to be quick, easy, and affordable. This tradition will carry on this year as well. If you’re a student or Fletcher teacher, be sure to ask for the fletcher menu when you come in.

After School Treats

Children coming in for after school treats is a wonderful tradition. We love seeing little faces light up at the sight of all the cookies in our case. Cookie varieties vary daily, but you can be sure to see sugar cookies, decorated cookies, or one of our everyday cookies in the case any time you come in.

Want to show your appreciation?

Teachers like apples, but they LOVE cookies even more. We can’t be 100% sure, but there’s a good chance your child will get a super big smile when they bring a treat from Cinotti’s into the classroom.

So now what?

We’re here for any of your back to school needs. From breakfast and lunch to school treats and gifts, our team is ready to help you in any way. As always, we sincerely thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family traditions.

Now, get those babies off to school and come back to get a snack for yourself… You’ve earned it.

Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Pecan

Carrot cake is perhaps one of the most popular cakes in America. And why not? With dense layers full of carrots, pineapples, and nuts, who wouldn’t want a piece?

Carrot Cake

If you’ve ever tried ours, you’ll know it’s a little different than the carrot cake formulas floating around on the internet. We’ve been baking carrot cake for over 60 years and have kept our secret formula consistent during that time.

Our cake is full of freshly chopped carrots, crushed pineapples, and mini Georgia pecans. And while the cake itself is enough to make you fight for every crumb on your plate, it’s our carrot icing that has people talking.

Carrot Icing

Our carrot icing is by far, our tastiest. To make our carrot icing, we first whip up a batch of cream cheese icing. We mix together large blocks of cream cheese along with shortening plus a little sugar and flavoring. Once the cream cheese icing is perfect, we add the ingredients that take our carrot cake from wow to WAZOW!

We fold coconut flakes, fresh pineapples, and more pecans into the cream cheese icing. We don’t stop until we’re confident there’s enough flavor in every bite.

Our Carrot Cake

Once the cake and icing are prepared, our decorators work to create a beautiful cake for you to enjoy.

We generously spread thick layers of carrot icing between each layer of cake. With four cake layers covered in icing, our decorators cover the sides with more of the classic carrot icing. After garnishing with a cream cheese icing border and a few candied carrots, the cake is ready.

If you prefer room temperature cake, pull your carrot cake out of the fridge about 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving. This will bring the temperature up without causing the icing to slide

Depending on the size of your party, you need to consider your cake size.

While every family or gathering is different, we recommend our 8” cake for 12-15 servings. But we also offer carrot cake in a variety of sizes larger gatherings.

For more information on how to serve a round cake, please see our cake serving guide.

Storing Carrot Cake

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes, there may be a few pieces of cake left over. And because our cakes do not have any preservatives or additives, those pieces won’t be fresh very long. Here’s what we recommend:

Because of the cream cheese icing, carrot cake must be refrigerated after sitting out for more than an hour (less than that if it’s hot).

• Slice the cake into individual pieces. This allows you to pull out a piece at a time rather than the entire leftover portion
• Overwrap pieces with saran wrap to keep the icing from absorbing funky fridge smells.
• Place each piece in refrigerator or freezer
• Eat refrigerated pieces within 3 days
• Frozen pieces can remain fresh for up to 1 month

For frozen cake, remove pieces from freezer and allow to sit in refrigerator overnight.

When pulling cake from the refrigerator, remove saran wrap and allow the cake to sit for 15 minutes. If you prefer it cold, don’t wait. Dig in right away.

Cinotti’s Guarantee

For more than 80 years, we’ve provided to notch baked goods to those in our community. We love the craft of baking, but perhaps what we love most is sharing our love with you.

We want to be sure you get only the best from our bowls.

So we’ve made it our mission to use only the highest quality ingredients and to use only NON-GMO flours. We never add any preservatives to our product and we’re always looking for healthier alternatives to heavily processed ingredients. And we will never serve your family something we wouldn’t serve to our own.

We treat you like family because that’s the way it should be.

So come inside.

…Taste and see….

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Chocolate chip cookies are perhaps the most favorite American cookie. So it’s only right that we celebrate these sweet morsels of goodness on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. On Saturday, August 4, 2018 we’ll be celebrating in a big way.

Want A Chocolate Chip Cookie?

We’ve decided to give you yet another reason to keep these cookies at the top of your favorite list. In honor of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, we’ll be giving away one of our delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies to every customer!

