While I'm not exactly a food critic, I'm without a doubt one of the biggest cupcake enthusiasts you’ll ever meet. I know a good cupcake when I taste one, and if it's aesthetically pleasing enough to make it on your Instagram, what more could you ask for? If you stumble upon food Instagram accounts like New Fork City (or stalk them daily, like I do) you may have seen some of these before, and they’re a lot easier to get to than you think. For New Yorkers, some of the best cupcakes in town are just a train or bus ride away, so plan a trip with your friends and family to sink your teeth into these soft and richly flavored cupcakes!
1. Georgetown Cupcake
Georgetown Cupcake creates such attractive cupcakes that it might actually pain you to take that first bite and ruin it’s perfection, so I suggest you take a picture first. Being renowned for their signature swirl, in an interview with Fox News Magazine cofounder Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne explains that to create this you start at the center of your cupcake. Then, with even pressure, go around in a circular motion and end in the center with a burst of pressure.
They make themed cupcakes for practically every holiday, such as the Fourth of July or Valentine's Day, that will surely impress any guests inside and out. There are special daily and monthly flavors. In case you’re thinking of visiting soon, some of their January flavors include Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge and Chocolate S’more Chip. Their classic flavors include Red Velvet (my personal favorite), Chocolate Ganache and Vanilla Birthday, among others. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, check out their Instagram and website for more flavors and information!
Instagram: georgetowncupcake.
Location: 111 Mercer Street (between Spring and Prince Street) New York, N.Y. 10012.
Price: $3.25 each, $18 for half a dozen, and $35 for a dozen.
2. Baked By Melissa
While Baked By Melissa cupcakes are much smaller than your average cupcake, they undeniably have some of the most creative tastes in the cupcake realm. I had the pleasure of meeting founder Melissa Ben-Ishay as she handed out free cupcakes at her first location in SoHo, and I’ve been in love ever since. These cupcakes are bite sized (literally about the size of a quarter) so you’re definitely going to want more than one, but thanks to their size you could enjoy more flavors and decide which ones are your favorites.
Baked By Melissa offers holiday collections, seasonal cupcakes, a mini of the month and classic flavors including Tie-Dye, Chocolate Chip Pancake and Mint Cookie. The January mini of the month is Chocolate Vanilla Swirl. You can also ship a pack to your friends who go to school out of state if you want to send them a sweet surprise!
Instagram: bakedbymelissa.
Location: There are a total of 14 locations; 11 are in Manhattan; all locations can be found here.
Price: A single cupcake costs $1, a pack of 3 costs $3, a pack of 6 costs $5.50 and a box of 25 costs $20.
3. Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery sells old fashioned looking cupcakes topped with buttercream that is to die for, and their website explains that they’re cherished for their vintage decor and warm, inviting atmosphere. One of their locations is right inside Bloomingdales at 1000 Third Avenue making it convenient to grab one after a long day of shopping. Their classic flavors, such as Vanilla -- which is their most popular item -- are served every day, but they offer specialty cupcakes such as Banana, Hummingbird, Sno-Cap and Red Velvet. Sometimes, the line to get inside a Magnolia Bakery stretches outside of the store and down the block, so if you plan to visit do so in advance!
Instagram: magnoliabakery.
Location: There are six locations scattered throughout Manhattan which can be found here.
Price: $3.50 for a classic cupcake and $3.75 for a specialty cupcake.
4. Brooklyn Cupcake
I make it a priority to get my dose of Brooklyn Cupcake as often as possible and it's currently my favorite cupcake spot! Brooklyn Cupcake has a unique variety of flavors that could satisfy almost anything you’re craving and they’re absolutely delicious. My personal favorites are Rainbow Cookie, Chocolate Raspberry and Tres Leche. Chocolate Raspberry and Rainbow Cookie have raspberry fillings giving them a distinct twist in flavor while one bite into a Tres Leche cupcake will have you drooling over the flavor and moistness of sweet milk.
Not only are their frostings and toppings delicious, but the cake itself is soft and flavor-filled. For any coconut lovers out there, their coconut cupcake has coconut cake, frosting and flakes making it better than your average coconut cupcake for sure. Other flavors include French Toast, Guava Con Queso and Oreo Cheesecake among others.
Instagram: brooklyncupcake.
Location: 335 Union Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11211 or 8000 Cooper Ave, Glendale, N.Y. 11385
Price: A single cupcake is $2.75, a half dozen is $15 and a dozen is $27 (average price depending on location).
5. Martha’s Country Bakery
Martha’s Country Bakery serves as a perfect date spot or a place to catch up with friends and family. Martha’s offers a variety of cupcake flavors along with other desserts in a cozy environment making it especially enjoyable during a cold winter day. The buttercream frosting they top their cupcakes with gives their classic cupcakes distinct flavor making Queen’s natives packing inside every day. Some of their flavors include Red Velvet, Oreo, German Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry.
Location: There are three locations in Queens: Forest Hills, Astoria, and Bayside.
Price: $3.25 for each individual cupcake.
So if you're a cupcake addict like me, need something to do with your friends or want to try something new, hit up these spots and decide which ones are your favorites while finding more along the way! I promise you that at any of these locations, it will be love at first bite.
