Readers Swarm Sweet Spot to Name 'PatchCake'

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and temperatures neared 80 degrees for one of the final days of the summer last Friday.

That idyllic setting was the backdrop for customers who entered the Sweet Spot Bake Shoppe on Main Street in Chester, where Long Valley and Mendham-Chester Patch hosted a taste testing.

The idea was borne from the bakery’s win on The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars over the summer. Patch figured, if they can cater to celebrities, why not Patch?

At the heart of Patch is its readers, so rather than the company deciding what kind of cupcake best embodies Patch, we left it up to you.

From there, bakery owner Cheryl Burger and her staff created two mini PatchCakes of the top vote-getters to test–a pumpkin cupcake with sweet cream frosting, and a cinnamon cupcake with apple filling and walnut frosting.

Readers were invited to come in and see which one they enjoyed most, and the race was neck and neck throughout the two-hour time-span.

Chester Borough Mayor Bob Davis stopped by and cast his vote, but not before handing a proclamation to Burger honoring the store.

“Both (PatchCakes) are just wonderful,” Davis said. “But the apple and walnut has a multi-taste, and the fruit filling is terrific.”

The pumpkin PatchCake wouldn’t be outdone, however, as one Mendham resident raved about it.

Allison Minott was buying a box of assorted baked goods for her family, who she’ll see in New York this weekend, when she gave the PatchCakes a try.

“I have to vote for the pumpkin one,” Minott said. “It was like I was eating fresh pumpkin pie. Delicious!”

Customers from Long Valley, the Chesters and Mendhams were all on hand to cast their votes, but some came from as far as Sayerville and Landing as well.

“The apple is delicious,” said Nancy Bolk of Sayerville. “I like the hidden apple inside–it’s unexpected.”

While a winner was decided to be the official baked treat of Patch, one customer used the perfect rationale for why voting was so difficult.

“I think I can eat both for breakfast,” said Felicity Wilmerding of Mendham.

Now, thanks to the Sweet Spot Bake Shoppe and the readers of Long Valley and Mendham-Chester Patch, this media company officially has a cupcake to call its own.

So, who won?

Check back Tuesday when we announce the winner!