What is the big deal with the cupcakes?

So what is with the cupcake craze?

Have been seeing the stores in the cities and on the Food Network and apparently they are really big in the States?

I make them a lot for parties and really don't see what is with paying $4-$7 for a little cake that is mostly icing and that takes me a few minutes and pennies to make.

It just seems very silly to me.

It came out of "sex in the city".

Cupcake cakes are the epitome of all evil.

Oh that would explain it. I never really watched Sex in the City (it seemed silly to me too)

Never watched Sex in the City - at least, not more than an episode every couple years.

But, I can tell you, with kids parties, it's much easier to just give the little buggers a cupcake and send them out the door.

whenever someone mentions sex in the city i think of the one where carrie steals that homeboy's weed.

The crazy nympho was a hoot. Enjoyed watching her!

I dunno we usually have 25 kids or so for parties...I have always done theme cakes. Battle Force 5, Transformers..that sort of thing. This January its a Princess Castle cake and I have to transfort the darn thing - with 16 turrets. We might be featured on Cake Wrecks.

With cupcakes you have wrappers and crumbs everywhere...but do have to admit that have made some knock off Disney red velvet ones and can definitely see the appeal with those (cheesecake...mmmm...hmmm.)

I miss a lot being out of the mainstream culture. That's why I was curious about it.

http://therecipesofdisney.blogspot....6/red-velvet-cheesecake-cupcake-starring.html

I might very well be in the cupcake epicenter yet am totally unaware of any cupcake craze. It's better to bake separate cupcakes than one big cake IMO because one big cake tends to be burned on the edges/bottom yet still raw on the inside. Cupcakes bake more evenly in my experience.

Um. I have never had that problem....

Do you make them from scratch? I love baking (hate cooking, but love baking). I've made everything from scratch including different color icings with natural dyes.

I don't do this often, obviously.

I like cupcakes

this looks good

I make everything from scratch. The only time my kid's cake didn't turn out was when got lazy and bought some el'cheapo store frosting (the same stuff used for the vagina cupcakes just to use up). Last time will EVER do that.

If you are going to buy something go for the good stuff. I buy my fondant and royal icing at Micheals though. Fondant is a bitch to make.

Well let me clarify that - I make everything that is EASILY made from scratch

I remember my cousin going through a phase where he preferred cupcakes over regular cake. I thought it was just him until I read this thread

But, I can see the appeal with cupcakes for kids...especially if you invite a large group and you've got some that want chocolate only or vanilla only. And there more portable for smaller hands.

Does the Plutonium cupcake glow in the dark?

Mmmmmmmmm...caaaakkeee

I could totally tell you how to make it glow in the dark.

Fruit pies trump cupcakes . Ding Dongs trump fruit pies. I have spoken.

Yes, pie over cake indeed. Hostess Fruit Pies (especially cherry) are a true gift from heaven.