Some of Nupur Varma's baked delights pique the overzealous mind. But then, her cupcakes turn eyeballs not just for its names. They don't come served in boxes or tacky plasticware. Instead, you get to pluck them out of long-stemmed bouquets

For Nupur Varma, happiness comes in joyful, little bundles, perched high on sticks and trailing pastel-coloured, curly party ribbons from their edges. The dessert whiz is not content by simply dishing out yummies on a platter. Instead, she hopes to woo you by placing them atop fancy bouquets, and having you pick the goodies off the long stems.


LET THERE BE LIGHT Nupur Varma's creations can set a party on fire.
PIC/ATUL KAMBLE.

Nupur's venture, The Wooden Spoon, ladles out cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes and chocolates, topped with handcrafted icing. "You see chocolate bouquets everywhere, but I wanted to offer something different," says the south Mumbai resident.

As many refreshing ideas weirdly do, this one popped up in her head while on a drive back from Lonavala. "At that time, I presented a cupcake bouquet to my aunt on her 60th birthday, and she just loved the present."

Nupur sticks a candle into each of the cupcakes and makes sure that her delivery guy lights them up before your special person opens the door to receive it. While we sank our teeth into the supersoft Red Velvet cupcake, you can also opt for mocha, carrot, peanut butter and chocolate varieties that come in brightly coloured frosting. Quiz Nupur about the ideas that centre on individual tastes (poker, make-up, fairy tales, even music) and she will craft up creative elements to top your dessert (a poker chip, lipstick, a wand or a cassette, perhaps?). For Diwali, she's whipped up diyas that sit pretty on her chocolate cupcakes.

Cute flower and heart shaped brownies on sticks make up her brownie bouquets. We didn't find the brownies as crumbly or gooey, but they still made us go, "Mmmm". We do not want the Japs to commit harakiri, but her 'sushi chocolates' that areu00a0 rolled brownies coated with chocolate are quite a favourite among her clientele.

Nupur learnt the tricks of the trade while pursuing a three-year culinary course at the Merit Swiss Asian School of Hotel Management in Ooty, followed by training at The Oberoi. "I've always loved tinkering around in the kitchen, and coming up with creations that are not seen elsewhere," says this mother of one, who constantly shuttles to USA and UK for short-term dessert courses.

We hear she makes delightful dips too: there's Spinach and Artichoke, and Sundried Tomato, though after all that dessert binging, we might have a soft spot for the suggestive-sounding Skinny Dip.

SELLIN' LIKE HOT CAKES
> Cupcake bouquet with six regular-sized cupcakes: Rs 850
> Cupcake bouquet with 12 mini cupcakes: Rs 1,000
> Brownie bouquet: Rs 500
> Cake pops (cake lollipops) bouquet: Rs 750
> Cake pop (single): Rs 50
> Cake: Rs 500 per kg
> Dips: Rs 150 (200 gms)

Call Nupur Varma on 9820042978 or mail her at nupurvarma@hotmail.com to place your order.