It is always fun to visit a cupcake bakery and especially one of such celebrity as the Beverly Hills-based Sprinkles Cupcakes. When we were in Dallas recently, we made the trek to the The Plaza at Preston Center, an upscale shopping center where the gourmet cupcake bakery, with its sparse, modern decor, has been in place since 2007.
Candace Nelson, owner of Sprinkles, shared her recipe for strawberry cupcakes with the world on Martha Stewart's show and website. Once I tried the recipe, I was hooked on the moist texture and natural taste--no strawberry jello or cake mix--and with a minor tweak or two this has become my Strawberry Bliss Cupcake, second in popularity to my Vanilla Bean Cream Cupcake. One of my purposes in visiting the bakery was to compare the actual store cupcake to my cupcake.
We arrived at mid-afternoon, and there were at least 20 fashionably attired ladies crowded inside the tiny store. My husband stood at a safe distance while I carefully chose my cupcakes. As I started taking pictures of the famed cupcake display, the cool young woman behind the counter said, "I'm sorry, no pictures allowed in here." Huh? But, I replied brilliantly in my best whining tone, I've seen pictures of Sprinkles' displays on blogs. "Sorry, company policy." Not quite the welcoming atmosphere I would strive for in my future bakery!
After choosing four flavors and paying $13.00, I waited impatiently until we reached our hotel before taste-testing. In my haste to sample, I forgot to take pictures of my cupcakes.
My review, in order of preference:Strawberry - every bit as moist and tasty as mine, naturally colored and fragrant with real strawberries; the frosting was equally luscious.
Red Velvet - tender and moist with a hint of cocoa; especially delicious paired with the Cream Cheese frosting.
Lemon Blueberry - a bit dense with a dominant taste of lemon extract; the blueberries were juicy and flavorful; the Lemon Cream Cheese frosting had the same lemon extract flavor.
Chocolate Marshmallow - least favorite--the chocolate cake was unexceptionally flavored; the chocolate ganache was quite bitter, and it is indeed advertised as bittersweet; the marshmallow was a tiny dollop for which I had to search.
The creamy frosting, with no gritty feel of powdered sugar, is worthy of eating alone.
Sprinkles Cupcakes = very good; Sprinkles Bakery = a bit pretentious
10 comments:
Yum! When I went to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, there was a long line and they were limiting the amount of people allowed in the shop at a time...
Honestly, what do you expect when a cupcake bakery has been placed on such a pedestal by celebrities. I've been to the one in Dallas as well...and was treated similarly. They have the name and the celebrity status - they don't have to treat customers with any dignity.
I hope that your someday bakery has a "company policy" to treat customers well. Cupcake bakeries should be quaint and lovely - not corporate and cold.
...they do have fabulous cupcakes, though.
Katie, wow--to have a bakery where people are waiting to get in--my dream! In spite of my experience, I would still like to visit the one in LA. :)
Lindsay, I agree--the cupcakes are fabulous. I love the description "quaint and lovely". Thanks for visiting!
There is a Sprinkles near me, and I like their red velvet the best. Overall, I sort of think they're overrated :) I hope you'll get to open a bakery soon--from what I've seen, your cupcakes would make for a wonderful bakery!
Linda, I'm sure Sprinkles Cupcakes are pretty okay, but I'm more sure that yours are TERRIFIC. I know how much pride and care you take in your baked goods, and that will always supersede celebrity and a fancy Beverly Hills address. I am so not interested in going to a Sprinkles. I would love to go to your bakery, however.
Granns, what poopheads for not allowing you to take pics! ;)
Tiffany, the red velvet was very, very good! Thank you for such sweet words!
Katy, I would love to own a bakery (till I have to get up at 3:00 a.m. to bake and work on weekends)and have you visit. Thank you for your compliments!
Dishy, LOL on poopheads. :))
I must live a sheltered life. I'd be chomping at the bit if someone took photos of my cupcakes. I mean, for pete's sake, it's not like the recipe is printed on the frosting!
by chomping at the bit, I meant flattered, of course (you knew that, right?....lol)
BWAHAHAH Mags! Yes, I grew up with that comment. :)) I would feel the same way--I would be honored if someone tooks pics. LOL at the recipe printed on the frosting. And oddly enough, she has shared several of her recipes on TV.
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