Cupcakes have had their time. In Key West, the latest craze is Cupcake Sushi. Yes, sushi.
Just like the traditional Japanese dish, these treats are hand-rolled and sliced into rounds, but that's where the comparison ends. Creator Lori Shubert spent two years perfecting her design, coming up with the right cake batter that could be sliced into strips, slathered with buttercream frosting and rolled over a frozen surface, creating perfect rounds. (The process is so unique that Shubert holds a patent for it.) Her treats are dipped in chocolate and garnished with all kinds of candy, nuts, and sprinkles, depending on your preference, and quickly became a hit on the four-mile-long island.
At the Waldorf Astoria and other local resorts, Cupcake Sushi has replaced a traditional chocolate on your pillow as part of the hotel's turndown service, and the 326-square-foot shop's often booked months — and for select dates, years — in advance for weddings.
"We've eliminated the wedding cake. Some brides book two years out, some one year out, and some are last-minute," Shubert said. "A lot of people go here for the weekend to get married, so they'll need a quick turnaround."
Outside of her tiny Cupcake Sushi shop, Shubert runs two carts, which can hand-roll the sweets at events. As an alternative to the traditional wedding cake, it turns dessert into more of a spectacle, as people watch each piece being made.
The treats come in 12 flavors, ranging from Key Lime (a local favorite, naturally) to red velvet, but the company also offers a range of special order varieties, like Maple Crunchy Bacon, Chocolate Cheesecake, and Pumpkin Spice.
Though the creations are called Cupcake Sushi, don't mistake them for the same thing. Because the cake's immediately frozen and sealed in chocolate, it maintains its moist texture better than a traditional cupcake, Shubert argues. "I try to have people try one in front of me whenever possible, just to see their reaction, because it tastes so different," she said.
As if you needed an excuse to take a vacation to Key West.
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