By Julia Howard
When Karina Aycardi first visited the United States as an exchange student seven years ago, her English was limited. She recalls writing “Happy Cupcake” at the top of her mood board and decorating it with a rainbow—not knowing that one day these words would inspire the name of her future baking business.
Happy Cupcake began bringing a variety of creative and decadent cupcakes and brookies to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market on Saturdays this past spring.
“It’s a dream to have people come to me and purchase my items. I love talking with customers and all the details they share when they order their custom cakes,” says Karina Aycardi.
After receiving a degree in graphic design in Colombia in 2021, Aycardi moved to the U.S. with her husband and settled in Saratoga County. With a life-long passion for baking and decorating cakes, Aycardi pursued a pop-up farmers’ market opportunity at June Farms. Within three days, Aycardi created a portfolio and built a website, and Happy Cupcake swiftly became a reality.
With baking experience and an eye for design, Aycardi has created six different made-from-scratch cakes and fourteen different buttercreams for her varieties of cupcakes. Her offerings include chocolate, vanilla, marble, coconut, orange cream, and carrot cupcakes topped with various whipped buttercreams and decorative candies.
“Cupcakes are so much fun,” says Aycardi. “They are versatile, not messy, and personal; a perfect serving to enjoy.”
While cupcake offerings are everchanging at Happy Cupcake, one consistent customer favorite is available every Saturday – the brookie; a cookie layered with a fudgy brownie coated with a chocolate swirl and topped with either M&Ms or peanut butter cups.
“Customers give me a lot of feedback, and my husband helps taste my experiments,” laughs Aycardi.
Aycardi is learning to follow her passions as a Latin female business owner. “When I started the business, I told myself this is what I want to do, and I can do this,” says Aycardi.
You can find Happy Cupcake’s confections every Saturday through the end of October at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Custom cake and cupcake orders (with delivery options) can be placed online at happycupcakeny.com, on Instagram, or by email.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at High Rock Park. The farmers’ market will move to the Wilton Mall on November 5. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
