A short history in America’s little sweetheartThe Cupcake

By: Brianna Davis

What is your fondest memory of a birthday party?

• Birthday Party

Just how popular are cupcakes?

• According to the #1 cupcake blog (Yes they have their own blog) the “Cupcakery” in Georgetown DC sold 275,000 cupcakes last year

• Half a billion Hostess cupcakes are consumed every year in America

Cupcakeries have hit the nation by storm1. Cake Fetish Cupcakes2. Magnolia Bakery3. Charm City Cupcakes4. Love at First Bite5. Georgetown Cupcake

“That’s right, The Washington Post’s Cupcake Wars pitted Hello Cupcake against Georgetown Cupcake”

How did cupcakes even come to be?• “Cooking Resources” stated that the first

appearance of cupcakes arrived between 1790 and 1800– In these times resources were too scarce to

waste so any left over batter was used to create small portion cakes

• The first recipe referring to a “cupcake” was published in 1826 in an American cookbook

• Hostess Cupcakes emerged on the scene in 1919 once muffin tins had been invented– They quickly became a school time favorite for

kids of all ages

So why are they called cupcakes?1. The left over batter was put into small muffin or

ramekin cups in order to bake in hearth ovens– Cakes baked in regular pans took hours to cook in the

hearth kitchens– Dividing the batter into small cups and baking several at a

time decreased the cooking time

2. Cupcakes referred to the measuring system used in order to make the batter– The measuring system for baking changed over from

weighing ingredients to using the metric system in the 19th century

– Common cupcake recipes called for things such as “1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup butter”

So how did this little treat become so popular?

Sex and the CityMagnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village is credited with spurring on

the cupcake craze of 1990 when it was featured in a 30 second clip on an episode of “Sex and The City”.

Within a week this small bakery exploded and became nationally renowned.

• Reason 1: Cupcakes have an amazing nostalgic quality that reminds consumers of their childhood– Brings back the memories of icing, the sweet smell of the

fresh baked treats, and the colorful sprinkles

• Reason 2: People in today’s society love anything mini– Take for instance the “Mini cooper” or “mini oreo

bites”– The size makes cupcakes much more portable for

a society on the go

• Reason 3: Cupcakes fit into today’s schema of calorie conscious and economically mindful individuals– Calorie wise, cupcakes constitute as a single

serving and allow people to feel they are partaking in the perfect indulgence

– An average cupcake ranges between $0.95 and $2.50, cheaper than a morning cup of joe

Just how far has this fad gone?• Not only have cupcakeries become increasing

popular but now there are cupcake bars, and brides are replacing traditional cakes for towers of cupcakes

• Cupcakes have made a huge comeback and continue to be a growing trend.– In combination to the small place they have held

in our heart, cupcakes have leapt in popularity as a trendy treat that got a facelift