So get in early and enjoy the freebie.

Take Some Home

What better way to enjoy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day than with a couple dozen cookies from Cinottis? We’ll have dozens of chocolate chip cookies ready to go so you can spread the love with your family and friends. Or, just keep them for yourself. We won’t judge.

To bake frozen cookie balls, follow these easy instructions:

• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. You may use a light coating of non-stick spray as a substitute
• Place cookies approximately 2″ apart to allow for spreading
• Once cookie dough is thawed, place cookies in preheated 375ºF oven
• Bake for 9-12 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden brown
• Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Just think, you can get all the credit for baking yummy cookies, and all you have to do is turn on the oven!

Baking Cookies from Scratch

National Chocolate Chip Day is all about cookies and we love the idea of baking with family at home. We know there are tons of chocolate chip cookie formulas on the internet, but we love our cookies and we know you do too. We bake in LARGE quantities but we’ve broken our formula down to a small batch.

So if you want to make a big batch of Cinotti’s chocolate chip cookies at home with your family, follow these instructions:

Prepping and Baking Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a second bowl, beat the shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. It should take about 2- 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and eggs. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. You may have to hand mix the batter as you add the remaining flour. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Let dough sit at room temperature just until it is soft enough to scoop.

Scoop your desired cookie size onto prepared baking sheets. Consistency is key for even baking.

Keep in mind: bigger, thicker cookies will be softer while smaller cookies will be crispier.

Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until edges of cookies are golden brown.

Don’t be tempted to eat them right out of the oven. You wouldn’t want to burn your mouth on those gooey chocolate chips.

Allow cookies to cool completely before storing.

Keeping Cookies Fresh

While our cookies are made to eat–not to keep, we understand the need to store cookies for later use. But, when cookies, like ours, have no additives or preservatives, keeping them fresh for more than a day can be challenging.

Here are some tips to keep your cookies fresh and tasty:

• Most fresh baked cookies can last up to 3 days. In that time, keep them in an airtight container free of moisture and heat.
• Place an apple wedge, slice of bread, or flour tortilla in the container along with your cookies. The moisture from any of these items will absorb into the cookies so you can eat them right out of the container.
• For warm, soft cookies, pop them into a 350° oven for three to five minutes. Enjoy a nice glass of milk while the chocolate melts in your mouth.

How to Eat a Chocolate Chip Cookie

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day has sparked a debate on how to eat a chocolate chip cookie the right way. And, while we’re not sure there is a wrong way to eat any cookie, we’ve come up with a few ideas.

• Add some Cinotti’s homemade buttercream and create a chocolate chip cookie sandwich
• Fold the baked cookies into your favorite ice cream
• Store them in the freezer and eat them cold
• Share with a friend
• Hide in your closet so your kids can’t hear you chewing

How Will You Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day?

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is a great excuse to enjoy America’s favorite dessert. And, since we’re handing them out free on August 4, why not spend the day with us?

Get your free cookie and another dozen or so to share with others.

Take a couple dozen to keep in your cookie jar. Or, pick up a couple tubs of frozen dough to bake at your leisure.

Share the joy of baking with your children. Bake a few batches of cookies at home and share with neighbors. Or, invite friends over to show off your magical baking powers.

Any way you choose to celebrate, we hope you enjoy the sweet day with those around you.

Be happy on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.

Have a laugh.

Spread the joy.

Eat a cookie.

Christmas in July Cookies!

Most of you know we LOVE Christmas.  We love the music. We love the smells. And, we love the cookies! That’s why we are so excited about our Christmas in July cookie week!

July 24^th through July 28^th, we will celebrate Christmas in July all over the bakery. We’ll be baking our favorite Christmas Cookies and singing Christmas carols all week long.

So, clear off your counter and empty your cookie jar. With so many cute and delicious cookies to choose, we know you’ll be spreading Christmas joy all over Jacksonville.

Come See What’s New

Throughout the year, we collect cookie cutters for all seasons. And since July is a slower time in our store, we use the opportunity to try out these new designs and test flavors. Don’t worry. You’ll still find the original classics. But, you’ll also see some new twists on old ideas as well as new shapes for the season.

We’re beyond excited to celebrate with you all.

So, when you come in July 24^th through July 28^th, be prepared to sing along and share your Christmas spirit with the world.

Because, who doesn’t love Christmas in July?