DINING OUT:Yummy Cupcakes for your tummy

Cupcakes have been experiencing a comeback. They have been rescued from the back of the bakery case and their popularity is growing by leaps and bounds.

Not unlike the once lowly mashed potato, which not that long ago could not be found on fine dining menus, the cupcake renaissance is fueled by entrepreneurs who put a creative spin on an old familiar favorite.

Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank is at the forefront of this trend and offers an entire store dedicated to the diminutive desserts. Stepping into the store is like walking into someone’s kitchen.

Time it right and the aroma is heavenly. Long display cases reveal trays of 15 types of cupcakes.

They make their 11 most popular flavors everyday and add four daily specials.

Yummy’s website does a good job of letting you know what’s available on any given day.

And the “Yummy Flavors” section features pictures of the cakes. Roll your mouse over the pictures for a description ? kind of fun. Some of the more unusual varieties include Banana Split, French toast and Cosmopolitan.

They also make creative cupcake arrangements for parties and special events, even weddings.

Talk about newfound respectability.

On my visit, I bravely sampled eight different cakes. Hey, it’s a tough job but somebody has to do it. I started with a traditional Vanilla/Vanilla.

Though it sounds rather plain, the rich cupcake is made with a vanilla bean puree and topped with vanilla butter cream.

Another popular mainstay is called the Fudge Yummy.

This chocolate cupcake has a chocolate ganache center and is iced with chocolate butter cream and chocolate sprinkles. Wow ? rich, moist and delicious.

The Southern Red Velvet cupcake has the tint of red the cake is known for, but is basically a moist, light cake that is graced with a terrific cream cheese frosting.

More out-of-the-ordinary standouts include the Meyer Lemon Tart cupcake.

Meyer lemons, a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, have a distinctly sweeter and milder flavor than a regular lemon.

The cupcake, made with Meyer lemon puree, has a delicate sweet lemon taste and is topped with a lemon zest butter cream. Truly a wonderful creation.

Also wonderful was the Peach Cobbler cupcake. It really had the flavor of a cobbler with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and pieces of fresh peaches.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

All you really need to know is in the name: Yummy.

FYI

WHAT: Yummy Cupcakes

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: 2918 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank

COST: $2.50 to $3 each

CONTACT: (818) 558-1080 or www.yummycupcakes.com