What is it about this time of year that makes me crave sweets so much? I’ve just come off the Halloween sugar high, and now the Pumpkin Pie has found its place on the kitchen counter. Thank goodness for my daughter’s new love of cupcakes! These sweet morsels of goodness pack a punch of sweet and savory flavors. It’s not like eating a piece of fruit for a snack, but it keeps me from sticking my fork into another piece of pie.

The word on the street is that the best cupcakes in town are found at Sprinkles Cupcakes in Scottsdale. They’re a bit expensive, but they work as a great reward for finishing reading time. While you’re at it, make one of those books Pinkalicious, in which the main character eats so many cupcakes that her skin starts to turn colors!

The Book

Title: Pinkalicious

Click here to get the book and more in our Amazon store!

Author: Elizabeth Kann & Victoria Kann

Illustrator: Victoria Kann

Recommended Age: 4-8

Book Brief: Pinkalicious is a New York Times best-selling book about dessert, desire and discipline.

Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe — a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this pink predicament.

The colorfully illustrated book will leave you salivating and giggling and is a must-have for the little cupcakes in your family.

About the Author & Illustrator: Victoria and Elizabeth Kann are sisters who grew up in New York City.

Children’s Book Author and Illustrator Victoria Kann’s award-winning artwork has graced the covers and pages of many magazines, newspapers, and books including Harper’s magazine, Business Week and the New York Times.

Elizabeth Kann’s writing has appeared in a variety of publications including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Chocolate for the Soul series.

Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann co-authored Pinkalicious, which was published by HarperCollins in June 2006.

You can learn more about the creative sisters on the official Pinkalicious website.

The Blast

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Location:

4501 N. Scottsdale Rd. (at Camelback across from Fashion Square)

480.970.4321

Hours: Monday through Saturday 9-7; Sunday 10-6

Cost: $3.25 per cupcake

It’s a Blast! No, it’s not the cheapest cupcake in town, but these are the cupcakes that the movie stars are eating! If that didn’t win you over, maybe the fact that they’re delicious will help.

Pastry chef Candace Nelson wanted to find a way to share her love of gourmet cakes with people on the run. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco to open the first Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. It was a huge success! Sprinkles has even found its way into popular culture, with multiple refrences on television shows. Why? The blend of trendiness and tastiness. Dad . . . this is a great opportunity for Daddy-Daughter time. She’ll eat it up.

Extra tips for a Good Time:

• Check the Sprinkle Cupcakes website to see when different flavors will be for sale.
• From now until the end of March, enjoy some “drinking chocolate” with your cupcake.
• Use the experience to launch a fun tradition of experimenting with cupcake flavors in your house. Though the Sprinkles variety aren’t cheap, the homemade kind are!