Attention Vermont food entrepreneurs: cupcakes are all the rage in the baking world. I first read about the cupcake craze a couple years ago in a specialty food magazine. Cupcake bakeries (where you can even buy a "shot" of frosting) are springing up in big cities everywhere. Yum.
On a personal note, cupcakes remind us midlifers of childhood. What child doesn't to lick the frosting off a cupcake while peeling the paper off the moist cake inside?
Cupcakes do not seem to have made it to Vermont yet. Since I've been reading a cupcake blog regularly (http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/), I've been thinking it might be cool to turn Vermont Shortbread Company into Vermont Cupcake Company. Okay, I admit, I mostly just look at the photos on the cupcake blog and dream in cupcake possibilities. I'm even considering taking a cake decorating class since I've become so obsessed with cupcakes.
Who wants to partner with me on Vermont Cupcake Company? I can't do it alone. I have a commercial bakery. I have the vision and the infrastructure already in place. I also have a full time job that I adore and I'm no longer willing to compromise my family and my health for my entrepreneurial dreams. But there's gotta be a way...I am seeing cupcake kiosks in malls across the country in my dreams.
Any cupcakers out there? Hello?
I just read about you on cupcakestakethecake.com and I have to say kudos. You're already steps ahead of me in my dream of opening a bakery and I can tell you right now, Vermont need a little cupcake shop. My husband is originally from there and I can just see a honey cupcake with maple frosting and walnuts or a cream cheese cupcake with some kind of cheddar frosting prancing around in his head. I really hope this works for you. Have fun doing it!
Ivy Wright
Posted by: Ivy Wright | August 13, 2008 at 06:15 PM
I have been thinking the same thing...I could just see a cute cupcake shop on Church street in Burlington. Unfortunately I am from the Montreal area and I think that it would be a little too complicated. My dream is to open a NYC type cupcake shop in the Montreal area. Montreal has several cupcake shops, but they just do not have the same style and pizzaz as the ones in the US. Good luck and if you ever open up a shop, you can count on me to visit your shop each time I am in Burlington!!!
Posted by: Melanie | August 13, 2008 at 06:57 PM
This sounds awesome. I've toyed with the idea of selling baked goods by myself and with family, but it seems like such a long shot. If I were close to Vermont, I would take you up on the offer (even though I'm a novice baker *wink*). I may seek out a local cupcake bakery and try my hand. Wishing you all the best!
Posted by: Jams | August 14, 2008 at 06:03 AM
::raises hand & waves it around wildly:: ooh ooh pick me pick me!!!
I have a (mild) cupcake obsession. I'm also a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education pastry/baking and culinary management programs, so I have the technical ability. Oh, and I love VT.
Seriously...drop me a line cookiechrissy79@Yahoo.com
Posted by: Chrissy | August 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I think your idea sounds great!!! I am a mom of 2 small ones and started a handcrafted made to order cupcake business a year ago. It is a lot of work, especially since I do EVERYTHING myself! I live in Colorado but could be persuaded to move to beautiful Vermont (wink wink)!!!
Posted by: Selah | August 14, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Burlington could use some cupcake love for sure! I do not have a culinary degree, but I have taken cake decorating classes and adore cupcakes. Oh and I currently live 4 miles from Burlington.
I would love to be apart of cupcake fun times in VT.....carrieanninvt@hotmail.com
Posted by: Carrie | August 15, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I live in Wallingford, VT and have been dying to open a cupcake bakery!!! I have three small kids and I love to bake! My neighbor is getting married in weeks and I am baking the wedding cupcakes - hence the visit to the site where I noticed your posting. Vermont needs cupcakes!!!
Posted by: Dana Jones | August 23, 2008 at 10:17 PM
I live in Wallingford, VT and have been dying to open a cupcake bakery!!! I have three small kids and I love to bake! My neighbor is getting married in weeks and I am baking the wedding cupcakes - hence the visit to the site where I noticed your posting. Vermont needs cupcakes!!!
Posted by: Dana Jones | August 23, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Well, I just finished reading about your cupcake passion. I currently live in N.Y. and will be making the move to Burlington(around Aug. or sooner) if all goes well with my husband's new career there. I've been looking for a way to open a cupcake business for the past two years. I simply love these little treats - you can dress them up or down depending on the occasion. I love baking for my family and friends. I guess it reminds me of my grandmother always preparing meals for the family. Makes you feel good inside. This too is my passion, I day dream of this specialty shop filled with goodies and plenty of smiles!!
Posted by: Jayne Fontana | March 13, 2009 at 09:44 PM
I live in Winooski, have a culinary degree, and have been pondering where to begin to try to open a cupcakerie on Church St. Have been doing a lot of research, mostly on the product. Shoot me an email if interested. I also have two others who are interested in a cupcake operation as well, one with a culinary degree in baking and the other with over six years professional baking experience. Shoot me an email if this is still in your thoughts... ritzz89@yahoo.com
Posted by: Alicia Hudock | November 15, 2009 at 07:01 PM
I'm not sure how current this blog post is but I might be interested. Check out my website www.mixcupcakerie.com and send me an email if this is still a "go"..
Carole
Warren, VT
Posted by: carole kelaher | August 26, 2011 at 09:48 PM