Cake Eater Bakery ...

Citrus Bomb Cupcake! (Lemon Cake Filled with Lime Curd
and Grapefruit Buttercream)























News flash: Cupcakes are selling like hot cakes!
Even in this bad economy, profits are sweet for the cupcake business. Bakeries across the country are finding out that cupcakes equal cash. Specialty shops are increasing, and our bad economy is feeding the craving. For recession-weary us, the humble cupcake is a sweet – and affordable – treat. New house: No way. Cupcake: Get 2!

I checked out the new Cake Eater Bakery and Cafe in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis today. They have amazing cupcakes, although the selection at 12:30 on a Friday wasn't huge. They also offer vegan and gluten free options.

I asked the woman behind the counter for her recommendation. She suggested the Citrus Bomb. I wanted something different and although I usually prefer chocolate, I was definitely in the mood for citrus. Must be the hot and muggy weather. The cafe was cool, cute and colorful inside, with sturdy red picnic tables outside.

The Cake Eater Cafe has wonderful sounding flavors that can be special ordered, including: Chocolate with Raspberry Rhubarb Jam, Chocolate Whiskey with Maple Pecans, Chocolate with Coffee, Mint Cookies and Cream, White Chocolate Lavender, White Chocolate Banana, Red Hot Velvet, Roasted Peach with Lime Ginger, Rosewater with Pistachio, Tres Leches with Honey, Orange Cranberry with Cinnamon Clove, Elvis! (Banana with Peanut Butter and Marshmellow topped with Bacon), Lemon with Orange Chili Curd and White Chocolate Chili, Lemon Lavender and a long, long list of other amazing flavors. Yes - the cupcakes do have a lot of frosting - but can you ever really have too much frosting? I think you should definitely stop in at the Cake Eater Bakery if you're in the neighborhood!

Cupcakes and Other Goodies ...

There's a great little bakery next to the shop where I get my pedicures done (okay, so now you know one of my guilty pleasures). It's called Sweets Bakeshop on Marshall Avenue in St. Paul, and it's not your average bakery. They don't have a jelly doughnut on the premises! I stopped in yesterday just to see what was new. They bake from scratch daily using natural, local ingredients whenever possible, such as butter from Hope Creamery located in Hope, Minnesota and organic, free-range eggs from Larry Schultz Organic Farm in Owatonna, Minnesota. They keep things interesting by constantly updating their menu and offering both innovative and classic flavors.

They sell gorgeous French Macaroons in flavors like Chocolate, Banana, Lavender Caramel, Mocha, Mint Basil, Turtle, and Mango, to name a few, and cupcakes in flavors with wonderful names like Kettle Corn, Coconut Ginger, Tiramisu, Peanut Butter Cup, Berries and Champagne and Lavender. These are not inexpensive but are definitely spectacular and worth paying a little extra for a special occasion! I asked the young woman working if I could take a few pictures. I love the way these pretty fondant flower topped cupcakes were displayed.