Cupcakeries are sprinkled all over the Kansas City Metro, their frost-swirled window displays putting a sugarplum sparkle in the eyes of children and grownups alike. In the fashion of the petit fours of Parisian pâtissiers and the beignets of the Bayou, the cupcake is the craze of today’s confectionary world. Its mini-sized, built-in portion control takes the devil out of the cake, rendering the cupcake gentle on the waist—even a muffin’s stock of calories can give you more of a muffin top. And the variety is an endless, ever-changing bliss of staples and seasonal favorites. If you’re tempted to indulge, consider this your “where-to” of the Kansas City cupcake hullabaloo:
Gigi’s Cupcakes, Overland Park:
“When you decide you're going to bake for people, and anyone who bakes understands this, you want people to love what you've created,” writes founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes, Gina "Gigi" Butler. With more than 36 flavors to choose from, just a sampling here will give you a real sugar high. $3.00 each or $35.85 per dozen.
Bestsellers: Wedding Cake, Midnight Magic
Fun Flavors: Nodini Cannolini, Hunka Chunka Banana Love
www.GigisCupcakesUSA.com/OverlandParkKansas
Cupcake A La Mode, locations in Country Club Plaza, Park Place and Oak Park Mall:
The secret ingredient at Cupcake A La Mode? Made-from-scratch buttercreams. The cupcakery serves vanilla and chocolate cakes “dressed to impress” with frostings and toppings. $3.25 each or $36.00 per dozen.
Bestsellers: Peanut Butter Kiss, Red Velvet, Stuffed French Toast
Fun Flavor: Guinness Cupcake with bacon (weekends at select locations)
3 Women and an Oven, Overland Park:
Owners Jayne and Stacey put a lot of love into this “dessert experience” hatched right here in Kansas City. Everything is made from scratch using local farm fresh dairy, real butter and eggs cracked in their kitchen. $3.75 each.
Bestsellers: 24-Carrot Cake, Chocolate Buttercream, Red Velvet
Fun Flavor: Pink Champagne (their 9-in. cake contains a full bottle of bubbly)
BabyCakes: In Kansas City’s historic River Market:
BabyCakes is Kansas City’s first cupcake shop, and they deliver (to your door)! Cupcakes are baked on site, fresh that day, with top ingredients: only real butter, cream cheese and organic vanilla extract will do.
Bestsellers: Red Velvet, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Cake
Fun Flavor: Gender-Reveal Cupcakes (pink or blue icing pumped inside)
Melting Snow Globe Cupcakes
You’ll need: large white marshmallows (snowman heads), rainbow Fruit Roll-Ups (scarves, mittens, hats), mini M&Ms (eyes, mouths), orange Mike & Ikes (carrot noses), mini pretzel sticks (arms)
Other ingredients: cake mix (bake as directed), Pillsbury Easy Frost in Velvety Cream Cheese, cupcake liners, plastic Christmas ornament halves (from craft shop)
Directions: Bake cupcakes according to package directions; cool on wire rack. Decorate marshmallow (snowman) faces using mini M&Ms and orange Mike & Ikes cut to resemble carrots; attach candy to marshmallows with frosting. Cut scarves, mittens and hats out of Fruit Roll-Ups. Frost each cupcake and arrange melted snowman heads in the middle; add hats. Place pretzel stick arms, mittens and scarves haphazardly around edges. Top with plastic ornament halves to create melting snow globes cupcakes.
Wendy Connelly is a writer and mom of two sweet-as-cupcakes kids in Overland Park.