What's with the cup cakes?

[Offe]

Cup cakes seems to be a very common motif for cross stitch at the moment. I see patterns of cup cakes everywhere. The World of Cross Stitch is even starting a "cup cake of the month" series. As I am not in the UK, I have to ask, what is this about?

[mechie]

I don't know about the UK, but in the States cupcakes have become very trendy. There are gourmet cupcake shops popping up all over the place. There are even cupcake shows on TV (Cupcake Wars on Food Network comes to mind). I don't know why they are trendy though. I like a good cupcake to eat, but I don't want to pay $5-$10 for one. I'll just make my own

But, yeah, trendy. That's probable the reason for all the new designs.

mechie

(No offense to anyone doing any cupcake designs. I think they are very cute, I just don't know why they are so trendy right now.)

[destructiveernie]

In the uk they seem to be everywhere at the moment!!!!

Stupid question of the day but I've never got how they a different from other little cakes!!!

[LadyS]

I didn't know cupcake cross stitch was trendy right now, but the reason I'm making one, is that my mom-in-law took a pastry chef course a couple of years ago and she loves baking, and I had seen this pattern and wanted to stitch it for her.

But as times passed I never found it and put the idea aside. But recently a new member posted a wip on this pattern, and I remembered it and went looking for it again.

I'd think they are popular to stitch 'cus they're colorful and cute and easy to convert into very adorable patterns.

[Pinguxxx]

I'm doing this cupcake one at the moment. It was just so cute & colourful I wanted to do it and then my friend who loves baking moved house so I decided to make it as a house warming gift. Here's how it will look and my progress to date.

[Angel]

Cupcakes are EVERYWHERE! I even saw a teapot cosie designed to look like a cupcake the other day. I did like cupcakes, and they were a novelty to stitch for the kitchen, but now I'm sick of the sight of them.

[MaggieM1750]

I'll bet you are- because I think they started as a wedding trend. Instead of a slice of cake- a cupcake was a little more casual, more individual and a little bit more fun than a "regular" wedding cake

[Lenne]

Just makes me feel hungry

[Ceitidh]

Most folks I know around here refer to them as fairy cakes and not cupcakes.

[rcperryls]

My grandsons love cupcakes from the bakery because they get more icing than with a regular piece of cake. Unless it is a square birthday cake and they can get the corner piece. Maybe that is why they are popular?

Carole

[Angel]

Actually, individual cakes predates full wedding cakes! The tradition used to be that each guest would bring a small cake to the table, then it became each guest took one away, then it became the big solid cakes, now we're going back...

[Parksfarm]

Yummy - I absolutely love cupcakes to eat and Cupcake Wars is one of my new favorite programs to watch, lol! Some of the things they use as ingredients are super gross though...

[Mystonique]

Most folks I know around here refer to them as fairy cakes and not cupcakes.

I agree it's a fashion fad thing. Which is a shame because now generally when you see them to buy they are extrortionately priced and stale

To me fairy cakes are a specific type of cupcake.

Cupcakes are differentiated by being a little cake in a paper cup as opposed to a little cake on a napkin or a little cake standing alone.

Fairy cakes are a sponge cupcake and have a light butter frosting usually with sparklies or hundreds and thousands or some other colourful addition to the top of the frosting.

My favourite are butterfly cakes YUM.

[mauveme]

So very popular. So many cupcake stores too. And I just don't see the appeal. It's just cake. (thats my cupcake rant done for the day)

[Stitchinkitty]

As a born and bred Aussie I refuse to call them cupcakes.They have always been patty cakes.Fairy cakes were a pattycake with the centre cut out and filled with cream.the cut piece was then divided in half and stuck into the cream to resemble wings.Sometimes called butterfly cakes.I'm drooling just thinking of them!

[Corey.G]

I have to have a cupcake now. You people are making me so hungry. I love cupcakes.

But I haven't noticed this trend. News to me.

[Lessa54]

They're such a big trend here at the moment. We've got at least three cup-cake places I can think of in our town. Have to say though it's a fine balance between what is a good one and an average one, especially when they're about £2.50 each. I do like making them myself, though my all time favourite little cake has to be chocolate butterflies

Have to say, none of the cross stitch cupcakes really appeal though - maybe it's because they're not edible

[Mabel Figworthy]

Although I love icing on cakes I tend to make cupcakes without icing -- they get overpowered so quickly, being only ickle. So I add flavours to the cake mix instead of putting it on top . I've done ones with cocoa, coffee, chopped roasted hazelnuts, orange zest (not all at once, of course...)

Mind you, I'm not sure the recipe I brought over from the Netherlands is a cupcake recipe . It's:

- beat two eggs with 140g caster sugar and 10g vanilla sugar until pale and frothy
- stir in 125g melted butter
- fold in 150g sifted plain flour and half a Dutch teaspoon of baking soda (Dutch teaspoons are rather smaller than English ones!)
- add any flavourings
- spoon into about 15 or 16 paper or silicon cups
- bake for 10-12 mins at 220ºC

Is that like cupcakes?

[YoungStitcher]

I've been wondering the same

You used to get nice big designs that took up to pages now its all little designs and most of them cup cakes.

[Carole]

I'd rather have a nice piece of carrot cake or a chocolate eclair oozing with fresh cream.

I'm hungry now...