You know that feeling you get when your mouth starts to water as you think about a sweet treat? After Halloween you’ll be sick of miniature candy bars, so consider a tasty alternative - cupcakes! Forget the cupcakes made from powder in a box. These small delicacies now have their own stores dedicated to perfecting some of the most decadent cupcakes in all of NYC. I’m talking about fresh whipped cream frosting atop flavors like red velvet and coconut. For those of you who are on a quest for the perfect cupcake, let me introduce you to four of the best shops I know.
Warning: I suggest you don’t indulge in all of them on the same day unless you’re prepared for an extreme sugar rush!
The Cupcake Cafe: 545 9th Ave. between 40th and 41st Streets, (212) 268-9975.
Subway: A,C,E to 42nd Street-Port Authority; or 1,2,3, N,Q,R,W, S or 7 to 42nd Street-Times Square.
This quaint cafe is noted for its artistic cupcake frosting designs. Each cupcake (small- $2.50/ large- $3.50) is decorated on top with various miniature works of art all done in different colored frostings. For the Halloween season, you can find cupcakes adorned with hand-crafted spiders, pumpkins and mummies. The place is pretty huge, so you won’t have any trouble finding a quiet spot to savor your cupcake amongst the antique memorabilia and old photos. The coffee is ridiculously good and always fresh. Don’t be fooled by the wooden refrigerator from the early 1900's. It is still functioning and holds a variety of milks. This is an ideal spot to visit after a dinner date.
Cupcake Rating: 4/5 stars.
The cupcakes were a bit hard, but the delicious butter cream frosting and fun decorations make up for it.
Billy’s Bakery: 184 9th Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets, (212) 647-9956.
Subway: C, E to 23rd St; or 1, 9 to 23rd St.
If you’re headed towards Chelsea, you’ll be in close proximity to Billy’s Bakery, a smaller yet equally delicious spot for cupcakes ($2.25 each). This bakery offers a variety of cookies and cheesecakes, but their super-soft cupcakes are the main attraction. Billy’s cupcakes not only come in chocolate and vanilla but also feature specialty flavors such as red velvet and coconut. The bakery looks like a cozy cottage inside with pastel colors and vintage signs lining the walls . With the exception of two large tables and a bench outside, there is not much seating available. However, this should not deter you from stopping in to indulge.
Cupcake Rating: 4/5 stars.
The whipped cream icing was extremely sweet and melted in your mouth. The cake itself was very soft and tasty.
Magnolia Bakery: 401 Bleecker Street, (212) 462-2572.
Subway: D to West 4th; or 1 to Christopher Street.
There is also a Magnolia Bakery located at 200 Columbus Ave. at 69th Street which is in walking distance from FCLC or 1,2,3 train to 72nd and Broadway.
I know you’ve heard about Magnolia Bakery because Carrie Bradshaw visited it on Sex and the City, but aside from the hype, how good are their cupcakes? You can usually find a line wrapped around the corner in front of Magnolia, but the prize is well worth your wait. After you’ve managed to brave the cold and snap happy tourists, you can indulge in one of New York’s greatest cupcakes. Their employees work vigorously in front of each window frosting each fluffy wonder right before your eyes. If that doesn’t attract your attention, the smell on the street of freshly baked cupcakes will surely draw you in. The cupcakes are self-serve and can be accompanied by a cup of organic fair trade coffee. I would recommend the red velvet cupcake (at $3.00). The only drawback is that there is no seating available at the Magnolia Bakery so you have to grab your cupcake and head right back outside.
Cupcake Rating: 5/5 stars. The frosting was fresh whipped cream. The cake was moist but not too soft.
Amy’s Bread: 250 Bleecker Street at Leroy Street ,(212) 675-7802.
Subway: D to West 4th Street.
There is also a midtown location at 672 9th Ave. between 46th and 47th Streets, (212)-977-2670.
Subway: C to 50th Street.
Amy’s is more of a traditional bakery, which offers a variety of breads, muffins and cakes. Yet, the cupcakes ($2.25) are their biggest seller. Each cupcake is topped with a huge mound of whipped frosting and wrapped in a fancy paper liner. Amy’s provides a good amount of seating and is a great place to stop after you’ve had dinner in the village. However, the atmosphere is not as cozy as the Cupcake Cafe or Billy's. Amy's was brightly lit and there were lots of people there considering it was a Sunday night. Also, at that time, many of the cupcakes had already been sold out.
Cupcake Rating: 3/5 stars.
The cake was a bit bland and there was a bit too much frosting.
Be the first to comment on this article!