Glad to know I’m not the only cupcake monster out there. I was surprised by all the emails I got from those of you who were dying to know the results of our OC cupcake tasting challenge. Sorry for the wait! As it turns out, there was a bit of cupcake overload. We wound up going to nearly a dozen bakeries and chomping through some 60+ cupcakes. And just when I thought I had picked up goods from all the bakeries, I discovered that I had forgotten a few places and had to go back out and fetch some more. It also took yours truly awhile to sift through the mound of notes from our ragtag crew of six taste testers.
While it was an awesome opportunity for us to stuff our faces, this might help a few of you decide A): whether these gourmet cupcakes warrant the $3 to $4 price tags. And if so, B): where to go to get your money’s worth.
Here are the bakeries we grabbed cupcakes from, in no particular order:
- SusieCakes in Newport Beach
- Dolcissimo in Costa Mesa **CLOSED as of 7/28/08
- Zov’s in Tustin
- Rockwell’s Bakery in Villa Park
- Sprinkles in Newport Beach
- Wonderland Bakery in Newport Beach
- Bristol Farms in Newport Beach
- Five Sweets in Newport Beach
- Frosted Cupcakery in Long Beach (OK, not OC, but close enough!)
- Mrs. Beasley’s in Costa Mesa
- Pacific Whey in Costa Mesa
We compared the cupcakes based on a few factors, including: Appearance, Frosting (taste of), Cake (taste/texture of), etc.
And now, for the results:
- Best Traditional: Pacific Whey’s chocolate cupcake. The frosting was silky smooth and tasted like melted chocolate. The cake part was fluffy, moist and rich in chocolate flavor
- Best Red Velvet: Sprinkles for the cake’s dense but moist texture and chocolate undertones. Honorable mentions: SusieCakes for its rich cream cheese frosting and Zov’s for its buttery cake.
- Most Creative Flavors: Frosted Cupcakery in Long Beach. The flavor of the month, the Mexican Chocolate Buttercream cupcake — featured a delicately spicy chocolate frosting and the cake was buttery and dense. The cupcake pictured above is the Nutella Buttercream cupcake, a vanilla cupcake with a hazelnut frosting. Worthy of mention: SusieCakes for its seasonal flavor of Peanut Butter & Jelly, which, well, tastes just like PB&J in dessert form.
- Best in Appearance: A tie between Dolcissimo’s immaculately pretty frosting and Bristol Farms’ extra gourmet touches. Pictured above: The Sugar Mama (Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting). Honorable mention: Zov’s chocolate cupcake with a red rose
- Best Overall: Bristol Farms, which had the largest cupcakes out of the entire bunch, about as big as a softball. Likely the only cupcake that might warrant the $3 price tag. The frosting was decadent but not too sweet, with gorgeous touches like chocolate curls and fresh fruit. The cake was consistently dense but fluffy. And the best part? If you ever have a late-night craving for a gourmet cupcake, Bristol Farms is your answer. It’s open until 10 p.m. Most bakeries close around 7 p.m. at the latest! Pictured above: The Lemon Raspberry cupcake. Honorable mentions: Frosted Cupcakery and SusieCakes
- Best Frosting: Bristol Farms for its consistently creamy and luscious icing that was just the right amount, not an unwieldy giant glop. Pictured above: The Strawberry Cupcake. Honorable mention: Dolcissimo for its beautifully whipped and light-tasting frosting that’s perfect for the cupcake lover who doesn’t want an overly sugary icing.
- Worst: Wonderland Bakery for its messily-baked cupcakes with runny, too-sweet frosting. The cake portion was dense but gummy and several taste testers reported a strange, chemical-like aftertaste. Pictured above: The Southern Princess aka: Red Velvet. At $3.75 each, Wonderland had the second most expensive cupcakes of the bunch. *Zov’s were the priciest, commanding $4 a pop.
Other random cupcake tidbits:
Most “affordable” cupcakes: $2.25 at Five Sweets
Driest cupcakes: Five Sweets’ Oreo cupcake and Rockwell’s Bakery
Most frosting on a cupcake: Mrs. Beasley’s, hands down. The frosting portion was bigger than the actual cupcake!
So there you have it. We were surprised that our favorites happened to come from a high-end grocery store that’s been doing cupcakes well before Sprinkles even came to town. Go figure. We’ll be doing a full package in the paper’s Food & Wine section so you can get the complete lowdown on cupcakes from each of the bakeries. We’re still figuring out when to run it in the paper, will let you know as soon as I get a firm date!
*Photos by Kate Lucas/The Orange County Register
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Wow I don’t think I have the sweet tooth to eat as many cupcakes as you 6 did. But if you ever need help in the future I can try!
YAY! I’m excited….more cupcakes to try out
Thank you! I love the practical information! I may have to go to Sprinkles and then walk across the parking lot to Bristol Farms for my own taste test.
