the cupcakization of germany

-- or don't let mcdonald's define what your taste buds should feel

















almost simultaneously i and a friend found this new york times article detailing the attempt of mcdonald's to introduce cupcakes in berlin, germany since march 30, 2010.

"Although they are a staple of bake sales and birthday parties across America, cupcakes were all but unknown in Germany until recently."

so what's the secret recipe behind this new u.s. american oven product dumped on the german market? in fact, there is none. or more precisely, there are as many recipes as there are cakes and pies as the collection in the photo below illustrates.

these trays are lined up in a shop in washington dc solely dedicted to proliferating the baby cakes.

at e street and 7th street in northwest washington dc, the red velvet cupcakery offers you a slice of individuality in a paper cup. actually a friend made the connection of the often hailed u.s. american individuality and this bakery item. with a piece of their own special choice everyone feels special. a type of personal pizza (the size of a saucer), or baby bundt cake or a finger food to be dumped into the hungry mouth almost all at once. more of the same, individuality brand name usa.


















in fact, you can really individualize your cup cake before a chain lures you with commercially produced overprized faux symbols of individuality. asking an old friend and community cook book conributor for advice on home-made cup cakes the answer is as simple as it gets:

"You can put the batter from any cake recipe into the paper cups in a muffin tin, even a cake mix, just fill the little paper cup about 2/3 full, bake 18-22 minutes at 350 degrees [Fahrenheit]. Then cool them and frost with any frosting you wish to use. Easy!"

Easy!