Top Baking Trends of 2020: Cupcakes

Personalization was a trend predicted early on in the year, and little did we know how spot on that would be. Dawn Foods reported in its 8 Retail Bakery Trends for 2020 report that one in five consumers who expressed an interest in personalized products were even willing to pay 20% more. That was good news for bakers that worked hard to make sure each and every person had their own cupcake to grab and go. 

Convenience, comfort and less guilt were themes throughout the year, especially during the pandemic, and bakers answered the call with some unique ways to make individuals feel special and satisfied. 

Trendy Toppers 
There’s no better way to personalize a cupcake than with a unique topping. Trends this year included texture, swirls, zigzags and drop flowers, showcased beautifully by Ellen Bright of @milkandwaterbakingco. 

Bottoms Up 
The bottom of a cupcake was also a focal point this year, as seen here with cupcake cones, which Wilton Blog reported wasn’t just a trend for the summer. Pretty in Pink Cones by Mandy Merriman of @bakingwithblondie can be stylized to events throughout the year. 

Gobbling Up Guiltless
Cupcakes not only provide customers with smaller portion sizes, but better-for-you vegan cupcakes also were a hit in 2020. Baking Business reported that bakers across the country were “bolstering their positions in the better-for-you sweet goods market.” Once such bakery was San Francisco-based Just Desserts, which introduced its vegan cupcakes earlier this year. They are peanut- and tree nut-free, and soy has been eliminated altogether from the bakery in favor of oat milk.

Want to optimize your cupcake selling ability? Don’t forget two upcoming cupcake holidays! Tuesday, Nov. 10, is National Vanilla Cupcake Day, and Tuesday, Dec. 15, is National Cupcake Day. And don’t forget to stock up with LloydPans Round Cake-Pastry Rings to help stay on trend!