New York Cupcakes in Bellevue

The first CakeSpy visit to New York Cupcakes in Westlake Center in Seattle was not a sweet one. The display case was kind of sad, the employee was texting the entire time, and the cupcakes themselves were...well, kind of a bummer.

But since then something magical happened: they changed ownership (incidentally, location too), and the transformation is dramatic.

I was lucky enough to visit the revamped New York Cupcakes today with my friend Carrie (proprietress of Bella Cupcake Couture, a CakeSpy sponsor and all around cool company!), and I have to say, I was very impressed. Walking in to the shop, the warmth strikes you immediately: decorated with cute artwork by Everyday is a Holiday and bright pink walls and a classic checkerboard floors, you immediately sense that this is a happy place.

But rarely are sweet shops able to coast on good looks alone, so how about those cupcakes?

We picked up five just to be sure:

The "Manhattan Margarita" (pictured top);

The "Grand Central S'more";


The "Boston Cream Cutie Pie";


and a mini "Royal Red Velvet" (also pictured top) for good measure.

What can I say other than that I was very, very impressed? The cake was perfectly moist, with a perfectly tender crumb--especially on the vanilla cake. The texture was light-ish, but assertively buttery enough to make its presence known. The frosting too was quite buttery, but whipped so expertly that it practically seemed to melt in your mouth. The Margarita Cupcake in particular impressed me, with a touch of tart lime flavor beautifully balanced by a rich, buttery and just ever-so-slightly salty buttercream. I did not want this cupcake to end.

The verdict? In my mind, New York Cupcakes has not only redeemed itself, but I'd now consider it a worthy destination.

New York Cupcakes, 15600 N.E.8th Ste. A-4 Bellevue, WA, 425.283.5445; online at newyorkcupcakes.com.

Cupcake Royale's New Flavor of the Month: The Huckleberry Cupcake

September is certainly off to a sweet start: just check out the new flavor of the month at Cupcake Royale! Here's the 411:

We teamed up with the good people over at Foraged & Found to bring you a cupcake bursting with wild huckleberry goodness! Our delicious vanilla buttercake is loaded with the little gems, and we top the whole thing off with a perfectly tart huckleberry buttercream. It doesn't get any fresher than this folks. Straight from the forest and into the oven!

To obtain one of these cupcakes, you can visit any of the four Cupcake Royale locations all September long; for more information, visit cupcakeroyale.com; for instant updates, follow them on Twitter!

My Favorite Cookie in Seattle: The Chubby from Monorail Espresso

Say hello to my favorite cookie in Seattle.

Its name is Chubby, and it lives not at a bakery but at Monorail Espresso downtown (one of the oldest espresso stands in the city). They're made in small batches by hand by Mr. Espresso himself, Chuck Beek.

They're slightly bigger than a golf ball, and taste-wise they fall somewhere, delectably, between a chocolate chip cookie and a shortbread cookie: slightly crunchy/sandy on the outside, and dense and chewy on the inside. "Perfect" may not be the best word to describe them, but it's the first one that comes to mind.

If you are what you eat, this is the kind of chubby to which I aspire.

Chubby Cookies (with or without pecans) are available at Monorail Espresso, 520 Pike Street; for more information, click here.

Tot-Thali Delicious: The Dessert Thali at Poppy, Capitol Hill

(Note: This post also appears on CakeSpy.com)

The informal definition of "crush" is "one who is the object of an infatuation." But it's so much more than that--it's that feeling you get in the presence of your crush. It consumes you. It gives you an impulse to ride your bike by their house...just in case they happen to be around.

And I'm crushing really hard on the Dessert Thali at Seattle restaurant Poppy; it's the creation of Dana Cree, whom I suspect is some sort of pastry and confectionery genius.

What is a Dessert Thali, you may be wondering? Well, in case you missed its recent shout-out as the Best Dessert Date in Seattle, here's the article's well-put overview:

A large tray arrives at your table loaded up with one of Cree's main desserts (say, her warm orange-rhubarb shortcake or the, haha, hot date cake), plus a scoop of ice cream (mango lassi, sassafras, neapolitan) and a host of bite-sized things, including candied nuts, fruit gelées, chocolate truffles, and an exquisite nutter-butter square with a crackly caramel topping.

Oh, it's a sexy dessert tray all right.

