Plain Janes: The Best Vanilla Cupcakes

1. Photo courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake 2. Photo courtesy of Sweet Truths Blog 3. Photo courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes 4. Photo courtesy of Curbside Cupcake 5. Photo copyright of The Cupcake Critic.com

Vanilla cupcakes are often the most overlooked cupcakes and regarded as simply the Plain Janes of flavor. Despite being the basis for so many other flavors, the art of the vanilla cupcake is a special one. A dash of cinnamon or a zest of lemon can make the difference in a recipe. I have compiled a list of my favorite vanilla cupcakes from local bakeries and what makes them stand out. 

1. Georgetown Cupcake's Vanilla 2: This Madagascan bourbon vanilla cupcake with vanilla cream cheese is by far my favorite vanilla cupcake. The smooth texture of the frosting coupled with the simplicity of the soft vanilla cake makes it heaven in my mouth. 

2. Sprinkles Vanilla Cupcake: Sprinkles is generally awesome but their Madagascan vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting is like a fluffy cloud sprinkling white fairy confectionery sugar dust on your tongue. 

3. Buzz Bakery's Vanilla Cupcake: The Virginia based bakery is known for its elaborate treats but they have truly put their signature on their vanilla cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting. 

4. Cakes Plus' Vanilla Buttercream Cupcake: Cakes Plus' classic vanilla buttercream cupcakes can easily be termed as 'Ole Faithful'. Their vanilla buttercream is legendary with a homemade flavor that is anything but plain. 

5.  Curbside Cupcake's Vanilla Cupcake: Curbside's classic vanilla cupcake  brings the moist texture one would expect from a gourmet cupcake while giving you the homemade goodness reminiscent of mom's kitchen.

Tell me Cupcake Lovers, what's your favorite vanilla cupcake? 

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Chic but Cheap Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of Cupcake4Today.wordpress.com

Recently, my younger sister Shelby celebrated her 20th birthday-Happy Birthday Pooh! Grabbing a dozen if not two dozen cupcakes to celebrate became a challenge and despite being a Critic, I still shell out for cupcakes. With the average cupcake hovering around $3 bucks or more, buying cupcakes for a simple soiree can get pricey. However after careful research I found some chic yet cheap cupcakes for your next shindig. 

Here's the list:

Georgetown Cupcake 

Price: $2.75 ea. or $29 per dozen 

Location: Bethesda or Georgetown, DC

Tip: Order online or call and pick-up to avoid lines. Bethesda is the best option with better parking. Also local delivery is available for a fee.

The famous pink box with Georgetown Cupcake ribbon

Sweet Themez 

Price: $2.50 each or $28 per dozen

Location: Adams Morgan  

Tip: Sweet Themez is a full-service bakery that also specializes in custom wedding cakes. Chief baker and owner Adrian can create whatever your heart desires! Limited DC delivery is available for a fee ($15)

Sweet Themez in Adams Morgan

Buzz Bakery 

Price: $2.50-$3.50 

Location: Ballston and Fairfax 

Tip: Buzz Bakery offers a limited number of flavors in the $2.50 category so ask prior to ordering- unless you want to splurge :-)

Buzz Bakery's Ballson location

Olivia's Cupcake 

Price: $2.00 each or $24 per dozen

Location: Southeast, DC (Minnesota Ave.)

Tips: Definitely try their new alcohol-infused cupcakes featuring Patron, Bacardi, Nuvo and Circoc Peach, Red Berry, Coconut or Lemon. 

Olivia's Cupcake Chocolate & Buttercream Cupcake

Cakes Plus 

Price: $1.50 ea. and $16 per dozen 

Location: Laurel, MD

Tips: Great red velvet and vanilla cupcakes. 

Cakes Plus Vanilla Cupcake

Who Has The Best Cupcakes in DC?

As you can imagine, wherever I go, I am asked, “Who has the best cupcakes in DC?” Of course I don't mind the question- after all that's what being a critic is about. But my response of, "It depends..." is never really what people want to hear. Allow me to expound. 

Fellow bloggers: (L-R) Stacey, Lauren and Stephanie 

On an eventful Thursday night I was catching up with some pals over cocktails at Tap & Parlor on U Street. DC Legend Chuck Brown's funeral was earlier that day so the place was jumping in celebration of a true hometown hero. Fellow blogger and pal Stacey, had given me the cutest cupcake picture which brought up the subject of cupcakes. 

