‘Traveling cupcake show’ may be coming to a Centre County restaurant or event near you
After spending years as the executive pastry chef at the Penn State Bakery, Heather Luse decided about two years ago that it was time to focus on her own endeavors. She turned her attention fully to her long-standing business, Delectable Delights by Heather, which specializes in all things celebratory cakes and cupcakes.
As she turned this long-time second job into her primary role, she was also looking for ways to expand her offerings. What she found proved far more popular than she originally anticipated.
“When I was at the university, we occasionally had groups of people come in to decorate a cake, cupcakes, cookies or a gingerbread house,” she explained. She’d noticed that these types of hands-on, group experiences had become even more popular in the last few years, with friends and family members flocking to paint-and-sip events and the like.
Hosting similar cake decorating events seemed a natural fit for Delectable Delights, but, since the business is based in Luse’s home, she decided to take the idea on the road, and Delectable Delights’ Cupcake Caravan was born.
After hosting a private cupcake class for a small group, and learning the ins and outs of what the events might entail, the first public Cupcake Caravan event took place in April 2023. Luse simply advertised the event on Facebook and said it sold out within five minutes.
Over the last year, she’s hosted nearly 50 Cupcake Caravan events, for both private and public groups.
“It’s something a little bit different,” Luse said of the events’ broad appeal. “The part that people seem to like the most is that they’re doing it with their sister or their mom or their grandmother, and, even if your cupcakes look not-so-good, you’re still getting a treat at the end. You still get to take cupcakes home.”
That said, with Luse’s expertise guiding each class, alongside that of her teen daughter Sophia, and the care they’ve taken to ensure participants are set up for success, decorating a cupcake that looks near-professional is easier than some participants might expect.
Each participant receives a pack of four or six cupcakes, with their chosen flavors and fillings, to decorate. Luse has aprons and all the cake decorating tools at the ready, and she walks participants through each step of the decorating process. In the past, groups have adorned their cupcakes with perfectly piped American flags, artfully crafted octopi and delicate daisies.
The majority of Cupcake Caravan events are offered publicly, welcoming about two dozen or so attendees at a ticket price of around $40-$55, which includes a six-pack of cupcakes to decorate over an hour and a half. In the past, public events have taken place at restaurants like Blonde Bistro Brew Works and Streamside Family Restaurant and, in some instances, host businesses include a meal within the ticket price. For those interested in a private event, Luse works with all types of groups, from large families looking for a group activity suitable for all ages to businesses seeking a unique team-building activity.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Luse said of the last year. “It’s literally the traveling cupcake show.”
Seeing people learn and have fun with the decorating is her favorite part of the events.
“We try to make it fun. It’s not stressed. It’s very relaxed, and I get to share something I know how to do. This is my part of the world. If I can share a little bit of that talent and get ... smiles on faces, then we did our job.”
Upcoming events are advertised on the Delectable Delights by Heather Facebook page, www.facebook.com/delectabledelightsbyheatherluse. Those interested in hosting a public or private Cupcake Caravan event can reach Luse at heatherluse2016@gmail.com.
Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.
