How I whipped up recipe for success with cupcakes

A bakery is meant to offer all sorts of sweet baked pastries and breads, but as its name suggests, Sugarpie Cupcakes is all about the cupcake.

“They are yummy and cute. Cupcakes are ideal because they are small and portable, so easy for when you are on the go or for parties and events. They come in a variety of flavours, so you can always try something new. They are the perfect affordable luxury,” says Sandra Zhao, the owner of Sugarpie Cupcakes.

Zhao says she has always loved eating pastries, but when she moved to Kenya three years ago, she could not find affordable and delicious options.

Back home in the US, pastry shops are almost in every corner. She decided to try and make them herself— initially baking for fun.

Unknown to Zhao was that her housekeeper, Benedetta Kithinga, was taking down her recipes and recreating them at home on her charcoal jiko.

“Her initiative and hunger to learn inspired and motivated me to start this business. I wanted to create opportunities through Sugarpie — including jobs, training and the chance to explore and grow,” says Ms Zhao.

Sugarpie has grown from making home deliveries to having their sweet products sold in stores like the Big Square and Pete’s Coffee outlets.

They also provide cupcakes for all types of events and are happy to customise their product with additional decorations, including logos and clients’ names.

Sugarpie Cupcakes have seven permanent flavours, with each adventurous cupcake flavour coming with its own daring frosting like spiced cardamom with tree tomato butter cream or lavender with acacia honey butter cream and of course the popular favourite vanilla chai with chai butter cream.

“The idea is to create an explosion of flavours with each bite,” says the entrepreneur. A Sugarpie cupcake costs between Sh120 and Sh200.

To give customers something more, especially their regular clients, each week they whip up a new mouth-watering mixture or “flavour of the week”. Last week’s delight was coconut with dark chocolate butter cream.

A visit to their Facebook page, Sugarpie Cupcakes, will keep you informed on their special offering every week.

From their website —sugarpiecupcakes.com, buyers can design their own cupcake; colour and size of the frosting and topping. There is also the choice of strawberry or cherry, which can be delivered to your doorstep.

Natural

“Our philosophy is simple and natural, so we love cupcakes that have a beautiful swirl and appealing, delicious colours. We do not use food colouring but make natural colours from fruits and vegetables,” says Ms Zhao.

They use beet juice to get the red colour for the red velvet and mashed fresh bananas for the banana chocolate chips.

She, however, points out that the cost of ingredients is one of the biggest challenges as they make everything from scratch and fresh to order.

They are also committed to buying the best quality ingredients locally and as naturally as possible. For example, peanut butter comes from Maseno Agricultural Training Centre in Western Kenya. It is made from peanuts grown by the local farmers.

A month ago, they introduced a cashew butter which comes in five flavours— plain unsalted, lightly salted, coconut, honey chai and dark chocolate. 

“We wanted to create an additional product that reflects our desire to make really good, natural and locally sourced food, but something a bit healthier,” she says.

Sugarpie also conducts classes twice a month for people seeking to learn the basics of baking— either for that fun weekend out or for sale. They are also developing a vocational training programme to teach baking and professional skills.

“A good cupcake will make you smile when you take your first bite,” says Ms Zhao. “That is why we are excited about the opportunity to introduce people to something new and delicious.”