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Food Fashion Trend: Cupcakes are Back in StyleCupcakes aren't just for KidsCupcakes have always been a popular childhood treat but recently these little indulgences have made their way onto the trendiest adult dessert menus.
Many people believe this cupcake mania is due in no small part to the TV show Sex In The City. Carrie is often seen unabashedly devouring cupcakes from her favorite bakery, “Magnolia” in New York City. Magnolia is one of most well-known bakeries devoted to cupcakes, but certainly not the only one. In the last ten years, bakeries devoted entirely to cupcakes have sprung up on the East and West coasts and every major city in between. Cupcake PopularityWhat makes cupcakes so popular? Are they really the perfect dessert? The answer may be in their individual size; small enough to eat by yourself but big enough to satisfy a craving for something sweet. Is it their decoration? They can be plain or fancy, casual or formal, crazy colored or pristine white. Is it because they bring back memories of childhood? The delight of having a cake small enough to fit in tiny hands and not having to share…the peeling off of the wrapper like a little present…and the of eating the frosting first, or not. Perhaps it is the versatility of a plate of cupcakes. Suitable for a midmorning coffee break, afternoon tea or even a wedding reception, cupcakes are always welcome. HistoryNot much is known about the history of cupcakes. There is very little written about when cupcakes came into existence. One of the earliest records comes from the Fanny Merritt Farmer’s Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. In this book the cook is instructed to bake individual cakes in tin cups. Paper liners were not used until just after World War I when the James River Corporation manufactured cupcake liners on machines that a few years before were making artillery shells. Commercial cupcakes reached the market some time before World War II. Hostess introduced the Hostess Cupcake in the 1950’s. DecorationWhile cupcakes can be a once in a while luxury from a trendy bakery, their popularity may stem from the fact that they are easy to make at home. In about 30 minutes a batch of cupcakes can be prepared and baked. While they are cooling, the creative baker can consider how to decorate them. Frosting or glaze? Flowers or candies? Fruit? Nuts? Gummi Worms? The possibilities are endless and there are many cupcake cookbooks available to help the creative process. RefrencesJust a few titles on the shelves at bookstores are: More From Manolia by Allysa Torey Hello Cupcake by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson People who follow a vegan lifestyle are not left out of the cupcake craze with books such as: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz As with so many interests and hobbies, the internet is another source for cupcake enthusiasts. Cupcakes Take the Cake provides the latest information and links to new bakeries in the cupcake arena. There are forums, clubs, meet-ups, items to buy with a cupcake theme and lots and lots of pictures of cupcakes. Whether you are a professional pastry chef in an upscale restaurant or a room-mother in your child’s first grade class, you can’t go wrong with cupcakes.
The copyright of the article Food Fashion Trend: Cupcakes are Back in Style in Baking & Desserts is owned by Sage Meehan. Permission to republish Food Fashion Trend: Cupcakes are Back in Style in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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