Swan Chocolates Launches 'Cake' Pastry Line

It was a sweet morning at Swan Chocolates Wednesday.

At 10:30 a.m. a line of 10 customers had formed waiting for a free cupcake, 10 of 75 free treats offered at the launch of "Cake" ' new line of pastries, cakes and cupcakes offered at the chocolate shop and ice cream parlor.

You may have seen some of these pastries over the last few months, as the shop slowly expanded their offering. But when Cake launched on Wednesday, so did a line of 17 varieties of cupcakes, displayed in a lighted pink display case bearing the line's logo.

Swan's co-owner Theresa Anderson said she and her husband Michael and their staff are very excited for the rollout of the new sweets.

"It was a process of evolution," Theresa Anderson said Wednesday morning as the initial cupcake rush settled. "It was a natural next step for us launching cake. It was timed well with our upstairs seating area opening. People want a place to sit down and enjoy something decadent."

The colossal cupcakes were handed out Wednesday with a menu of flavors that include: Death by Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Red Velvet, Black and White, Peanut Butter Cup, Toasted Coconut, Salted Caramel, Espresso Shot, Lemon, Chocolated Eclair, Pistachio Hazlenut Truffle, Black Forest, S'mores, Snickerdoodle, Raspberry Truffle, Carrot and Toffee Crunch.

The menu also includes cupcakes for baby showers with chocolate and vanilla options with blue or pink buttercream frosting.

For cupcake lovers who are gluten intolerant, there's good news for you. While the day-to-day cupcakes are not yet gluten-free, the shop can make them gluten-free to order.

Anderson, who has Celiac's Disease, herself, understands the desire for gluten-free treats. The store's chocolates are naturally gluten-free and their gelato is as well.

Anderson said they do plan to sell gluten-free cupcakes in the shop and they plan to have a tasting event sometime in the near future.

"Because of my needs we are very well versed in the ingredients that need to be used and we follow very strict guidelines," Anderson said.

By 1:30, nearly all 75 cupcakes had been given away and by 3:30 p.m. the case was beginning to look a little sparse – a good sign that it had been a tasty day for many around town.

The cupcakes sell for $3.25 a piece, while a half dozen is $19 and a baker's dozen is $39.

To place a special order for your upcoming event, call Swan's at 423-5950.