Sprinkles Celebrates St. Patrick's Day!

Sprinkles Green Velvet Cupcake/ Photo credit:
Sprinkles Cupcake

Sprinkles Irish Chocolate Cupcake/Photo credit:
Sprinkles Cupcake

Sprinkles is rolling out two flavors for St. Patrick's day: Green Velvet and Irish Chocolate!  The Irish Chocolate will indulge your senses with Belgian dark chocolate topped with Bailey's Irish cream cheese frosting and topped with a green shamrock. Or take pleasure in their green velvet cupcake! 

You can pick up both of these treasures between now and March 17th!

Danielle's Desserts

Danielle's Desserts (2001 international Drive McLean, VA 22102) 
Flavors: Caramel, Double Chocolate, Red Velvet, Coconut, Sour Cream Banana Walnut, and Strawberries-n-Cream
Cost: $3.25 each
Score: 4.5

L-R; Caramel, Sour Cream Banana Walnut, Strawberries-N-Cream,
Red  Velvet, Coconut and Double Chocolate

 Recently, I was contacted by the team for Danielle's Desserts on doing a review for their cupcakes. I was thrilled because I've been following Danielle's Desserts on Twitter for sometime and assumed she focused more on elaborate desserts, and not cupcakes. Within days I had a box of six cupcake faces smiling at me! My box contained flavors ranging from fruity, salty-sweet, and traditional. 

For $3.25 each, these cupcakes were a healthy size. Although I didn't have to travel to their location in Tysons Galleria, I do know that their location is metro accessible by train and bus but driving there would probably ideal. Also, for those who do drive there, expect valet parking service which is sweet!

Each cupcake had a silky smooth texture and flavor. The frosting was a bit sweet but overall an absolute treat. Check out my breakdown for each flavor:

Caramel Cupcake with bits of toffee

Caramel
The caramel cupcake was moist, very flavorful, a bit sweet but the heath candy bits were a nice addition. The cake seemed larger than the others and reminded me of Baked & Wired's cupcakes for two. The mix of salty-sweet was great, I just wish that they would have been less sweet. 

Coconut
The coconut cupcake we essentially perfect! The cakes texture was unusually delicate while the frosting strayed away from traditional super-coconut flavor and immediate sweet-ness. It was well planned, took it's time and delivered!

Red Velvet Cupcake

Red Velvet 
It's never a secret that the Critic doesn't care for red velvet anything! *cue childhood memories* But on the chance that I am forced to review a red velvet cupcake, it's really saying something if I can enjoy it- and I did. There was a balance of sweetness with the flavorful cake which didn't rely on the over usage of cocoa powder. The color was perfect and the texture moist without overkill (slow down on the palm kernel oil, folks!). 


Sour cream Banana Walnut
My initial thought was, "I like banana but in a cupcake? What a funny name..." This cupcake reminded more of a sweet muffin as the cake was nice banana (with real banana) while the frosting was delicate, it was really there to decipher this cupcake from a muffin. In essence, it wasn't bad (I wouldn't kick it out of bed) but compared to its siblings, it wasn't that great either. 

Strawberries-n-Cream cupcake

Strawberries-N-Cream
This was my first cupcake in the bunch. It was love at first sight! The vanilla cupcake was delicate and topped with an even more delicate cream frosting with perfectly sliced strawberries adorning it. All of the components came together beautifully and it was my favorite out of the entire batch.

Double Chocolate
Chocolate, chocolate and this cupcake delivered on the promise! Although it is a double chocolate cupcake, both the frosting and the cake could their own or do the tango in tandem. I could taste the coffee (used as a softener) but it was perfect and gave that excellent punch that good chocolate (cup)cake needs. 

Overall Danielle's Desserts are a treat that shouldn't be overlooked, especially for my Virginia Cupcake Lovers! 

*The cupcakes in this review were gifted however no compensation was received in connection with this review. Nor were the views of reviewer compromised or swayed. 

Cupcake Project: 100 Calorie Chocolate Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of CanYouStayforDinner.com

One of the biggest resolutions of the new year is to shed holiday and winter weight. Realizing that sweat pants don't constitute professional attire, mild cut backs can occur while still enjoying lovely cupcakes. The recipe below is a low calorie recipe for moist chocolate cupcakes. Unfrosted, each cupcake is roughly 108 calories. Further chocolate is good for heart health so it's a win-win. 

