>>> AND HAPPY FRIDAY AND WELCOME
TO "HOUSTON LIFE."
I'M JENNIFER BROOME.
>> AND I'M DERRICK SHORE.
WE'VE GOT A BIG SHOW TODAY
INCLUDING THE SHAKE SHACK CRAZE
THAT HAS FINALLY COME TO
HOUSTON.
>> THE GRAND OPENING IS TAKING
PLACE RATE NOW.
IT OPENED JUST A COUPLE HOURS
AGO AND OUR "HOUSTON LIFE"
REPORTER STEPHANIE GONZALEZ WILL
TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES LATER
IN OUR SHOW.
BUT FIRST, SHE'S FOUNDED
SPRINKLES CUPCAKES 11 YEARS AGO.
AND JUST RELEASED HER FIRST
COOKBOOK.
PLEASE WELCOME CANDICE NELSON.
>> CAND WRITINGS NELSON.
WE'RE NOT WORTHY TO HAVE YOU --
THIS IS SO EXCITING THAT YOU'RE
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHEN YOU SET OUT TO OPEN YOUR
LITTLE CUPCAKE SHOP IN
LOS ANGELES, I WAS ONE OF YOUR
FIRST CUSTOMERS.
>> I KNEW YOU LOOKED FAMILIAR.
>> DID YOU SET OUT TO OPEN A
STORE OR DID YOU INTEND TO BUILD
THE CUPCAKE EPPYRE YOU BUILT --
EMPIRE YOU BUILT?
>> I BELIEVED IN MY IDEA
ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY ELSE THOUGHT
I WAS NUTS.
THE FIRST WORLD'S CUPCAKES HAD
THE ONLY BAKE -- CUPCAKES-ONLY
BAKERY.
I HEARD FROM IT THE LANDLORD AND
A LOT OF MY FRIENDS.
PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO LOOK OUT
FOR ME.
>> THEY WERE CONCERNED.
>> BUT I BELIEVED IN MY IDEA AND
IF I DON'T FRY THIS, I'M GOING
TO -- TRY THIS, I'M GOING REGRET
THIS.
20 LOCATIONS YERT, IT'S AMAZING.
>> YOU DESERVE THE SUCCESS.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
INTERESTING THINGS IS YOU WERE
AN INVESTMENT BANKER AND MADE A
COMPLETE CAREER CHANGE.
ADVICE FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S
THINKING ABOUT DOING THE SAME
KIND OF BIG CHANGE.
>> IT'S HARD.
IT'S SCARY.
I KIND OF JUMPED OFF A CLIFF.
YOU HAVE TO REALLY SORT OF TEST
THE WATERS.
I STARTED SMALL.
I STARTED OUT OF MY HOUSE.
I ALSO WENT TO PASTRY SCHOOL
BEFORE THAT.
SO I WANTED TO TEST THAT MY
HOBBY WAS REALLY SOMETHING I
WANTED TO DO ON A DAILY BASIS,
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, THEY DO THEIR HOBBY ON
THE WEEKENDS.
IT'S REALLY FUN.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT 16
HOURS A DAY, IT BECOMES WORK,
TOO.
>> NOT SO FUN ANYMORE.
>> BUT I LOVE GETTING MY HANDS
IN THE FLOUR AND THE CHOCOLATE
AND THE MIXER AND I LOVE FEEDING
PEOPLE AND I LOVED GIVING THEM
SOMETHING THAT MADE THEM HAPPY
AND PUT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.
>> WHO DOESN'T LOVE A CUPCAKE.
YOU'VE BEEN ON 10 SEASONS OF
"CUPCAKE WARS."
>> THAT'S A LOT OF LUP CAKES.
-- CUPCAKES.
>> DO PEOPLE CALL YOU THE
CUPCAKE LADY?
BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE
ELSE IN THE WORLD THAT'S MORE
SYNONYMOUS WITH CUPCAKES THAN
YOU.
>> YOU GET CUPCAKE QUEEN.
RABBSLY.
IT'S SPRINKLES CAPPEDACE.
SO I GET -- CANDACE.
I GET ALL SORT OF NAMES BUT
THEY'RE ALL GOOD BECAUSE I SELL
CUPCAKES FOR A LIVING.
SO WHAT CAN'T BER BETTER.
>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?
>> I'M A CHOCOLATE-AHOLIC.
I REALLY LOVE THE DARK
CHOCOLATE.
AND YOU KNOW, RICH BITTERSWEET
CHOCOLATE CAKE, CHOCOLATE
FROSTING, BEAUTIFUL CHOCOLATE
SPRINKLES MADE OF REAL CHOCOLATE
NOT THE WAXY ONE
>> AND DARK CHOCOLATE?
