Cupcakery focuses on gluten-free treats for 2014

Northwest Austin cupcakery Cupprimo celebrates its sixth anniversary in 2014 with a newly painted interior and artwork as well as continued innovation to create a selection of new flavors.

Owner Amy Brown said in 2014 Cupprimo strives to provide equal number of gluten-free cupcakes as regular cupcakes to her customers. Brown said the business began experimenting with gluten-free baking in 2013 as a result of customer feedback. The first two gluten-free cupcake flavors she offered were red velvet and double chocolate, both of which sold out on a daily basis, she said.

With flavors such as pink champagne for New Year's, Cupprimo now offers at least 30 gluten-free flavors.

"We started playing around with it, and it's one of the best things we have ever done," Brown said.

Other items offered because of customer demand include boozey cupcakes, which are infused with liquor. She said a customer who owns a local liquor store recommended using Zing Red Velvet vodka for a booze-infused treat.

"You need to take your cues [from customers] if you want to be successful," she said. "Year six is all about our raving fans."

Cupprimo has catered for several fundraisers, including for local celiac disease awareness events. Brown even catered an entire wedding with gluten-free treats. She said she offers custom gluten-free and regular cupcakes for catered events and that Cupprimo bakers are willing to experiment with almost any ingredient.

In 2013, Urban Roots—a youth development organization focused on sustainable agriculture—asked Brown to create a beet cupcake for a fundraiser, and she and her bakers happily accepted the challenge.

Regular Cupprimo cupcake flavors include Girl Scout Mint, chocolate Nutella, lemon cake blueberry buttercream, honey chai, strawberry, carrot and margarita.

In 2012, Cupprimo's creatively flavored treats got the attention of cable TV channel Food Network via customer commentary on social media platforms, and the business was featured on the TV show "Cupcake Wars." Brown said the exposure brought in many customers and more local and national recognition.

Two years after being featured on Food Network, Brown said she is considering exposing her brand to a wider customer base by partnering with restaurateurs to sell her cupcakes in local eateries.

"If you find the right people to partner with, it can be just amazing," she said.

Cupprimo, 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 105, 512-335-7746, www.cupprimo.com, Twitter: @cupprimo, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–9 p.m., closed Sun.