I'm taking a poll: Are these cupcakes or not??

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So, I could use your input. There's a place that says they make cupcakes and they want to be reviewed by CTTC. I am not sure they make cupcakes. They call them "cakelets." Are they cupcakes? Are they not cupcakes?

I need your help. If you think they are cupcakes and want me to review them, I will. If you guys vote that they are not cupcakes, I will (regretfully) have to pass.

I don't have legal rights to post the bakery's images, but you can see them here at Flickr, or on its website.


The owner wrote me when I queried:

"Our business name is a bit tongue in cheek. Cupcakes are thought of as single servings of cake and our little cakes (we call Cakelets) are single servings as well, though not in a wrapper. Just like cupcakes, our cakelets fit in the palm of hand however, our cakelets come in all shapes and designs. What cupcake wouldn't be envious of a delicious little purse?"



So, CTTCers, what do you think? Please vote in the comments, below. I will respect your thoughts and opinions, please keep it classy, okay? Respectful and classy.


And, thanks!


;)

Comments

Anne said…
Wouldn't these be considered "mini cakes" like people would use at the top of a cupcake tower...I don't think they can be classified as "cupcakes" no matter how beautiful and amazing they are.
10/08/2010 7:39 PM
Candace said…
While these are beautiful little cakes, I do not feel that they qualify as cupcakes. One of the things that makes cupcakes so delightful is that they present an aesthetic challenge for the baker in that they are confined to a specific shape.
10/08/2010 7:49 PM
Alana said…
The one in the flowerpot seems to be a cupcake to me: it is cake, inside a receptacle of some sort (paper/ice cream cones/etc. all work) and topped with frosting, but not frosted on the sides. That's a cupcake. But the others? No. They're small sculpted cakes. There is a difference between a small cake and a cupcake.
10/08/2010 7:50 PM
Jenn said…
I don't think these are cupcakes. The whole point of cupcakes is that they are in a "cup", and you can get as elaborate as you want with the top of the cupcake, but not the bottom part..

Also, the fact that almost all of the "cakelets" are shown with a fork further separates them from cupcakes. Who eat's cupcakes with forks? (well, i guess maybe some people do so I'm not trying to be offensive...just saying)

However, these are beautiful little cakes. Just not cupcakes :)
10/08/2010 8:08 PM
Amity said…
They aren't cupcakes but I think they're an evolution of a cupcake and shouldn't be disregarded for that reason. Cupcakes we enjoy now weren't always the same, as you discussed in an entry about the history of cupcakes. And they aren't even called cupcakes everywhere either - for instance, fairy cakes in the UK and Australia. My vote is YES they count!
10/08/2010 8:12 PM
Peace said…
NO cup, no cake. Way cute mini-cakes, but not cupcakes.
10/08/2010 8:21 PM
CakerellPeru said…
nope, they look like mini cakes, gorgeous ones, but not cupcakes
10/08/2010 8:22 PM
Gina said…
Umm hello, aren't cupcakes mini cakes? A) I have definitely eaten a cupcake with a fok before-have you ever had a big ass cupcake like one from Crumbs? Or one that's filled? You NEED to us a fork. B) If you asked the average person on the street what the definition of a cupcake is, most of the would say "Mini cakes" so that argument is moot. While I don't think these exactly fit the mold of the classical cupcake and I myself am not even sure they are a cupcake, I don't think you should limit yourself by not reviewing them. What's the harm in reviewing it and starting the review out by saying "While we know there is some debate as the whether or not these are in fact cupcakes, we don't want to discriminate against any tasty baked treat!"
10/08/2010 8:25 PM
My Site (click to edit) said…
Well, they don't really seem like cupcakes. Though they have a link to more traditional looking cupcakes. It's hard to tell if they do those cupcakes too since they use flickr which i'm not versed in the site.
10/08/2010 9:26 PM
danielle said…
i don't think these are cupcakes. they're cakes which have been miniaturized (i don't even think that's a word...) I feel like a cupcake has to be that certain shape--that's why even those giant cake molds in the shape of a cupcake get called cupcakes as well as mini cupcakes. Size isn't the issue; I think it's more shape, and then the "spirit" of the creation (as in, spirit vs. letter of the law.) however, i do think they're adorable, so i wouldn't mind reading a review of them, perhaps with a disclaimer like Gina suggested. :)
10/08/2010 9:39 PM
Samantha Jean said…
I believe a cupcake is what the definition of a cupcake is (according to dictionary.com) a small cake, the size of an individual portion, baked in a cup-shaped mold. I do think that this place should be reviewed, but it should have a disclaimer. I understand what they are trying to do with their sizing, etc. However, I do not think it should be considered a "cupcake"
10/08/2010 10:03 PM
WilsonDaCupcakeMaker said…
Most definitely NOT cupcakes. In NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM!
10/08/2010 10:56 PM
Carleen said…
well...you sort of just gave them what they wanted anyway :) They got their 15 minutes of fame by being mentioned on CTTC with a link to their cakes. The cakes are very cool by the way...cupcakes or not!
10/09/2010 12:25 AM
Amanda said…
Not cupcakes, however on their Flickr site they have an album called "traditional cupcakes" ...
10/09/2010 12:57 AM
Jennifer Henderson said…
Those cakelets are dandy, but I agree that they don't really seem like cupcakes. Their asparagus cake drove me crazy with creativity but no way is it a cupcake. Theirs seem more like tiny sculptures than cake and did not give me the warm, ah-that's-a-cupcake feeling I often get when looking at tasty frosted morsels featured on this must-read blog.
10/09/2010 2:46 AM
Lauren said…
Me and my husband agree, while these "Cakelets" are adorable...they definitely are not cupcakes. It's basically just a mini cake. I mean, you have mini cupcakes...these are just mini cakes.
10/09/2010 3:23 AM
Vikki K said…
They are absolutely gorgeous mini cakes but definitely would not be classed as a "cupcake". They do have beautiful designed traditional cupcakes so perhaps you could review those instead?
10/09/2010 7:09 AM
Louisa Harman said…
They're very cute, but definitely not cupcakes!
10/09/2010 7:54 AM
Future Grown-Up said…
They are and they aren't. Visually, they most definitely are not cupcakes. And Websters defines a cupcake as a "mini cake baked in in a cuplike mold". However, considering they both use the same ingredients and I often turn cake recipes into cupcake recipes, there's a little creative leeway in my opinion.
10/09/2010 8:55 AM
Jeanne said…
While I think that their work is outstanding, one of the things that defines a cupcake is it's liner. All cupcakes have liners.
10/09/2010 10:28 AM
cherlass said…
These are not cupcakes but mini cakes. Cupcakes are made in a "cup" which these are missing and have only the top decorated.
No to a review for them.
10/09/2010 10:43 AM
Amy said…
As cute and unique as they are, I don't believe they are cupcakes at all! Little cakes yes. Cupcakes and mini cakes are not the same!
10/09/2010 11:53 AM
jonic82 said…
While these are amazingly cute and look very yummy, I would vote no they are not cupcakes.
10/09/2010 12:49 PM
Miss Jen said…
I agree with most of the previous commenters... These are beautiful and stylish mini cakes, BUT definitely not cupcakes.
10/09/2010 3:49 PM
LindaJean Stephenson said…
They do make traditional cupcakes as shown in their Flickr account, but the cakelets are mini cakes and not cupcakes.
10/09/2010 3:57 PM
Articia said…
as creative and easy on the eye as they may be, those are NOT cupcakes.

