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Paul Nelson, KSL NewsradioThere's one well-known dessert that's becoming the trendy item all over the country. So which one is it?
Creating the next big item that all the cool kids want is pretty tough. However, you can always bank on the fact the Americans have a sweet tooth.
Apparently, the cool things to have now are cupcakes.
Some business analysts say we're in the middle of a cupcake craze. But, come on, "craze" is a bit strong, isn't it? I mean, entertainment shows like "The Insider" aren't saying cupcakes are blowing up Hollywood, are they?
The Insider: "It's the new craze that's about to blow up Hollywood."
For goodness sakes, I guess they are. Some of the national attention has focused on a cupcake chain called Sprinkles, based in L.A. It's been a few years, but businesses in Utah are catching up.
Ashley Walz, with Les Madeleines bakery, said, "It's really just been, I would say within the last six months that people have come in, and they're like, ‘Where are your cupcakes?'"
Walz goes over some of the cupcakes they have. She says they rotate about 25 different kinds, but some of them don't get thrown into the mix so often.
"Coffee, in Utah, doesn't always sell very well," she said.
"Really?" I asked.
"I know. It's amazing," Walz told me.
She says the Margaritaville cupcakes sell very well. They have tequila and grand marnier baked in and mixed in the frosting.
"You'd have to eat so many, the butter-cream would make you sick before you got drunk," Walz explained.
Other Utah businesses are starting smaller. Elizabeth Plehn owns curiouscupcake.com, and ships her goods out of her home.
"Each batch is made by hand, and you don't get that chemical taste you get from a box," she said.
"Some of us like the taste of polysorbate 5," I told her.
"I could convince somebody in the Relief Society to make me a dozen cupcakes that might be cheaper," I added.
"Oh, made from scratch with real vanilla and real butter compared to a grocery store variety, or from a box, there's no comparison," Plehn insisted.
"Well, you've obviously never tried Sister Christiansen's recipe," I said.
"No, I haven't tried hers," Plehn admitted.
Plehn says even she's surprised they're becoming so popular. I mean, for crying out loud, they're just cupcakes.
