Trolling for Cupcakes: Our Favorite Spots in New York and Beyond

I never claimed to have the ability to bake. In culinary school, my baking chef instructor, Chef Phillipe, actually took pity on me twice. The first time, he let me prepare my fruit tart exam over when I handed it in ‘half eaten.’ (I couldn’t segment an orange properly and wound up eating most of the fruit that was suppose to be on top of the tart.) The second time was when I dropped an entire plastic container of shredded carrots for a carrot cake into an industrial mixer—plastic and all—and he said, “Just make a chocolate cake.” Come to think of it, I can’t even make a good Toll House Cookie. (Why do they always come out so flat?!) However, in my own defense, there are a few things in the baking world I can say I have mastered: granola, scones, the occasional banana bread and even chocolate cake, thanks to Chef Philippe. (He made me make it three times that same day.)

Because my desire for sweets overrules my ability to master them in the kitchen, I have no problem leaving certain ones to the experts. Like cupcakes. Everywhere you look there are more cupcake stores popping up. In New York City and Philadelphia alone you can even find cupcakes on wheels.

Gianna has a sweet tooth like her mom and enjoys cupcakes just as much.  (Vanilla with vanilla frosting are her favorite.) We comb Manhattan and beyond for cupcake spots and never leave empty handed. Here are some of our favorites, in no particular order:

Crumbs: A lot bigger than the average cupcake, these gargantuan treats are addictive. Candy is our favorite, a vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream covered with mini M &M’s.

Chickalicious: Bite-sized and delicious, caramel-filled cupcakes rule.

Butter Lane frosts to order. Banana cupcakes with honey cinnamon frosting are, according to Gianna, ‘the bomb.’ (She’s a little outdated, but sincere.)

Billy’s Bakery: If vanilla or chocolate is not your thing, try Red Velvet.

Cupcake Café: Almost too pretty to eat, these floral buttercream icing beauties come in a smaller, two-bite size for kids. The shop is also located in Books of Wonder, (www.booksofwonder.com) a children’s bookstore.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine makes a great pumpkin cupcake.

BabyCakes NYC makes agave sweetened, spelt or gluten-free carrot cupcakes—you’d never know the difference, they taste fantastic.

The Cupcake Corner: Located in New Hyde Park, N.Y. (516.328.2253) this spot makes the best Rocky Road cupcake. They cater to kids with mini bite-sized cupcakes as well as mini tables and chairs. The company also offers scrapbook and tea parties for kids.

Flour & Sun Bakery: Located in Pleasantville, N.Y., in Westchester County, this bakery makes special flavors that include Chocolate Zucchini and Lemon Poppy with cream cheese frosting.

Sometimes I think I’ll try making some cupcakes. But, with so many great bakeries in the neighborhood, why tempt fate? I’ll stick to what I know. —Nicole Potenza Denis