Best Of CLE: Cupcake Bouquets

Abolition Bakery’s cupcake bouquets ($65 per dozen) defy belief. What at first glance looks to be a beautiful bouquet of roses is actually a blooming work of cupcake art that’s almost too wonderful to eat.

“I’m as surprised as anybody when it comes together,” says founder and baker Rita Ballenger, who started the online-only bakery as a way to donate money to organizations combating human trafficking.

Made with vanilla, chocolate or almond cupcakes as the base, Ballenger uses a house-made buttercream frosting to create each cupcake’s intricate flower petals that complement the fresh flowers she works into each bouquet.

The special frosting recipe, which can be made with flavors such as lemon, salted caramel or toasted coconut, has just the right density that it stays on each cupcake, making it hard to decipher flower from frosting.

“I still haven’t gotten over how pretty they are,” Ballenger says. “I could leave them on the counter and just look at them.” 216-212-9876, abolitionbakery.com

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The votes are in! Our readers pick their faves in more than 60 categories. Best burger, best DJ, best spa & more! 

Celebrate with us at the Best of Cleveland Party Friday, Oct. 25 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.