Sweet Spots: Tacoma’s Cupcake Craze

By: Benita Ki | July 26 2011
Posted in Seattle - Find It - Seattle

Banana Split cupcakes from Hello Cupcake! Photos by: Benita Ki

Cupcake shops are popping up everywhere in Pierce County. Locally owned with batches of delicious cakes made in-house, each cupcake bakery features speciality flavors and flair that distinguish them from grocery store pastries. I spent a little time at each one and met owners and employees. As it turns out, even within the cupcake business, nuances make each place unique. Let's take a tour of Tacoma's sweet spots. 

Hello Cupcake
Downtown Tacoma, 1740 Pacific Avenue

Now four years old, Hello Cupcake is Tacoma's premier cupcake bakery. Located in the museum district downtown, it's frequented by University of Washington students and many pedestrians. Manager Allyx Weber says that Hello Cupcake focuses on simplicity and elegancy. Their cupcakes are moist, soft, and not too sweet. Not focused on crazy designs or weird flavors, they stick with the classics. Their regular flavors include Vanilla or Chocolate cake with Vanilla or Chocolate frosting, Red Velvet, Carrot, Coconut, and Mocha. This month, Hello Cupcake is featuring Banana Split and Cookies and Cream as their seasonal flavors.

A tasty Butterfinger Cupcake from Burning Cupcakes.

Burning Cupcakes
4312 6th Avenue, Tacoma

Just a couple months old, Burning Cupcakes opened on May 7th, 2011. Sixth Avenue is chock full of bars and cafes, but it stands as the only cupcake bakery on the busy street. Burning Cupcakes doesn't offer the same flavors twice in one week. Owner Taressa Neal says they have their standard cupcakes that can be ordered any time, but they also are willing to experiment with new flavors, even the ones that are "out there", like Wasabi and Ginger, Porter, Cherry Coke, Butterfinger, and Red Bull. The cupcakes from Burning Cupcakes are light and fluffy, creamy, soft, and tasty but not too sweet. Burning Cupcakes also offer pies, cheesecakes, tarts, cakes, brownies, scones, cookies—they clearly are versatile bakers, but their cupcakes are their specialty.

The Hummingbird at Jubilee.

Jubilee Cupcakes
13333 Meridian Avenue E in Puyallup & 2510 N Proctor Street in Tacoma 

A year and a half ago, Sweet Things Cupcakes and Couture in the Proctor closed, and one of its co-owners reopened the space as Jubilee Cupcakes. Its fan base exploded, and in June, Jubilee expanded and opened another location in Puyallup. Using gourmet ingredients and creating their own recipes, they are always open to trying new things (currently, they're working on a vegan line). Their cupcakes are rich, luscious, and flavorful. Classic flavors—such as varying combinations of vanilla and chocolate, Red Velvet, and Macon Bacon—are available every day, while their specialty flavors rotate during the week. Some major hits include the Hummingbird (banana cake with pineapple, coconut, toasted walnuts, and cream cheese buttercream), the Elvis (banana cake filled with dark chocolate ganache, topped with peanut buttercream frosting and a chocolate sauce drizzle), and Pink Champagne (champagne infused cake with strawberry buttercream and sprinkled with sugar pearls). This month, Jubilee Cupcakes is featuring Dreamsicle: orange cake filled with vanilla buttercream and topped with orange buttercream.

Coconutty goodness from Yummers 2 the 3rd Power.

Yummers 2 the 3rd Power
317 Garfield Street Suite A, Parkland

The doors to Yummers 2 the 3rd Power opened for business in February of 2011. Located near Pacific Lutheran University, Yummers prides itself on serving crazy flavors. Owner Amber Serrano says she strives to think outside the box. "This not your [typical] girly cupcakes store," Serrano says. With an all-male staff, many of whom are tattooed, Yummers is certainly different. They offer custom cupcakes; you name it, they make it. Their flavors rotate daily. Some of their unique combinations include Puerto Rican Vacation (caramelized plantains in balsamic brown-sugar, vanilla bean glaze in a sweetcream batter topped with caramel buttercream and balsamic pearls) and Monster Energy and Pop Rocks (vanilla citrus cake full of "Monsterous Energy). Others have names that speak for themselves, like the Sweet Potato Pie Cupcake, Avocado, Hot 'n Spicy Fried Chicken and Waffle, and Corn Dog Cake. They have a couple slightly more normal flavors as well, like the PB&J, French Toast Bacon, and Chocolate Truffle. "They call us the Voodoo Doughnuts of Cupcakes," says Serrano.

Cupcake shops are all the rage, and between the curious flavors offered at Yummers 2 the 3rd Power and Burning Cupcakes, and the quality and friendliness at Hello Cupcake and Jubilee Cupcakes, these locally-owned businesses are sure to satisfy all your sweet tooth cravings. 

Benita is a recent graduate from the University of Puget Sound, an avid ultimate frisbee player, a coffee addict, and a food fanatic.