image by Swamibu at Flickr
It all started many years ago with a little New York bakery called Magnolia sparking happy childhood memories in the minds of everyone who picked up the brightly frosted treats. And now, this cupcake craze is spreading like wildfire around DC. Like it or not, the cupcake trend is still going strong.
The playing field in town is starting to get quite crowded, leading to debates about where to really get the BEST cupcake. You have the “it’s not worth the hype,” yet still insanely popular spots such as Cakelove and Georgetown Cupcakes; the new and highly anticipated arrivals, Hello Cupcake and Lavender Moon Cupcakery; and the bakeries that happen to have really good cupcakes among their selections of other fresh-baked goods, Baked & Wired and Sticky Fingers (my two current favorites).
Have a favorite? Go on over to vote at the Going Out Gurus Cupcake Challenge. Want to help determine the best at a live contest? My good friend at Blonde’s-I-View has you covered with the first annual DC Cupcake Contest at the Washington Club on September 25th.
I know plenty of cupcake lovers and cupcake haters…I admit the tasty treats are getting a bit too trendy but I am still a lover. Honestly, I just don’t like sharing desserts very much so having a single-serving wrapped up just for me, with sprinkles and sugary frosting, just makes me happy.
UPDATE! The Food Section of the Washington Post will be tasting cupcakes from 12 area locations over the next six weeks and posting their reviews. I have to strongly disagree with their review of Sticky Fingers, but maybe they just got there on an off day? The gluten-free cupcakes (sounds gross but is actually quite good) I have had there on multiple occasions have been moist, rich but not too sweet, and had an excellent frosting to cake ratio (part of the key to the perfect cupcake).
