Blog

Happy New Year!

January 11, 2018Amy Brace

I know it's been almost two weeks since January 1st, but that's ok. One of my many goals for this year is blogging, and getting to highlight all the amazing and fun things we do here at Amy's Cupcake Shoppe! Blogging more consistently, and posting about the things you want to hear about.

tags blog, cupcakes, macarons, bakery, mn, minnesota, yum, yummy, cakes, custom cakes, birthdays, celebrate, foodie, food, treats

Kickstarter Appreciation Day!

March 05, 2017Amy Brace

We are coming up on one year of our Kickstarter being funded by all our amazing backers! So, we have decided to throw a Kickstarter Appreciation event. For those who haven't cashed in on their rewards yet, can. Including scheduling macaron classes, ordering cakes, and bringing home cupcakes, mugs, and macarons. Join us March 23rd from 4-6pm!

We also have all the t-shirts and our amazing macaron artwork from Cait Courneya for you to take home. Look for our Facebook event, and be sure to RSVP, so we know how much of everything to make! If you'd like to pick up your cake that day, we can do that as well.

Email us with cake orders at amy@amyscupcakeshoppe.com

We have been beyond humbled and honored by all the support we have received so far, and we can't wait to make everyone delicious treats for many years to come. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for us, as we can't even begin to describe how much you mean to Amy's Cupcake Shoppe.

Thank you!

Engle Olson working on our incredible Kickstarter Campaign

Grand Opening Day planned by the amazing Josey from Sixpence Events & Planning

Cheers to all our incredible employees, family and friends for all their hard work, and our wonderful vendors who made the day unforgettable! Stay tuned for our anniversary bash!

tags cupcakes, hopkins, mn, minnesota, bakery, cupcake, macaron, baking, sweets, treats, dessert, gluten free, vegan

Bursting with Excitement

March 12, 2016Amy Brace

Yesterday I almost exploded with excitement! We signed our SBA loan at Venture Bank and we are good to go for the storefront!!!!! It's still sinking in that everything is actually happening.

March 03, 2016Amy Brace

I have been thinking a lot lately about our Kickstarter campaign. I know, weird right? Some of you may know about Kickstarter and some may not, so I wanted to let you know a little about it.

January 26, 2016Amy Brace

I was wondering how I would start this blog, and I decided just to start and see how it goes! In December I went to the bank, business plan in hand along with a pretty amazing building on Main Street in Hopkins. The address is 915 Main Street. I first went to Wells Fargo and was shot down immediately.

I was feeling pretty defeated at the time, but of course kept chugging along. Next, I decided to try more banks at once, so three this time! So far two more no's and one super duper pretty sure yes. As soon as I get all the plans and bids from contractors.

Speaking with Kelsy from Bluebird Cakery was one of my top priorities, since she literally just went through the same process I am hoping to go through. A too small commercial kitchen, Kickstarter campaign, storefront and amazingness. Including those amazing people called employees. Someday I'll have one of those.

I met with Kelsy and learned as much as I could, how it all went, how it's going now. Meanwhile showing contractors the building trying to get quotes and getting fancy architecture plans drawn up of the space.

Last weekend we drove a quick 7 hours to Jenna Rae Cakes in Winnipeg and grilled her for all the things in about two hours. I am very thankful for Jenna, her sister Ashley and also Kelsy for chatting with me about their businesses. I know how busy a day can be for me, let alone these wonderful ladies and their storefronts.

One of the biggest take-aways reminds me of the three little bears. You don't want a space too small, you don't want a space too big, you want it juuuuust right. Room for growth in the years to come and plenty of room for customers to sit down and enjoy their delicious treats.

That being said, the 915 building JUST fit the equipment I had. And after being at Jenna Rae Cakes in their front of house area for about an hour, the line was always to the door. Packed solid. The entire hour we were chatting and then we left to head to their new commercial kitchen space. Beautiful and spacious and plenty of storage. That's what I'm looking for, but all in one location.

I love the idea of being on Main Street in Hopkins. It's close to where we live and I love the atmosphere of all the businesses there.

So, after all the work we put into the 915 building, we will have to move on. We looked at two other spaces, one might be a little big and the other is just right. But! There is someone else looking at the space and ready to pounce. But hopefully they are more snail like and we are like jaguars, or maybe even bulls haha.

