Cupcake Wars: Penn vs. Drexel

On Saturday afternoon, Cream & Sugar (the coffeeshop, candy store and bakery on Spruce Street) hosted the Ultimate Collegiate Cupcake Decorating Competition in Houston Hall. Six teams of two squared off in a battle of frosting, candy and fondant. The teams were evenly divided between Penn and Drexel, but Penn took the top prize ($100) as well as third place ($40). There were two cheeseburger cupcakes (with cupcake fries), a chocolate cupcake patty and licorice "ketchup," an Alice in Wonderland inspired creation with a tootsie roll-pretzel stick tree and tiny stockinged feet iced at the base, and a can of Coca Cola (with gummies for ice cubes and red fondant).

Contestants had an hour to decorate three cupcakes and were allowed to enter one in the final judging. First place went to an adorable entry: it featured a purple and yellow triceratops modeled from marzipan and sitting on a bed of piped green grass. Second place went to Team Mad Hatters for their Alice in Wonderland design. Third place was won by a cupcake Amy Gutmann would love: the Love park statue in miniature, with a little UPenn squirrel gazing up adoringly at it. Cream & Sugar owner Blythe Dim plans to host the event again in the fall, with bigger prizes and more contestants. For now, though, Penn holds the title of Cupcake Wars champion. Proceeds from the competition (there was an entry fee of $25) went to the Ronald McDonald House.

Photos taken by Sara Outing.

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