Online Voting Underway for Grayslake Bakery in Martha Stewart Contest

Photo Credit: Cacao Sweets and Treats bakery website

Online voting has began for the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made contest.

Local residents can cast their vote for one Grayslake business that has been selected as a finalist in the competition, Cacao Sweets and Treats, 122 Center St. in Grayslake.

If chosen as a winner, Cacao Sweets and Treats plans to purchase additional equipment to “expand into more pastries,” meaning “croissants on the daily” for its loyal customers, according to the Cacao Sweets & Treats Facebook page.

You can vote for Cacao Sweets & Treats on the Martha Stewart website

Updated at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15. 

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Congratulations are in order for one Grayslake bakery.

Cacao Sweets and Treats, 122 Center Street in Grayslake, has been nominated as a 2014 Martha Stewart American Made finalist.

Cacao Sweets and Treats owner Candice Hunsinger said it was “on a whim” that she sent in a box of some of her all-natural, organic, made-from-scratchgoodies to the Martha Stewart team, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

Hunsinger’s creativity helped earn her a spot as a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made contest. S he changes breads daily and her alcohol-infused cupcakes, such as one that includes Lagunitas Brewing’s Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ ale, are a hit, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

“We specialize in unique takes on classics, all made in small batches right here in our Grayslake storefront. We use nothing but the best; real butter, real chocolate, organic dairy and eggs (how food should be),” according to the Cacao Sweets and Treats bio. “Our philosophy is quality over quantity, with the old school idea of get it early, get it fresh.”

Hunsinger said Cacao Sweets and Treats was born after both her and her husband-to-be lost their jobs in the same week just three months before their wedding, according to a bio posted on the Martha Stewart website.

“(My husband) pushed me to bake for a 4th of July craft fair to see how it would go over. Cacao Sweets & Treats was created on that very day,” according to her bio. “From the very beginning it was important to set myself apart. A lot of thought and care goes into each recipe I create, developing from the ground up based on ingredients, sourcing, seasonal,”

Those who love Cacao will be able to vote online for the Grayslake bakerystarting on Sept. 15 and continuing through Oct. 13. The 2014 Award Winners and Audience Choice Winner in the Martha Stewart American Made contest will be announced on Oct. 27.