My cupcake pic from Stacey

Our other pal and fellow blogger Lauren, asked me the infamous question, "So Steph...who has the best cupcakes in the city?" Her eyes were exacting as they looked at me over black-rimmed Chanel frames. I know Lauren well enough to know that their is no coy way of getting out of this one. "It depends..." was my most sincere answer. She pursed her lips and took a sip of her drink, albeit a bit annoyed, at the inconclusive answer. It's okay. It get that-alot. 

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Mag

To ask who has the best cupcakes would be like saying, “Who’s the greatest rapper of all time?” It’s such a broad statement whose answer is based upon so many variables and perspectives. To circumvent this people often move on to question number two when question number one has proven to be inconclusive, “So where do you go for your cupcake fix?” To which my honest reply is the same, “It depends…”

"I bet you get free cupcakes, don't you?" ~ Chris

Very often my personal decisions are based upon a few factors: my mood, proximity, cost, flavor availability, etc. As much as I would like to say that I am a card-carrying member of the 'Stephy-Gets-Free-Cupcakes-for-Life' club, bakers are business owners. And although I have a great working relationship with most of them (and they are more than eager to let me try their new flavors or just lob a few my way to say, “Thanks!”) I am still shelling out $3.50 a pop for cuppies which can get pricey.

                     "Do you know The Georgetown Cupcake girls?" ~ Evian

Overall the main contributor to where I go for cupcakes is usually dictated by one question: 

Do I feel like driving into DC for cupcakes? Because of that many suburban bakeries like Cakes Plus, Delectable Cakery and the new Cake Courtesan satisfy my cupcake cravings. Whenever I am in DC I go ga-ga for Sprinkles seasonal key-lime or strawberry cupcakes. And although Georgetown Cupcake is high on my list of delish, I dig that Sweet Themez in Adams Morgan is open late on weekends. So as I stated earlier, it all depends.

"I'm so over this cupcake thing...but I love your blog!" ~Anon

All in all each shop has something to offer in its own way, for each neighborhood, flavor aficionado, and at every price level. My goal is to act as a taste-tester and reporter of all the cupcake goodness that is flourishing in DC and beyond. I love the questions that people ask and encourage the dialogue but the most that you'll get out of me is, " I love them all in their own way" :-)  R.I.P Chuck Brown

Cakes Plus

(L-R): Chocolate w/ vanilla frosting, Vanilla and Red Velvet

Cakes Plus

Location: 3325 Corridor Marketplace Laurel, MD

Flavors: Red Velvet, Vanilla on Vanilla, Chocolate on Vanilla and Lemon.

Price: $1.25

Score: 4

Located in Laurel, MD, it was not uncommon to see a line out the door for cupcakes from this discrete yet commercial bakery. Known for their lavish wedding cakes, I first heard about Cakes Plus in 2007 while attending a Bridal Showcase. For three consecutive years, Cakes Plus was deemed my official birthday cake bakery. Each year guests would pile their plates with cake while I fought for the left-overs. 

Vanilla Cupcake

Walking in, don’t expect to be barreled over with cheeriness; Cakes Plus keeps it simple. No long lines just fast, efficient and cost-effective service which is their hallmark. It’s been a while since I last visited so I was happy to see that they have increased their flavor choices from four to six. I purchased four of their six flavors: red velvet, lemon, vanilla and vanilla-on-chocolate.

More Lemon cupcakes

The vanilla cupcake is classic and by far my favorite. I can’t say enough about it other than they keep it simple, uncompromising and sweet; kind of like your first boyfriend. It borders between a Saturday afternoon baking project and commercial expectation. Next up was the vanilla on chocolate whose flavor was perfect and the cake moist. The vanilla frosting, which graces each of the cupcakes, was a bit commercial but it complimented the chocolate cake.

Happy to try their new flavors, the lemon cupcake is flavorful in its own way offering delightful and unpretentious. Don’t expect it to burst with citrusy flavor however do expect it to satisfy your craving for a lemon-based cupcake. Finally, the red velvet cupcake hits the nail on the head. The actual cake is the perfect blend of rich chocolate and red velvet flavor.

Although it’s not metro accessible per se, (the nearest metro station would be the Greenbelt station or the MARC train. From there you have to take the bus), they are conveniently located for suburbanites between Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George’s Counties. Further for $1.25, you get more than your money’s worth.

*Originally published on 10/19/2011