I always put too much batter in the cupcake pan

Today I’d like to talk about something that makes me overwhelmingly happy. A small piece of joy that sugar coats the malaise that is the average day and eviscerates the bitterness of life with its indomitable sweetness. That thing, my friends, is the modern American cupcake. I can’t tell you my first real memory of these petit gateaux de joie (ok, that’s French for “little cakes of joy” but forgive me, I get a little fancy when I’ m excited) but I can tell you four things that are certain:

1. The excitement caused by being given or seeing a cupcake comes from several factors. Firstly, memories of how friggin’ exciting it was when you were given them on every classmate’s birthday in elementary school. At least that was the tradition at my elementary school. Secondly, the now internalized knowledge of how sugary and perfect this treat is and how it will send you orbiting in the sugar-powered hyper stratosphere upon first bite. Thirdly, that their small size and connection to children’s parties allows for an ease of decoration and whimsy that means they can be any color, shape, theme or flavor!

2. Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes are by far the most frivolous form of the dessert and thus are the best. When my classmates parents brought those in for us in school they because the de factor best class parents. Until the next parent did.

3. There is not one single thing on the face of the planet more disappointing than a bad cupcake. I’m looking at you, dry, overly-sugary store bought cupcake!

4. Cupcakes are the egalitarian dessert. No one will look at you funny or call you lazy if you make cupcakes from a mix. Come on, we’re not talking about a soufflé here. The flavor possibilities are endless; from 3 Citrus Margarita to Oreo Cheesecake, anything is possible! Lastly, there are so many frosting and cake recipes and traditions that people all dietary choices and needs are covered! From the lacto-ovo vegetarian to the lactose intolerant; the bacon obsessed to the halal! All are welcome to join in the sugar-fueled frenzy.

As previously mentioned, cupcakes are a cyber pick-me-up when I’m done with class for the day and remember that there’s never anything good on TV besides Golden Girls. That’s when I go hunting for the very best of blogs and sites to inspire, entertain, and instruct me upon the wonder of mankind that is dessert. Here are a few of my favorites:

Cake wrecks

Not technically about cupcakes alone but the first time I showed my sister this site we both ended up crying out of laughter on the floor

Cupcakes take the Cake

A collection point for endless cupcake inspiration, reviews and listings of bakeries around the country all topped off with adorable fan-submitted photos of the epic fight between a baby and their first birthday cupcake

52 Cupcakes

The noble quest of a woman on a mission: create, recreate and decorate some of the world's most delicious looking cupcakes with her faithful pooch at her side


With that, I exit. Hopefully this post leaves you a little more happy if you've clicked on any of the links, a little more grateful for the existence of this petit confection and probably a little hungry.