Now that we’re deep into February, even the most determined resolution-makers have thrown their goals for self-improvement aside. To attempt any sort of betterment during winter is probably a fool’s errand anyway. Technically, humans don’t hibernate, but if anyone spends their free time in the winter doing anything other than eating and hiding away from the cold, I certainly haven’t met them. If you want me to work out and eat a bunch of vegetables, I’m going to need a little more sunshine than January and February can afford.
Finding the right snack for your weekend hermiting sesh/Netflix binge can be a tricky thing. Donuts are nice. An Eggo waffle sandwich with Nutella inside can work. But I’m going to suggest a dark horse candidate: the cupcake. Over the past few years, cupcakes have gone in and out of vogue as the internet’s “It Food,” but they deserve to be your snack obsession regardless of the public’s stamp of approval.
Ease of Access
When you emerge from your nest of blankets, there is a lot to consider when picking out a snack. Can it be eaten easily without getting all over? Will it keep you satisfied for a while so you don’t have to trudge to the kitchen again too soon after? Can it be snacked upon with limited utensils? Our beloved cupcake hits all the marks, making it the ideal snack for your winter hibernation.
Now that you have an excuse (it’s cold outside, duh) to catch up on Netflix, a cupcake in hand will turn your binge into an A+ experience.
Sharing is Caring
When you decide to let someone into your den, you should probably have some sort of snack available to them. Cupcakes are the ultimate shareable (bonus points if you make them yourself).
If you do decided to leave the house, you can easily bring them to the office or a party. If you’re lucky, there’ll be leftovers which you can eat in your car when you just need FIVE MINUTES OF PEACE.
Less Commitment Than a Cake
You’re an adult and you can do what you want. Sometimes eating your feelings seems like the most viable method of coping. Especially when it’s cold outside.
But seriously? Going HAM on a cake is a bold move. With cupcakes there’s a natural stopping point. Even if you buy half a dozen, it’s still less of a commitment. You’ll be able to hold your head high and keep your pants buttoned.
The Cute Factor
Listen, sometimes it’s just fun eating things that make you feel like a giant. It’s okay. You’re not less of an adult for admitting that. Plus, presentation isn’t everything, but would you rather lazily rip open a bag of Little Debbie snacks or would you prefer to unbox a beautifully frosted cupcake?
Frosting
Frosting doesn’t have an exclusive relationship with the cupcake, but you could argue that no dessert treat benefits more from the existence of the moisture giving flavor-hat. A good cupcake can attain greatness with the right kind of frosting. Even a middling cupcake can be saved by frosting’s grace. But a cupcake without frosting is basically a dessert muffin. Nope.
As for what frosting gets out of the deal, well, it’s the puppy/kitten snuggle Vine of food items in that it makes everything better, but it’s still not socially acceptable to eat it on its own. So, at minimum, a cupcake serves as some kind of spoon for your frosting fix. So pile it high. No judgements here.
Tons of Variety
There are approximately 9,000 cupcake options in the world and flavor innovators are working tirelessly to concoct some more every day. Sometimes you’re craving chocolate, sometimes you want something with a fruit compote inside, and other times you’re feeling healthy so you reach for carrot cake, which is practically a salad. You can even go for meatloaf with potato “frosting.” or you can embrace your inner stoner and whip up a batch of Dorito and Mountain Dew cupcakes (barfs into trashcan). What other snack understands your need for variety and your sense of adventure?
Cupcakes are basically a baked good kaleidoscope — the multi-colored prism through which to view the rest of winter. So snack on, friends, snack your way right through until the sun comes out. Then snack some more.
