The Cupcake Cottage

To follow your sugar bliss, look no further than a little house just off Camp Bowie called The Cupcake Cottage. Opened in September of 2006 by Sandra and Juaquin Bradshaw, this bakery makes nothing but cupcakes and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until the last “cuppie” sells. And, word to the wise, they usually sell out very quickly.

The cupcakes are baked daily from scratch using natural ingredients, which means no artificial flavorings or preservatives, and butter instead of shortening. And you can taste the difference. The butter batter contributes to an extremely light and delicate texture. These are no bake-sale-from-a-box treats.

Each day features five different flavors. As customers place orders, the Bradshaws build each day’s menu based on what has been ordered for that particular day. On my visit, I sampled a strawberry and a lemonade. The strawberry cake was very moist due to the fresh crushed berries that are whipped into the batter. And the lemonade tasted exactly like its name! Going way beyond vanilla and chocolate, other flavors include Red Velvet, local Parker County Peaches and Fiori di Sicilia, a blend of pure vanilla and citrus flavorings. All cupcakes are topped with butter cream frosting and other frostings are available on special orders by request.

If you would like cupcakes for a party or event, you should place an order by noon of the day before to avoid disappointment. Make sure you speak to someone in person. Pick up orders are not taken via voicemail or email. Check the website for specifics on placing orders.

Personal service is very important. If you just want a quick treat for the afternoon, call the shop and they will gladly hold cupcakes back for you. As Sandra was boxing up my order, she told me to leave the cakes in the box at room temperature, not in the refrigerator, to avoid drying them out. Unique bakeries, shops and restaurants like The Cupcake Cottage are part of what make Fort Worth such an interesting place to live and visit.