Cupcakes Actually

Cupcakes Actually (11944 Grand Commons Ave Farifax, VA 22030)
Flavors: Cherries Jubilee
Cost: $3.75
Score: 3.8

Cherrie Jubilee cupcakes

Spending a few days with a college pal in the Commonwealth, I was pleased to discover that their home was within walking distance to Cupcakes Actually. Cupcakes Actually is tiny storefront housed in a gorgeous outdoor shopping center. Decorated in full cupcake fashion, parking was a breeze and we found a spot directly in front of the store. 

I was immediately greeted with at least 8 different flavors to choose from  ranging from 'The Italian Stallion' to key-lime and cannoli. They also advertised milk shots for $0.25 cents and cake bites for $1.50. I walked away with the cherries jubilee cupcake for $3.75 and a cute box. I must note that Cupcakes Actually was next door to Pinkberry (my new obsession) so I looked forward to both cupcakes and Pinkberry. 

Cupcakes Actually's Assorted Cake bites

When we arrived back at my friend's house, we both looked at our cuppies, then to our Pinkberry, then back at our cuppies like, "which one do we choose first?" I went with my beloved cuppies and upon first bite, found it to be a solid "B" student. The frosting was abundant although heavy on the shortening. The cake was good but could have been a bit smoother. To their credit, they were replenishing their stock when we came in so those cupcake may have been made earlier in the day. Nonetheless, the cupcakes looked better than they actually tasted. 

My cherries jubilee cupcake topped with a
cherry jelly belly

Neither bad nor crave-worthy, Cupcakes Actually are a great choice for suburban-dwellers who want to be tied-over until their next cupcake-fix. 

                                                           

Road Trippin: ATL Cupcake Edition

Variety of flavors from CamiCakes in Buckhead

Recently I took a road trip to Atlanta, my birthplace. Known as the jewel of the south, this progressive southern city has more to offer than crunk, fried foods, and Housewives - although we like all those things too. I got the chance to taste CamiCakes, Gigi's of Buckhead and The Little Cakery who supplied cupcakes for the V.I.P. suites at Cirque Du Soleil. Peep game...



CamiCakes (Buckhead)

Flavors: Banana cream cupcake and a Strawberries-n-cream cupcake
Cost: $2.75 each 
Score: 4.9

CamiCakes has 4 locations; this is buckhead

Nestled in a busy shopping center in Buckhead is the bustling CamiCakes. Pink from tip-to-stern this neatly presented cupcake shop featured 10 different flavors of perfectly-portioned cupcakes waiting to be eaten. I walked away with a banana cream cupcake and a strawberries-n-cream cupcake for $5.89. By far the best cupcakes in Atlanta!

Banana Cream Cupcake from CamiCakes

Strawberries-N-Cream Cupcakes

GiGi’s Cupcakes in Buckhead
Flavors: Chocolate strawberry and Kentucky Bourbon Pie
Cost: $3.50 each 
Score: 3.7

Gigi's Cupcakes in Buckhead

Gigi’s Cupcakes is a popular franchise in the south whom I have deemed the beauty queens of cupcakes. Gigi’s packaging and presentation is flawless and friendly with huge cupcakes featuring large crowns of frosting. I walked away with a Kentucky bourbon pie cupcake and a chocolate covered strawberry cupcake totaling $8.59. Overall this cupcakes are pretty to look at and happy to hold but flavors wise they can be a bit too bold. The KBP was a rich cake but the frosting was mountainous and ultimately gave me a headache from all the sugar. The chocolate strawberry (a chocolate cupcake with strawberry frosting covered in chocolate) reeked of artificial strawberry flavor which is a no-no for the Critic.

The Kentucky Bourbon Pie Cupcake

Gigi's of Buckhead's vast Selection

Little Cake Bakery

Flavors: The Marie Antoinette (vanilla cake with raspberry center; topped with caramel and whipped  cream)
Cost: $2.50 each 
Score: 3.9

Little Cake Bakery in Buckhead

After getting a quick manicure from Nail Favors in Buckhead, I happened upon a little place called Little Cake Bakery. A quaint shop that featured 6-8 flavors for $2.50 each. After debating between the Samoan and the mint julep, I chose The Marie Antoinette; their crown jewel of flavors. The cordial cupcake was a vanilla cupcake with a raspberry jam center topped with caramel drizzle (reminiscent of gold ornate) and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. It was gorgeous! 

