HORRY COUNTY -- A hot new trend in food these days is making an appearance on the Grand Strand. It's cupcakes, with two new local shops seeing their products selling like.. well, hotcakes.
Coccadotts Cake Shop opened two weeks ago in the Sayebrook Town Center near Surfside Beach.
The owners' first store was in Albany, New York, where their claim to fame was a Buffalo wing cupcake featured on ABC's Good Morning America, prior to this year's Super Bowl.
Owner Michelle Cocca says cupcakes seem to be booming now, because you can do so many things with them.
"It's just dessert in the palm of your hand. You don't need a knife, you don't need a fork, you don't have to cut a cake, it's just all right there," Cocca said.
Ask for a cupcake flavor and Coccadotts probably has it, like strawberries and champagne or sweet potato.
Southern Cupcake Company, which opened its doors in North Myrtle Beach in December, tries to push the flavor envelope, too.
"Chocolate, mango, we've got over 40 flavors," said owner Samantha Vince, who was inspired to open her shop by reading a magazine article about Georgetown Cupcakes, the Washington, DC-based shop that boasts its own cable TV show.
Vince suggested another aspect to the cupcake trend. The treats used to be just for dessert or maybe a snack. But now, eating a cupcake has become part of an event.
"We're doing lots of weddings, baby showers, a wedding shower we have tomorrow. Corporate functions we're doing, too," Vince said.
But.. aren't cupcakes fattening? Well, the Southern Cupcake shop does have sugar-free varieties. And the customers say, a cupcake for dessert is better than the alternative.
"Oh, they're less than a piece of cake, in terms of calories, and they're fun," said Ann Parker of Longs, who took home a dozen cupcakes Friday.
So that may be the answer. Just keep telling yourself: maybe a cupcake is good for you.
