It's Cherry Blossom (Cupcakes) Season!

Photos courtesy of The Nat'l Cherry Blossom Festival

                         
It's Cherry Blossom season here in DC and everyone is a buzz! This year commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the cherry blossoms and their placement near the tidal basin. To celebrate, cupcakeries are debuting their own cherry blossom inspired cupcakes. 


Baked and Wired: Vanilla cake with maraschino cherries mixed in the batter and topped with a cherry-flavored buttercream ($3.50).

Cherry Blossom Cupcake on the Left (Photo Courtesy of Jess Harper)

Buzz Bakery: ($3.75) Lemon chiffon cake with a sour cherry curd filling. Green tea Italian butter cream frosting with fondant cherry blossom decoration.

Photo Courtesy of Buzz Bakery

Crumbs: ($4.50) Vanilla cake filled with cherry preserves, topped with our signature vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with cherries and a candied cherry.

Georgetown Cupcakes:  Classic madagascar bourbon vanilla cupcake baked with fresh cherries and topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a fondant cherry blossom. (Price $2.75)

  (Photo courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake)

Hello Cupcake: Meyer lemon cake with a filling of French cherry preserves topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a handmade fondant cherry blossom. (Price $3.50)

Cherry Blossom Cupcake (Photo courtesy of Hello Cupcake)

Sprinkles: Made with loads of sweet, pureed cherries in both the cake and frosting. (Price $3.50)

Sprinkles Cherry Blossom Cupcake (Photo Courtesy of Sprinkles)
  

Sticky Fingers Bakery: ($4.00) Vanilla cupcake with tart cherry filling, almond creme frosting and toasted almonds

Photo courtesy of Sticky Fingers Bakery

Looking for more things to do? Cherry Blossom events will be going on between now and April 27th. Visit www.NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org for more info and events!

The Cupcake Weekly #7

Cupcake News

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM crashes after dispensing 1000 cupcakes! Read here

Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post.com

Georgetown Cupcake slated open in Boston in Summer 2012! Read here

Photo Courtesy of Chef J. Jackson 

NYC slated get their own Cupcake ATM
 Read here

Photo courtesy of The Cupcake Critic

The Cupcake Critic is looking for Contributors!

 Are interested in covering cupcake news and events?   Send an e-mail to DCCupcakeCritic.com.

Cupcake Events

March 24th: Cocktails & Cupcakes

Inspired cocktails, decadent sweets, festive 

entertainment and the chance to win fabulous prizes. 

Individual tickets $40 each or $75 per couple. 

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: 1025 F. Street, NW, 10th Floor 

Washington, D.C. 

Click here for more info

March 24th: Makes Me Wanna Shout! Baking Contest

You and Celebrity Judges decide which Chocolate Layer Cakes go to the Final Five Round for a chance to win $500 for Best Chocolate Layer Cake $250 Gift Card to the King Arthur Flour Catalog  and the winning dessert on the Eatonville Restaurant menu and support the good work of Martha's Table. Tickets are $20

Time: 2:00PM-4:00 PM

Location: Martha's Table

2114 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

Click here for more info

Contests & Giveaways

Win a dozen cupcakes from Delectable Cupcakery!!

Cupcakes from Delectable Cakery (Photo courtesy of The Cupcake Critic)

The good folks at Delectabley Cupcakery are giving my readers the chance to win one dozen cupcakes or one Pound Cake. To enter, leave a comment on their review and two lucky readers will receive their choice of a dozen free cupcakes or one pound cake! Contest ends on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on Monday, March 19, 2012 at noon (EST). 

Win a Wilton Easy-Flex Prize Pack! 

Wilton Easy-Flex Prize Pack (Photos courtesy of The Cupcake Critic)

The prize pack includes a set of Easy-Flex silicone baking cups (12) and an Easy-Flex mini-muffin pan. Simply post a comment on the 'Silicone vs. Aluminum' post and two lucky winners will receive a prize pack! Contest ends Thursday, March 15, 2012 at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on Friday, March 16, 2012 at noon (EST).

Do you have cupcake news or an event? E-mail me at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com to be included in the weekly round-up

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Georgetown Cupcake Opens in SoHo

Location: Georgetown Cupcakes 111 Mercer St New York, NY
Flavors: Red Velvet, Cheesecake, Coconut and Vanilla.
Price: $2.75



Down the cobble stone roads of Soho I sought out the newbie to the block: Georgetown Cupcake.  I have to admit a certain sense of pride overcomes me when I see a DC native take on the “Big Apple.” After all, I am a rare breed: native Washingtonian.  Opening their 3rd location, the TLC stars of DC Cupcake extended their sweetness into the foray of dozens of cupcakeries in NYC.

