Cupcrazed Cakery: A Lot Like Home

Asha
Aug 25, 2017
3 min read

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you were right where you belonged?

Maybe it's the variety of cupcakes encased as the anchor of the room? Maybe it's the cooler of soda pop that brings on a wave of warm, fizzy-fuzzies? Or maybe it's the perfectly placed mural of the Queen City, herself, hand-painted on the right-hand wall of the shop? Whatever it is -- you feel right at home. Well, that's how I felt when I visited Cupcrazed Cakery at Park Towne Village in Charlotte last Friday.

I won't lie -- a drive to south Charlotte is never wasted when there is sugar involved. But, the confection you'll find in this award-winning (Food Network's Cupcake Wars!) cakery extends far beyond the cupcake counter. Founded in 2010 by Heather McDonnell, Cupcrazed Cakery has been a pillar in the community, serving as a benefactor to many local charities and non-profit organizations. Each month, since opening, Cupcrazed Cakery has chosen a charity or organization in the community to bless with cash or cupcakes. "It's been a very important initiative," reads a statement from Heather on the bakery website, Cupcrazed.com. "We have felt strongly about [it] and we are happy and humbled to give back each month."

Speaking of being humbled -- I was overwhelmingly humbled (and appreciative!) by the customer service I received during my visit. Not only was I blessed with a complimentary -- and HUGE -- cookies & cream cookie (complete with Hershey's milk and white chocolate, white chocolate-dipped pretzels, Oreos, and chocolate-chip morsels), I was also blessed to enjoy conversation with Jon, who was operating the counter. He was great!

Jon took a keen interest in my thoughts and interests that day. He asked where I was from, informed me that this location (Charlotte) has been open for 4 months (and that his father, Doug, is the head baker), and offered many suggestions when I decided I wanted to purchase an additional half-dozen cupcakes. Thanks to him, I now know that, when choosing a chocolate and peanut butter cupcake, preferences matter: do you prefer Reese's or Butterfingers? Definitely choose Butterfinger and the Reverse Peanut Butter cupcake! Then, go back, and get the Reese's topped beauty. Or, be a rebel, and get them BOTH at the same time. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

"Hey, you said you're from Florida, right?" Jon asked me.

"Yes, sir!" I replied.

"So, is it really crazy down there?" he inquired.

"I feel like 'crazy' is relative," I responded with a smile.

"I guess that's true. Crazy is everywhere," he replied, laughing back.

Afterall, the motto for Cupcrazed Cakery is "We bake and we are crazy." But, sometimes, crazy just works!

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PERSONAL REVIEW: You guys! I have a lot of favorite things in this life and good cupcakes always top the list. I come from a baking family and, because I dabble in cupcaking myself, I considered myself a cake-snob (which places me just a notch above a connoisseur). The cookies & cream cookie Heather so graciously gave me is divine BUT, mark my words, my cupcake experience with Cupcrazed cupcakes was the best I've ever had. They even carry gluten-free options! The cupcakes are perfectly moist, abundantly flavorful, and not overpoweringly sweet. Each morsel, topping, filling, and flake all come together on the palette, both, balanced and bursting with flavor. I will definitely be back for more and I recommend you give Cupcrazed a try as well.