On the day we went, we personalized ours with the following:

First, the "Rocky Rose" ice cream, which was kind of a fancy take on Rocky Road, with a thick fudge topping and homemade marshmallows;


Then, a crumble consisting of roasted cherries topped with almond streusel and honey-lavender ice cream. This was an absolute standout: assembling it just moments before being served, apparently, is one of the secrets--each ingredient maintains its own flavor and texture "identity"--coming together beautifully without becoming soupy.



Various other little bites were served alongside the main attractions: little lemon cream puffs; cumin cashews; apricot pâtes de fruits (translation: fancy fruit jellies); and some absolutely tantalizing Nutter butter squares, which were crispy and sweet and salty all at once, andwith a crowning glory of thick caramel, completely addictive.

..and, we were treated to a sneak preview of something Dana is working on for an upcoming event. Not going to give away too much, but it was good.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine a more delightful way to serve dessert. With a sampler like this, you still have some choice in the matter--but it also gives you an opportunity to try some tiny bites of unexpected desserts; there's also a certain drama that comes with having this platter full of sweets glistening like little jewels being delivered to your table. It's one of those dishes that all the other diners tend to turn to see as it goes by.

Want a piece of this sweet action? Poppy is located at 622 Broadway East, Seattle (206) 324-1108; you can check them out online at poppyseattle.com. For more on the lovely and amazing Dana Cree, check out this article and stay tuned for other new developments!

What a Turon-On: A Delicious Find at Delite Bakery

Nope, this is not an eggroll. It's even better, because it's dessert.

Say hello to the turon, my most recent discovery at Delite Bakery in Beacon Hill. What is a turon (or turrón, as I've seen it elsewhere), exactly? Well, according to Wikipedia,

Though many varieties exist, a typical turrón is plantain and jackfruit wrapped in a springroll wrapper, dipped in brown sugar, then fried. This somewhat resembles banana spring rolls. These are also known as banana fritters.

Delite's version was made with banana, and had the most delicious slightly crackly, carmelly-sticky crust which gave way to the sweet taste of banana. The banana's texture was perfect: yielding, but not too mushy. A satisfying treat, and surprisingly for something fried, not too heavy-- all in all, perfect for a hot day and definitely worth seeking out if you find yourself in the Beacon Hill area.

Delite Bakery, 2701 15th Ave S., Seattle. Read more online here!

Truffle-icious: The Truffle Cookie from Zoka

Yesterday I tried the truffle cookie from Zoka, and let me tell you, it was delicious.

No, it's not an especially attractive cookie, but when you bite into it, it falls somewhere between cookie, brownie and fudge. It was an unexpected (but delightful) surprise!

The Truffle Cookie, Zoka Coffee; for locations, visit zokacoffee.com.

Rosemary's Babka: A Devilishly Delicious Mini Treat

Note: This post appears concurrently on CakeSpy.com

The other day while wandering around Ballard, I happened to walk into Great Harvest Bread and in doing so, unwittingly submitted to my destiny: The Mini Chocolate Babka.

Baked in a muffin tin, this two-pronged treat is a mini monstrosity, so ugly it's sort of cute. Because of its small size, the chocolate-to-pastry ratio is upped dramatically, making it amazingly buttery and rich; in spite of said richness, it's amazingly how quickly and easily it manages to get in your belly.

As the sign in the shop said, this mini version of a classic holiday bread is "too good to save for once a year"--and I tend to agree. Even if it is the devil in disguise.

Mini Chocolate Babka (call for availability!) from Great Harvest Bread Company, 2218 NW Market Street, Seattle, (206) 706-3434; online at greatharvestsea.com.

Totally Delicious: Red Velvet Cake at The Kingfish Cafe

Recently I got to try the legendary Red Velvet cake from The Kingfish Cafe, and I have to say it more than lived up to my standards. Really, I think the photo speaks for itself, but if you're so inclined, read my more detailed review here!

The Kingfish Cafe, 602 19th Ave. East, Seattle, (206)320-8757; online at thekingfishcafe.com.

Hot Dogs for Dessert at Snacks! in Ballard, Seattle

(Appears concurrently on CakeSpy.com)

When CakeSpy buddy Megan tipped us off about Snacks!, a new bodega in Ballard opened by Dante (of Dante's Inferno hot dog cart fame), we knew we had to hit it up. But why would Cake Gumshoes want to check out a bodega in an alley behind a bar, you ask?

