For some reason, when the colder months come drawing in, our sweet tooth starts getting needy. No, this isn't statistically proven, but I'm pretty sure it's true. If there's one holiday that screams for an abundance of sweet treats, it's Halloween.
If you've grown tired of candy corn and the sight of Pop Rocks leaves your stomach turning, head down to Firefly Cupcakes on Elmwood Avenue for a more grown-up kind of treat.
Get yourself into the Halloween spirit with one of the delicious "Smashed Pumpkins" - pumpkin ale cakes with a spiced butter cream and finished with a delicately sculpted, sugar icing pumpkin placed on top. It's arguably the best Halloween treat Buffalo has to offer. The cupcakes are densely packed with mixture, so you might have to pace yourself - but they're worth it.
The best bit about it has to be the icing; it's perfectly balanced between sweet and spiced to compliment the subtle stoutness the ale leaves behind in the cake. The originality of the cupcake is brilliant and the hand-sculpted pumpkin that sits on top is adorable.
Not only are Firefly's cupcakes delicious, they're also incredibly and consciously made. Each cupcake's base is primarily vegan. The cake batter is made without egg, so the freshness lasts longer, meaning you can buy a dozen and keep them all to yourself for up to four days instead of reluctantly sharing them with your friends. Not all of Firefly Cupcakes are vegan, but they do offer a great selection. The same can also be said for those on a gluten-free diet, or those with a nut allergy. In fact, no nuts are used in any of the products, except for the peanut butter used for the peanut butter cakes and frostings.
I know what you're thinking: Since 'The Great Cupcake Boom of 2009,' a cupcake is likely to cost you as much as $6 - especially if we're talking vegan-friendly as well as gluten- and nut-free.
But not at Firefly Cupcakes.
One reasonably sized, generously frosted cupcake is only going to set you back $2.99.
You can also save 10 percent with a student ID, bringing the cost to $2.70 per cupcake. Firefly's cupcakes may be moist cases of flavor-punching cake with a generous swirling of sugary frosting, but Halloween would not be Halloween without trick-or-treating. Don't fret; Firefly Cupcakes has this covered as well.
Firefly is one of the many businesses signed up for the Elmwood Village Safe Trick-Or-Treat program on Sunday. If you have younger relatives, consider taking them out between 1 and 3 p.m. for free candy in a safe environment. And if its cupcakes are anything to go by, Firefly Cupcakes isn't going to be scrimping on the candy rations.
If you fancy doing something a little cultured with your Halloween evening, Firefly Cupcakes holds an open mic night every Thursday from 6-9 p.m., and Oct. 31 is no exception. Grab some friends and a cupcake, take a seat in the simplistic dining room that's lined with Halloween-themed art and enjoy the music. If you're feeling brave, belt out your spookiest tune or haunt the audience with your eeriest poem.
Don't feel like you have to limit yourself to Halloween for this one, though - Firefly Cupcakes has a treat waiting for you any time of the year. There's the maple-bacon flavor combination to get your head around, along with the famous Stumptown Roasters Coffee and the organic Zhi teas.
One visit to this place won't be enough, but what better time is there to feast on cupcakes than on Halloween?
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
