Catching Up With CupCRAZED

Walking down the street in Baxter, you might miss it.  Between dodging cars and trying not to spill Starbucks on yourself, it’s possible to walk right past the sign and not even know it’s there.  But if you do, it’s the biggest mistake of your day.  Nestled back from the sidewalk is a little slice of heaven called Cupcrazed.  Full of eccentric bakers with even more eccentric-looking baked goods, Cupcrazed is the sweet-tooth’s and cupcake-lover’s paradise.  Walking in for the first time, the menu (yes, menu) astounds the aspiring buyer.  The front display contains shelves and rows of different flavors of the tiny treats, and past the desk there are even more options to choose from, like macaroons and cake pops, the newest development in the baking trend.  Don’t worry, though, because pretty much whatever you decide upon here is amazing and well worth the money.  Moderately priced for a boutique bakery, each delicious handheld snack fills your mouth with a smile and your stomach with happiness.

The bakers at Cupcrazed competed on the popular TV show “Cupcake Wars” in September this year.  And they won!  Having watched the show once or twice myself, it’s safe to say that this is no easy task.  Competition is stiff to impress judges on creativity, color schemes, and delicate details.  Just as an example, owner Heather McDonnell was asked to make a gumbo cupcake.  Their challenge was to create a theme for a country music icon, and the South Carolina girls knocked it out of the park.  When asked how she got her ideas for her cupcakes, Heather said that she gleaned much of her information from cookbooks, blogs, etc., and also enjoys working on the suggestions of customers.  She said that being on TV definitely jumped business right after the show aired, but they are “so thankful for our regular customers that support us with or without being on TV.”

The slogan on their website is, “We bake and we’re crazy!” and is full of pictures and suggestions on purchases you can make.  Cupcakes are a big thing right now; people use them as stand-ins for wedding cakes, bouquets of flowers, and birthday parties.  And the inventions keep on coming.  On their site they advertise “Push Pops” which look like a tube filled with layers of cake and icing and shaved chocolate.  I’m not sure what it is, but I know I’ll be stopping by to get one soon.  You can be their friend on Facebook and get updates, read reviews, and write some of your own.  Store workers are friendly and helpful, and the store is cute and welcoming.  The next time you are craving something sweet (or maybe something gumbo-flavored), stop in for one of their seasonal specials and maybe even something you haven’t ever tried before.