Case Study 11: "Il Francescano di Natale"

Chocolates and hazelnuts evoke the quintessential Italian Christmas for the Cupcaketologist. Year after year this perfect marriage of flavors finishes off the meal in one way or another, whether it be in the form of cookies, cakes, candies...or all three. There is a reason my dear old Irish roommate ate Nutella out of a jar(and I snuck some, yes, I did!)..it's just that good.

"Il Francescano di Natale" is a light chocolate cake filled with chocolate-frangelico ganache and hazelnut praline and topped in a buttercream frosting. It is then crowned with a hazelnut french macaron, and dusted with cocoa.

I'd say that definitely clears the palate after seven types of fish...

Case Study 9: "Poison Cakes"

The "Poison Cakes" are good fuel for Halloween dance parties and creepy late night snacks. Black sprinkles were a bad choice. Chocolate, caramel, and resulting black lips are, however, devlishly ghoulish.

Case Study 8: "The Phanatic"

"The Phanatic" is a rich choco-late cupcake filled with a creamy vanilla center and topped with vanilla buttercream and a sugar cookie "P". Could it be the new perfect beer companion for watching the Phillies take on the Rays in the World Series?

Better than a rally rag??

"You like the opponent? Run for your life. This is Philly, not Rodeo Drive. We love our teams here like family. You mess with them you mess with us."

Note from Philadelphia: But it's only October

Really Anthropologie... Christmas? Already?

An army of cupcake ornaments.

Case Study 7: "The Italian Trio"

"The Italian Trio" is a trifecta of flavors from la patria in mini packages, perfect for tasting, paired best with bubbly.

Tiramisu cupcakes are soaked in espresso and topped with a creamy mascarpone buttercream and chocolate shavings. Light rum flavored cake is filled with cannoli cream and topped with vanilla buttercream. The final member of the group is a chocolate hazelnut cupcake crowned with a Frangelico frosting and hazelnut praline.

Proof that the best things come in threes.

Note from New York: I'd Eat It

This is bananas..

The Leiber Cupcake.

Case Study 6: "The Naked Hi-Hat"

"The Naked Hi-Hat" is exposed, but open for interpretation. Whether doused with chocolate or toasted, the marshmallow meringue towers atop the rich mini bittersweet chocolate cupcake. An old time New York classic, stripped down....and scorched.


"New York has always been going to hell but somehow it never gets there"- Robert Persig

Case Study 5: "The Good Americano"

"The Good Americano" is a force to be reckoned with. The classic cupcake packs a double dose of vanilla and vanilla buttercream is a standard for birthdays and celebrations. Buttery, full of vanilla, full of promise and options. Every Good American remembers their first.

Case Study 4: "The Tiny Ginger"

"The Tiny Ginger" reveals all autumnal goodness in its hearty pumpkin cupcake and the spicy flavors within. Ginger whipped cream (candied, fresh, and ground) fills the center, and it is topped by a sweet maple meringue buttercream. Topped with toasted pepitas, it evokes everything good about fall: changing leaves, hayrides, hot cider...

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."- George Eliot

Case Study 3: "The Serbian Tart"

"The Serbian Tart" is a light and spongy cupcake with an explosive core of blueberries and ricotta. The lemon frosting is sweet and refreshing, and the spongecake is sticky and reminiscent of a serbian childhood comfort food, and typically bathed in warm milk. How nurturing!

Case Study 2: "La Femme Méditerranéenne"

"La Femme Méditerranéenne" is lush and ripe, sweet and strong, and crowned with a lascivious fig. The honey cupcake holds a soft fig compote center, and the creamy goat cheese frosting finishes it off with a musty aftertaste that is bold and unexpected.

"Tu sei tutto, Sylvia! Ma lo sai che sei tutto? You are everything, everything! Tu sei la prima donna del primo giorno della creazione, sei la madre, la sorella, l'amante, l'amica, l'angelo, il diavolo, la terra, la casa..."- La Dolce Vita

Case Study 1: "The Cheeky Signore"

"The Cheeky Signore" is a conundrum, hiding notes of espresso within a moist chocolate cake. The caramel filling offsets the cocoa base, and the caramel buttercream topped with a Fleur de Sel sprinkle is sweet... but not too sweet.


"My notion of heaven was always, Marcello Mastroianni was God. You know, he'd be sitting there smoking Gitanes or something and he's got Giotto at the table ... and he says 'Eh!' ... and he has that face -late Marcello it has to be - you know, where everything is forgiven... And I've always had that vision of him sitting there ... you know ... he's there ... and Ben Webster's playing. Charlie Parker's in the next room trying to find his car keys. All is forgiven .... "- Pete Hammill

Notes from the Field...

"Younger anthropologists have the notion that anthropology is too diverse. The number of things done under the name of anthropology is just infinite; you can do anything and call it anthropology."- Clifford Geertz


"The Cupcaketologist" chronicles adventures in baking from a cupcake enthusiast, anthropologist and life-long gourmand. Each recipe is its own ethnographic case study, a sum of experiences gained from years of eating, baking, and traveling. Most are inspired by places and times; many by people along the way...