Remember those birthday parties as a child? It was always about the ice cream, balloons, presents, and of course, those sugary sweet cupcakes. Just a thin wrapper was all that separated you from what was sure to be a delicious, messy treat. Nothing else could add a smile to your face…along with a little bit of icing.
But now, the fun simplicity of homemade cupcakes and childhood are gone, and supermarkets have taken over the confectionary challenge. The cupcakes they sell are impersonal and lack the homemade touch, and adults rarely enjoy them. But with a cupcake’s individual size and convenience, they are the perfect addition to a morning coffee or just as a right-sized sweet treat. Cupcakes have evolved, and Knoxville is the perfect place to experience the new trend for yourself.
Nestled among the hustle and bustle of the Knoxville businesses are two unique havens for those with a sweet tooth and a craving for the unordinary. The Cities Cupcake Boutique and The Cupcakery, both located on Kingston Pike, are only similar in their overall goal of baking good, quality treats. Like their various cupcakes, each shop has a distinct flavor, and an atmosphere that is sure to brighten anyone’s day. Comparatively, they offer two interesting perspectives.
The Cupcakery is a tiny venue in the Cherokee Plaza shopping area. It’s easy to miss, but once you’ve been, you’ll never forget it. After walking in the glass door, you can’t help but smile. The white walls are bright, and the quaint silver chairs with tiny round white tables are so inviting. A pink bouquet of carnations cheerily sits upon each table. The room is open and airy, and the smells of warm cupcakes baking wafts out from the kitchen. On the left wall, CUPCAKE TIME is spelled out with silver letters, accenting an artsy clock below it. “It really is like a cupcake heaven here. We’re clean and chic, like a cupcake boutique,” said manager Christie Pierce.
But the main attraction is in the center. Curved like a gleeful smile, a glass case boasts a colorful and mouthwatering assortment of about ten varieties of cupcake flavors. And even with a pretty small number of choices, deciding which one to choose is still quite a dilemma, and it’s easy to see why.
The cupcakes here are delightfully plump. The icing is layered on in thick, creamy ropes, and the cake foundation certainly provides a thick delicious base. They aren’t elaborately decorated, accented by only a few additions of cookie crumbs or contrasting pastel icing, but their simplicity is charming. They seem almost cartoonish the way they’re presented, but the taste is definitely real.
In addition to their ultra-large cupcakes, The Cupcakery also offers customers a service to create their own cupcake and icing pairings, but The Cupcakery staff has hand-selected the combinations that they feel are the best. But what’s their best seller? “It’s always a toss-up between the tuxedo and red velvet,” said Pierce.
But if The Cupcakery doesn’t appeal to you, there are even more cupcake choices just down the road at the Cities Cupcake Boutique. Along with the variety of cupcakes, the atmosphere here is completely different. The shop has the feel of an upscale vintage store, and it’s cozier rather than open and airy like The Cupcakery. The walls are covered with neat shelves of paintings, note cards, recipe books, and other odds and ends.
By featuring local artists’ and crafts people’s work, The Cities Cupcake Boutique cleverly pairs the relaxed feel of art with steaming coffee and delicious cupcakes. “I feel like it’s really important to show off some of the local’s work, and this is a great place to do it,” said jovial owner Linda Hurst.
It’s a showcase for art here, that’s for sure, but the cupcakes are often works of art themselves. Putting her own unique twist on things, owner Linda Hurts incorporated her love of travel into her love for baking. Each cupcake is named after a city and is a tiny reflection of that particular city’s most famous traits. For instance, the Knoxville cupcake is an orange chiffon cake topped with a generous dollop of homemade white icing and orange sprinkles. Other city cupcakes include Paris, Chicago, Atlanta, Versailles, Miami, and several others. With a huge serving of melt-in-your-mouth icing, the cupcakes are exquisite in taste and definitely not lacking in any decorations.
But for those who want a bit more than a dessert, Cities Cupcake Boutique also has “salty” cupcakes, a fun twist on the traditional cupcakes. The Santa Fe cupcake is made of jalepeno cornbread topped with ranch-spiced cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of bacon bits. It’s definitely a sharp contrast to the other sweets, but for those with even more adventurous taste buds, the Milwaukee cupcake has a malty, beer batter flavor and is also topped with cream cheese.
But the treats don’t end there. Icing shots, a serving of decadent homemade icing in a shot glass, are finally an option for the cupcake lovers who admit to only eating the icing anyway. And if you’re just in the mood for a bite, Cities Cupcake Boutique also has cupcake truffles, a hard-shelled chocolate candy with a moist cake center, and “burgers,” two cupcake tops sandwiching a thick center of buttercream icing.
From the ambience to the employees, both shops are tastefully done, so go ahead and enjoy a visit back to your childhood with just the simple charm of a cupcake. Your sweet tooth will thank you.
