If Fort Collins is no longer one of the thinnest cities, it’s probably Butter Cream Cupcakery’s fault. The 2-year-old bakery opened a second location in Old Town Square in May, ensuring that cupcakes are within 15 minutes of just about anywhere in town.
Their success is equal parts trendiness, high-quality ingredients and just plain cupcake cuteness.
“I think it reminds people of their childhood, when their mom used to make them,” says Robin Pavel, who co-owns the shop with her sister, baker Mary DeHerder. A culinary-school grad, DeHerder prefers natural ingredients for her 50-plus cake varieties, ranging from banana to white-chocolate raspberry.
“There are a lot of people out there who want better ingredients,” says Pavel. “You can just taste the difference when you use real butter and cream instead of shortening.”
While some cupcakes are all about the cake, and others focus on the frosting, Butter Cream’s cupcakes are the whole package. The cake is soft and not too crumbly, crowned by a swirl of creamy-yet-fluffy frosting. The frosting is so good, they now sell shots, about a cupcake’s worth, for $1, at the original shop, which serves coffee, sodas, bottled water and milk.
The stores carry five “everyday” flavors — red velvet, chocolate on chocolate, vanilla bean, vanilla on chocolate and chocolate on vanilla — as well daily and surprise flavors. Regular-size cupcakes are $2.75 each, and minis are $6 for a four-pack. And don’t forget to pick up a $1 pupcake for your favorite pooch.
Note to the gluten-free gang: Butter Cream carries a different gluten-free flavor every Thursday.
Kristen Browning-Blas: 303-954-1440 or kbrowning@denverpost.com
Butter Cream Cupcakery
Cupcakes. 3663 S. College Ave. (at Horsetooth Road, next to Albertsons), Fort Collins, 970-225-1040; 1 Old Town Square (next to Ben & Jerry’s), Fort Collins, 970-482-2505