The Marie Antoinette Cupcake

Little Cake Bakery Special's Sign

YoCake (Dupont Circle)

Review: YoCake (Dupont Circle: 1829 M Street NW, DC)
Flavors: Almond, Amaretto, Carrot Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Lemon Burst, Pecan Hazlenut, and Strawberry Champagne. 
Cost: $2.75 each (Buy 5 Get 1 Free)
Score: 4.8

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Montgomery County based YoCake recently moved into some cool D.C. digs a la Dupont Circle. Located next to Ozio's,  the tasty combination of both cupcakes and frozen yogurt is sure to be  a hit amongst daytime workers and late-night club-crawlers alike. I stopped in to try six of their numerous flavors that range from 12 daily flavors and 45 specialty flavors. My assortment of cupcakes included: Amaretto, Carrot Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Lemon Burst, Pecan Hazlenut, and Strawberry Champagne. Each retailing for $2.75 with a buy 5 get 1 free deal. I also tried one of their amazing Yocake sundaes.

L-R: Amaretto, Carrot Cake,  Pecan Hazelnut, Strawberry -
Champagne, Lemon and German Chocolate

The gentleman behind the counter was super sweet and patiently suggested flavors for my mountainous YoCake sundae. After I expressed my love for strawberries, he suggested the perfect combination: a strawberry champagne cupcake with a combination of cheesecake froyo and strawberry froyo topped with fresh strawberries. *Drool* The sundae was so big I couldn't get the top over it.

My hand-crafted YoCake Sundae!

Looking at the toppings bar I counted at least 10 toppings to choose from in addition to six frozen yogurt flavors. This is a great selection for creating your very own cupcake & froyo masterpiece. I took a quick spoonful of my sundae and it was awesome! The cheesecake and strawberry froyo was the perfect blend to accompany the sweet and delicate strawberry champagne cupcake. The adorning strawberries were the perfect balance of texture to make the sundae complete. I spent the rest of my weekend plotting how to get back to Dupont Circle and oh yeah...by the way...get another sundae. *tee-hee-hee*

Always personalized service with YoCake!

The cupcakes were an even better treat. Each cuppie had a delicate balance of incredible texture and a frosting that would melt in your mouth; but not too sweet. They were the perfect size with a distinct flavor all their own. Although each cupcake was amazing, the strawberry champagne, lemon burst, and German chocolate cake were my favorite. I highly recommend them. 

No cookie-cutter flavors here...both their cupcakes and frozen yogurt can stand alone while complementing one another. It's good to know that YoCake can walk and chew gum at the same time.

*The cupcakes in this review were gifted however did not sway the opinion of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review. 

Red Velvet Cupcakery (Redeux)

Review: Red Velvet Cupcakery (501 7th St NW,DC)

Cost: $3.25

Flavor: Lemon Burst

Score: 4.6

One of my early reviews as The Cupcake Critic was Red VelvetCupcakery.  After a lot of feedback from my audience disclaiming my less than stellar review, I decided to give them another try. Almost two years later, I had a chance to pop into the Penn Quarter cupcake shop located one block from the Chinatown/Gallery Place metro stop. 

Red Velvet's Flavor Selection: Sold Out! 

I was headed to the movies with a friend and while waiting decided to get myself a sweet treat. I noted in my original review that the customer service was awesome. I was greeted by a handsome young man who explained what was left of the flavors long gone after a full day of sales. I chose the lemon burst cupcake, forked over my $3.50 and was on my way.

Cupcake Art

I decided to save my treat for post movie, dinner and drinks and wait until I was home. Once home I dug into the creamy treat and to my surprise found it to be a sheer and utter delight. The frosting was creamy, smooth and bursting with lemon zest. Not too sweet or pungent with lemon flavor the uber-soft cake rounded out my overall experience.

The Lemon Burst Cupcake & Red Velvet Bag

I immediately regretted ever saying anything horrible about this friendly and centrally located shop. With hours of operation as late as midnight, I believe that I have found a new after-hours cupcake spot. 

                                                       

Gevalia Coffee and Teas

Review: Gevalia Teas and Coffee

Flavors: Chai Latte, Ceylon Cinnamon Orange, Honey Ginseng Mint

Retail: $5.95 per box

Spiced Chai Tea Bags

In October, Gevalia coffee and teas contacted me to do a review on their products. Gevalia has always been known for their quality products so I was thrilled. Being a major fan of tea, I opted to try three of their nineteen tea flavors: spiced chai teas, ceylon cinnamon orange and honey ginseng mint. I’ve found a nice cup of tea to be soothing on a Sunday afternoon; and a great accompaniment to my cupcake treats.

Gold Foil bag keeps tea bags fresh

This day I would be having a fresh cup of spiced chai tea. The average box of Gevalia tea retails for about $5.95 which is more than your average box of tea. However Gevalia uses only the highest blend of tea leaves and is known for their quality. After I un-wrapped the box of tea, I pulled out a gold bag filled with high quality cotton tea bags. When opened, the gold bag released fragrant notes of cracked pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Chai tea with cream and sugar

After heating up some water in the microwave, I let the teabag steep for two-and-a-half minutes. I tinkered with the idea of making it an iced chai tea after I added the sugar and fresh cream. When I sipped the sweet tea my initial reaction was that the tea was pure quality; living up to Gevalia’s well-deserved reputation. It was rich and full-bodied with notes of cinnamon and fresh nutmeg.