Photo courtesy of CanYouStayforDinner.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup nonfat or low fat milk, dairy or nondairy
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup all purpose flour –OR- whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Photo courtesy of CanYouStayforDinner.com

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Spritz them lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, stir together milk and vinegar. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla. Pour in the now curdled milk and mix all ingredients well.

Stir in dry ingredients until just combined. The batter will be thin and wet, similar to a runny pancake batter. Divide it evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for about 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing to cool completely.

Once the cupcakes are cool, top them with my favorite light and fluffy whipped frosting, found here: Best Whipped Frosting.

Original recipe found here 

-->

Divinely Decadent Desserts

Location: 2701 12th Street, NE 

FLAVORS: Chocolate w/ Vanilla icing

COST: $2.70 (tax included)

SCORE: 3

Reviewed by: Brea Ellis of What I Wore, Tip to Toe

Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting

A fashion blogger’s diet consists of three things: cupcakes, champagne and clothes so naturally I felt up to the challenge when Stephanie asked me to review my favorite cupcakery.

I eat a lot of free cupcakes at fashion events, but when I’m spending my own money I hit up Divinely Decadent Desserts in Brookland, NE where for $2.70 you can choose from a variety of “outside the cupcake box” flavors. They have banana, key lime (my favorite) and sweet potato. They also bake staples like vanilla, chocolate, and of course the flavor de rigueur, red velvet. 

Divinely Decadent Desserts Awning

On the day I visited, I found suitable street parking. There were two super-friendly and totally hip shop girls; one in an oversized oxblood cardigan that I'm dying to find out the origin of. They ran down a list of all of the day’s flavors then bagged up my selection; a chocolate flavored cupcake with vanilla frosting. 

I decided to save it for a midnight snack and when I finally bit into it, the cake was solidly tasty even though the edges had hardened slightly from sitting out for so many hours. The icing however maintained a meringue like lightness that was both plentiful and sugary sweet. (Side-Note: I noticed that most of the cupcakes were actually un-iced and wondered if that meant custom icing flavors were available like cream cheese or strawberry?)

Lounge area...perfect for Sunday reading

 What I found most unique about the store itself were the exposed baking tools, the oven used to make the cupcakes is visible from the cash register and the flour, sugar, etc are shelved on a far wall in the store. D3 boasts several couches and comfy chairs not to mention lots of natural light so you could certainly pop in for a treat and stay awhile with your laptop or the Sunday paper.

D3 Sign...super cute!

The bakery is located near the end of the strip of businesses on 12th street, in a mainly residential block, so it seems like mostly those in walking distance are enjoying it for now, but with a fancy Neapolitan pizza joint next door and plenty of meter-free parking this place won't be just a local favorite for long.

About Brea Ellis:

WHAT I WORE: tip to toe! is a glimpse inside the life (and closet) of Social Media professional and "girl about town" Brea Ellis. Posts include her daily outfits, which serve to encourage women to shop their closets, rethink they way they style themselves and to live their ordinary lives in extraordinary clothing! 

Follow Brea on twitter at www.twitter.com/breaellis on facebook at www.facebook.com/whatiworetiptotoe and read the blog at http://whatiworetiptotoe.blogspot.com

SweetBuds Bakery

Sweet Buds Bakery: Food Truck servicing DC/MD/VA
Flavors: Black Forest Cake, Lemon, Raspberry Red Velvet, Spine Apple Chill
Cost: $3.00*
Score:3.8

Sweet Buds Bakery is full-service food truck and bakery serving DC, Maryland and Virginia. I first heard about them through my sister who happened upon them in Arlington, VA. She told me that the owners were really sweet people who always had her order ready and that I had to try these cupcakes! My sister is a tough sell so if she liked them, they had to be good.

Through their Facebook page, I discovered that Sweet Buds Bakery would be a vendor at the Olde Town Bowie Fall Festival; I had to jump on it. After a sizable hike through Olde Town Bowie, I found their colorful truck and a sizable line. I was immediately greeted by daughter Bianka and her mother, Pamela. Their menu was extensive with over 10 flavors on hand and priced well at $3.00 per cupcake. 

When I asked which flavors I should try Pamela said, "Honey, all my flavors are good!" You can't beat that! After a lengthy discussion with Bianka and her mom, I was given a tidy bag of cupcakes in a cup with the following flavors: black forest cake, lemon, raspberry red velvet, and spine-apple chill. She also gave me her fantastic monkey bread with rum-soaked raisins and nuts. (Side-Note: That monkey bread was amazing!! Like, I may have to start cyber-stalking their location to get more amazing! Really...)

