Cupcakes in Fort Myers, Florida

Great article in the News-Press on a bunch of Florida bakeries along with two recipes. Someone needs to start a Fort Myers Cupcake Meetup!


Photo of Robin Grande of Robin's Nest Bakery by Drew Sterwald for News-Press

Here's the bakery contact info:

• Flour Designer Cupcakes: Does not have a retail space but does deliver. Call (352) 219-0495 or go to www.myspace.com/flourcupcakes.

• Robin's Nest Bakery, The Atrium, 8695 College Parkway, Fort Myers; 425-3297; www.robinsnestbakery.com.

• Simply Cupcakes of Naples only takes online orders and has a limited delivery area. Call (239) 207-7170 or go to www.simplycupcakes.net.

• Yum Yum Cakes, 1944 Winkler Ave., Fort Myers; 939-2253; yumyumcakes.com.

Today's cupcakes aren't your mother's simple yellow cakes with a dab of chocolate frosting. The method might be retro, but the flavors push the envelope.

Bananas Foster takes the cake when it comes to popularity among Weglarz-Houser's customers at Flour Designer Cupcakes. Bananas are caramelized in brown sugar and cinnamon, folded into the batter, then topped with Jamaican rum buttercream frosting. Her "Orange You Glad You're Going Nuts" flavor includes a pinch of cayenne pepper. She even whipped up an Italian tiramisu cupcake for a book club reading "Eat, Pray, Love," a best-seller set partly in Italy.

From book clubs to weddings, children's birthday parties to fundraising dinners, cupcakes are enjoying renewed popularity. Some restaurants are even jumping on the bandwagon; Crave in Fort Myers serves a trio of cupcakes for dessert.