Three flavors: Honey Ginseng Mint, Ceylon Cinnamon Orange
Spiced Chai teas

The following day I decided to try the ceylon cinnamon orange tea which is also a black tea.  The tea had strong notes of cinnamon and orange rhine making it perfect for the fall season. It’s also perfect for someone who enjoys a husky and warm citrus drink.  Overall they are the perfect accompaniment to your cupcake treats or even an after dinner drink.

Time for tea!

You can purchase your own box of Gevalia teas (or coffee) at your local grocer or on Gevalia’s website at www.Gevalia.com. 

And the Winner Is...The Best of 2012

Winner: Cakelove

Tie-Breaker: Aside from being wildly entertaining and informed about their cupcakes, one of the staff members at Cakelove had on a Wu-Tang Clan shirt with every member of the Wu-Tang Clan's names on it. I guess that's a fairly shallow reason to break a tie but do you know how many people are in the Wu-Tang Clan? Enough to put on a shirt. 

Congrats Cakelove!

R.I.P. Russell Jones

Winner: Georgetown Cupcake 

Tie-Breaker: The Sweet Lobby has amazing macarons and won Cupcake Wars' All-Stars with their MacTop creation. However Georgetown Cupcake cleverly debuted their cupcake hamburger at the start of the summer picnic/BBQ season and didn't forget the special sauce, poppy seed bun and cheese. But let's face it, food in the shape of others foods versus food on top of other foods is pretty creative. 

Congratulations Georgetown Cupcake!

Winner: Buzz Bakery 

Tie-Breaker: Baked and Wired has kickin' cool flavors like the Smurfette and the Fat Elvis that are beyond creative and big enough for two people. At the same time Buzz Bakery has the creative genius of Tiffany MacIssac who made an appearance on Sweet Genius. They also scored a 4.3 on their review compared to the 4 received by Baked and Wired. Overall both bakeries are awesome and yes, I gave Baked and Wired points for being next to a moat. Wait, that is a moat, right? 

Congratulations Buzz Bakery!

Best Cupcake Food Truck: Curbside Cupcake

Curbside Cupcake has a special place in every D.C. resident's heart as the first cupcake food truck. It's destined to go down in D.C. history with Marion Barry and  Ben's Chilli Bowl or Yum's carryout. With new locations in Pentagon City Mall and Union Square, they've revolutionized the food truck industry...lobbied and withstood city regulations and at the end of the day keep it classic.

Congratulations Curbside Cupcake!

Best Liquor Infused Cupcakes: Pretty Girl Cupcakery 

Pretty Girl Cupcakery is an oasis in the cupcake desert of Prince George's County, MD. They explore with various flavor choices but still keep it classy, San Diego. Their liquor-infused strawberry champagne cupcakes have been personally tested by yours truly (twice, don't judge me) and I am pleased as punch to congratulate them on their win!

Congratulations Pretty Girl Cupcakery!

Best New Bakery: Pretty Girl Cupcakery 

Pretty Girl Cupcakery is an exquisite cupcake shop located in suburban Maryland that is truly making its mark on the cupcake scene. They deliver on their promise with delightful waitstaff, innovative technology all housed in a perfectly pink and vanilla box shop. 

Congratulations Pretty Girl Cupcakery!

Best Online Bakery: The Butter Scotch Shop

The Butter Scotch Shop is one of my favorite online bakeries. Their moist and fluffy creations are reminiscent of my own grandmother's cupcakes; and that is hard to do. Owner Brandiss Smith creates each batch with love and delivers with a smile. 

Congratulations to The Butter Scotch Shop!

Best Vegan Cupcakes: Sticky Fingers Bakery

Although most shops have adopted handsome vegan and gluten-free offerings, Sticky Fingers Bakery in Columbia Heights, DC is the Vatican of veganism. It would be a travesty for them not to win this category. Further rockstar baker, owner, author, and two-time Cupcake Wars winner, Doron Petersan is the face of veganism in D.C. 

Congratulations Sticky Fingers Bakery!

Winner: Sprinkles Cupcakes

Tie-Breaker: Although I'm still steamed that DC doesn't have a Cupcake ATM or ice cream store, I am happy that they exist and are only a plane ride away. Further their expansion to the UAE is well, epic! But the true tie-breaker is their announcement of curbside service which makes the Critic very happy when attempting to park on those Georgetown Streets!

Congratulations Sprinkles Georgetown!

