Here’s to Cupcakes
Not long ago, Lex wrote a really good post about iCarly and productive selfishness. In it, he mentioned cupcakes and how infrequently we eat them as adults. From the comments, you can see that I agree.
Cupcakes should get more adult attention! They’re incredible. Really. I mean it. Sure, they can be done wrong with dry cake and too sugary, too dye-tasting frosting. But when done right, nothing beats ‘em. They’re the perfect little frosting fix. And, believe me, I love frosting. Plus, you don’t need a utensil to enjoy them. Heck, you don’t even have to dirty up a plate if you don’t want to. They’re cheaper than a cake and less fattening too. Plus, if you’re making them at home, they bake faster.
I wasn’t lying when I said I’d be thinking about cupcakes until I got one. I still haven’t and I’m still thinking about them.
I’ve also been thinking about what I should do for Caelyn’s second birthday (in June). I did a cake last year, but I’m thinking cupcakes this year — vanilla or yellow with buttercream frosting and, somehow, little Cs, covered with red sugar. (I’m not picking vanilla just because I like vanilla better than chocolate. Caelyn’s not 100% on chocolate yet.) As I thought about cupcakes in conjunction with table decor, I started wondering how much a cupcake stand costs. (A stand would look cool, plus I could do a cupcake with a red, sparkly 2 for the top and even work in ribbon or something, if I get crafty.)
But I couldn’t stop my cupcake research there, could I?
I didn’t discover anything as exciting as Fran Weston living down the street from me and giving a way free cupcakes or anything, but I did learn that there are some people out there who seriously love cupcakes, including Martha Stewart. She loves ‘em so much, in fact, that she dedicated a whole week to them on her show. I hope she won’t mind if I share some pics of the stores she selected as her favorites. (Martha, if you do, please email me and give me a chance to take ‘em down before you send me to the clink.)
Photographs from Martha’s Favorite Cupcakes Gallery:
Swirlz Cupcakes in Chicago
Violet’s Cakes in Pasadena
SusieCakes in Los Angeles
Trophy Cupcakes and Party in Seattle
What I like about each of those bakeries is that there’s no denying they have cupcakes and you can just walk in off the street and get one. You don’t want amibguity when you’re on the prowl for a cupcake.
Say you walk into a little bakery, hoping to meet your cupcake craving. You’ve chosen the establishment for its old-fashioned, home-spun appeal, but, as such, it’s not anything like the bakery in your grocery store. It’s not crowded. You can’t just walk in and leave empty-handed if they don’t have a decent cupcake selection. You’re leaving with something. And while a lemon bar or a cookie or a cream horn can all be nice, when your heart says “CUPCAKE!” they don’t cut the cake.
A bakery with cupcakes in the name or on the sign is the perfect solution.
Of course, knowing a local bakery where you can get a sandwich for lunch and a cupcake or two to go is nice too, but, usually, such knowledge comes only from trial and error. When the cupcake craving is extreme, you might not want to take such risks.
The only problem with Martha’s list is the lack of Texas. Sure, I’d love to add cupcakeries to my list of travels that I think I should drag Chris on, which already includes homes of American authors and renowned libraries. But the realistic side of me did a search for cupcake shops close to home.
Cupcake Shops in DFW:
Sprinkles Cupcakes in Dallas
The Cupcake Cottage in Fort Worth
All the cakes for birthdays and farewells at my old job came from Stein’s bakery in Dallas, and they were all scrumptious. I don’t know if they have cupcakes or not, but it’s worth a shot.
To find a cupcake near you, check out CupcakeFetish and Cupcakes Take The Cake.
And now, for my friend C.C., that fortunate little devil who gets to share his initials with that very special bite of bakery heaven, I leave you with this:
9 comments
YUM! Society Bakery in Dallas has the BEST cupcakes! (They’ve actually been voted so a few times, but don’t ask me who did the voting. I would have def voted for them though!) Might be a bit of a drive for you, but totally worth it! And you can just come in off the street and get cupcakes… or petit fours for that matter! They can be very artsy too, if you’re into that! I promise I don’t work for them. :)
http://www.societybakery.com/Treats.asp
“That fortunate little devil who gets to share his initials with that very special bite of bakery heaven.” Oh my gosh. I love that.
Maybe when you two retire you can buy an RV and travel North America sampling the continent’s best cupcakes. Until then, good luck finding the best local C.C.s.
Jules — Thanks for the tip. The good thing about being a stay-at-home mom is that you can decide anytime you want to take a field trip across the metroplex for cupcake! Yum is right!
Lex — Thanks! I wish I’d thought of the connection back in high school. C.C. (the man) would’ve loved that, don’t you think?
I can’t think of a better way to spend the golden years! You suppose international C.C.s are anything to write home about?
I bet they have some great cupcakes in Switzerland, and maybe in Germany. But I’ve never been to either place.
Lex — You should rectify that as soon as possible, for the cupcakes’ sake, of course. I mean how long can you go without a Swiss cupcake!?!
I’ve been thinking about cupcakes for Claire’s birthday too. I’m actually considering a homemade carrot cake for the grown ups and white cupcakes with white buttercream frosting for the babies and for the grown ups. I know most of the grown ups at her party will help themselves to both.
In Abilene, you can get some pretty good cupcakes at SnowWhite Bakery. Although they can be a bit dry sometimes, there is as much frosting as there is cake. So, if you don’t like the cake on that day, you can just eat the frosting and call it good. That’s what it’s all about anyway, isn’t it?
JSmo — You’ve been married to Kevin too long!
I think adults will partake of both too. (Um, I will! And Dad will. And Kev. I’d say Todd would, but I have a feeling he doesn’t eat carrots, maybe you could make him a crouton cake. Chris will stick with the cupcakes too. Those guys.) And having both is a fine idea, but you’re making the fatal mistake of believing the cupcakes are for the babies. Cupcakes for all!
I should’ve spent more time at bakeries while I was in Abilene. Remember that kid who won a Snow White cake for his birthday and told the lady not to worry about boxing it up because he was going to eat it all in the car without a fork?!?
well, i was probably that kid. i’m certain that i could eat an entire sheet cake from Snow White Bakery. i know i’ve done at least half of one by myself! man, i want that for my birthday! can’t wait to see what you do for the cupcakes! i’m sure they’ll be aweome!
Cristin — Well, I say let’s make it happen! Surely with all our A-town connections, we could finagle a mere sheet cake. But, don’t worry. That kid wasn’t you. His cake was layered, not as easy to eat without a fork as a sheet cake. Actually, he won it on the radio. Maybe you should tell Jess to start listening now and get you a FREE sheet cake!
And you know I’m so gonna want your input on Caelyn’s birthday! You’re the master!
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