By far their most ambitious property, the Soho location is inconspicuously located on Mercer street.  Nearly double the size of their original location in Georgetown, the cupcake duo expect to do big business. You’ll love the glassed in cupcake display as you enter.  No wondering what they have or what the cupcake looks like; it’s right there in grand view.  My first pick turned into two, that turned into three and ended with four. 

The New York Cheesecake was cute but needs some work.  In
the end, the Red Velvet (aka good ol’ reliable) was their best one.  Come for the cupcakes, stay for tea.  Their quaint 9 seater café just may be available.  Good luck guys!

Mr. Foodtastic (Chef J. Jackson)

www.foodiesandfatties.com
www.Facebook.com/foodiesandfatties

www.Facebook.com/mr.foodtastic
Twitter: @foodiesnfatties & @mrfoodtastic

The Cupcake Weekly #3

February 11, 2012

Georgetown Cupcake NYC

Photo courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake

Georgetown Cupcake is opening a new store in SoHo! To commemorate their new location, they are adding three new cupcake flavors to the menu: apple, cheesecake and marble (after NYC's famed marble cookies). They will also top their cuppies with candy  Broadway signs, yellow Taxis and an apple.

February 12, 2012

Treat Yo Self!

The good folks over at One Love Massive and Crunkcakes are teaming up for a day of mimosas and fine leather goods…ok, not really but they are pulling together some of the coolest artisans, craftsmans and treat-makers in the city. Join them and special guest DJ Keenan Orr for a

Valentine’s Day pop-up shop at Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan. For more info, click here

Location: Mellow Mushroom

(2436 18th St NW)

Time: 12:00pm until 4:00pm

February 15 & 17

Sticky Fingers Debut Cookbook!

Sticky Fingers, DC’s favorite vegan bakery and two-time ‘Cupcake Wars’ winner, will be debuting their new cookbook, 'Sweets: 100 Super-Secret Vegan Recipes'. (*Psst* They are the first vegan bakery in Cupcake Wars history to win!) Written by shop co-owner Doron Petersan, the book features 100 recipes and the secrets to their vegan delights. Anticipate the book on February 17. If you can’t wait that long Petersan will be hosting a live webinar from her alma mater, The University of Maryland to discuss the book. To register, click here

August 19-26

The Cupcake Cruise

Photo courtesy of Cupcakes Take the Cake

Pull out your passports Cupcake Lovers and get ready to sail to Bermuda! The good people over at 'Cupcakes Take The Cake' are sponsoring a seven-day Cupcake Cruise packed with cupcake work shops and guest speakers. Trip costs range from $1,000-$1,702 with a $99 deposit due immediately.

For more info, visit here


Do you have a cupcake event or news? E-mail me at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com to be included in the weekly round-up!

Cupcake Project #5: It's National Carrot Cake Day!!



Photo Courtesy of Smithfield/Paula Deen

Today is national carrot cake day! To celebrate, I have included a recipe for super yummy carrot cake with extra carrots. However, if you are like me and are culinary challenged, visit Hello Cupcake for their 24Kt cupcakes or Georgetown Cupcakes for their carrot cake cupcakes. Otherwise, whip up a batch of these carrot cake lovelies just in time for Super Bowl 2012, and tell me what you think.

Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!

Serves: 24

Cook Time: 48 Minutes

Smithfield Product: None

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 8-oz. can of crushed pineapple, well drained
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Small pinch of ground cloves
• 3 cups grated carrots, grate on larger side of cheese grater
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• For Frosting:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Fresh coconut, shaved and toasted for garnish (optional)

Steps
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, apple sauce, sugars, pineapple and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and small pinch of ground cloves. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into muffin tin lined with beautiful paper or foil liners. Fill each liner 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 min. Let cupcakes cool completely. While cooling, prepare frosting.


Frosting:
In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Pile the frosting high on the cooled cupcakes and garnish with the toasted coconut if desired.


*Recipe courtesy of Smithfield. Original article can be found here.