Cakelove (Silver Spring)

Cakelove (8512 Fenton Street Silver Spring, MD 20910)

Flavors: Toffee Crunch and Strawberry Lemonade
Cost: $3.35
Score: 4.5

Toffee Crunch Cupcakes 

I have to be honest...I've been avoiding a visit and subsequent review of Cakelove for some time now. My previous experiences with their cakes were less than stellar. Whether fresh out the box, fresh from the fridge or thawed, eating a slice of their cake reminded me of eating raw sticks of butter from the refrigerator. Nonetheless I've always enjoyed the success story of Cakelove owner and former attorney, Warren Brown.  

Over the past decade Brown has authored 3 cookbooks, hosted a show on The Food Network, and gotten nods from Oprah Winfrey, CNN, MSNBC, American Express and numerous others. Not to mention that Cakelove has grown to six locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. On this day, I would be visiting their Downtown Silver Spring location; only minutes from Silver Spring's red line station. If you can manage the chaotic downtown traffic, there is a parking lot within walking distance that is free after 7PM. 

When I walked into the bakery I was greeted by two ladies who were a sheer and utter delight. One young lady wore a Wu Tang Clan shirt listing every member of the group in alphabetical order- gotta love that. In addition, their knowledge of each cupcake flavor (about 12-13 in total with flavors ranging from salted caramel, s'more, and lemon coconut) was impressive. After a long deliberation on my part, I ordered one toffee crunch and one strawberry lemonade cupcake for a total of $6.70+tax. Little did I know that I'd be meeting my destiny.

L-R: Toffee Crunch and Strawberry Lemonade

After some shopping and a quick train ride home, I reached into my box and  pulled out the strawberry lemonade cupcake first. The cupcake's frosting was heaven in a cloud! It reminded me of a light and fluffy strawberry milkshake. The cake was a bit dense but complemented the frosting nonetheless. I kept licking the frosting in amazement like, "This is so flavorful! Give me more!"

I held my future in my hands: Cakelove's packaging

Eager, I reached into the box again and pulled out the toffee crunch cupcake  only to find myself in love! Topped with chunks of caramel-brown toffee, I couldn't keep my hands off of the chocolate delight with its fresh and fluffy cake coupled with a lightly whipped vanilla frosting and drizzled in salted caramel. Afterwards I affectionately nicknamed this cupcake 'My Boo' and seriously contemplated if cupcake marriage should be legalized...then I realized that it was the sugar talking. 

                                                       

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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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Pretty Girl Cupcakery

Pretty Girl Cupcakery

Location: 5606 Baltimore Avenue Hyattsville, MD
Flavors: Strawberry Champagne, Coconut, Sweet Potato and Peach Cobbler
Cost: $2.95 each or 4 for $12.00
Score: 4.5

Clockwise: Strawberry Champagne, Coconut, Peach Cobbler, and
Sweet Potato Pie

Within walking distance of Busboys and Poets, quietly nestled amidst Hyattsville's renewal is Pretty Girl Cupcakery. Driving there would be ideal with the closest metro station being the College Park stop on the green/yellow line. Street parking consists primarily of a few residential spaces tucked away or the lot behind Busboys and Poets a few blocks down. 

Walking into the extra crisp and super clean shop I was surrounded by soft pink walls, vanilla four-top tables, and comfy khaki chairs; perfect for Sunday reading. Every corner had a Christmas tree draped in lights and cupcake ornaments. 

Celebrating the season with cupcake ornaments!

Cupcake Display Case 

The store carried seven daily flavors consisting of: White Macadamia Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, Strawberry Champagne, Coconut, Sweet Potato and Peach Cobbler. Ultimately I chose four flavors: Strawberry Champagne, Coconut, Sweet Potato and Peach Cobbler*. Each cupcake cost $2.95 with a package of four cupcakes retailing for $12.00. The young lady behind the counter greeted me immediately while donning her Pretty Girl Cupcakery T-shirt. She  took my order eagerly and rang me up using Square which allowed for an emailed me my receipt- sweet!

"A Cupcake is a Smile's Best Friend"
Written on the bottom of my cupcake cup!

My first cupcake was the peach cobbler cupcake which amazed me! Filled with chunks of fresh peaches, I enjoyed the little bits of pie crust infused into the cake. The flavor wasn't overwhelming and still managed to taste like a cupcake. It was refreshing. Next up was the sweet potato cupcake which was  a classically made cupcake. It had the perfect amount of spice and the texture was moist but didn't lose structure. 

Football Cakepops!

 My next sampling was their coconut cupcake. Traditionally coconut is my favorite and although this one was amazing, I wanted it to have a bit more punch. Finally I ate the strawberry champagne cupcake which is a 5+ within itself. The smell, taste, and texture all merged perfectly with light champagne bubbles dancing on my tongue. The frosting was incredible and left my taste buds smiling. This cupcake alone makes me want to run back to them...again and again. 

*The Cupcakes in this review were gifted however it did not sway the opinion of the reviewer. 

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