The Sweet Shoppe of Ames Menu

Classic cupcakes

Everyday flavors baked fresh each morning and topped with a generous swirl.

• Red velvet cupcakeVegetarianTender, faintly cocoa red cupcake crowned with a tangy cream cheese frosting and a few red cake crumbs.
• Lemon dropVegetarianZesty lemon cupcake with a sweet-tart lemon buttercream and a sliver of candied lemon peel on top.
• Strawberry cupcakeVegetarianPink cupcake made with real strawberry purée and topped with a fresh strawberry frosting that tastes like summer fruit.
• Carrot cake cupcakeVegetarian · Contains nutsSpiced carrot cupcake with a thick cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of chopped toasted walnuts.
• Confetti cupcakeVegetarianSprinkle-studded vanilla cake with pastel buttercream and extra rainbow jimmies on top; a staple at kids' parties.
• Vanilla on vanillaVegetarian · Popular pickFluffy vanilla cupcake swirled with vanilla bean buttercream and a pinch of sprinkles; simple and reliably crowd-pleasing.
• Chocolate on chocolateVegetarianMoist cocoa cupcake topped with a tall swirl of fudgy chocolate buttercream and a scattering of chocolate shavings.

Signature flavors

Bolder, dessert-inspired combinations that rotate through the case.

• Salted caramel cupcakeVegetarian · Popular pickBrown sugar cupcake with a gooey caramel center, caramel buttercream and a few flakes of sea salt for contrast.
• Cookies & cream cupcakeVegetarianChocolate cupcake with crushed sandwich cookies whipped into the frosting and a cookie half pressed on top.
• Peanut butter cupVegetarian · Contains nutsChocolate cupcake with creamy peanut butter frosting and a chopped peanut butter cup garnish; salty, sweet and rich.
• S'mores cupcakeGraham cracker crumb base, chocolate cake and marshmallow frosting torched until golden, recalling a campfire treat.
• Toasted coconut cupcakeVegetarianCoconut cake topped with coconut buttercream and drifts of toasted flaked coconut for a chewy, nutty-tasting finish.
• Mocha cupcakeVegetarianCoffee-infused chocolate cupcake with espresso buttercream and a light dusting of cocoa; a good afternoon pick-me-up.
• Maple bacon cupcakeSavoryMaple-sweetened cake topped with maple buttercream and a strip of candied bacon, mixing smoky and sweet flavors.

Filled cupcakes

Cupcakes cored and filled with a hidden center of curd, cream or jam.

• Boston cream cupcakeVegetarianVanilla cupcake filled with pastry cream and dipped in chocolate ganache instead of frosting, like a miniature Boston cream pie.
• Raspberry chocolate cupcakeVegetarianChocolate cupcake with a tart raspberry jam center and a pink raspberry buttercream on top.
• Lemon meringue cupcakeVegetarianLemon cupcake filled with tangy curd and topped with a swirl of meringue toasted until its peaks turn amber.
• Strawberry shortcake cupcakeVegetarianVanilla cake filled with chopped fresh strawberries and topped with a light whipped cream frosting.
• Cannoli cupcakeVegetarianCupcake filled with sweetened ricotta and mini chocolate chips, topped with crushed pieces of crisp cannoli shell.
• Black bottom cupcakeVegetarianChocolate cupcake baked around a cheesecake center studded with chocolate chips; dense, tangy and frosting-free.

Seasonal cupcakes

Limited flavors that change with the holidays and the harvest.

• Gingerbread cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalMolasses and ginger cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and a tiny gingerbread cookie on top.
• Pumpkin spice cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalPumpkin cupcake warmed with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, topped with cream cheese frosting and a dusting of spice.
• Peppermint mocha cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalChocolate-coffee cupcake with peppermint buttercream and crushed candy cane pieces for a cool, crunchy finish.
• Eggnog cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalNutmeg-scented cupcake made with eggnog and topped with a rum-flavored buttercream for the winter holidays.
• Caramel apple cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalSpiced apple cake with diced fruit baked in, topped with caramel frosting and a drizzle of extra caramel.
• Key lime cupcakeVegetarian · SeasonalSummer cupcake with a graham crumb base, lime zest in the batter and a tart lime cream cheese frosting.

