They say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach. And that's just what Holly Baca, owner of Arnold-based Cups O' Cake, has planned for this Valentine's Day.

Baca opened her cupcake-based business in April. She works out of her home in Arnold, and also rents a commercial kitchen in Annapolis. 

She said this past holiday season was huge for her. Baca sold just short of 900 cupcakes in December.

But this is her first Valentine's Day since starting the business, and she has a special arrangement picked out for the occasion: Mini cupcakes featuring white chocolate-dipped strawberry and chocolate-dipped espresso bean. 

They're each sprinkled with toppings and an icing garnish, but Baca said looks can't be everything.

"It has to taste as good as it looks. That's the idea behind my cupcakes," Baca said. "I've also been having so much fun developing recipes that are unique and that people would like, then incorporate that into a cupcake."

Treats like cupcakes are also a great way to bring two people together. Baca said she recently fulfilled an order from a woman in South Africa, who was ordering cupcakes for a midshipman in the Naval Academy.

Along with the cupcakes, she sent Baca a love letter that she attached to the order, which she was preparing for delivery this week.

"She sent this long love letter with it. I was so amazed, she just found me on the Internet and contacted me," she said. "I think for Valentine's Day cupcakes are a good fit. They say the way to a person's heart is through their stomach."

Baca can be contacted by email at hollyberry1989@gmail.com or through her website at www.cupsocake.com