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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be fed up to the back teeth with CUPCAKES

216 replies

HengshanRoad · 06/05/2011 06:45

Stupid, pathetic, too-sweet, overrated, overpriced fucking CUPCAKES.

They're everywhere. Apparently "whoopee pies" were supposed to overtake them, but that hasn't happened.

Why is a "cupcake business" the activity of choice for women these days? And why do said businesses always have such twee names?

Jenny Colgan's new book is even devoted to the blighters.

Probably been done to death already, but I needed to vent.

OP posts:
NationalTruss · 07/05/2011 22:22

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Lizzabadger · 07/05/2011 22:25

Yanbu. There seems to be this idea around that baking cupcakes is somehow 'wholesome'. It's not. They are so full of fat and sugar that frying chips is more wholesome.

ilovemyhens · 07/05/2011 22:29

tbh, I find the craze quite sinister and Stepford Wifish Hmm

I will never buy one because they freak me out. I'll stick to cream scones thanks.

MercurySoccer · 07/05/2011 22:33

YANBU. But if there were more opportunities for women to work flexibly/at home then maybe not so many would turn to the dreaded cupcakes.

nomorefrizz · 07/05/2011 22:45

I have to admit I am sometimes concerned by the hygiene. They are often sitting on the cafe counter just at breathing level. Mmm noro virus, yum. Anyway in my day they were called fairy cakes or buns as SHJ and Cumbria say. Too much of an Americanism for me.
Give me a bun any day.

MercurySoccer · 07/05/2011 22:57

They're a bit flimsy. Agree that proper cake should have substance.

Niecie · 08/05/2011 09:36

I don't mind eating cupcakes but I am not sure that I get making them into a lifestyle choice and I don't get the mercandising of the things really so from that point of view YANBU.

However, I do make cupcakes occasionally and I even have a cupcake maker like this which I am sure will horrify some of you. However, it is an economical way of knocking together a batch of cakes without putting the whole oven on and it is very quick. Plus it was a birthday pressie at an age when I have had enough pressies not to particularly want anything so gadgets are nice.

I agree that cupcakes are fairy cakes. I even used to call them buns once upon a time although buns now mean yeasty things to me. I used to make them once a week as a child for our pack lunches for school. Sometimes we had butterfly cakes which have the icing but not too much or alternatively, to introduce another variation, I made queen cakes - fairy cakes with dried fruit. All very yummy.

SardineJam · 08/05/2011 09:46

A friend of mine has quit her job to pursue a cupcake business Hmm she doesnt currently make any profit on hers, charges £10 for 12, but has said that as she becomes more established she'll charge more. To be fair, I dont see it going anywhere, in London maybe where they can 'get away' with overpriced things, but certainly not in our town!

CherryMonster · 08/05/2011 11:24

i made 60 cupcakes for my birthday party yesterday. i made them in 5 different colours and 5 different flavours and they were all gone within a matter of minutes!!!! YADBU. sorry

Tolalola · 08/05/2011 12:39

YANBU. Cupcakes are repulsive. So twee and sugary and completely lacking in taste or erm...taste.

And what's with all the glitter and sugar butterflies and shit? Are we adults or not??

They're Barbie food and strictly for 8 year old girls, imo. They make me want to step on them, saying 'HA! Take that, you stupid, pink, overpriced sugar-bomb!" Grin

southofthethames · 08/05/2011 13:33

Wow, what a lot of strong feelings about a food item! That Lakeland cake maker is funny. Hey folks, you don't have to buy or eat then if you don't want to. I feel the same about some junk food items..........

GrendelsMum · 08/05/2011 14:22

I just had lemon and basil cupcakes from the winner of the San Francisco Iron Cupcake competition. They were actually very nice, and not particularly sweet either. The base was tart enough that the topping came as a nice balance to it.

So there is still a place in the world for cupcakes.

GrendelsMum · 08/05/2011 14:24

Also, cupcakes should have buttermilk in them (like whoopie pies do), which adds a slightly tart note, and is what differentiates them from fairy cakes.

MyBrainIsOutOfTune · 08/05/2011 19:54

I've only made cupcakes of the very plain-covered with a tiny dash of icing-fairy cake sort, but am now tempted to go for the all out American overboard thing. In my mind, fairy cakes come in two varieties - one plain, and one 'chocolate' (with added cocoa). You've made me realise that there is a strange new world out there with cupcakes tasting of alcohol, berries, different types of chocolate, and other strange and wonderful things.

I still wouldn't have half a litre icing on top of them, though. Or glitter.

Northeastgirl · 08/05/2011 20:15

Glitter is just a bit of fun!

muminlondon · 08/05/2011 21:06

YANBU. I hate icing - only like plain fairy cakes.

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