Will We Ever Solve the Cupcake Shipping Problem?

I was contacted by Angela of  Making That Cake last month to try out her cupcakes. Angela has had her cupcake business for 6 years and is a winner of Food Network's Sweet Genius. She is located in New York and I'm 3,000 miles away in California. Not a problem, right?

She offered to ship some St. Patrick's Day cupcakes to me. I couldn't have been more excited! And this was a first for me: I've never received cupcakes through the mail before.

The cupcakes arrived!!

But what I feared most was a reality: the cupcakes didn't survive. Well, they did make it but it wasn't pretty. I felt so bad because I knew I couldn't review the cupcakes when they weren't in their perfect state. BUT just because the cupcakes didn't look pretty doesn't mean I didn't eat them.

Yes, I ate the cupcakes and they were delicious! These chocolate cupcakes had a mint buttercream and a Bailey's filling. They were perfect for St. Patrick's Day. 

So here's a side-by-side comparison of how the cupcakes looked before they shipped and how they looked after. Not even recognizable. 

The cupcakes didn't survive the mail, but it didn't surprise me. Bakers all over have been trying to figure out the best way to ship cupcakes without having them fall apart during the shipment. The solutions I've seen are: shipping cupcakes in a jar, Cakes-Away postable cupcake boxes, and Cupcake Express. Will this problem ever be solved?

On a side note, the next time I visit New York, I will definitely be trying more cupcakes from Making That Cake. I want a second shot to taste these cupcakes fresh and perfect as they should be. Thanks Angela!

"On the Road" Food Network App

Are you a big Food Network fan (like me) and wish you could visit every restaurant, bakery, and food truck featured on all the shows?! Then the new Food Network app is perfect for you! The new On the Road app recommends and lists all the great places featured on the top Food Network shows, such as The Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Great Food Truck Race, Cupcake Wars, and Diners, Drive-in & Dives.. You can find what's nearby if you're in a new city or you can find restaurants recommended by your favorite chefs.

I did a search of what's near my house and found The Perfect Circle Cupcakery was the closest place, as they were contestants on Cupcake Wars. I love having a cupcakery so close, but I wish their cupcakes weren't so dry.

I know this app will be super useful on my next road trip. Anyone else tried it yet?

Halloween Wars Premiering Soon!

October 7th marks the start of the second season of Halloween Wars, a spin-off of Cupcake Wars. This series is a four-episode competition where five teams battle to create the best Halloween display and win $50,000. One team is eliminated each week by a panel of judges made up of Tom Savini (make-up artist and horror actor/director), Shinmin Li (renowned cake decorator), and a different rotating judge each week. Will you watch?

New Cupcake Show on Food Network

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Cupcake shows are so popular right now! The Food Network is premiering a spin-off show of Cupcake Wars called Cupcake Champions. 16 Cupcake Wars former champions will compete in this new show. Each week 4 winners will compete to be a finalist for the final round of the top 4. There will be one winner who walks away with $50,000. First episode airs this Sunday at 8pm/7c.

My local cupcake shop, The Perfect Circle Cupcakery, will be competing on the new show. Her episode appears Sunday, May 20.

Will you watch this new show?

Yo Gabba Gabba and Cupcake Wars Contest

Having a little one means I am now in the Yo Gabba Gabba world. I love this show! If you don't know this show, then you definitely don't have kids. And I feel kinda special because I know the creators.

Anyways, today Yo Gabba Gabba announced on their Facebook page that they will be on Food Network's Cupcake Wars on April 15. In honor of that, they announced a contest to win a Yo Gabba Gabba prize pack. To enter the contest, you enter a photo of your best Yo Gabba Gabba inspired cupcake. The details are explained here. Submissions must be received by 5:00pm April 6. I've seen a lot of Yo Gabba Gabba themed cakes and cupcakes, so I know many of you have photos already. I can't wait to see the winners!

Cupcake Wars: Final Cup(cakes)

Four cupcake bakers try to score their way into the celebration of the Major League Soccer Cup finals.

KissiCakes-n-Sweets (Dublin, OH)

Cravings (Pleasant Grove, UT)

Ava James Catering (Temecula, CA) **Winner**

Cupcakes for Courage (Chicago, IL)

Cupcake Wars: Word Series of Poker

Four gifted bakers will ante up for a chance to have their cupcake creations featured at an exclusive party for the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

This week's episode featured:

Corner Cupcakes (San Diego, CA - mobile cupcakery) **winner**

Luli Tuli Cupcakes (Los Angeles, CA - custom only)

Sweet Retreat (Minneapolis, MN)

Cupcake Royale (Seattle, WA) I've heard great things about this cupcake shop.


I also recorded the season premiere of Top Chef: Just Desserts. Can't wait to watch it tonight!