Lemon, Red velvet and Spine-apple chill

My first treat was the black forest cake. The cake was lined with chocolate syrup to enhance the flavor and keep it moist. The flavor was rich and had me wanting more. Next up was the lemon which was pretty good. It was a typical lemon flavor but the cake was smooth and the Bavarian creme topping rounded it out. 

Wedding Cupcake Tower
Photo by Sweet Buds Bakery

The raspberry red velvet was really inventive. It was a red velvet cake, rimmed with raspberry jam and topped with Bavarian creme. The raspberry jam offset the chocolate in the red velvet creating a great flavor sensation. My final cake was the spine-apple chill which would remind me of an apple cupcake- perfect for Fall. I enjoyed the apple fruit compote mixed with the spiced apple cake although it was a tad sweet but still good.

Currently you can find the Sweet Buds Bakery truck at Fells Point in Baltimore, Arlington, VA and certain stops in D.C. 

We Take The Cake

We Take the Cake: 1021 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Flavors: Red Velvet, Chocolate, Vanilla, Coconut 
Cost: $52 per 8 cupcakes
Score: 4.8

Reviewed by: Stephanie

Coconut and Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercrem Frosting

In early August I was approached by We Take the Cake about reviewing their cupcakes. I agreed after seeing that their signature key-lime cream cheese bundt cakes were voted one of Oprah's Favorite Things. Looking to introduce their cupcakes to a broader market, they shipped a box to me and I couldn't have been happier*.

                                          

When I received my box, I was pleasantly surprised at how lovingly my package was shrink-wrapped, boxed with dry ice, and then delicately placed in a custom FedEx box. The packaging was marvelous in traditional Key-West colors of terracotta and lime.

The box of eight are over-sized cupcakes which means that they can comfortably feed about two people when shared. The cupcakes come in four traditional flavors: chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and coconut and retail for $52 plus shipping and handling. Given that they are located in Fort Lauderdale, shipping to the D.C. area hovers around $39 dollars however they ship fresh and the same day.

The FedEx guys love me!

The We Take the Cake Box with Logo

Cutting each cupcake into fours, I dished up my plate ready to critique. I tried the vanilla cupcake first and was pleasantly surprised at how moist and flavorful it was. It bordered on perfect while the frosting left the sweetest tingle on my tongue. 

I tried the coconut cupcake next which would become my favorite. The moist coconut gave this cupcake the perfect flavor without being too sweet and the right balance of crunch with the moist cake. The actual cake was infused with subtle notes of fresh coconut denoting a coconut milk or paste used. No artificial flavors here. 

The chocolate cupcake was smooth and reminded me of a nice French pastry only in cake form topped with a silky smooth mousse. The red velvet cake was moist beyond belief and although chocolate in flavor, it was more of what I've always felt that a (southern) red velvet cake should be- effortless. 

Purple: Red Velvet Cupcakes  Pink: Vanilla Cupcakes 

Overall the price tag was justifiable as these cupcakes are beyond spectacular. These are the cupcakes that you expect to serve should Oprah come visit your home and you don't want to appear as if you've never met a billionaire before. Or they are the perfect Christmas present for the beloved relative, in-law, or Cupcake Lover in your life. Receiving a box from We Take the Cake would definitely brighten their day-and tummy. 

*The cupcakes in this review were gifted however that did not sway the views of the reviewers. No compensation was received in connection with this review. 

Sprinkles Spooky Cupcakes & Boo Box

Photo courtesy of Sprinkles

From October 8th through October 31st, Sprinkles will be selling their Halloween Boo Box filled with vanilla milk chocolate, red velvet, black & white and caramel apple cupcakes. Each cupcake is topped with a Sprinkles ghost or Boo sugar decoration. In addition Sprinkles will be selling their Caramel Apple cupcakes until Halloween. The caramel apple cupcake is a spiced apple cake chocked with granny smith apple chunks, and topped with buttery caramel cream cheese frosting made complete with a Sprinkles Boo topper. 

Pick up yours today...or call ahead and get curbside service (eligible for orders of one dozen or more). 

Photo courtesy of Sprinkles

Review: Best Buns

Location: Best Buns Bread Company, 4010 Campbell Ave Arlington, VA

Flavors: Chocolate with Toffee Frosting and Triple Lemon

Cost: $3.00  

Score: 4

Reviewed by: Kristy Samone

I love the atmosphere of Shirlington and part of that is due to cute places like Best Buns. It's where I go to buy monkey bread to give to friends when I'm a dinner guest and the home of great dog biscuits. However, what Best Buns is really known for are its cupcakes. Now, they aren't super fancy cupcakes - quite the contrary - but they are good-basic-cupcakes. 