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU
>> IT'S A HEALTH FOOD.
>> THIS CHOCOLATE CUPCAK HERE,
THIS IS THE FLAVOR I HAD.
AND IF YOU CAN SEE THESE.
CHOCOLATE BITS ON TOP, THEY'RE
NOT JUST THESE NASTY WAXY SPRINK
LESS, THEY'RE REALLY CHOCOLATE.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE
COOKBOOK.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
COOKBOOK.
IT'S MY FIRST COOKBOOK.
IT'S TAKEN ME 11 YEARS.
PEOPLE ASKING ME WHY.
I'VE BEEN GROWING A BUSINESS AND
RAISING A NUNG FAMILY.
>> THERE'S A SHOVE -- A YOUNG
FAMILY.
>> THERE'S A PICTURE WITH REECE
WITHERSPOON.
>> SHE HAS HER RECIPE IN THIS
COOK AND IT IS TO DIE FOR.
>> Reporter: SHE'S NOT THE ONLY
HAVE
CELEB.
MICHAEL STRAYHAN.
>> JESSICA ALBA, JULIA ROBERTS,
BARBRA STREISAND.
>> YOU KNOW BARBRA STREISAND?
>> SESENT SPRINKLES ON -- SHE
SENT SPRINKLES TO OPRAH WINFREY
11 YEARS AGO AND OPRAH CALLED US
TO BE ON HER SHOW.
>> WE'RE STAR STRUCK THROUGH YOU
RIGHT NOW!
>> SHE'S AMAZING.
AND BARBRA KNOWS A LOT ABOUT
HER.
SHE WAS A SPRINKLES CUSTOMER
FIRST.
I MET HER AT A PARTY.
AND SHE WANTED TO BREAK IT DOWN
AND TALK BAKING AND INGREDIENTS
AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
SHE REALLY KNOWS HER STUFF.
SHE'S A TRUE FOODIE.
>> IF YOU WANT TO MEET CANDACE,
SHE'LL BE AT HIGHLAND VILLAGE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND SEE
YOU TODAY --
>> SAY HI.
>> ION I'LL SIGN YOUR BOOK.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT SPRINKLES AND
HANG OUT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU.
>> I WISH MY FAMILY ALL LIVED IN
HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY ARE SO
EXCITED YOU'RE HERE.
SO --
>> I'M SEEING A WHOLE BIG THING
OF ITEMS.
I'M AN ICING KIND OF GIRL AND
ALL I WANT TO TO IS STICK MY
FINGER IN THERE.
>> WE HAVE FROSTING SHOTS OF
SPRINKLES FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
>> THERE ARE FROSTING SHOTS.
>> IT COMES IN A LITTLE CUP.
>> YOU CAN JUST HAVE THE
FROSTING OR YOU CAN ADD AN EXTRA
SHOT OF FROSTING TO THE
SPRINKLES CUPCAKE.
BUT YOU CAN JUST GO LIKE THIS --
>> AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
FROSTING.
>> PEOPLE, I AM REVEALING SO
MANY SECRETS IN THIS BOOK --
COOKBOOK AND ONE OF THE MAIN
SECRETS IS HOW TO ICE A
SPRINKLES CUPCAKE.
>> I KNOTTED THAT STEP ONE
WAS -- I NOTICED THAT STEP ONE
WAS PUTTING A GENEROUS BLOB OF
FROST,.
>> IT ALWAYS LOOKS BETTER TO DO
IT IN ONE SWOOP AS OPPOSED TO
ADDING MORE ON TOP.
SO TAKE THE BACK OF THIS OFFSET
SPATULA AND WE USE THESE IN
EVERY SPRINKLES BECAUSE EVERY
CUPCAKE IS HANDMADE AND
HANDCRAFTED.
AND TAKE THE BACK AND JUST PULL
IT AROUND.
AND YOU'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL --
>> THAT LOOKS SO EASY.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
>> SO EASY.
>> IT IS PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
AND I HAVE FROSTED QUITE A FEW
CUPCAKES IN MY DAY.
>> THIS IS -- I FEEL LIKE THIS
IS --
[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS]
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU, YOU
KNOW --
>> YOU KNOW WHAT.
>> TACK A STAB AT THIS.
>> THIS IS MY DREAMS PLAYING OUT
IN REAL LIFE.
I'VE DREAMED OF FROSTING
CUPCAKES NEXT TO THE ONE AND
ONLY CANDACE NELSON.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO EAT
SOME CUPCAKES NEXT TO EACH
OTHER.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
BE CAREFUL OF THE DEATH CRUSH,
WHICH IS WHEN YOU'R FOCUSED AND
YOUR OTHER HAND IS HOLDING IT
LIKE CLAW AND YOU CAP TATE
YOUR CUPCAKES.
