First let me say that whenever I eat any baked good that is not a cupcake, especially if I'm in a bakery, someone I know will invariably ask, "Are you cheating on cupcakes?" with a look of horror on their face (slight exaggeration, but basically true). I am not in a monogamous relationship with cupcakes. I love them, but I also love other desserts, though they are my favorites for many reasons. We've had the ongoing cupcake vs. muffin debate here, but now, there's a new twist, courtesy of Fairytale Brownies, whose recent press release declared, "With so many mouthwatering brownie choices, it's amazing that people ever got so worked up over cupcakes!" Um, no. We know there are plenty of cupcake fans out there, and counting, and I for one can't wait to feed my baby cousin (he's six months old so only now starting to eat baby food) his first cupcake - you can just call me a cupcake evangelist. We know from readership of this blog, cupcake bakeries spawning all over the country, the influx of cupcake books on Amazon, with more on the way, and the sheer joy we see when we watch people consume our tiny, yummy little snacks that cupcakes are here to stay.
As the fabulous Cake and Commerce blog notes, cupcakes are alive and well:
Cupcakes are notoriously delicate. Even in retail outlets such as Whole Foods and Starbucks, cupcakes with ‘real’ icing (rather than the rolled icing on a Hostess cupcake) must be packed in special molded containers or risk damage in transit. Cupcakes loaded into a bakery box must also be handled delicately. Because they are made from cake, cupcakes generally don’t last long before they taste stale and dry out. By contrast, brownies are durable and have a long shelf life. A dense brownie, full of fat and inclusions and individually wrapped, can last for days, sometimes weeks, at room temperature. Because of their structure and long life, brownies can be easily shipped all over the country, included in gift bags and baskets and packaged inexpensively.
Right now cupcake bakeries outnumber brownie outlets significantly. Really significantly. Come on, just try and name a brownie boutique. You can't -- because they died a miserable death after the first brownie boom . . .
Thanks to Douglas for the link. Long live cupcakes (and brownies and cookies and other desserts!). Can't all we bakery products just get along?
As the fabulous Cake and Commerce blog notes, cupcakes are alive and well:
Cupcakes are notoriously delicate. Even in retail outlets such as Whole Foods and Starbucks, cupcakes with ‘real’ icing (rather than the rolled icing on a Hostess cupcake) must be packed in special molded containers or risk damage in transit. Cupcakes loaded into a bakery box must also be handled delicately. Because they are made from cake, cupcakes generally don’t last long before they taste stale and dry out. By contrast, brownies are durable and have a long shelf life. A dense brownie, full of fat and inclusions and individually wrapped, can last for days, sometimes weeks, at room temperature. Because of their structure and long life, brownies can be easily shipped all over the country, included in gift bags and baskets and packaged inexpensively.
Right now cupcake bakeries outnumber brownie outlets significantly. Really significantly. Come on, just try and name a brownie boutique. You can't -- because they died a miserable death after the first brownie boom . . .
Thanks to Douglas for the link. Long live cupcakes (and brownies and cookies and other desserts!). Can't all we bakery products just get along?
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