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While many believe degrees in culinary arts produce pastry chefs and master cooks, education in the field can lead to an array of career options. Labor market experts expect that business graduates with a concentration in food service management may find a job in chain and franchise restaurants, catering companies or food retail businesses.

Through the recession, entrepreneurs in Washington DC are achieving success by mixing food and business. Specifically, the market for cupcakes in the city and its suburbs seems to be unparalleled.

According to the Washington Post, Georgetown Cupcake bakes about 5,000 desserts on any given Sunday afternoon and will bring in customers willing to wait in line for 30 minutes or more.

Over the past 20 months, at least six other cupcake bakeries have opened around the city, and one, Red Velvet, will expand to its second location next month.

The entrepreneurs behind the city's cupcake frenzy know that not just any pastry will satisfy the hungry masses. Red Velvet owner Aaron Gordon told the new source, "You have to have top quality and a great location to keep up."

Gordon, who spent $400,000 of his own money to start the business, expects to earn between $150,000 and $200,000 in profits this year on more than $1 million in sales. He sells about 1,500 cupcakes each day at $3.25 each, according to the news provider.

Though he experienced serious qualms at first, Gordon now sees a $35,000 investment in a quality chef and $100,000 a year in rent as sound business ventures.

Research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the culinary industry will experience one of the largest increases in new jobs in the decade leading up to 2016, predicting about 351,000 new positions over that time span.