Americans are fascinated with cupcakes, and it’s easy to see why. They’re a small, personal version of the standard cake, and they are positively adorable.
Not only are they the focus of a large number of TV shows, but they can be frequently found as fashion statements as well. Shirts, purses, and accessories like earrings and necklaces–cupcake love is alive and well.
But how did the hype for these tasty little cakes begin?
No one is sure when the cupcake craze started, though there’s a few who take credit for leading the way in cupcake culture.
Some say it all began in 2000 when Miranda and Carrie from “Sex and the City” ate cupcakes from a bakery named Magnolia’s Cupcakes. After this episode aired, the bakery was flooded with tourists and customers, until it closed its doors in 2010.
In 2003, California-based bakery Sprinkles Cupcakes started selling cupcakes for $3.50. While this seems steep for a single cake, it didn’t deter patrons from buying the tasty treats. Sprinkle Cupcakes claims their gourmet cupcakes led to the start of the fad.
Then, 2009 and 2010, cupcakes became the star of numerous TV shows, beginning with Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” People tuned in to watch bake-offs and admire the bakers who turned ordinary cupcakes into works of art.
Since then, the number of bakeries across the countries continues to grow, though customers are beginning to turn away from chains like the once mega-popular Crumbs Bakery in favor of local stores.
However, the desire for cupcakes hasn’t diminished. Many bakeries continue to invent fun and exciting new flavors to satisfy Americans’ hunger for cakes.
Although cupcakes remain a fashionable and trendy commodity and bakeries devoted to this item continue to thrive, people are starting to veer away from chains and spend their money at smaller local shops. So, while cupcakes still draw in consumers interested in them, the focus is no longer on large, well-known bakeries.
The small, convenient portions of cupcakes are another reason behind their appeal. People are turning away from traditional cakes and opting for the ease of cupcakes instead.
Not only do they take away the chore of cutting a cake, but they’re also a great way to make a statement at a birthday party, wedding, or any other occasion. Plus, they make it easier to give a choice of flavors as opposed to a single cake.
According to Business Insider, cupcakes are something referred to as “an affordable indulgence,” or something that consumers are willing to spend money on even if they are on a tight budget. Cupcakes offer a feeling of joy and a sense of better times. That’s why for many, it’s easy to spend $5 on a cake.
The cupcake has seen a surge in popularity in pop
culture over the last several decades. Thanks to many fan-favorite TV shows and
the rise of cupcake-focused bakeries that opened shortly afterward, this yummy
treat has been given a spotlight that continues to shine.