Three words: Sweet. Hot. Dogs.

No, seriously. Per myballard.com, Dante has "created a 'Chilly Dog' that is a hot dog bun with soft serve ice cream, his idea of an ice cream sandwich (served with a spork.)" OK, so there's not an actual hot dog in it. But still, it's a fun idea...sort of like a choco taco, but with a hot dog bun instead of a chocolate tortilla.

Naturally, we had to head over immediately upon hearing Megan's suggestion. Unfortunately they'd already closed for the night, but they were kind enough to invite us in for a look and even gave us some soft-serve ice cream, which they have in vanilla, chocolate and a combo swirl--sure, it was no Chilly dog, but it sure was delicious.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Snacks! Can't wait to try more of your sweet offerings.

For more information, read the entry on myballard.com.

New Bakeries in Seattle!

This post appears concurrently on CakeSpy.com, but really, it's too good not to share again!

Sweetless in Seattle? Not on your life, jerk. Here's just a brief roundup of all of the sugary magic on the horizon:

Cupcake Royale: Seattle's first cupcake shop is opening their fourth retail location in Capitol Hill. Combined with the added deliciousness of Oddfellows' bakery case and the newly opened Molly Moon Ice Cream a block away, Cupcake Royale's entrance on the scene is really establishing Capitol Hill as a sweet mecca. Coming this summer; online at cupcakeroyale.com (you can also keep updated via their blog).

Curio Confections: When a Trophy Cupcakes alum branches out and opens a baking business, you know it's going to be good. No conflict of interest here--there are no cupcakes on the menu at this University District sweetshop, but plenty of pies both sweet and savory, fancy marshmallows, and even goats' milk caramels. Scheduled to open May 23; online at curioconfections.com.

Manderin Cookie Co.: A custom-order cookie bakery specializing in decadent cookies and bars. Bacon may have jumped the shark, but just try telling that to devotees of the Bean's Bacon Bar (a heart-attack inducing bar of deliciousness comprised of layers of chocolate, peanut butter, cayenne pepper, caramel, and bacon). They're working on placing the product in retail locations; in the meantime, they can be ordered online at manderincookieco.com.

Molly Moon Ice Cream: How did such a cold treat get so hot? Molly Moon is featured in Bon Appetit and all over on the interweb--and now, there's more sweetness to go around. Their second location is now open in Capitol Hill! Online at mollymoonicecream.com.

Old School Frozen Custard: Can you stand it? Yet another place to get a sweet fix on Capitol Hill! This is actually their second location (the first is in Bonney Lake, wherever that may be); they specialize in frozen custard (different than other ice creams you may have tasted--read about it here), and we're so happy that they're coming. Opening this summer; online at oldschoolfrozencustard.com.

Trophy Cupcakes: Martha Stewart's favorite cupcake shop in Seattle has multiplied: their second location will open in the University Village early this summer. Now, all they have to do is open a third location next door to the CakeSpy headquarters and the holy trinityof sweetness will be complete. Scheduled to open either late May or early June; online at trophycupcakes.com.

The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Co.: Seattle's newest cupcake shop, located in Belltown, will feature mostly cupcakes but a small array of morning pastries as well; though they will have coffee, fancy tea will be their beverage focus; they'll also have suggested "pairings" for tea and cupcakes. Wonder which tea would go with their much-anticipated signature Tomato Soup cupcake (AnTea Warhol perhaps)? Scheduled for a soft opening on May 15; online at theyellowleafcupcake.com.

Ready for some sweet gossip? In the Central District, a Japanese sweet shop is coming; also, we hear that there's a new gourmet ice cream truck coming later this summer to a neighborhood near you. More info as we receive it!

Cupcake Royale's New Flavor of the Month: The Chocolate Scorcher

Now this one I've got to try: the Chocolate Scorcher from Cupcake Royale. Read the full story here!

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar from Hoffman's Fine Pastries, Kirkland

Honestly, I feel like I hardly have to say anything: the picture says it all. This chocolate peanut butter bar from Hoffman's Fine Pastries in Kirkland channels a holy trinity of awesome, falling somewhere between fudge, bar cookie and peanut butter cup. It was dense and completely delicious, and it cost less than a dollar.

Like, OMG. Go there now!

Hoffman's Fine Pastries, 226 Parkplace Center, Kirkland; online at hoffmansfinepastries.com.

