Sweet teeth never had it so good. The last few years have seen the rise of cupcakes to rock star status, with whoopee pies following close up the rear. Since sweet treats became something of a lifestyle statement, along with them have come a slew of products, blogs and books to feed are insatiable appetites. These work, of course, with varying degrees of success.
Sweet 180º is a blog with a blissfully simple concept. Ana Cristina Rubio, its founder, takes a sweet-baking recipe and brings it to you every Tuesday, accompanied by some mouth-watering images of her creation. The one catch? The baked goods have to be cooked at 180 degrees (350 degrees Fahrenheit) of course! The project began in 2010, ensuring that her blog is now a wealthy source of recipes for any aspiring baker. On her site you will find the likes of Double Chocolate and Cardamom Tarts, Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Rose Water and Mochaccino Cupcakes.
The blog’s success has seen Ana and her partner, Guillermo Pascual, looking to expand the brand. They now have an online shop where you can buy suitably charming, baking-related accessories. You’ll find cake stands that have been decorated with the signature characters of artist Núria Marquès. There are also specially designed disposable cake plates, emblazoned with images by Silvia Prada.
And there’s party kits to help you with throwing your own parties for everything from a baby shower to a football match. If you want to try before you buy, you can check out their products in shops throughout Barcelona, such as The Private Space Shop, WaWas, Florentine Cupcakes and Cookiteca. This Tuesday, check out the blog and perhaps even have a bash at making one of your own baked creations.
