A bit of vanilla frosting here, a spoonful of rainbow sprinkles there. Throw in some chocolate covered pretzels or Skittles and you've got yourself a delicious treat. That's what students at McEwen Dining Hall discovered at the Cupcake War Competition hosted by Dining Services.
The event, held on Nov. 2, was one of many planned for November, according to Kate Nelson, ARAMARK marketing manager. Each summer, Dining Services plans different events — some themed — as a way of getting students more involved with the office and to enhance their experiences in the dining facilities, Nelson said.
Dining Services often advertises these events on table tents, which is how freshman Hal Rhorer heard about the cupcake decorating event.
"We saw the table tents in Harden and we usually look at those to see what's going on," he said. "We saw the cupcake ad and decided we needed to attend."
While the event ran from 4:30-9 p.m., Rhorer and his friends arrived at the event promptly at 4:30 p.m., because they felt their participation was necessary, he said.
Toppings for vanilla and chocolate cupcakes included chocolate chips, sprinkles and less typical toppings like Lucky Charms cereal, crushed Oreos, M&M's, and, of course, frosting — chocolate, vanilla and orange colored.
Freshman Dean Shapero's concoctions at the competition included a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting and a chocolate cake with orange frosting.
Shapero, who was unaware of the event before seeing it advertised, came across it when he was having dinner with his friends. He described his second cupcake as "autumn-flavored."
"It tastes like autumn, like Halloween, like fun activities," he said. "I'm not going to turn down a cupcake, especially if I can decorate it myself."
The cupcakes and decorations for the competition were made in Dining Services' Bake Shop located in Harden Dining Hall, Nelson said. All daily desserts are made at the location they are served.
Like Shapero, freshman Grace Cahill also didn't know the event was going on. She said she stumbled upon it when she came to McEwen for dinner.
"I thought it was recreational," Cahill said. "It was perfect."
Students had the opportunity to enter their cupcakes in the contest for a free retail combo meal, but some students didn't feel it was necessary.
"Just decorating my own cupcake and eating it was the only reward I want," Shapero said.
Other participants entered their cupcakes in the competition by submitting a photo of their creations to the Dining Services Facebook page. Winners were announced the following day: sophomores and friends Kalli Veldman, Danielle Baker and another friend showed off their Phoenix-inspired cupcake and will claim their prize.