Cupcake Wars: Comic Con Cupcakes

Four talented bakers will have to use their super powers if they want a chance to have their delicious display take center stage at Comic-Con's exclusive Masquerade Party.

Choco Patisserie (San Antonio, TX)

Wonderland Custom Cakes (online-Los Angeles, CA)

Three Babes & a Baker (Columbus, OH)

Sugar Mommy Cupcakes (Denville, NJ)

I have to say that this was my favorite episode of the season. I absolutely LOVED the theme. This gave the bakers opportunity for great decorations. Usually the bakers do an ok job at round 2, but this time all of the bakers did outstanding with their decorating. I loved Wonderland's decorating and cupcake flavors best. I would love to try those...looks like I need to track them down.

Cupcake Wars: Going for Gold: ESPYs

Four amazing bakers will have to put their game faces on if they want to have their cupcakes eaten by the biggest names in sports at this year's ESPYS.

Frost Bake Shoppe (The Woodlands, TX)

[Desi]gn Cakes & Cupcakes (Riverside, CA)

Coccadotts (Albany, NY)

Cake Dreams (Rockville, MD) **Winner**

Casting Call for Cupcake Wars Season 4

I received the following press release from the casting director of Cupcake Wars:

NOW CASTING SEASON 4 OF THE FOOD NETWORK’S HIT NEW COMPETITION SHOW, “CUPCAKE WARS”!

We are casting bakers (store owners, caterers, pastry chefs, bakers with online companies…) NATIONWIDE, so get in touch with us ASAP to apply for the show.

If you think you and your cupcakes have what it takes to compete against the best bakers in the country, then we want to hear from YOU! The winner of the show will have their cupcakes featured at a HOLLYWOOD EVENT and receive WORLDWIDE PRESS! The winner of each episode also wins $10,000!!!

We’re looking for great bakers with AMAZING personalities in every city.

To be considered for the show, please e-mail us your name, phone number, photo (and website if available!) to: CupcakeWars4@gmail.com

Be sure to tell us what makes you the perfect candidate for “Cupcake Wars”!

**I know of quite a few cupcake shops that I'd love to see on Cupcake Wars. Get your applications out there!**

Local Award-Winning Baker to be on Cupcake Wars

I was introduced to Dolce Vista Sweets & Treats last summer at the OC Fair. I was a judge at the OC Cupcake Classic and their cupcakes won 1st place and Best in Show. Later that year I was treated to a special winter wonderland cake from Dolce Vista. There are certainly perks of being The Cupcake Activist!

I'm excited to announce that they will be contestants on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars. Well, they already taped the episode, but it will air this Tuesday, July 26 at 8:00pm ET/PT. In this episode titled "Dodger Cupcakes," Dolce Vista and three other cupcake bakers will face off for the chance to have their cupcakes featured at a celebration honoring the world renowned LA Dodgers at a VIP party at the stadium.

I can't wait to watch!

Cupcake Wars: Tim Burton Bake-Off

Episode aired 7/5/11:

Four artful cupcake bakers will compete for the chance to have their cupcakes featured at an exclusive party celebrating the art of famed movie director Tim Burton.

Custom Cakes by Tiffany (Los Angeles, CA)

Nancy's Fancies (Providence, RI)

Sassy Cakes (Naples, FL)

Cake in a Cup (Toledo, OH) - winner

Cupcake Wars: Bollywood Bake-Off

June 21st episode:

"East will meet West when four gifted cupcake makers compete for the chance to have their cupcakes at the center of the opening night party for the Indian Film Festival taking place in the heart of Hollywood."

Competitors:

A Cupcake Wonderland (Philadelphia, PA)

Cupcake (Minneapolis, MN)

Passions Pastries (Studio City, CA)

Icing Makes the Cake (Georgia)

Baking with Indian flavors has got to be a bit difficult, but I bet when done right the cupcakes would taste amazing. And how about the team that used all 12 ingredients...maybe a little too ambitious. What did you think of this episode?

Food Network's Cupcake Wars is Back

Last night was the season premiere of Season 3 of Cupcake Wars. The "Kentucky Derby" episode had four bakers competing to have their cupcakes featured at the red carpet event at the Kentucky Derby.

Goodie Girls (Los Angeles, CA) - I tasted their cupcakes at the LA Cupcake Challenge in February.

Brown's Bakery (Lexington, KY)

Sugar Kneads (Loganville, GA)

Just Cupcakes (Virginia Beach, VA)

Did you watch last night? What did you think?

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: Ice House

Four bakers go head to head in hopes of having the chance to serve some of Hollywood's legends of laughter.


Sweet (Worchester, MA) - It's a bakery and a bar. Smart concept.

