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“You have to be able to see beyond the cupcake, and look at aesthetics as well as taste. You also have to have fun with it.”

”Forget a wedding cake, order 200 White Wedding Cupcakes”, suggests Dozen’s website, putting a new twist on an old tradition.

Shea Mullen, who opened CoCo’s Cupcake Café less than four months ago, fell in love with the cupcake craze while in New York.

”I’d be shopping in New York and see people in all these little cupcake shops, because cupcakes are grab-and-go. I have memories of bringing them into school when I was a girl. They’re timeless.”

Serving several seasonal flavors as well as recurring “nostalgic” flavors, CoCo’s Cupcake Café designates a theme for each day, such as “Monkey Love Monday,” “Tea for Tuesday,” and “Chocolate Sunday.”

”We serve flavors that customers ask for, as well as flavors our pastry chefs have tested and developed,” said Mullen, who personally recommends the Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake (“I’m a traditionalist,” she said.), as well as the Biscotti and Brownie Cupcakes.

Mullen credits the New York cupcake bakeries as her inspiration.

”What could be more fun?” she asked.

CoCo’s, like Dozen, has a gathering of fans at Allderdice. “Their cupcakes taste like heaven,” Allderdice junior Lindsey Rudov said.

CoCo’s Cupcake Café and Dozen Cupcakes cater a range of Pittsburgh events, from birthday (They both offer ”decorate it yourself” kids’ birthday packages.) to bachelor parties. CoCo’s Cupcake Cafe is open on Sunday and Monday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM to 12:30 AM. Cupcakes are $2.50.

Dozen Cupcakes serves Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and on Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. They are closed on Mondays. Cupcakes are $2.50.

Some of the delicious treats offered at these new shops.

Cupcakes Cater to Pittsburgh's Craving

By Mohana Ravindranath

The Allderdice Foreword

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