What's in a name?

We had a truly fantastic caterer for our wedding. She had all kinds of wonderful ideas and unique twists on conventional favorites. Her signature specialty dish was a craw-fish cheesecake. Craw-fish? Cheesecake? Yeah, it sounds totally weird, and indeed, Keith and I came to the conclusion that the name was not apt. While the appetizer was baked in the same shape and with the same overall texture and consistency of a cheesecake, all similarities end there. This is no dessert dish. It functioned as more a cheese spread. Baked and delicious and gooey and flavored with lots of green onion and savory spices and chock-full of rich, strong cheese and chopped craw-fish. So it was something like a cheesecake. And it was something like craw-fish. But it was nothing like the images that are conjured when you put those two together. Craw-fish cheesecake, it was not. We ate it on crackers, not drizzled with strawberry sauce.

We're having the same problem with a new dessert recipe I tried last night. The recipe is for Tomato Soup Cupcakes with Marscapone Icing (from Baked Explorations, a beautiful and delicious cookbook). And even though they're for a gathering tonight, Keith and I just had to taste-test them as soon as they came out of the oven. They are perfection. Without a doubt my favorite cupcakes I have ever tasted. And while it's true the 24-cupcake recipe calls for two full cans of condensed tomato soup, they do not taste overwhelmingly tomato-y, as healthy dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice create a delicate balance. They are both rich and light, with a buttery icing that's a perfect foil against the sugary-spicy cupcakes. The finished product is utterly superb.

And yet, we are dissatisfied with the name. Tomato Soup? Cupcakes? As Keith queried last night, does tomato soup really have any business having anything to do with cupcakes, ever? Meanwhile, I argue that the name is more intriguing than it is off-putting. But I'm interested to know what others think. Does the name really need to go? If so, what's a better, more appealing alternative?