By Tatevik Aprikyan | Photos By Chad Coleman

Coney Island Coconut, New York Cupcakes ($2.75)

With these sweet savory treats and specialty shops popping up all over the city, the cupcake trend is here to stay.

Forget about plain vanilla and chocolate– flavors in these shops range from favorites like Snickerdoodle and Red Velvet to the fun creations of PB&J and Pineapple Upside Down to the one and only Coffee Flavored Cupcake titled Sleepless in Seattle.

New York Cupcakes

Walking through the doors of New York Cupcakes at Crossroads Shopping Center, the smell of luscious treats baking in the oven scent the air and the shabby-chic decor of the shop complete with black and white checkered tile and a 1950’s style pink refrigerator transport customers back into the magic of grandma’s kitchen.
Here at New York Cupcakes, owner Lisa Waxman Johnson, an avid baker and lover of the cupcake, started out baking these sweet treats for family and friends. When the original New York Cupcakes store inside Bellevue Square Mall went up for sale in August 2008, Waxman Johnson knew this would be her opportunity to combine her business and retail background with her passion for baking. “I bought it and took it out of the mall setting into the Crossroads area where
I feel there is a greater sense of community and diversity and a place where the shop can really be a neighborhood staple,” she said. “I really wanted to make my shop feel magical and enticing to all ages, and offer not only amazing cupcakes but cupcake-themed items too” she said. The merchandise list includes cupcake scented candles, cupcake shaped plates, measuring spoons, books and many more delectable goodies. New York Cupcakes also offers cupcake wedding cakes, custom orders and catering for any occasion. For more information visit www.newyorkcupcakes.com.

Pinkabella

Bellevue’s newest addition to the cupcake scene is Pinkabella located in Redmond Town Center and the third floor of Bellevue Square Mall next to the Kids Cove. Owner Margo Engberg’s lifetime passion for experimenting in the kitchen decided it was time she take what she loves and turn it into a business. “I’ll still wake up in the middle of the night with
a new flavor idea and go into the kitchen and test it out,” she said “Then if it works, I make a couple more and make
sure I get the approval of my children before I launch it in the store”.
Engberg is very hands on in all parts of the business. “This is my baby, so I am very much a part of everything.
There are days I’ll be in the bakery baking and decorating and then up front greeting customers and then to the
business aspect of the marketing,” she said.
Pinkabella Cupcakes is more than just a sweet treat. Engberg’s passion for birthday parties and making a difference
in the lives of children prompted her to team up with the Children of the Nation charity where she made cupcakes
for children’s birthday parties. Engberg started a fund where proceeds go to fund birthday parties for
children in Africa. For more information visit www.pinkabellacupcakes.com.

Royal Red Velvet

Trophy Cupcakes

A little over two years ago husband and wife team Jennifer Shea and Michael Williamson launched their first Trophy Cupcake store at the Wallingford Center in Seattle. With an immediate outpouring of fans who quickly became cupcake addicts, the tremendous success at the Wallingford Center prompted the couple to open two
more stores, at the University Village location in Seattle and the Bravern in Bellevue.
Before Shea was even nine years old she won 4-H competitions, but never imagined she could turn her cupcakes into a career. In April of 2008 Shea appeared on the Martha Stewart Show to bake her famous Chocolate Graham Cracker Toasted Marshmallow Cupcake which became an instant fan favorite and offered at Trophy Cupcakes every Sunday and Monday. No flavor is too far-fetched at Trophy. Here flavors like PB&J, Samoas and Chai Cardamom are rotated throughout the week and favorites like Triple Chocolate, Red Velvet and Vanilla are served daily. Trophy cupcakes accommodates all customer needs including special flavors, party catering and wedding cakes.
For a full list of flavors, pricing and orders visit www.trophycupcakes.com.