On the heels of this supposed “Muffingate” I must pay tribute to an amazingly creative and yummy obsession that is sweeping the nation. Cupcakes. They are so individualized and instantly gratifying that the world has embraced them with open arms (and wallets...). These treats were once saved for the mouths of babes but now, not the case and we have the reality television proof to back us up. Cupcake Wars, DC Cupcakes, The Cupcakes Girls, and podcast The Cupcake Show are reality based guilty pleasures for us all to take a gander out. Episodes both old and new show the absolute devotion of traditional lifelong bakers and newcombers to the industry for a passion for sweet treats.
My own indulgences are a bit more tangible and local. Trophy Cupcakes is Seattle’s answer to the question of, here will the next luxe little treat shop pop up?” Here it is and they truly do deserve a trophy. 
They are beautiful and I must eat beautiful things. It sounds crazy but what is pleasing to the eyes has the sincerest tendency to be pleasing to the mouth. See for yourself here.The shop also boasts a full espresso bar making it a full service cupcake cafe serving locals hot drinks which pair perfectly with a cupcake on a cool Seattle day. Trophy Cupcakes serves mom groups, corporates on the go, wedding parties & children’s parties thousands of impressively packaged treats each day.
Opened in 2007, Trophy Cupcakes already has 3 locations and also caters and customizes their luxury baked goods to those willing to pay top dollar. At over $3/cupcake (after tax) they deliver the flavor like no one else so rest assured your little mouth investment was worth it. the flavors are so unique with truly decadent choices like Hummingbird Cake made from banana cake topped with pineapple and coconut frosting and features old school sprinkles. One of my favorites, Red Velvet, is a definite primo choice. Tiger Tail is a cococunt cake topped with raspberry butter cream drizzled w/ raspberry sauce and rolled in coconut.
Trophy Cupcakes was most recently featured on the Cooking Channel’s Unique Sweets where they shared some of their most coveted flavors. There flavor selections do change from day to day but all flavors are one of a kind. Childhood favorites a la cupcake are Trophy’s specialty featuring Snickerdoodle cupcake, Thin Mint cupcake with a rich chocolate ganache, and Peanut Butter and Jelly using a vanilla cupcake with strawberry jam filling topped with real peanut butter and jelly butter cream topping. Many of their select ingredients are natural and organic when possible and some of the worlds finest vanilla and other flavorings are used to give each cupcake that rich, real flavor. Quality is key in the world of food.
Hey, if Martha loves them, so do I! Watch the video on their press site. Martha Stewart, in true form, asks the tough questions but owner Jennifer Shea bakes on without missing a beat! If you don’t have a Trophy Cupcakes near you, do a quick google search and you are bound to find a shop very close to home. These cupcake places are rising up all over town
Eat, drink & be merry!
Sometimes in life, we must treat ourselves. Today was the time for a little "me-party" and this was my chosen cake. Actually cakes as The Cupcake Collection has such an inviting display that it is difficult to choose just one so we chose two. Rosey Posey that features a glace flavored with rosewater and a classic vanilla cupcake with purple icing for that very reason. They use the finest of fresh ingredients using sources from all over the world and priding themselves on creating unique flavors that are not available to most in Christchurch where the company is based. The cupcakes were originally sold at the local farmer's market and has grown into a Garden City staple that produces individual cupcakes, cookies, treats for tea parties and specialty cakes for every occasion. This was our own little occasion and they served up a delicious duo for us today. We will let the photography do the rest of the work here.
