‘TIS THE SEASON TO GIVE A GIFT FROM THE HEART – AND KITCHEN

New Survey Reveals Americans Holiday Baking and Homemade Gift Giving Habits

Melrose Park, Ill. (June 29, 2004) – Holiday baking is a time-honored tradition that continues to heat up kitchens across the country. In fact, more than 75 percent of Americans are planning to bake more compared to last year, according to the 2004 Baker’s Joy® Homemade Holiday survey.*

According to the survey, the majority of Americans bake during the holidays because they look forward to seeing friends and family enjoy their homemade treats – which is a great reason to skip crowded malls and give a home-baked gift this year.

“The busy holiday season is approaching and Americans are seeking simple, memorable gifts,” said Andrea Swenson, author of “Gifts From the Kitchen for Dummies.” “It only takes some creativity and a few extra ingredients – such as ribbon or wrapping paper – to turn coveted cakes and cookies into a great gift.”

Homemade for the Holidays

It’s easy to make delicious, home-baked gifts for family members or even business colleagues and neighbors. To get started, Swenson recommends the following no-fuss tips for homemade gift giving:

• Eliminate Holiday Hassles: Use a pan with the decorating “built in,” like a Nordic Ware® mini-Garland Bundt® pan. Also, remember to use a non-stick baking spray with flour like Baker’s Joy for worry-free baking. It’s quick, easy and perfect for baking with intricate designed pans. For more tips, log onto www.bakersjoy.com.**
• Decorate on a Dime: Attach inexpensive holiday-inspired ornaments such as dried cranberries, ribbon, evergreen sprigs or pinecones to make gifts extra special. Also, try designing your own labels using colored paper and decorative ink stamps.
• Think Freshness First: Keep in mind that freshness is a big part of a food gift. Give gifts shortly after preparing. If you are mailing, ship overnight to assure best quality.

Mini-Cakes – The Trend in Holiday Treats

When deciding what to bake, more Americans are looking to miniature cakes. However, pan preparation is crucial since many mini-cake pans have intricate detail. A non-stick spray with flour like Baker’s Joy will offer the best results and will help bakers avoid “separation anxiety” – the fear of their baking sticking to the pan when it’s time to release it.

“Miniature cakes are showing up at weddings and parties – and they’re a great idea for a holiday gift because they’re festive, tasty and take no time at all to prepare,” says Swenson.

This holiday, wow loved ones with a decadent holiday Hot Cocoa Cake recipe, baked in the festive Nordic Ware mini-Garland Bundt cake pan. With three elegant styles in one pan, it’s easy to prepare beautiful gifts for even the most finicky person on your holiday list.

Hot Cocoa Cake
• 1/2 cup butter, room temp. • 2 eggs, room temp.
• 3 egg whites, room temp. • 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda • 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. prepared strong hot coffee • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups sugar • 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
• 5 1/2 Oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray Nordic Ware Garland pan with Baker's Joy. In medium bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda and salt. In a small bowl, add vanilla to prepared coffee and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add sugar; beat until well combined. Add sour cream. One at a time, add eggs and egg whites, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and coffee mixture, beating on low speed until well combined. Stir in chocolate, and pour 1/2 cup batter into each cavity.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Invert onto serving platter and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Baker's Joy® is the Original No-Stick baking spray with flour, trusted by bakers across the country for nearly 25 years. Baker's Joy can be found in most national grocery chains and Wal-Mart® Supercenters.

Founded in 1946, Nordic Ware® has been providing long-lasting, quality kitchenware products and services for more than 50 years. Nordic Ware is best known for creating the original Bundt® Pan. Nordic Ware products can be found at gourmet and specialty stores nationwide or on-line at www.nordicware.com.

*Impulse Research conducted the survey in June 2004 with a random sample of 1,512 men and women across the country. The overall sampling error for this survey is +/--2.5% at the 95% level of confidence