Thursday, October 14, 2010

CUPCAKES!!!! Oh my gosh I love cupcakes.

I made cupcakes last night for a birthday. White cake mix, cream cheese frosting, done. They are SO good.
I’ve known for awhile that cupcakes are good. Like, since I was 6. That’s what I always requested for my birthday cake—vanilla cupcakes with vanilla or cream cheese frosting. Yes, I was ahead of the cupcake curve. I knew then and I know now that cupcakes are good, and why are they good? Because they are golden brown on all sides. Because they’re less formidable than an entire cake. Because in about three bites it’s over and you’re happy. NOT because they have frosting piled 6 feet high. NOT because they cost $4. And NOT because they’re exotic and overwrought with ingredients like rose hip jelly and saffron buttercream cookie crumble.

Why am I so annoyed by modern cupcakes?
No really, why? Why does this bother me so much?

I guess because I feel they’ve been prostituted. Something I liked for its very simplicity is now a convoluted, trendy mess of a confection that will make me gouge my eyes out if I see one more super hip shop dedicated solely to fulfilling your wildest cupcake dreams. Sure, they’re inherently cute and tasty and I can’t blame people for wanting to capitalize on that. But that ship sailed 10 years ago or something! We need to get over cupcakes! Well, at least over the cupcake frenzy. And we especially need to stop doing giant cupcake cakes. I’m completely mystified by a miniature cake imitating a full-sized cake by becoming full-sized. There’s a term for that, but I can’t remember....life imitating art? Meta? No, wait, I remember: super nerdy.




No offense if you’re starting a cupcake shop, had or are having cupcakes at your wedding, or if you just baked your child a giant cupcake birthday cake. I admit that these new cupcakes are sometimes really, really yummy. But like a good song that comes out and then 1 month later makes you want to surgically remove your ears because it’s been so overplayed, cupcakes need to keep their distance from me for awhile.

8 comments:

Jen Snow said...

Good point...if you want a full size cake then why not make it a normal cake instead of a huge mini cake?

Jen Snow said...

PS.....last post from Allie...

Melinda said...

I hear the next trend is gourmet, fancy doughnuts, and mini-doughnuts of course.
Yeah, I'm totally over mega-frosted cupcakes too.

Cara said...

Regular cakes are out of control right now too. Some of my friends from high school are big-time cake decorators and their kids' birthday cakes have so much fondant on them I can't imagine the kids even enjoying the eating part. The ultimate fate for a cake is being eaten, right? I do love to look at the amazing cakes, but for your kid's 4th birthday? Come on! Oh, and no hamburger cakes or hotdog cakes or anything else that's not sweet or edible. There's my rant for you!

Jen Snow said...

This really is Jen Snow... Thanks for sharing your thoughts on cupcakes. Allie just had her bday party and when trying to decide on what for the dessert, I immediately said CUPCAKES! If they're cool enough for Stef, they're cool enough for a 16 yr old girls. Simple and delicious. All her friends kept saying how good they were. I think there is something said for being able to hold it in your hand, lick it, or whatever you want to it. I think eating cake with your hands makes it all the better. Thanks Stef!

Jen Snow said...

This really is Jen Snow. Thanks for your opinion on cupcakes. Allie was trying to figure out what kind of dessert for her bday party. I instantly said, CUPCAKES! If they're good enough for Aunt Stefanie, they're good enough for a 16 yr old girl. All her friends made comments about how good they were. They were rainbow chip with whipped cream cheese frosting (from the can). I think they're more delicious because you can eat them with your hands. I saw girls licking the frosting off first. It was fun to watch and delicious to eat. Thanks Stef!

Jen Snow said...

Oh my gosh...it said i was in the wrong account. So I did a whole new one. Oops, Sorry! Now you really get the gist.

Shannon said...

ouch! After all my trouble, the truth comes out. I'm not afraid to admit that I never died over cupcakes until they became a fad and now I'm drivin' the wagon! Mmmmmmmm. Cookies and cream cupcake with little chunks of cookies and loads of cookies and cream frosting with oreo sprinkles on top. I think I'll go patronize a cupcakes store tomorrow, thank you very much.