Overrated

At the risk of making myself unpopular, I have to say, I really don't think cupcakes are that great. Certainly not worth their current trendiness. (Sorry, Megan.) Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate nearly any kind of dessert, and I certainly wouldn't say no to a cupcake if offered one; they can be really yummy and good, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. Specialty cupcake stores? Cupcake toppers? Cupcake cakes, for crying out loud?

But guess what? The cupcake is on its way out. And frankly, I'm not surprised. Give me a traditional cake over a cupcake any day. Yes, even for kids and birthday parties! I prefer the cake-to-frosting ratio in a traditional cake, and it's way less messy, since it can be eaten with a fork. Unlike with cupcakes, there's no awkward moment of indecision trying to figure out how to take the first bite. (Bite down from above, frosting first? Try to open mouth wide enough to bite into an entire cross-section at once? Eat upwards and risk the final bites being frosting-heavy?) If it's small portions you want, slices of a traditional cake can certainly be cut to a slim, child-appropriate size---but there's also the freedom to cut a larger-than-usual slice should you so desire. More of the cake's volume is actually edible, since you have only the sides of the entire cake potentially sticking to the pan---whereas with cupcakes, each serving has edges which are likely to stick to the wrapper and be lost to the eater.

And if we venture out of the realm of cakes altogether, I think I can make an even stronger case for the bar cookie as the ultimate treat---specifically, the brownie. But I'll leave that for another time.