the whole point of a cupcake is that it's baked in a cup....not just a small cake. :)
10/09/2010 5:28 PM
Caitlin said…
Those look really cool and I'm certainly impressed. However, are they cupcakes? No, definitely not. Cupcakes have a very distinct shape (wrapper or not), and these aren't the same shape and can't be qualified as such. If you want to remain a distinctly cupcake reviewing site, then do not feature them. If you don't mind a one off such as this, review them with a disclaimer.

However, I'm an active Yelper, and for me, anyone who actively asks me to review them (if I haven't already) in this type of manor causes me to immediately not want to do so. At least on that site, we are discouraged from reviewing those who specifically ask for reviews. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but as another person pointed out already, you've already given them exactly what they wanted by creating the poll on your site.
10/09/2010 6:40 PM
My Site (click to edit) said…
they are spectacular to look at but they are just what they call them cakelets mini cakes not cupcakes.
10/09/2010 7:23 PM
Vivienne said…
Small and beautifully formed, but NOT cupcakes. I love the business name though - cupcake envy - it's very clever
10/09/2010 7:47 PM
amy eilert said…
Hi there cupcake fans! Cupcake Envy here. I have to say that I was totally surprised to see this post. I recently hired a PR gal to help spread the word about our cakelets and some cakelet classes we're teaching but had no idea CTTC was contacted. I'm the first to to say that what we create are not cupcakes although we create coordinating cupcakes with the cakelet designs. Cupcake Envy started out with creating quirky cupcakes and throughout the years went way off the cupcake path into the mini cake realm. I appreciate everyone's comments regarding the debate but I think it is very fair to say that they are NOT cupcakes.
I am a huge CTTC fan am very grateful for CTTC's postings of some of our cupcakes throughout the years. Lastly, I apologize for my PR gals misunderstanding by requesting a review. And thanks everyone for being so kind and honest in your remarks.
I guess if we can find it in our hearts we can consider the cakelet a distant cousin of the mighty cupcake. Thanks!
10/10/2010 2:00 AM
RIcakelady said…
Not cupcakes. They are beautiful mini cakes, very artisitc and yummy looking. But definitely not cupcakes.
10/10/2010 12:08 PM
Staci said…
They are beautiful little cakes!
However, most are carved Not baked in a cup. so in mho not cupcakes.

Thank you!
10/10/2010 12:42 PM
Unknown said…
I dont think they are "cupcakes".
While they are amazingly cute and unique they are not even cup shaped .
10/10/2010 9:52 PM
Nathalina Backman said…
As cute and wonderfully creative the cakes are, cupcakes they are not. Cakelets is a perfect name for the cakes!
10/11/2010 5:29 AM
dreag21 said…
While I totally love what these folks are doing with cake, fondant and frosting... I'm afraid I have to vote that these are not cupcakes. They are cakelets which are different. Typically bigger than cupcakes and (most notably I think) are usually served/eaten with a fork.

Cupcakes need no fork!
10/14/2010 11:24 AM
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