How Cupcakes Became a US Trend

History

Shortly after World War I, the Hostess company began producing cupcakes as a new form of pastry, and they quickly gained popularity in the USA. By the early 1950s, many companies started making cupcakes, leading to their sale in all supermarkets across the USA. Cupcakes were particularly popular with children.

Trendsetter Magnolia Bakery

In 1996, the Magnolia Bakery in New York began selling crazily decorated cupcakes. Word of mouth quickly spread that you could buy incredibly good-looking and delicious cupcakes at this bakery. A year later, you had to wait at least half an hour in line to buy a cupcake at the bakery.

Sex and the City

Cupcakes achieved not only US-wide but also global breakthrough thanks to the cult US series Sex and the City. On July 9, 2000, the Sex and the City episode "No Ifs, Ands or Butts" aired, in which Carrie and Miranda sit in front of Magnolia Bakery, both eating a cupcake and talking about how good it is. After the episode, cupcake sales skyrocketed worldwide, and the cupcake became a cult product not only in the USA but also around the world.