This Des Moines favorite offers over 15 flavors every day
For $3, you can have a handful of heaven a la Peanut Butter Passion, Luscious Lemon, or Chocolate Indulgence. Crème Cupcake, a locally owned Des Moines bakery, serves over 15 cupcake flavors a day, ranging from the exotic Blueberry Pancake topped with candied bacon to the simple pleasures of vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.
But grab these goodies quick: By the end of March, Crème will have en entirely new Dessert Lounge menu to kick off the debut of Jeffrey Sills, the bakery’s new pastry chef. “We’re shaking things up a little bit and having a new launch,” said Colleen Spellman, Crème marketing employee and former baker. “We’re completely excited. We think [Sills] is going to bring us up to a new level.”
Last August, Crème opened a shop on 28th Street in Des Moines, the bakery’s first permanent location since opening in 2010. And it’s been a knockout: Crème took the cake in Cityview’s Best of Des Moines awards for “Best Dessert” in 2012 and 2013. The bakery served up a whopping 800 cupcakes this past Valentine’s Day and sells 225 treats a day on average.
Local restaurants have given into the sweet tooth as well: Americana, a local Des Moines favorite, offers torte created by Crème on the dessert menu, and—insider secret—Crème will soon begin crafting desserts for Proof restaurant on Locust Street.
Tell me, what’s your flavor?
Crème offers a scrumptious, dynamic menu all day long. In the morning, grab a coffee, a gourmet donut flavor—like Maple Bacon, Lemon Crème, S’Mores or an indulgent Snickers—and one (or two) of Crème’s glorious cinnamon rolls.
In addition to the nine staple cupcake flavors featured every day, Crème bakes a handful of specialty day-of-the-week options (who could resist Tuesday’s PB&J or Saturday’s Fried Ice Cream?) and two monthly seasonal flavors. In a tribute to St. Patty himself, March’s seasonal menu will feature—and you might want to sit down for this—a chocolate cupcake filled with rich Guinness mousse and topped with a Bailey’s buttercream frosting.
Help yourself to a $3 single cupcake or a dozen (heck, why not?) for $28. Mini cupcakes, orders only, are $1.50 each or $18 per dozen. Each flavor is explained in detail on Crème’s website. The bakery also sells vegan and gluten-free treats.
Crème’s chefs only do one round of baking each day, so come early to snag your favorite flavor, because they go fast.
Lounge Tastefully
Last month, Crème launched Happy Hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with a tasty menu of “light bites”: pretzels with white wine cheese sauce and watermelon salsa with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the bakery becomes the chic dessert lounge at 5:30 p.m. An on-staff mixologist pairs desserts with complementary drinks, with duos like Bananas Foster and a Dapper Apple cocktail. Dessert connoisseurs can mix and mingle (with friends, savory treats, or both) until 10 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Drinkers are ID’d, but visitors of all ages are welcome. Non-alcoholic drinks are offered.
Crème is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the dessert lounge open until 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until midnight. The bakery is located on 543 28th Street in Des Moines. For information or catering services, call Crème at (515) 288-1050, or visit the bakery’s website at Cremecupcake.com.