Cupcake Project #2: Cupcake Cones from DC Cupcakes

The Best of 2011: A Year in Review

Best Overall: Crunkcakes

With names like ‘Boozy Breakfast’ and ‘Dirty Pillow’ these cupcakes are in a class all their own. Liquor infused, packaged to perfection and priced oh-so-sweetly, they deserve all the accolades that they get. They ‘rep’ the DMV on their logo by giving the District of Columbia’s flag a cupcake spin. They can be found at any of these DC hotspots: Sova, The Rock N Roll hotel and H Street Bakes (seasonal). Read my review here

                         

           Best Customer Service: Sprinkles

Despite the fact that I dream about Sprinkles, the Sprinkles staff in Georgetown is superb! Every customer’s name is taken down with their order; every flavor is explained and each order is hand-delivered. There are enough staff members to defray lines and I’ve never seen an employee who looked like they were two steps from mutiny. Did I mention that I dream about them? Read my review here. *Runner Up: Sweet Bites Desserts

                      

    Best Presentation: Enjoi Cupcakes

When I first encountered Enjoi Cupcakes the owners were suited up in their Enjoi Cupcake gear and their mascot, The Cupcake Princess, was in tow with her cupcake wand and fairy princess costume. Needless to say, she was cuter than Christmas. Their cupcakes, which were featured at Georgetown’s Marvelous Market for a summer pop-up, have always been stellar and nothing less than top notch. Aside from Sprinkles, I dream about Enjoi and their strawberry cupcakes! As the saying goes, “You eat with your eyes” and Enjoi has mastered that (amongst many things). Read my review here.             

   

Best Variety: Baked and Wired

Aside from being a D.C. favorite (their review received the most views after Crunkcakes), Baked and Wired has more than earned their designation with over 25 flavors that include: Pretty Bitchin, Flapjack (maple brown butter cake with maple buttercream frosting topped with caramelized bacon), Chocolate Cupcake of Doom (chocolate on dark chocolate) and The Elvis Impersonator (a banana cupcake with chocolate and peanut butter frosting). Although some flavors are seasonal, these small batches are baked daily so get it while you can! Read my review here                                     

                Best Location: Hello Cupcakes

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Hello Cupcakes because they were one of the first cupcakeries I went to as ‘The Critic’. Their Dupont Circle location is metro accessible and close to my favorite lunch spot Cosi. With a new location opening in the up-and-coming Barrack’s Row area, I give kudos to Hello Cupcakes for giving their customers more metro accessible options. Read my review here. *Runner Up: Red Velvet Cupcakery 
 
                      

Best in Cost: Georgetown Cupcakes

                      

Despite having a cupcake empire, Georgetown Cupcakes are reasonably priced at $2.75. This has proven to be a very savvy marketing tactic to stave off DC newcomer, Sprinkles, and any other competition for that matter. All things considered they give customers quality, variety and size at a price tag much cheaper than area cupcakeries (despite being the Vera Wang of cupcakes). Read my review here.

Best Red Velvet: Olivia’s Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of Olivia's Cupcakes

                     
It’s not a secret that The Critic isn’t fond of red velvet cupcakes *Flashback to childhood memories* but Olivia’s Cupcakes’ red velvet cupcakes makes me a believer! Moist, flavorful and the perfect amount of chocolate flavor, because of Olivia’s Cupcakes *sniff* I can love again… Read my review here.

Who’s your best of the best? Let me know @DCCupcakeCritic or at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com. Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!!

Georgetown Cupcakes (Bethesda)

Location: Georgetown Cupcake 4834 Bethesda Avenue Bethesda, MD

Flavors: Choco-coconut, Vanilla, Carrot Cake, Chocolate, & Key-lime.

Cost: $2.75
Score: 4.5

Photo courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake

Driving into downtown Bethesda for a movie premier, I decided to surprise the guest of honor with a treat from Georgetown Cupcakes. Due to anemic parking options, I reluctantly parked 4 blocks away from the store. Although metro accessible (via Bethesda metro station), be prepared for a walk of about 5 blocks+ to arrive at the downtown Bethesda store. After walking on cobblestone streets in 6-inch heels, I wasn’t happy to stand for another 30 minutes to place my order.

The famous G-town Cupcake Bag

Found only in their namesake of Georgetown (and now Bethesda), the popular cupcakery is also known for their long wait times and lines. Once inside the tiny shop, I was very impressed with the staff’s fast & efficient assembly line approach. The pink and white décor gave me a feeling of serenity and sterility which is important when you require money for food.

L-R:Vanilla, Chocolate, Carrot Cake, Choco-coconut and key lime

Their signature vanilla cupcake was rich with a delicious frosting reminiscent of my grandmother’s baked goods. The choco-coconut cupcake was decent but the chocolate & white cupcake was more than laudable in the war on cupcakes. The decadent cream cheese frosting made the carrot cupcake a close second but it was the key lime cupcake that stole the show.

Walking out I felt like a hunter who had stalked and claimed their prey. The price and size of the cupcakes was perfect at $2.75. Although I wasn’t thrilled with the scarcity of parking or the long lines, the cupcakes themselves did not disappoint (nor live up to the hype).

*Originally published in April 2011