>> THIS IS SERIOU BUSINESS.
>> I LOVE HOW FOCUSED YOU ARE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME
OF THE FUN CUPCAKES WE HAVE.
>> SOME POLITICAL STUFF.
>> YOU CAN VOTE WITH YOUR MOUTH.
YOU'VE GOT TRUMPIN CUPCAKES AND
VANILLERY.
SO EVEN BEFORE YOU VOTE AT THE
POLLS, YOU CAN VOTE AT
SPRINKLES.
AND THEN --
>> WHAT FLARES ARE THEY?
IT'S ACTUALLY A.
>> IT'S GOT BLUE CREAM INSIDE
AND IT'S --
>> I'M CRACKING UP.
OUR PRODUCER JUST BUSTED OUT
LAUGHING SO LOUD ABOUT VOTING AT
SPRINKLES.
>> VERY POLITICAL THERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR
THANKSGIVING CUPCAKES, LIKE
ORANGE CRANBERRY AND PUMPKIN AND
LOOK AT OUR CUTE DECORATIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN
BAKING FROM THE SPRINKLES
COOKBOOK, PIE OR YOUR OWN ORANGE
CRANBERRY, YOU CAN PICK SOME UP.
>> WHO IS THE BETTER ICING
PERSON?
>> OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK IT'S TIME TO STARSTATING
CUPCAKES.
THEY PETH -- START TASTING
CUPCAKES.
THEY BOTH LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
THE CROWNING GLORY.
FINAL TOUCH.
>> FINAL TOUCH.
>> YOU'RE A LUCKY WINNER.
>> I'M A DOUBLE.
>> OTHER BAKERIES HAVE STARTED
COPYING YOUR DOT IDEA?
IS IT TOTALLY FLATTERING?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THE SINCEREST
FORM OF FLATTERY, ISN'T THAT
EXTHE EXPRESSION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE.
>> I THINK PEOPLE CUPCAKES THEM
TOO LONG.
CUPCAKE IS A DELICATE LITTLE
CREATURE.
IOWA EASIER TO OVERBAKE THAN A
CAKE.
AND LISTEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE
THE TOOTHPICK TEST.
I DON'T LOVE THE TOOTHPICK TEST.
AT SPRINKLES, WE DO JUST A
LITTLE TOUCH TEST.
AND IF IT'S JUST DRY ON TOP AND
IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE
RESISTANCE, IT'S TIME TO PULL
THEM.
>> A LITTLE SPONGY.
>> YEAH.
>> CAN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
DIFFERENT FLAVORS.
THIS ONE RATE HERE.
>> THIS IS FROM -- BLAKE
LIVELY'S S'MORE CUPCAKE IN
MINIATURE FORM.
AND WE SELL HE'S -- AND WE SELL
THESE.
THIS IS A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
AND CHOCOLATE CAKE AND TOASTED
MARSHMALLOW.
>> EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A BUNCH
OF UNUSUAL FLAVORS, SOME OF MY
FAVORITES ARE JUST THE PURE
VANILLA.
YOUR CHOCOLATE.
THIS RED VELVET, TO DATE YOU
GUYS HAVE SOLD MORE THAN
25 MILLION RED VELVET CUPCAKES.
>> ISN'T THAT CRAZY?
>> THAT IS REMARKABLE.
STAGGERING.
>> I ALMOST DIDN'T CREATE ONE?
>> REALLY?
BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE ONE.
>> BACK IN THE DAY, IT WASN'T
THAT POPULAR.
IN LOS ANGELES MANY PEOPLE
DIDN'T KNOW.
I DIDN'T THINK PEOPLE WERE GOING
TO GET IT.
AND MY HUSBAND FROM OKLAHOMA
SAID I'M GOING TO GOING TO BE FEEL
LEFT OUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A RED
VELVET CAKE.
>> I ROAD MY BICYCLE FROM
SAN FRANCISCO TO L.A.
GUESS WHAT MY FIRST STOP WAS.
>> I HOPE IT WAS SPRINKLES ICE
CREAM.
>> RED VERY WELL VET.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND YOUR HEYLAND VIG LOCATION.
YOU -- HIGHLAND VILLAGE
LOCATION.
>> AND THE ATM.
>> CANDACE NELSON, YOU ARE OUR
CUPCAKE QUEEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU'D LI TO MEET CANDACE
AND GET YOUR OWN COPY OF HER
COOKBOOK, YOU CAN DO THAT TODAY
AT 4:00 P.M.
ALL THE INFO IS AT
SPRINKLES.COM.