Cupcake Quotes

I admit it: I'm an emotional eater. Maybe that's why I can totally relate to these cupcake quotes. Thanks Mom!

Sprinkles Secret Menu

I love secret menus! Some of my favorite foods are only found on secret menus: Animal-Style French Fries (In-N-Out), Red Gummy Bear Smoothie (Jamba Juice), and Zebra Hot Chocolate (Starbucks).

Did you know Sprinkles Cupcakes has a secret menu? It just launched yesterday and has just one cupcake on it....for now. I snapped some photos of their Facebook post announcing it because, true to their word, the post disappeared 48 hours later.

The first flavor to debut on the Sprinkles secret menu is Neapolitan. It doesn't have a description, but it looks like a vanilla cupcake with strawberry frosting and dipped in chocolate ganache. I want this! Neapolitan is available starting today, but you have to ask for it by name, as it won't be on the menu. Can't wait to try it and see what's next on the secret menu!

Cupcake Measuring Spoons

My friend gifted me with these adorable cupcake measuring spoons and I love them! I wasn't sure where she got them, but after a little research I found them on Amazon. I've already used them to bake, but not cupcakes yet. Guess I need to get baking!

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cupcakes from Taste and Tell

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I've always been scared to make an ice cream cake. Why? Because you have to work with an ingredient that is a bit temperamental: ice cream. 

But Taste and Tell makes it look so easy with these Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cupcakes. The basic gist is this: use a chocolate cupcake recipe and only fill the wrappers 1/3 of the way. Once the cupcakes have cooled, add a scoop of ice cream, and top with whipped cream. And eat immediately! Thanks Taste and Tell!

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!