8 bakers offer unusual taste-combos at today's cupcake contest at Stambaugh

YOUNGSTOWN

Everybody’s crazy about cupcakes.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re the classic chocolate or vanilla, or something a little more creative like Lemon Cello or French Toast. Or maybe even something off-the-wall, made just to please the palate of a pregnant woman, like, uh, Zesty Dill and Olive Oil Topped with Peanut Butter Ice Cream. Yeah, there really is such a thing.

No matter what your pleasure, if it comes available in a cupcake, it was probably served up Saturday afternoon somewhere in Stambaugh Auditorium, where the Friends of the Mahoning Valley Birth Center held its Second Annual Sweet Life Cupcake Competition.

Kristi Sanchez, organization president, said the competition is meant to capitalize on the popularity of reality television programs like Food Network’s Cupcake Wars.

“Cupcakes are the trend right now, all over the nation,” Sanchez said. “I think it’s universal. I mean, who doesn’t love a cupcake, right?”

In Saturday’s competition, eight professional bakers tested their mettle against each other in five judged categories: classic, healthy, themed (That’s Amore), pregnancy food craving and freestyle.

Read more about the tasty event in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.