Nothing says summer like the flavor of fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes, but you might not be expecting to eat the fruit-once-mistaken-for-a-vegetable for dessert. You can try an unusually sweet twist on the classic pairing of tomato soup and grilled cheese at Urban Cookies Bakeshop, available today through Sunday, August 18.
The local organic bakery gained national acclaim when owner Brady Breese and lead baker Sal Garcia scored a victory on Food Network's Cupcake Wars back in 2011 (competing under the name OllieCake). If you've always thought you were brave enough to try the crazy cupcakes cooked up for the reality competition show's challenges, now is your chance. Urban Cookies only recreates these winning cupcakes one week every year to celebrate the anniversary of the big win.
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The Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Cupcake doesn't shy away from its savory inspiration. This crazy cake is flavored with tomatoes and thyme and garnished with a sugared, roasted cherry tomato. It's also topped with a Parmesan crisp to capture the flavor and texture of grilled cheese, and the only element that would be at home on a traditional dessert is the frosting, a honey mascarpone, which adds a subtly sweet cheesiness.
Of the four winning flavors, only one is on the bakery's regular menu: Orange Olive Oil with Rosewater Frosting. But believe it or not, Urban Cookies Bakeshop isn't the only destination in the Valley for Cupcake Wars fans. You can also get a taste of televised pastry sensations at Scottsdale's Gluten-Free Creations and Gilbert's The Coffee Shop; pastry chef Lisa Cowden and café owner Jessica Cuff took home the prize on seasons 1 and 2, respectively.
