Five days a week, Maricel Rodrigo wakes at 3 a.m. to bake hundreds of tiny gourmet cupcakes from scratch.

Don’t let the size fool you. The frosted cupcakes measure slightly bigger than a golf ball, but they burst with decadent flavors. Rodrigo uses organic, all-natural ingredients, and nearly all the recipes are her own.

“Today, I made 600 cupcakes,” she said Friday, looking at the rows of goodies behind a glass case at Maricel’s Mini Cupcakes in Federal Way.

Simply put, she loves to bake. But why make mini cupcakes?

“I had trouble finishing the big ones,” she said.

Among the dozen flavors offered at Maricel’s, creme brulee is her most popular — a vanilla cake filled with rich homemade custard and topped with caramelized sugar. Other customer favorites include the white chocolate guava, red velvet and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

She and her husband, Johnny, opened the store on April 19 across from Federal Way High School. The baking is done at a rented kitchen in Renton.

This labor of love is fueled by faith, and the store sometimes serves as a prayer junction for friends and family.

“It’s our form of ministry,” said Maricel, crediting her Christian faith for inspiring recipes and the store’s early success. “God has opened doors for us.”

The Rodrigos hope to grow the business and eventually build their own commercial kitchen in Federal Way. Ideally, they hope the business prospers enough to help fund their dream to travel the world, spread the gospel, bless people and open an orphanage in a Third World country.

The Federal Way couple’s operation is a family affair. Maricel’s three brothers, three sisters and two parents help with the baking. The cupcakes sell for $1 each or $10 per dozen, and regular-sized cupcakes are available by special order. With at least 24 hours notice, Maricel’s can cater to parties and even assemble “cupcake towers” on tiered trays.

Check it out

Maricel’s Mini Cupcakes is located at 30806 Pacific Highway S., Suite B, Federal Way (at the corner of South 308th Street across from Federal Way High School). Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday). To learn more, call (206) 992-9332 or visit maricelsminicupcakes.com.

Here are more photos from Maricel’s Mini Cupcakes: