Little Cupcake Bakeshop Brooklyn, New York

www.littlecupcakebakeshop.com

The Little Cupcake Bakeshop is tucked in the cutest neighborhood ever in Brooklyn, New York. The shop is so cozy you are compelled to sit a while and eat a cupcake or two or three for hours without noticing the time passing. Although, pictures were not allowed to be taken in the shop, I managed to snap quite a few. Tee hee hee.. I am always determined to get pictures of good cupcakes.

The variety of cupcake flavors offered boggled the mind. Usually cupcake bakeries have a daily assortment of perhaps 6 flavors maybe 8 tops. This place had so many different types of cupcakes offered I was happy I brought reinforcements so that I could try almost every flavor offered. We tried Devil’s Food, Strawberry, Coconut Cloud, Lemmon, Carrot Cake, Golden Vanilla, Cookie Dough, and Red Velvet.

First of all, I have to commend Little Cupcake Bakeshop for not charging exorbitant prices for their cupcakes. These were so reasonably priced; **whispers $2.25 each** we kept going back to the counter to order more. In the category of value these cupcakes come up a winner hands down. You definitely feel you are getting more than your money’s worth. Actually, you feel like you should run out of the shop before they notice they undercharged you. As for the cupcakes.. They are quite good. They were very moist and have a great cupcake to icing ratio. The red velvet wasn’t the absolute best I’ve ever had but by far not the worst. All in all these cupcake rate somewhere in the middle of the cupcake game. Not really superstars, not underdogs, and definitely not the slackers.

The Verdict

The Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a great place to eat cupcakes and socialize. It has the feel of a neighborhood hang out with the bonus of delicious sweet treats. The cupcakes are the best value for the money that I’ve experienced in New York City. It is worth the trek deep into Brooklyn to visit this adorable shop.

Caio~

La Contessa

Magnolia’s Bakery NYC not Just a Tourist’s Attraction

www.magnoliabakery.com

For years I have been hearing about this magical mythical cupcake bakery named Magnolia’s Bakery in NYC. It used to fascinate me how people would go crazy insane over cupcakes from this place. Hardened New Yorkers standing in lines around the block in all types of weather for cupcakes? Please say it isn’t so! I would sooner believe they found the Holy Grail than jaded people from the Empire State would wait as patiently as New Yorkers possibly can for gasp cupcakes.

Well.. All the rumors are true damn it. Magnolia’s Bakery is the dealio! They have some of the best confections I have ever tasted. Thankfully I didn’t get to experience the block long lines for cupcakes, I did however fall in love with their cupcakes. The bakery itself is decorated festively yet not over done. They sell a bevy of other sugary treats such as cakes, cookies (I think) and banana pudding. My entire focus was cupcakes so I am not sure what the hell else is in there.

They don’t have all the snazzy exotic cupcake flavors many other bakeries depend on these days, but man oh man were these cupcakes superior to almost anything I have ever tasted. I purchased a Red Velvet (as always), Banana, Chocolate, and Vanilla. I could give you the garden-variety typical glowing report on how amazing Magnolia’s Bakery Cupcakes are but that would be completely redundant. I will say.. These are some damn good cupcakes. Everything people say about this place is totally true. I WILL vouch for that.

The Verdict:

There are a lot of cupcake bakeries to visit when you are in New York City, however Magnolia’s Bakery is not one to miss.

Caio~

La Contessa

The Cupcake Collection Nashville, TN Price Doesn’t Reflect Quality

The Cupcake Collection is located in the quaintest of neighborhoods in Nashville. Historic Germantown has all sorts of charm and is the perfect location for this cupcake bakery. The cupcakery is in an old home festively painted purple with an adorable orange sign outside. There is even a delightful porch where you can sit, enjoy the sites and nosh on their products.

To say the people who work at the Cupcake Collection are extremely nice and friendly is one of the understatements of the year. They take Southern hospitality and charm to a level I have rarely experienced. They great each customer as if they are Odysseus coming home from the Trojan War. When you enter the Cupcake Collection your senses are flooded with the euphoric smell of freshly baked cupcakes and a “hey yall” from all the employees within eyesight.

In the over saturated cupcake market, the Cupcake Collection stands alone in saying NO to overpriced cupcakes. They only charge $1.50 for their yummy treats. Yes. I will say it again. They charge one dollar and fifty cents for cupcakes! One hundred and fifty pennies, but out of courtesy don’t pay them in pennies. Do not let the bargain price fool you, these cupcakes are amazing. The flavors might lack sophistication of other cupcakeies however, they are solidly delicious cupcakes. No need for exotic flavor combinations, fanfare, and bells and whistles for these cupcakes to be outstanding. They just simply are OUTSTANDING. SIMPLY OUTSTANDING.

I was saddened the Red Velvet cupcakes had sold out the day I went however; I was able to sample the lemon, coconut, sweet potato, carrot cake, and chocolate. It would be impossible to pick a favorite out of these delightful cupcakes. They were all so moist and had the perfect ratio of frosting to cupcake I’ve seen in a long time. The frosting wasn’t overly sweet and did not detract from the cake. All of the cupcakes had a homemade no way in the world this came from a box flavor. My advice is to visit the shop early because these babies sell out quickly.

The Verdict:

The Cupcake Collection has to be one of the premiere cupcake bakeries I have ever been to. Their products are above industry standard, and the down home atmosphere is welcoming. I suggest you try them before they catch on and raise the shockingly low prices on these works of cupcake art.

Caio~

La Contessa