Make Cupcakes Not War

There was a time when cupcakes were simple homemade treats baked by moms around the world for their children to enjoy.  They were easy to make.  All one needed was a box of cake mix and a can of frosting and voilà.  Treats for twelve in under 20 minutes.  Easy on mommy and yummy for the kids.  It was usually just your basic chocolate or vanilla with a chocolate or vanilla frosting on top and maybe a few sprinkles.  That was it. No mess, no fuss.  But over the past few years, cupcakes have been popping up all over the place.  In magazines, online and in finer bakeries today you will find that cupcakes have been redesigned into beautifully decorated gourmet confections. All of a sudden, the simplicity of the little cupcake has been turned on its ear and I asked myself, "what in the world happened"?  We even have T.V. shows with names like Cupcake Wars.  Seriously...war??   Sounds kinda harsh don'tcha think? 

Well, actually, not so much.  It so happens that the resurgence of the cupcake, within the last decade, has been mind-boggling and air-bending to say the least.   From the world's most renown pâtisseries such as Paris' famed Ladurée to small towns in Oregon, across the world and in almost every major city today, you'll find a growing number of cupcake shops (also known as the "cupcakery" if you will).  You probably already have one right in your very own neighborhood.  And a lot of these cupcake shops are being run and operated by women.  That's right.   Women who one day woke up and had a light bulb moment and have now found an incredible niche.  Come on.  Did you ever honestly think that someone could make megabucks selling cupcakes?  Naaaah.  I didn't think so.  But some have done just that.  And big time.    I'll talk more about that in another post.

So what's the appeal?  And who eats all of these cupcakes anyway?  Well, it turns out a lot of folks do.  From kindergarteners to senior citizens, the cupcake craze has captured the hearts of many.  The reasons may differ from person to person, but there is really one simple answer.  It's a delightful treat that is big enough to satisfy your need for a sweet indulgence and yet it is small enough that there is no guilt for yielding to a little sugary temptation.  In two or three bites, it's gone and you're happy.  What more can you ask for?

The appeal of the cupcake has become so widespread that cupcake shops are consistently competing for customers on a daily basis.  It's a battle of wits and baking know-how.  Armed with a spatula and a Kitchen-Aid mixer, these bakers are on a daily mission to create that perfect blend of flour, butter and sugar with an endless array of flavors and ingredients to conceive that One. Unique. Concoction. that will change the baking world. Forever!!  Thunder clap!  Bwahahahahaha!!   Ok, ok, so that may sound a little far-fetched to the disconnected non-cupcake minded out there, but those of us who do this cupcake thing know that we can indeed get that cool mad-scientist jive going in our kitchens every now and again while trying to come up with something creative and new and well, while a new flavor won't change the world (too bad for that),  in today's highly competitive market, the search for new and exotic ingredients, the constant experimentation with the perfect pairing of ingredients and the endless hours of baking goes on and on in order to try and satisfy the rapidly growing appetite and ever-changing taste of the consumer. Gone are the days of plain supermarket chocolate and vanilla extract from the spice aisle.   No. no. no.   Today, we use gourmet chocolates from Belgium and France and our vanillas come all the way from exotic locations such as Madagascar. Of course, we can still use those, well, those average ingredients, but they're just not good enough. When it comes to cupcakes, we're not in Kansas anymore.

So with an empty stomach and an open heart, I say let the battle continue and may the sweetest and smartest bakers win.

Welcome!

Hi and welcome to Unconditional Cupcakes.  We are a gourmet cupcakery based in South Florida specializing in cupcake creations with unique flavors, always made from the finest premium ingredients.  Our goal, through this blog, is to share our passion of baking with you.  So, if you're ever looking for a little baking inspiration or if you just want to look at some really delicious cupcakes, just pay us a visit.

For more information about our company, please visit our new website at http://www.unconditionalcupcakes.com/.