Sweet Cakes: Delicious Cupcakes in Kirkland

The other day a friend and I took a trek over to the Eastside to try some of the bakeries over there. One of the ones I was most curious about was Sweet Cakes, a cupcake shop that opened about 4 months ago.

Walking into this bakery, I was really pleased to see that they had more than just cupcakes--as much as I love cupcakes, I do adore other sweets too, and they had a nice variety of baked goods, including yummy-looking bars, cookies, and morning pastries. But of course the cupcakes were front and center--after all, they are the prettiest of all sweets!

We picked up a couple of mini cakes ($1.50 each), including the red velvet, chocolate mint, vanilla cake with strawberry frosting and chocolate-frosted vanilla cake.

We didn't eat all of them (after devouring a couple of them, we gave the rest to our friend Nicole, who owns Immortal Dog), but we did like what we tasted. The red velvet in particular was very nice. They weren't really "fancy" cupcakes, but upscale-homey. The frosting was nice and buttery-smooth, and the cake was very moist. Overall, I'd say Kirkland is lucky to have Sweet Cakes. It's definitely worth a stop if you happen to find yourself on the Eastside!

Sweet Cakes, 128 Park Ln., Kirkland WA; online at sweetcakeskirkland.com.

Carrot CakeWalk Through Seattle!

If you love carrot cake, then this post is mos' def for you. One of my newest Cake Gumshoes at CakeSpy.com did an intensive carrot cake tasting at some of the best spots in Seattle, complete with an ingredient roundup (great for those who are picky about their cake!). 

Read the full story here!

Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches From Cafe Javasti

Sometimes, a baked good comes along that is just so awesome it makes me want to faint. 

The carrot cake cookie sandwich, with cream cheese frosting filling, from Cafe Javasti, is one such baked good. If a whoopie pie and carrot cake had a baby, this is pretty much what it would look and taste like, I think--that is to say, completely delicious. I didn't try their coffee, so I can't make any suggestions as far as that goes--but when it comes to this cookie sandwich, I'm smitten. 

Cafe Javasti has two locations; for hours and info, visit their website.

The Best Croissant in Seattle?

This croissant comes to you direct from Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle. Now, you've probably heard of this bakery--it's won all sorts of accolades, always seems to show up on "best of" lists--and it doesn't hurt that the proprietor, William Leaman, is also a past winner of the Coupe de monde de la Boulangerie (the World Cup of Baking. Yup, it exists).

But is this actually the best croissant in Seattle? Now, to be completely honest, croissant alone has never really gotten me going--I always feel like it needs something else (and therefore, I prefer a pain au chocolat or some elaborate almond-cherry filled flaky pastry). However, my dear Mr. CakeSpy is a connoisseur of this delicious, buttery and flaky pastry, and when he tried it the other day he proclaimed it the best in the Emerald City. 

What do you think?

The Most Frightening Easter Cakes Ever?

If the Easter Bunny and Michael Myers (from the Halloween Movies) were to have some sort of unholy love child, I believe it would probably look something like these cakes I came across at QFC the other day. While the garish pastel mound of frosted lump covered with coconut is almost bad enough, it's really the mask that clinches the deal. Just a little bit of hopping horror for you this lovely spring season!

Holy Cannoli: They Actually Exist in Seattle!

One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Seattle a few years ago was the distinct lack of Italian bakeries. Moving from New York, I had become accustomed to a certain quality of life which included mass consumption of lobster tails (the pastry, not the seafood), anginetti cookies and--most importantly--cannoli. Now this is not to say that Seattle doesn't have its share of awesome bakeries--but most of them gravitate toward Nordic and French styles of baking rather than Italian.

But recently, I was tipped off that I might be able to score a cannoli at Remo Borracchini on Rainier.

Sure enough, they had cannoli--in chocolate cream as well as the traditional ricotta with fruit bits--as well as cookies by the pound, Hot Cross buns, and more Italian treats. The fact that they looked at me blankly when I asked if they had zeppole may give them slight demerits, but I was pretty thrilled to find a place to score cannoli. They may not be the finest I've ever had, but it's comforting to know they exist, and it did inspire me to get artistic and make a "CannoLisa Loeb".

Remo Borracchini's Bakery is located at 2307 Rainier Ave. South, (206) 325-1550; online at nowcake.com.