This Valentine’s Day, think outside the box for the perfect gift. Instead of getting your sweetie the played out heart-shaped chocolate box, get creative and surprise your loved one with the small gift that has huge taste — cupcakes from Cak’n and Bak’n.

This boutique sweet shop owned and operated by A&T alumna Charlynn Dawson has the creative edge that many long to have. From the sweet potato cupcake in a jar to the chocolate chunk surprise, Cak’n and Bak’n has the recipe for your sweet tooth’s biggest desire.

“I don’t do just your average cupcakes,” said Dawson. “I make cupcakes that most people never heard of like pancake cupcakes, peach cobbler cupcakes, bannana pudding cupcakes, and all these different things set me apart from other cupcake makers.”

Before May 2010, this mastermind of creative sweets had never even baked a cake. Fast forward eight months later, Dawson has transformed this buisness run out of home into a household brand name.

As a lifelong creative guru, Dawson stressed that first and foremost her passion is that of creativity. If she knew how to create trashbags, she would create the most fashionable and trendy trashbags possible, she claimed.

Now eight months after its inception, Cak’n and Bak’n has catapulted into becoming the sweet sensation in not only Greensboro, but also in Los Angeles where Dawson calls home. Last December the company officially had its launch party in the city of angles.

Intitially Dawson designed her collection of sweets to be a new sensation for couples to be able to have a artistic place to go out on a date.

By creating decorative cupcakes together, Cak’n and Bak’n was to be the innovative, cute way for new and old couples to sweetnen up their date life.

It was from this idea and the popular phrase, “I’m caking with my boo,” in which Dawson claims Cak’n and Bak’n was born.

“It’s trendy, fun, and innovative,” said Dawson. “I’m trying to reach the max, this is something that I don’t want to just do for Greensboro, but for the world.”

As Valentine’s Day is next week, Dawson and her staff have been incredibly busy filling orders of her treats that do not just include cupcakes.

She also makes cakes, cookies, browines, and other sweets. For the 21 and older crowd, she even offers alcoholic cupcakes ranging from the use of Ciroc to Patron.

On Feb. 14 if you want to buy your valentine something new, or you just want to satisfy your own sweet tooth, check out Dawson and her staff as they set up in the Union to sell their Valentine’s Day treats.

For all other orders do not hesitate to view her website www.caknandbakn.com.

• Kelcie McCrae