The Newest Sweet Trend - Cupcakes!

Have you been to an event recently and been surprised that instead of a regular cake, you were treated to an elaborate cupcake display? Cupcakes seem to be all the rage nowadays. Cupcakes seem to be the trendy thing to serve at any gathering, from baby showers to weddings, or birthday galas to Super Bowl parties. Cupcakes are easy to eat, full of delicious flavor and exciting eye-catching delights. It seems everyone loves those sweet little concoctions. But, are they really just cute little miniature cakes, or are they a wonderfully flavorful dessert deserving their own title?

The origins of cupcakes are controversial. Some believe that cupcakes were invented by people baking cakes in little teacups, so that the little cakes would not take so long to bake and would cool faster. Others believe that cupcakes were named by the way the ingredients were measured (1 cup of flour, 2 cups of sugar, etc.) Whatever the origin, the cupcake has come down through history as a delightful treat that everyone can enjoy.

Cupcakes are making a surprising reappearance in today’s society and are becoming extremely popular and trendy. They are sweet little treats that are easy to make, satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth and can be made in various eye-catching ways.

Cupcakes can be served as a dessert for an everyday supper, at birthday or special occasion parties, or today can even replace the traditional wedding cake. They are great at baby showers, as Halloween treat give-aways, for Christmas buffet tables, or as a sure money-maker at bake sales and church bazaars. Cupcakes can even be served at masculine events, or at a sports party—like the Superbowl! And, what can be sweeter than a cupcake as an individual Valentine’s Day love offering?

The variety of flavors you can use to create a cupcake are varied and many. You can have delicate white cake cupcakes, velvety chocolate cupcakes, light lemony cupcakes, marble-cake cupcakes or many other combinations of flavors. Cupcakes can even have good-for-you ingredients like applesauce, shredded carrots or zucchini in them to help them stay moist.

Cupcakes are generally frosted as are most cakes, with vanilla, chocolate, orange-flavored, or any other flavor that compliments the small cake underneath. Cupcakes can also sport various toppings, like rainbow or chocolate sprinkles, coconut, miniature chocolate chips, candies, pieces of gumdrops or even can be glazed. You can decorate the tops with faces, create tiny animals or flowers, make them into butterflies or simply place a nut in the centre.

Cupcakes can be used on stands to create a unique display. In today’s world it is not uncommon to see a cupcake display in lieu of a wedding cake. Cupcakes can take a significant role on a dessert table placed on a tiered cake plate at Christmastime. If you line cupcakes up, circling round on a covered board, you can create a ‘caterpillar’ effect for a child’s birthday party. There are many ways cupcakes can be used for special occasions.

You can even have filled cupcakes. Doesn’t a chocolate cupcake filled with sweet vanilla crème sound fantastic? How about a cupcake with a chocolate ‘kiss’ treat or a caramel in the centre?

Cupcakes are easy to eat. They are small enough to eat with your hands, without needing the use of a fork or a spoon. Often they come in their own little ridged paper cup, which helps make them beautiful as well as tasty. The paper cups are often white, but can come in any color—and even sometimes in gold or silver papers for those extra special occasions.

Why not try your hand at making these sweet little cakes tonight? Join the trend and become a cupcake fanatic!

Want to try one of my own cookbooks? 25 Yummy Cupcake Recipes available on Kindle at: 25 Yummy Cupcake Recipes