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Cute Food

Credit-crunched consumers seek small indulgences to sweeten reality

Implications - The recession has contributed to the rise in cute products, like childish foods, as consumers gravitate to playful innovations and light-hearted comforts. Specialty cupcake shops are being flooded by customers looking for afternoon indulgences and even turning to them as substitutes for elaborate cakes.
Trend Themes
1. Cute Food - Cute food is a trend that arose from consumers seeking playful and light-hearted indulgences during the recession.
2. Customized Desserts - Customized desserts, like the themed cupcakes shown, are in demand and offer opportunities for innovation in the baking and pastry industry.
3. Creepy Confections - Creepy confections, like the anatomical cupcakes and gamer cupcakes, are becoming popular beyond Halloween and offer unique opportunities for the pastry and gaming industries.
Industry Implications
1. Baking and Pastry - The rise of customized, themed, and even creepy desserts present a strong opportunity for innovation in the baking and pastry industry.
2. Entertainment and Gaming - The popularity of gamer cupcakes and other themed treats offer an opportunity for innovation in the entertainment and gaming industry.
3. Packaging and Transport - Products like the Cupcase individual cupcake carrier show a demand for innovation in packaging and transport for cupcakes.
5.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
11 Featured, 36 Examples:
2,135,408 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Feb 09 — Dec 09
Trending:
Warm
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Cheeseburger Cupcakes
Cheeseburger Cupcakes
Make Your Favorite Dessert Into an Illusionary Dinner
KateDW just made my life a whole lot more yummy (and fattening). Her recent post to her Flickr account displays a step-by-step guide to making delicious little cupcakes that look like mini cheeseburgers.… MORE
Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes
Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes
Canadian Baker Creates Custom Dessert Delights
After a little detective work, I learned that these caterpillar cupcakes are the work of Vancouver, BC-based Lyndsay Sung of Coco Cake Cupcakes. Cowbag, aka Cakehead Loves Evil, spotted the great caterpillar… MORE
Flower Pot Cupcakes
Flower Pot Cupcakes
The Perfect Dessert For Garden Parties or Mothers Day Bashes
Flowerpot cupcakes might just be my new favourite spring treat! Instead of baking with regular muffin-tins, Alicia Lynn used little flower pots to house her deliciously fluffy pastries instead. Her blog… MORE
Computer App Cupcakes
Computer App Cupcakes
Uber-Geeky Baking Inspiration
We have seen our fair share of cupcakes designed like geeky games, but this lot takes the biscuit. Crumbs, they really are uber-geeky. This is a collection of baking-related goodies dedicated to sites… MORE
Car Logo Cupcakes
Car Logo Cupcakes
Sweet Treats for Motor Lovers & People with a Major Sweet Tooth
If you are the wife or girlfriend of a man who likes to attend car club meetings (if they even exist), then making these cupcakes is almost a must. Each cupcake is covered in a famous car logo and look… MORE
Anatomical Cupcakes
Anatomical Cupcakes
Moist Brain Treats for Sweet-Toothed Zombies
Made to resemble human brains, these anatomical cupcakes would only look appetizing to zombies or carnivores. The treats are made with red velvet raspberry cake, French vanilla cream cheese frosting and,… MORE
Cupcake Fascinators
Cupcake Fascinators
Tiffy Tart Party Hats Make You Look like Strawberry Shortcake
These adorable Tiffy Tart party hats feature fake cupcakes that you can wear on your head as the ultimate whimsical hair accessory. While they remind me a bit of Strawberry Shortcake, I can't help but… MORE
play_circle_filledSweet Treat Protection
Sweet Treat Protection
'Cupcase' Individual Cupcake Carriers Prevent Damage and Contamination
Cupcake lovers everywhere have reason to rejoice—‘Cupcase’ individual cupcake carriers can keep those precious baked goods safe from harm. A domed lid won’t squish the frosting. The individual… MORE
Manga Munchies
Manga Munchies
Cakes & Cupcakes With a Hint of Anime & Manga
Colorful, creative and fun are all words that spring to mind when you think about anime and manga, which is why they are both perfectly suitable inspirations for all bakers and pastry chefs out there.… MORE
Gamer Cupcakes
Gamer Cupcakes
Mii Cupcakes are Perfect for Wii Parties
On the Nintendo Wii home screen, you can create your own avatar that is completely customized to look however you would like from clothing to skin, color and facial features. These personalized avatars… MORE
Tooned Confections
Tooned Confections
The Retro Cartoon Cupcakes are Super Creative
Mmmmmm… cupcakes; they are delicious. For myriad of reasons, I don’t eat them (wheat allergy, lack of self control), but I do dream about them in technicolor. I especially covet these retro cartoon cupcakes… MORE

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Obama and Lincoln Presidential Cupcakes at the Smithsonian
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