I went to Bristol Farms earlier today and picked up the last Lemon Raspberry cupcake and Black Forest Cherry cupcake. My husband and I just shared the Lem Rasp one and have to agree 100%… they are amazing! It was a vanilla cupcake with a layer of lemon curd with raspberry buttercream frosting topped with white chocolate shavings and a single raspberry. The cake part was dense and moist (almost like a pound cake) and the frosting was outstanding (although I think there was a ton of it… my husband still ate all of the extra frosting it was that good). We’re going to try out the chocolate one later after we play tennis tonight… gotta work off those calories somehow!
Dan,
Ha, oh, the way these cupcakeries are popping up in OC, I have this funny feeling that we may have a Reader’s Choice Cupcake Taste Challenge soon!!! Anybody in???
OC gal,
Let us know which ones you like, and of course, which ones you didn’t!
Andrea,
That Corona del Mar plaza is DANGEROUS! Bristol Farms’ cupcakes, then Sprinkles and then there’s the gelato shop too! Oi vey.
Hiromi,
Girl, you just made me drool with that vivid description of the Lemon Raspberry cupcake. I almost picked up the Black Forest but sadly had to make do with the 6 others we got, ha!!! (The Strawberry is my absolute fave, but the German Chocolate and Cookies N’ Cream were scrumptious, too!) You’re right on about the pound cake comparison. Another taste tester likened it to angel food cake. Mmm. I’m with you on having to work out now. I literally had to pick up jogging to support my cupcake habit. Cheers!
You didn’t go to FRENCH’S CUPCAKE BAKERY in costa mesa. Your own paper’s readers vote it #1 every year. I mean come on, you went to a bakery in long beach ?
Wow, I had no idea Bristol Farms had such stellar cupcakes. I’ll definitely have to make my way down.
Also, for “most affordable” — don’t forget Nancy Luna’s tip on 75 cent cupcakes at Poul’s Bakery in Orange.
I think you would like the frosting — not too sugary sweet!
Nice job taste testers. Bristol Farms is the bomb.
Haha, the picture of Wonderland’s lopsided cupcake is hysterical.
I always liked the bakery at Bristol Farms. Just don’t think I ever had a cupcake from there. This blog entry just shows that sometimes you need to look beyond the fads . . . or at least be aware of all the options.
I’ll have to try the Bristol Farms cupcakes, but I agree with Jimbo, French’s should have been included -yummy. Maybe add them before the article in the print addition? If you come down from the sugar high/stomach ache by then
And where are the Wonderland owners to post 8 comments (from “different people”) about how they are the best?
Please please, can I pleeeeeaaaase be a cupcake taste tester next time??? Pretty pleeeaaase!!!
Jimbo,
What you’re referring to — “The Best of OC” (I think that’s what it’s called) is actually is an advertising supplement that is put together by the marketing/advertising department. While it’s open to the public to vote on, we don’t really use it as an authentic gauge — I mean, I think according to that list, Olive Garden is the best restaurant in OC, ha.
As for French’s Bakery, I went there twice and they only had two kinds of cupcakes, chocolate and vanilla. I was hoping for more of a variety since I grabbed about six different flavored cupcakes from each bakery, with the exception of Pacific Whey. Having to go to eight bakeries in one day, I didn’t have the time for a third visit. I’ll try to swing by again. We’ve been hearing about Frosted Cupcakery for so long from so many people that we felt they should be included and even more so because of their unique flavors.
Val,
Ooh, that’s right, I did remember that from Nancy, the 75-cent cupcakes! Wonder how they stack up against the 3-dolla ones?
Christian,
I know, I love the endless array of tempting treats at Bristol Farms! I can see how you skipped the cupcakes, but do try it sometime!
Double,
I’ll definitely try French’s again. Truthfully, the last time I had them, the frosting had a weird aftertaste but maybe that was a bad batch?
GXInstructorMOM,
Ha!! Of course. I’m actually hoping to coordinate something similar to an L.A. cupcake challenge that was turned into an actual event that anyone could come to and sample treats from all the participating local bakeries. That might take a bit more effort — but if we ever get an OC version going, I’ll let everyone know!
fortunately, i’ve had the chance to sample most of the cupcakeries featured in the challenge, but only over the course of several months…so whichever cupcake i’m devouring at the moment becomes my fav!
…but to try them all at ONCE?! that would simply be mind spinning!
I went to Bristol Farms today and purchased a double chocolate cupcake and a white chocolate cupcake. The “cake” has a texture like cake and not a cupcake. There is a difference. The actual flavor is very nice, though. The frosting on both cupcakes lacks the flavor complexity of other cupcakes. The sprinkle curls are great and I really like that. I will continue with my research. My favorite so far is the Sprinkles Black and White and the Sprinkles Choco Loco (only for Cinco de Mayo). I tried to talk Sprinkles into serving the Choco Loco more often, but they wouldn’t budge. I have eaten cakes from every bakery in this study, except the Long Beach bakery. Kat, thank you for starting the fun. I don’t need an excuse to eat cupcakes, but you have helped me to legitimize my sweet tooth.