L-R: Choc/Toffee and Lemon

Known for large cupcakes, but not unique flavors you have the choice of: chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter, ganache, cream cheese, or coconut frosting. And other varieties such as: red velvet, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or vanilla cupcakes with chocolate or vanilla frosting. 

The Triple Lemon was divine which is a must for lemon lovers. It tasted like I was biting into a sweet lemon. The chocolate cupcake with toffee frosting was super dense, like an uber thick chocolate cake, but the icing was quite light (made me think of Heath). Please note that side street and garage parking are plentiful. Enjoy!

Advertisement

                     

The World's Most Expensive Cupcake

Yesterday, I received tweet, after email, after text alerting me to, presumably, the World's Most Expensive Cupcake. Located in Dubai, the cupcake was fashioned by Bloomsbury Cupcake founder, Shaeena Yusuff Ali. It's called the Golden Phoenix and retails for $1,000 with an ingredients list that includes: Ugandan vanilla bean, Amedei Porcelena chocolateli and mounds of edible gold leaf. The chocolate confection is wrapped in edible gold leaf and trimmed with a chocolate-dipped strawberry sprinkled with, guess what? More gold leaf! Although I'm fond of the mythology surrounding the phoenix bird, I believe that I will pass on this one. Despite my feelings, I find Ali's efforts to be astounding and astute for her clientele. 

Cupcake Project #22: Hole-In-One Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of Amy Hanten/TheCookingMom.com

With Father's Day coming up I thought that these would be the perfect cupcakes! My Dad was an avid golfer who loved nothing more than to spend his Sundays on the green. More than he loved golf, he loved food and was a great baker. But what I enjoy most about this recipe from TheCookingMom.com is the use of cake mix and we all know that's how the Critic rolls! Happy Father's Day Cupcake Lovers! 

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix, baked according to pkg. directions to make 24 cupcakes
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup green candy sprinkles
8 straws, cut in thirds
Colored paper
Tape
24 white gum balls
1 container white frosting

Directions:
Cool cupcakes and frost with white frosting. On about 3/4 of each cupcake, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs to make the sand trap. On the other 1/4, sprinkle with green sprinkles for the grass. Cut colored paper into flags. Write a number on each flag. Tape each flag to one end of the straw, poke into cupcake and place gumball on top of each.

Notes:
Makes 24 cupcakes.

Find original recipe post from TheCookingMom.com here 

Georgetown Cupcake's Burger Cupcake

Photo courtesy of Never Turn Down a Cupcake 

Kicking off the summer season right, the sisters of Georgetown Cupcake (and TLC'S DC Cupcakes) have come up with a burger cupcake! Nestled between a deconstructed maple cupcake (the buns), is a chocolate patty topped with buttercream lettuce, ketchup and mustard. These custom cakes are individually wrapped in red-and-white checkered parchment paper and boxed in the infamous pink box. The burger cupcake will be available all summer long and must be pre-ordered. Can you say salivate? Can't wait to try!

Georgetown Cupcake: The Easter Egg Dozen

Photo Courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake

Location:Georgetown Cupcake (3301 M Street in Georgetown)

Flavors: Valrhona Chocolate and Caramel

Cost: $29 per dozen

Score: 5

Easter is my favorite time of year! Everything from the elaborate family dinners to the pastel dresses and wide-brimmed church lady hats, Easter is the season to shine! 

Georgetown Cupcake box and bag 

This year I would be blessed with a special treat: The Easter Egg Dozen from Georgetown Cupcake. This box was filled with two flavors of cupcakes: Valrhona chocolate with a fudge center and caramel cupcakes with a caramel center. Each cupcake was adorned with rich buttercream frosting in assorted pastel colors and topped with a fresh Easter egg shaped fondant.

Georgetown Cupcake Bag

The Easter Egg Dozen from Georgetown Cupcake was delivered by Jessica who was more than kind to trek out to suburban Maryland. She not only delivered the box but personally checked each box and made sure that the cupcakes were not damaged in the process of transporting them. 

