The Pizza Cupcake is a cupcake-sized pizza made of pan brioche and sourdough. It also contains toppings such as pepperoni and cheese, making it an excellent snack for pizza lovers. The pizza toppings can be customized according to your preference, and the pizza can be frozen and stored in the freezer.
Andrea Meggiato and Michelle Jiminez-Meggiato founded the Pizza Cupcake. Andrea’s Italian roots led him to create a variation of the classic Italian food item: pizza. He started this business with his wife in 2018, and they have been selling it from carts and catering companies. They eventually sold frozen versions of their products so that people could store them in their freezers and have them whenever a craving hit.
They switched to selling their items online once the pandemic hit and had been running this business from their homes for some time.
The bestselling point of pizza cupcakes is that it’s a flaky and cheesy twist to classic pizzas. It can be eaten on the spot or frozen and eaten later. It’s also made from fresh ingredients and doesn’t use the traditional pizza dough recipe.
Before coming to Shark Tank, they had only sold their products on their website. They needed the investment from the Sharks to get into retail and help them grow their production.
Are They Still an Active Company?
Yes, they are active and still in business. Their pizza cupcakes can be bought online from their website, The Pizza Cupcake.
How Did the Shark Tank Pitch Go?
Andrea and Michelle entered Shark Tank with an initial ask of $125,000 in exchange for a 5% equity in their business.
They began their pitch by explaining their story and how they came to create their product. They handed out samples for the Sharks to try, and the response was positive. The Sharks liked the product, but their pitch was short because they said they hoped to get an investment from Lori.
They knew about another company Lori had invested in, Bantam Bagels, and liked the valuation. They backed up their argument by saying they found the same co-packer used by Lori.
Lori gave them what they wanted and offered $125,000 for 20% of their business. They countered her offer with 10%, but Lori agreed to meet them in the middle at 15%. Although Lori was their only hope, Michelle countered with 12.5% and 2.5% advisory shares.
The deal was finalized, and the couple left Shark Tank with the money they needed.
Our Review of The Pizza Cupcake
We tried the Pizza Cupcake and saw how it tasted ourselves.
The good news is that it’s a delicious snack with pizza toppings on the inside but is covered with a flaky and cheesy crust that creates its unique flavor. Their cupcake size shape made them easier to hold, and it felt as if we were eating a new cheesy snack. They had a lot of toppings available such as pepperoni, zucchini, mushrooms, mozzarella, tomatoes, and many others. They also came in boxes of 12 and could be frozen and eaten later.
On the other hand, we found them to be a little pricey, which decreased the incentive to try these instead of getting a regular frozen pizza from the supermarket. It’s also unsuitable for vegans, although vegetarians can let them know their preference and be catered to.
Pros of Pizza Cupcake:
- Small and easy to hold
- Flaky and cheesy dough
- With selective toppings, it can be vegetarian-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Comes in boxes of 12
- Can be frozen and used as picnic snacks or as a school lunchbox item
Cons of Pizza Cupcake:
- Pricey
- Lacks more incentive to buy it as compared to regular frozen pizzas
- Not vegan friendly
Who Is the Pizza Cupcake for?
A pizza cupcake is perfect for people who like pizza and cheese but want to try something different for a change. The small size makes it easier to hold and munch on while working or as a snack for a picnic. Parents can use these as a school lunch item for their kids or as a tasty, quick snack to make when they’re hungry.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Although there are no similar products, such as a cupcake-shaped pizza with flaky dough, there are a few alternatives you can try if Pizza Cupcake doesn’t deliver to your region.
Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix, Cauliflower Pizza Dough is a good alternative for pizza cupcakes. This pizza dough mix is plant-based and is both vegan-friendly and gluten-free. This pizza dough can be baked in cupcake containers along with toppings to make homemade pizza cupcakes for you and your kids. They use natural ingredients, and their non-GMO, grain-free, corn-free mix gives you an energy boost.
On the other hand, this mix is far from the actual pizza cupcake. It requires you to add ingredients and bake the dough yourself. This might take more time and effort, but you can look at it from a different angle: as a fun activity for your kids to enjoy doing with you. They have many healthy ingredients, and their nutrition content is enough to make you forget about the effort you need to put in.
Our Final Thoughts
While some people have reservations about trying out a new twist to their usual pizza, Pizza Cupcake makes for a good alternative for people who enjoy eating pizza but also find eating it a very messy process. Since this product comes with different topping choices and many nutrients, it’s much more exciting to eat than a regular pizza. On top of this, the flaky crust makes it even more delicious to eat due to the thick layer of cheese in every bite. Plus, it can be eaten as a snack or a side item to your dinner.
In many ways, Pizza Cupcake tastes more like a regular pizza, so pizza-lovers might not enjoy it entirely, but it is a tasty and healthy alternative.
