Eating Connecticut: Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes

Chances are pretty good that if I’ve met you in person, I’ve probably talked up Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes to you.

Go to NYC? Attempt to convince no less than 5 people that they should drive to CT for cupcakes. Fly out to the West coast? Extol their virtues to anyone who will listen. Invited to a party celebrating my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary? Show up with 2 dozen of Hardcore Sweet’s finest flavors. I can’t help myself.

It’s all with good reason, though.

Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes is the labor of love of Jeremy and Nicole Braddock.

This husband-wife team risked it all–withdrawing their life savings and quitting their jobs–to make Hardcore a success. It all started with a humble food truck and a passion for their products. Their gamble has paid off in spades.

If you’re a fan of the Food Network show Cupcake Wars, you may recognize Jeremy and Nicole. That’s because they appeared in the Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare episode. Their frightfully good flavors and freakish vintage funhouse-themed display of 1000 cupcakes won them the opportunity to go to the grand opening of guest judge Rob Zombie’s month-long haunted music attraction, “Great American Nightmare.” It’s only grown from there.

Next came the Oakville bricks-and-mortar bakery–which is literally housed in brick in the Old Pin Shop Factory on Main Street. You’ll find a dozen or two flavors of cupcakes ready for purchase, plus whoopie pies, “balls,” and ponuts, a hybrid pie-donut concoction created by Nicole. Hardcore Sweet also offers custom cakes to order.

The cupcake truck is still a fixture, and appears at many local farmers markets and community events.

It’s now accompanied by the caboose, a scaled-down version of the truck, so they can be in two places at once. Both are available for rent for your special occasions. (My 40th birthday is coming up in 2 years… hint, hint.) They also regularly host classes and events in their Oakville bake-space, including some shows put on by my friends at The Desultory Theatre Club.

Nicole and Jeremy are graciously opening their doors to us once more for the upcoming (and aptly-named) Hardcore Halloweenie Burlesque and Variety Show on October 24th. It’s THE Halloween happening this year, with the best in burlesque, magic, shadow puppets, sideshow stunts, music, food trucks, beer, coffee, and more! It’s the must-see event of the year!

As for Hardcore Sweet, they just keep growing. Their next step? A second storefront in the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, Connecticut, due to open soon. It’s great to see a dream realized and a family business thrive. More Hardcore Sweet sweetness for all!