Gluten-free & vegan

Options made without wheat or without animal products, baked alongside the regular case.

• Vegan gluten-free lemonVegan · Gluten-freeLemon cupcake free of wheat, eggs and dairy, topped with a tart plant-based lemon frosting and zest.
• Gluten-free chocolate cupcakeVegetarian · Gluten-freeRich cocoa cupcake made with a rice-flour blend and topped with chocolate buttercream; hard to tell apart from the regular version.
• Gluten-free almond vanillaVegetarian · Contains nutsAlmond flour vanilla cupcake with a moist, slightly dense crumb and a whipped vanilla buttercream.
• Vegan vanilla cupcakeVegan · Dairy-freeEgg-free and dairy-free vanilla cupcake made with plant milk, topped with a fluffy plant-based buttercream.
• Vegan chocolate cupcakeVegan · Dairy-freeDark, moist cocoa cupcake made with oil and plant milk, finished with a dairy-free chocolate frosting.

Minis & party orders

Sizes and formats for parties, offices and celebrations.

• Pull-apart cupcake cakeVegetarianCupcakes arranged into a shape such as a number or letter and frosted as one design, then pulled apart to serve.
• Cupcake in a jarVegetarianLayers of cake and frosting packed into a lidded jar, portable and convenient for gifting or eating later.
• Custom decorated dozenVegetarianTwelve cupcakes decorated with colors, toppers or piped designs to match a party theme or company logo.
• Mini cupcakesVegetarianTwo-bite versions of the daily flavors, sold by the dozen and easy to mix for trays and dessert tables.
• Jumbo cupcakeVegetarianOversized cupcake about the size of a small cake, with a towering swirl of frosting, made for sharing or birthdays.

Fillings

Layers spread between the cake rounds to add moisture, contrast and flavor.

• Raspberry preservesVegan · Dairy-freeTart, seedy raspberry jam spread between layers; it cuts through rich buttercream and leaves a vivid ribbon of color in each slice.
• Lemon curdVegetarian · Gluten-freeSilky, tangy curd cooked from lemon juice, eggs and butter, adding a bright, puckery layer to vanilla or almond cake.
• Dark chocolate ganacheVegetarian · Gluten-freeMelted dark chocolate whisked with warm cream, setting into a dense, fudgy layer between chocolate or vanilla sponges.
• Bavarian creamVegetarianVanilla custard lightened with whipped cream, cool and pudding-like; pairs especially well with layers of sliced fruit.
• Fresh strawberries & creamVegetarian · SeasonalSliced ripe strawberries set into whipped cream between layers, juicy and light; best for cakes served within a day of pickup.
• Salted caramelVegetarian · Gluten-freeSlow-cooked caramel with a pinch of sea salt, thick and buttery, often piped inside a buttercream dam to keep layers neat.
• Cookies & cream mousseVegetarianWhipped vanilla mousse folded with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, giving a speckled look and soft crunch between layers.
• Cannoli creamVegetarian · Gluten-freeSweetened ricotta with mini chocolate chips and a hint of orange zest, borrowed from the Sicilian pastry shop.

Drinks

• AmericanoVeganEspresso stretched with hot water into a full-size cup; lighter in body than drip yet keeps the toasty edge of the shot.
• CappuccinoVegetarianEqual-ish parts espresso, steamed milk, and airy foam cap, giving a drier, stronger-tasting drink than a latte with a velvety top layer.
• Caffè latteVegetarianEspresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin microfoam layer; mellow and creamy, often finished with latte art and offered with oat or almond milk.
• Flat whiteVegetarianA smaller, stronger cousin of the latte: a double ristretto under silky, barely-foamed milk for a dense texture and pronounced coffee flavor.
• MochaVegetarianEspresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk, sometimes crowned with whipped cream; a dessert-leaning drink balancing cocoa richness with coffee bite.
• EspressoVeganA concentrated one- or two-ounce shot pulled under pressure, topped with tawny crema and carrying bittersweet, roasty notes with a short, syrupy finish.