Sticky Fingers Bakery (Washington, D.C.) - One of the originals owners is the lead singer of the all female tribute band The Iron Maidens. That's pretty unique! All of their sweets are vegan.

C'est La V (Los Angeles, CA) - Another vegan baker. Is this a trend now?

L'oven Baked Goods (Los Angeles, CA) - A catering company based in LA. Besides cupcakes, they also sell cookies, tarts, muffins, and pastries.

Sadly, this is the last episode of the season. Casting has already begun for Season 3 though. Can't wait!

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: AFI Young Hollywood

Four gifted cupcake bakers battle for the chance to rub elbows with the hottest stars of the silver screen.


The King of Cupcakes (Brooklyn, NY) - So happy to see another New York cupcakery on the show. Considering how many cupcake shop are in New York, we should expect to see more of them on the show.

Buttercups Bakery (Los Angeles, CA - I think the location should be Shreveport, LA) - Can't find much info on them

Sugar Tart Desserterie (Corona, CA) - They won Most Unique/Exotic Flavor at Cupcake Camp OC last summer with their Chicken & Waffles cupcake. Hoping this Southern California catering company can dominate this competition as well.

Maria Antonia Cakes (Culver City, CA) - another Southern California catering company, but I haven't heard of this one before

Good luck to all!

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: Walk of Fame

Four creative cupcake bakers compete for a chance to have their cupcakes take center stage at an event for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Casey's Cupcakes (Riverside and Laguna Beach, CA): They just opened a new location in Laguna Beach. I must try her cupcakes soon!

Soup Cups (Los Angeles, CA): Another LA online cupcake company. I can't believe how many there are!

Lucky Cupcake Company (Pipersville, PA): I would definitely like to try Aunt Carol's Kahula Brownie cupcake.

Le Petit Bakery (Brooklyn, NY): Finally, a New York cupcake bakery! There are so many cupcake shops in New York, I wonder why there haven't been many on Cupcake Wars.

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: Cirque du Soleil

Tonight on Cupcake Wars: four bakers compete to have their cupcakes displayed at a release party for one of Vegas' favorites. The contestants are:

House of Cupcakes (Princeton, NJ) -Yum! Lots of peanut butter and chocolate flavor in this Peanut Butter Cup cupcake.

Sugar on Top (State College, PA) -The cupcakes on their website look homemade. I hope they have the accompanying homemade taste to go with them.

Cupcakes Couture (Manhattan Beach, FL (I think they mean CA)) -I got to try Cupcakes Couture at the LA Cupcake Challenge in 2010. Their cupcakes were decorated so beautifully.

Leyna's Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA) -Flavor I want to try: Mint Avocado. I recently tried an Avocado pie and it was surprisingly delicious. I think this flavor would be similar.

How exciting to have two more Southern California cupcake bakeries on Cupcake Wars. Good luck to all of the contestants!

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: Valentine's Day

Four cupcake bakers vie for the chance to have their delicious displays featured at an ocean-side wine tasting for couples with a special romance icon.


Jones Bros. Cupcakes (Omaha, NE) - Not just a cupcake shop, they sell sandwiches, salads, paninis, cakes, cheesecakes, and other tasty treats. They have three different lemon cupcakes. Is that weird?

Frosted Betty Bakeshop (Katy, TX) - Their strawberry balsamic cupcake sounds delicious. I remember thinking balsamic sounded gross in a cupcake. Just wait until you try it.

Krista's Kupcakery (Long Beach, CA) - Yeah, another Southern California baker! I don't know anything about this company except that they deliver in the Long Beach area.

Double D Cupcakes (Lancaster, CA) - I did a feature on them last year and they also grabbed a 3rd place win for Best Traditional cupcake at the LA Cupcake Challenge last weekend. Let's see if another Southern California cupcake shop can grab a Cupcake Wars victory.

Tonight's Episode of Cupcake Wars: Grammys

Four past Cupcake Wars veterans return to the battlefield for another shot at victory and a chance to serve the music industry's biggest stars.



Milk (Los Angeles, CA) - I still can't believe that I haven't been to Milk yet. The next time I'm in LA, I HAVE to go. They did pretty well the first time they were on Cupcake Wars, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them go all the way.

The Perfect Circle Cupcakery (Orange, CA) - My local cupcakery is back on Cupcake Wars. Of course I would love for them to do well because they make some delicious cupcakes.

Crushcakes Cupcakery (Santa Barbara, CA) - I visited and reviewed Crushcakes last year. I loved their Buttermilk Crumb cupcake.

Smallcakes (Overland Park, KS) - I have an excuse for not tasting Smallcakes yet...they're in Kansas. I don't know if I'll ever get to Kansas, but if they do well on Cupcake Wars tonight, I will have to stop by.