Buttercream Dreams

The founder of Smallcakes, featured on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, shares his story and his recipes for cupcakes, ice creams, and other delights.

Jeff Martin created the wildly popular and fast-growing Smallcakes franchise, and in this book he shares not only thirty creative recipes but his experiences turning his passion into a business and coming up with some of his very first signature cupcake flavors like Cookies-n-Cream. He appeared on the Food Network’s reality show called Cupcake Wars—and famously became the guy who forgot the pumpkin in a pumpkin cupcake challenge. That popular recipe for a Pumpkin Cupcake with Cardamon buttercream is among the recipes in this book.

He introduces creative new flavors like Peanut Butter Pretzel and French Toast with Bacon, and since Smallcakes is a family-owned company, he also includes his kids’ favorites. His son Jax loves bubble gum, so they created a Bubblegum Cupcake. His daughter Lily asked her dad to come up with some crazy flavors like Orange Creamsicle and Caramel Pecan Carrot Cake. And cupcakes are only the beginning—you’ll also find recipes for ice cream and other confections offered now at Smallcakes locations, such as Nutella Wella Ice Cream, Mama’s Chocolate Fudge, and Smallcakes Crazy Monster Cookies.

Includes color photos!