"There was a big population of people who wanted it [gluten free]," Vandy Altounian, co-owner of ConfeXion Cupcakes, said. Because of the increase popularity, ConfeXion wanted to present their customers with more options other than the simple, gluten free vanilla. A different gluten free flavor is featured every month. For February, this flavor is red velvet with cream cheese frosting and topped with a red heart.
It was hard to tell the difference between the gluten and the gluten free cupcakes after a taste test, although the slight difference came from the gluten free cupcake which was a bit sweeter and had a more relevant cinnamon taste. "People say they taste the same, you can't tell the difference between them," Altounian said. The taste is remarkably similar even though the gluten free cupcakes do not use a wheat mix. "We use more of a rice blend," Altounian said.
"You're going to use specialty things, so it's going to cost more," Altounian said. But regardless of the higher expense to make gluten free products, ConfeXion keeps all their cupcakes at $3.25 for their customers. George Francis has often delivered ConfeXion's gluten free cupcakes to customers. "They're obviously delicious. They [customers] keep coming back," Francis said.
ConfeXion Cupcakes also offers gluten free cakes and other cupcake flavors upon request. Although they sell wheat free items, ConfeXion strongly points out that it is not strictly gluten free. "There's a risk of gluten being in the air," Altounian said.