Beautiful Georgetown Cupcake Packaging 

Perfectly coiffed and puffed in Georgetown Cupcake regalia, I almost didn’t want to open up the packaging because it was so beautiful. But I did and in doing so I got the same feeling that I did as a child tearing into my Easter egg baskets eager to see what treats my little heart would receive. Much like the cornucopia of Zeus and the prosperity of Easter, these cupcakes were overflowing with goodness.

The Easter Egg Dozen

They were all so beautiful that I didn't know which one to eat first. My sister and I agreed that I should try a purple cupcake first which happened to be a caramel cupcake with caramel filling. The cupcake was ridiculously fresh and oozed the perfect amount of caramel center. As the yummy caramel slid down my tongue, washed in buttercream, I stopped and did a happy dance. 

Can you see the fudge-y center...yum!

Traditionally I'm not  a fan of chocolate but the Valrhona chocolate cupcake became my favorite in the box! The cupcake was the perfect amount of chocolate balanced with the sweetness of buttercream. The ooze of the lava fudge center made the overall experience that much sweeter.


As I nom-med on my fresh pink fondant egg, surely coming down from a sugar high, I reluctantly shared one of my cupcakes with my mother who- incidentally- doesn't care for cupcakes. The cupcake church had spoken and there was a new convert in the congregation. She couldn't get enough of these cupcakes and spent the majority of Easter weekend talking specifically about Georgetown Cupcakes. She swore they were made with crack but let's hope not...Georgetown is too far. 

Cupcake Project #4: It's National Chocolate Cake Day!!

In honor of Chocolate Cake day, this week's cupcake project are chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Sounds pretty basic, right? Spice it up with a few caps of your favorite liqueur. I fancy Bailey's Irish Cream. For the teetotalers, add a nice raspberry jam (about 2-3 tablespoons) or crushed chocolate cookies to the mix. Either way, celebrate responsibly and make it your own, oh- and have a great weekend! :0)

Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!!
The Cupcake Critic

Frosting

Location: Frosting 1 Wisconsin Circle Chevy Chase, MD

Flavors: Choc-a-lot, happy!birthday!, REDiculous, Cheesecake

Price: $2.75 each/$15.50 for a half-dozen/$29.50 for a dozen

Score: 4



                   

                 Frosting Marquee (Photos courtesy of Curvy CEO)







Frosting is a delightful little bakery tucked away on Wisconsin Circle in Chevy Chase, right next to all of the high end shopping and restaurants. While I’d seen the sign for the shop many, many times, I’d never gone in there. I do have to admit, actually getting there by car was a little tricky because the parking lot is behind the shops in the Circle. It took a phone call and two wrong turns before I found the shop. So, if at all possible, you should try to take the metro to get there – it’s right across from the Friendship Heights stop.



So many cupcakes to choose from! (Photos courtesy of Curvy CEO)

Now, once I did arrive, I was pleasantly greeted – not only by the sweet smell of baked goods, but also by the lovely décor. I don’t know much about interior design, but as soon as I walked in I felt like I was transported into a lovely little French café, what with the crystal chandelier and checkerboard tiles on the floor. They had a mixture of tallboy tables and chairs with a little alcove in the corner with cozy benches. There was even a cute little sitting area outside for customers. (If it weren’t nighttime in December, I might have given it a try.) Oh, and apparently the owners’ love story was featured in both the Washington Post and the subject of a romantic novelization of their love story.

WaPo article featuring Frosting the owners (Photos courtesy of Curvy CEO)

But, wait, this is supposed to be about cupcakes. Quite simply, they’re scrumptious.

Lovely display case filled with cupcakes! (Photos courtesy of Curvy CEO)

When I looked at the display they all looked so amazing, I sampled more than I wanted to . . . but they were worth it. The cake itself was buttery, light and fluffy. The frosting was supersweet . . . and to me, that’s a good thing. My absolute favorite was the mini-cheesecake.

Mini Cheesecake (Photos courtesy of Curvy CEO)

Let me say that again. Mini. Cheesecake.

*Homer-Simpson-drool*

This was absolutely FANTASTIC. Even though it was a “cupcake” for all intents and purposes, it really was a mini-cheesecake. A really good, rich, creamy mini-cheesecake. It really hit the spot. When you find yourself having a Golden Girls moment I highly recommend you visit Frosting. You won’t regret it.                         

Guest Blogger Curvy CEO : Curvy CEO is a lawyer and government relations professional in Washington, D.C. When she’s not pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill, you will usually find her pouring over fashion magazines or glued to the Style Network (which is pretty much her only reason for continuing to pay for “the good cable” during these tough economic times).