I will fight with all my might for this space. It's on a corner, brand spankin new and full of windows. Tall ceilings, which I think are pretty perfect for hanging some fun chandeliers. So now, back to getting bids from contractors and plans from the architect. And then getting those things to the bank, so they can make this dream of mine a reality. And then? Kickstarter!

We have shot the Kickstarter video and I can't wait to launch it for you all to see. Amazingness will ensue as soon as all the stars align and all those ducks get into their rows.

This week lots of things will be happening. And if all goes well and I get to call 701 Main Street mine. You will all be hearing from me a lot more. Come with me on this journey and I promise you won't be disappointed! So, until then I will leave you with some pictures of my dream space.

Caleigh's Tea Party

November 18, 2015Amy Brace

I can't believe my sweet little lady is 4! It seems like not so long ago I was bringing her home from the hospital and getting settled in. And now she's 4, and we thought a tea party would be pretty fun!

September 08, 2015Amy Brace

Have you ever had that moment when you thought to yourself "this is it, this is the big grand opportunity I have been waiting for". That defining moment you know is going to change you for always. I had that moment in January

May 18, 2015Amy Brace

The first six weeks of class are over, and I think I've cut enough potatoes into cubes and sticks for quite some time! It was great practice, and learning proper knife skills is definitely necessary, but I'm a little over potatoes and onions.

Our first two classes were Intro to Culinary, and Food Safety. Waking up early to always be on time and a little dedication to potatoes and food safety, and I was able to pass both classes with 98%. My next class started today and it's Intro to Baking.

What did we do on the first day? We learned to make chocolate chip cookies, and the secret ingredient is apparently a little dark rum haha. We didn't quite get to baking them today, but I'm excited to scoop those delicious morsels tomorrow. Also, on the schedule for tomorrow is peanut butter cookies! I feel like I should start a cleanse or something. All these delicious treats are going to be difficult to resist! Gotta try it right?

Luckily last term we had a class that finished at 9:30am, this term we are not so lucky. With a new recipe every day we will be going 7-11am straight. I know it may not seem too crazy, but woah the notifications on all the things I had when I got out of class was intense!

I will for sure do my best to keep up with phone calls, emails, messages and social media. Since we aren't able to have our phones in class, everything will start for me after 11, so please be patient.

I am so thankful for all the love and support I have gotten through this journey so far, I can't wait to keep sharing with you all the things I am learning. Next class is breads....ooooooh yeah.

So here are a couple pictures of the excitement I have had so far. Love you all and thank you a million for loving my business!

Knife cuts final exam with potatoes, onions and tomatoes

Making ourselves some lunch of turkey breast, mashed taters and broccoli

Our first pot of potato water.... And yes we thought it tasted good

Intro to baking first day chocolate chip cookies!

Onward and upward from here!

Back to School

April 11, 2015Amy Brace

So excited to be at Le Cordon Bleu!! I have finished my first week of classes and only cut myself once! I would call it a success so far. Currently we are taking two classes alongside the culinary students. Culinary Basics and Food Safety. We will have these two classes for the next 6 weeks. In Culinary Basics we will learn knife skills, soups, bases and sauces. Yummo!

After the first 6 weeks the culinary and pastry students will separate and have our own classes. Each class is 6 weeks long and I can't wait to learn everything possible! I will be learning basics, sugar, chocolate, breads, cake decorating and structure and so much more, so if you'd like samples just let me know.

With going back to school comes a lot of responsibilities for me, school, working part time for ID Line, Amy's Cupcake Shoppe, being a mom, and being a wife. So, if I don't get back to you right away with an inquiry, please be patient. I will do my best to get to everyone as soon as possible!

Thank you all so much for all your continued support and love of my sweet treats. I love making everyone's day so much sweeter and making special cakes and cookies for all your events. Can't wait to learn and grow my business!

Cakes, Cakes, Cakes!

March 16, 2015Amy Brace

Usually my day-to-day orders consist of cupcakes. Any and every delicious cupcake from my menu, or even creations we get to make up on the spot. But, recently, I have been having so much fun making custom cakes for birthdays, baby showers, special events, and of course weddings.

I have done three weddings so far this year and they have all had a tiered cake as the centerpiece. Love it! Baking, decorating, and stacking a cake is a whole different beast than making cupcakes. A fun and delicious challenge indeed.

So feast your eyes on the most fun I have been having since I started my business a little over a year ago. I am so honored and humbled by all the continued support from family, friends, and every referral I have ever gotten. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and loving my baking creations! So, come for more treats, often and always, I am here to make all your days just that much sweeter.