So glad you all did this, it saves me the time of going to all these places myself! I’m heading out to Bristol Farms!
OC gal,
I totally know what you mean about whatever cupcake you’re devouring at the moment being the fave. I thought I had my favorites until you put them side-by-side and was able to actually compare on the spot! And even then, after so many cupcakes, they sort of become this big blur.
Andrea,
Very true, the BF cupcakes have a lot of heft and is more cake-like. If you’re into chocolate cupcakes, try SusieCakes or Frosted Cupcakery!
Mina,
Ha, oh, don’t let this stop you from checking out all the places and trying them for yourself! Cupcakes and any food/taste is always so subjective, just depends on what you’re looking for in a cupcake! Cheers.
Poul’s Bakery in Orange is yummy and has very good prices and all kinds of breads and rolls!! Ohh and cupcakes are 80 cents not 75 as mentioned! BEAT THAT!!
Just a note that French’s Pastry Bakery is not affiliated with French’s Cupcake Bakery. My dad owned the other French’s years ago, hence the name, but no longer. French’s Cupcake Bakery on 17th St. in Costa Mesa has 12 to 16 flavores of cupcakes out at all times, unless wet get unexpectedly wiped out!
Thanks,Jerry
Here was my Wonderland experience… Back when they had first opened I went there with my then toddler. I remember being just repulsed by the decor. So overdone…ugh. But, by golly, I was on a mission to get one of their cupcakes. ( I think I had read some glowing review somewhere.) Anyway, “The Mom” was manning the counter. She was pretty wound up and kept going on and on about how great their treats were. At one point she almost S**T a brick when my child reached for a ceramic cupcake. I knew I had to get out of there so I forked over 3 something for the most god-awful cupcake I have ever laid my eyes on. Geez, who were they kidding? Was I supposed to be in awe of their B.S. “smoke and mirrors” routine? I recall taking a small bite of that monstrosity and chucking it disgustedly into the trash right outside their door. Then I promptly marched next door to the Krispy Kreme… That is all… BTW, Frosted Cupcakery is the best! I regularly schlep to the L.B. for their goodies. But it looks like I need to hustle over to Bristol Farms too, huh?
I too agree that Frenchs Bakery is FABULOUS !! I had a slice of the Strawberry Fertival “largest strawberry shortcake” cake on Memorial Weekend and it was DEVINE !! I will be going to Bristol Farms fo sho after work as this blog has made me get a sweet tooth. Thanks for all the research Kat !
I am so glad that Wonderland bakery is being put out for what it is…….a crappy bakery with a bunch of shiny things in their shop to blind you with so you won’t see how BAD their treats are until you fork over your money. I bough my daughter’s first birthday cake there ( well over $100) and while the decorating was AMAZING the cake was dry, had no flavor and the frosting was wierd. People actually commented on how bad it was!!!!!! BTW, after paying that much for a cake, they had the nerve to charge me the extra money for a matching cupcake for my daughter!!!
So when DOES the article come out in the paper? Gotta quit checking this blog cuz it makes my mouth water every time!!
Seriously Kat - that is very disappointing that you didn’t know that French’s CUPCAKE Bakery has been your #1 Bakery forever!!!
we love their cupcakes - not to sweet, and awesome frosting.
Andrea, regarding your comment:
I went to Bristol Farms today and purchased a double chocolate cupcake and a white chocolate cupcake. The “cake” has a texture like cake and not a cupcake. There is a difference.
Aren’t cupcakes by definition cup-sized cakes? I understand there are different kinds of cakes, e.g. yellow cake, pound cake. I’m curious: In your opinion, what kind of texture should cupcakes have?
[...] cupcakes just keep coming! Around the same time Kat ran her definitive OC Cupcake Challenge, Charmed Cupcakes opened in the Fresh & Easy/Rite Aid strip mall on Spring Street in east Long [...]
SusieCakes is by far the best. Not only were they tasty, the flavors were phenomenal!!! Not to mention how friendly they were!!
I highly recommend them to all!
What a fun article! I just bought several at Bristol Farms a couple days ago and they were sinfully yummy. The mocha cupcake at Gelson’s is also excellent.
I just wanted to add my 2cents to several posts complaining about Wonderland Bakery. I have been there three times and have to say my experience mirrored the previous posts. Each time the cakes and cupcakes were cloyingly sweet, dry and heavy. But what made the experience even worse was the horrible service, twice by the owners! The service was cold and rude like they were impatiently waiting for the customer to hurry up and leave. I have had many friends with similar experiences and no one I know goes back there anymore.