Once regarded as simply a childhood dessert, the cupcake has grown in stature and popularity. Now a beloved gourmet treat, cupcakes are the centerpieces of five delicious Richmond bakeries. Prepared fresh daily, these cupcakes range from the standard vanilla and chocolate to more exotic flavors such as crunchy carrot, brown butter pumpkin and cherry pie. Each shop changes their menu daily and offers seasonal flavors, too. Best of all, the small size of a cupcake makes it the perfect indulgence. As Debbie Pearlman of Two Sweet says, “There are no calories in happiness.”

Two Sweet Cupcake Boutique
3422 Lauderdale Drive • 804-360-4284 • www.twosweetrichmond.com
Cancer survivor Debra Pearlman, inspired to give back to her community, opened Two Sweet Cupcake Boutique in November of 2008. Her passion for the sweet things in life, cupcakes and flowers, led her to the bakery business. Located in the shops at Wellesley, Two Sweet features a dozen cupcake flavors with red velvet and vanilla caramel being the most popular. She also offers weekly specials with fun flavors such as blueberry pancake, apple crumb cake, tiramisu, turtle cupcake and Boston cream. Also featured daily are “kiddie couture” cupcakes in flavors such as sprinkle explosion, dirt cake and fluffernutter. Sugar free cupcakes are available upon request. The recent addition of a second location on wheels, the Two Sweet Cupcake Mobile, is available to cater private parties, corporate events and school functions. They welcome phone and on-line orders. Delivery service is available for a small fee.
Vanilla Caramel Toffee flecked vanilla cake with a caramel cream center, topped with cream cheese icing, caramel drizzle and a fresh toffee wedge.
Red Velvet Classic southern chocolate buttermilk cake topped with cream cheese icing.
S’more Sweet chocolate cake with a bottom layer of graham cracker crust topped with marshmallow icing and a milk chocolate drizzle.

Carytown Cupcakes
2820-C West Cary Street • 804-355-CAKE • www.carytowncupcakes.com
Diane North had the retail expertise and Dawn Schick had the culinary experience. Armed with their love of food and the right location, the partners opened Carytown Cupcakes in October of 2009. Featuring a minimum of 10 flavors daily, including 3 specials, they consider the Red Velvet their best seller. Other favorites include the Hummingbird along with the standard Chocolate and Vanilla. Their most unique cupcake, Cherry Pie, is a cherry-infused cupcake filled with cherry pie filling and topped with vanilla buttercream tinted and piped to resemble a lattice crust. Carytown Cupcakes prepares custom cupcakes for any special occasion. They will create edible engagement rings or cupcakes featuring corporate logos. Proud of their made from scratch cupcakes, they take phone and in-store orders and will deliver for free within a five mile radius. Customers can also visit relayfoods.com for delivery to a location nearby.
Red Velvet Deep red cocoa cupcake with cream cheese icing.
Snickers Vanilla cupcake with peanuts in the batter, filled with peanut butter nougat, topped with chocolate buttercream frosting, peanuts and drizzled caramel.
Peach Pie Peach infused vanilla cupcake filled with peach pie filling, topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and piped to resemble a lattice piecrust.

Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe
5812 Grove Avenue• 804-285-CAKE (2253) • www.pearlscupcakeshoppe.com
Located on Grove, Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe combines old-time recipes, new flavors and personal service to create sweet treats for their customers. Armed with a love of all things culinary, owners Laurie Blakey and Laura Condrey left the real estate industry to open Pearl’s, named for Blakey’s grandmother. Although they specialize in cupcakes with nearly 60 recipes on file, they also sell handheld confections and full-sized cakes. The bakery features up to 15 flavors daily, including eight standard flavors, along with several rotating and seasonal varieties. Gluten free and vegan cupcakes are also available. Currently the event baker for the Tobacco Company, their products are also sold at Positive Vibe Café and Shields Market. With two full-time decorators, Pearl’s offers custom decorating and caters weddings, corporate events and parties. Orders can be made by phone, e-mail or in-store. Pearl’s delivers free within five miles with a one dozen minimum order.
Choco Nut Chocolate cake filled with hazelnut cream and frosted chocolate hazelnut, homemade toffee, white chocolate and dark chocolate shavings.
The Wilma Ray Champagne batter cake frosted with an Italian champagne buttercream and topped with a real miniature rose–named after a classic Richmond beauty.
Brown Butter Pumpkin Pumpkin cake with brown butter glaze topped with a toasted pumpkin seed.

Babycakes
3324-B W. Cary Street • 804-354-YUMM (9866) • www.babycakesva.com
Robin Buskey’s love of sweets and a dream of running a cupcake business led her to start her home-based bakery in May 2008. Inspired by some of her grandmother’s recipes, she was soon busy filling phone orders and selling at outdoor concerts and food festivals. In August of 2010, her dream was fully realized when she opened her Carytown store, Babycakes. With a rotating daily menu, Babycakes’ most popular cupcakes are the “key,” the strawberry babycake, the crunchy carrot and the OMG (oh my ganache). Her most unusual cupcake is the banana split, a banana cake filled with whipped cream and topped with chocolate ganache and a cherry. All cupcakes are baked on-site and made with the freshest ingredients. Currently taking phone and in-store orders only, a full menu is available on the website. Babycakes also provides cupcakes for special occasions including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events.
Crunchy Carrot Moist carrot and walnut cake topped with a creamy vanilla cream cheese filling.
Banana Split Banana cake filled with whipped cream topped with a chocolate ganache and a cherry.
The “Key” Moist vanilla cake topped with key lime cream cheese and lime zest frosting.

Frostings
11331 West Broad Street, Suite 137 • 804-360-2712 • www.frostingsva.com
Inspired by the cupcakeries of New York City, business partners Matthew Fraker and Jason Ferrell opened their home-based bakery, Frostings, in late 2008. Their retail location in Short Pump opened in May of 2009. Frostings features a minimum of eight daily flavors including three standard, All American Chocolate, Classic Vanilla and Wendy’s Red Velvet, along with at least one surprise flavor of the day. The best-selling red velvet cupcake was created in memory of Matthew’s mother, Wendy, who passed away suddenly during the opening of Frostings. A portion of the sales of the cupcake funds a scholarship for a local graduating senior pursuing the culinary arts. Gluten free cupcakes are available daily and vegan is available by request. Orders are taken by phone or on-line, and Frostings will deliver for a fee. Along with catering a variety of events, Frostings hosts on-site decorating parties for birthdays or ladies’ nights out. n
Wendy’s Red Velvet Southern cocoa buttermilk cake with either cream cheese or vanilla buttercream frosting.
Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin cake paired with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
Gingerbread Warmly spiced ginger paired with either lemon or orange cream cheese frosting.