Special Delivery of Fairy Cakes Cupcakes

I love running and I love cupcakes. And apparently I'm not the only one.

Two weekends ago was the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon. During the weekend, all of my fellow cupcake runner friends got together for a little meet-up before the race. I couldn't make it because I was working at my booth at the expo (Sparkle Athletic), but one of the attendees was kind enough to bring me a box of mini cupcakes.

The cupcakes were from Fairy Cakes Bakery in Orange County. I've tasted Fairy Cakes before (at the LA Cupcake Challenge in 2010), and LOVED them! The Pumpkin White Chocolate was absolutely delicious!

But since they don't have a store front, I haven't had the chance to try them again...until now.

Thank you to Krissy for bringing these pieces of heaven to me. The minis were Pineapple Upside-Down cake cupcakes. They were moist, delicious, and so tasty.

Right now Fairy Cakes Bakery is just a made-to-order cupcake company. Maybe one day they will expand and get their own shop. Until then, I'll keep dreaming about those pumpkin cupcakes.....

LA Cupcake Challenge 2011: The Competitors, Part One

My favorite cupcake competition of the year came and went too fast. Last year I had a blast and was not disappointed this year. The LA Cupcake Challenge showcases some of the best cupcakes in the LA area. I could barely contain my giddiness as I walked into the room and saw all of the cupcakes.

Yesterday I posted the results of the competition, but for the rest of the week I am introducing all of the cupcakes entered in the contest, along with their contact info. I will also be posting my picks for the best cupcakes.

Fairy Cakes Bakery
www.fairycakesbakery.com
Facebook: Fairy Cakes Bakery
Orange County, CA

19: Pineapple Right Side Up
Loved their cupcake flavors last year, but not so much this year

The Cake Shop
www.bakerysweets.com/The_Cake_Shop
Apple Valley, CA

15: Red Velvet
Same red velvet as last year, but I really like the chocolate ganache, as it sets it apart from other red velvets.

35: Chery Bomb
One of my favorite cupcakes of the day. I'm not normally a cherry person, but this cupcake tasted just like a cherry cordial.

Sugar Babies Cupcakery
www.sugarbabiescupcakery.com
Twitter: @Sugar_Babies
Facebook: Sugar Babies Cupcakery
Cupcake truck in LA Area

32: PB and J
Good peanut butter frosting.

12: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Pretty blue color, but plain taste.

Magnolia Bakery
www.magnoliabakery.com
Twitter: @magnoliabakery
Facebook: Magnolia Bakery
Los Angeles, CA

I've been wanting to try Magnolia Bakery since they opened a LA location. I finally had my chance.

25: S'mores

I liked the look of these cupcakes because they were all different. The cake was dry, but because of that, it tasted more like a graham cracker. The frosting was a good mix between buttercream and marshmallow.

26: Orange

Blah. My friend Jill liked this, but I'm not much of an orange fan.

See the results of LA Cupcake Challenge here. Check back soon to see the next set of competitors.

LA Cupcake Challenge Results

 

(Nichelle from Cupcakes Take the Cake and me)

Got the official results last night from the 2010 LA Cupcake Challenge. Here they are:

Best Traditional

1st: Big Man Bakes - Red Velvet

2nd: Blue Cupcake - Sweet and Salty Vanilla

3rd: Southern Girl Desserts - Red Velvet

Best Original

1st: My Delight Cupcakery - Breakfast Cake

2nd: Jus Minis - Caramel Banana

3rd: Two Parts Sugar - Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Best Overall

1st: Jus Minis - Caramel Banana

2nd: My Delight Cupcakery - Breakfast Cake

3rd: Two Parts Sugar - Chocolate Covered Strawberry

My Picks

Best Traditional Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Sweet and Salty Vanilla

Best Traditional Runner-up: 
Big Man Bakes - Red Velvet

Best Original Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Pumpkin

Best Original Runner-Up: 
Fairy Cakes - Pumpkin White Chocolate

Best Overall Winner: 
Blue Cupcake - Pumpkin

Best Overall Runner-up: 
Fairy Cakes - Pumpkin White Chocolate

I was blown away by Blue Cupcake's cupcakes! I am a sucker for cupcakes with filling (caramel in the Vanilla and pumpkin mousse in the Pumpkin). I  loved the sweet and salty combination that both of them had (salted vanilla buttercream on the Vanilla and pumpkin seeds on the Pumpkin). Blue Cupcake also had a very cute display. Congratulations to them for their 2nd place win on Best Traditional.

Big Man Bakes had some of the moistest cupcakes I've ever tasted. The "Big Man" told me that he worked for months perfecting his Red Velvet before he began selling it. He didn't want to sell an inferior cupcake. I admire that. 

Fairy Cakes was a close second place for me. Not sure why the two pumpkin cupcakes were my favorite of the day, but both were done just right. Fairy Cakes' Pumpkin cupcake was the first one I tried that day and was one of the few I was still thinking about after I left. I've read a few blogs over the past couple of days proclaiming their loved for Fairy Cakes' Pumpkin cupcake also. Great job! 

You can find more photos on the LA Cupcake Challenge flickr pool.

LA Cupcake Challenge: The Competitors, Part One

I explained exactly what the LA Cupcake Challenge was yesterday, so now let's see those cupcakes!

There were 22 bakeries competing for the titles of Best Traditional, Best Original, and Best Overall cupcake. Most bakeries entered two cupcakes in the competition. Yes, I got to eat 40 mini cupcakes! Yes, I was sick by the end of the night, but I loved every minute of it!

Babycakes Baking Company

01: Hot Chocolate

15: Bananas Foster

www.babycakesshop.com
Twitter: @BabyCakesBaking

Store located in Torrance
Comment: Loved the cupcake displays.

 

Big Man Bakes

02: Red Velvet

16: Carrot Cake

www.bigmanbakes.com

Twitter: @bigmanbakes 

Store located in Los Angeles

Comment: Cupcakes were super moist.

  

  

Blue Cupcake

03: Sweet and Salty Vanilla (Vanilla cake filled with rich caramel, topped with vanilla and salted caramel buttercream)

17: Pumpkin (Pumpkin bread filled with spiced pumpkin mousse, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and pumpkin seeds)

www.bluecupcake.com

Twitter: @juliedesmeules 

Sold at Century City Farmer's Market and Lot 44 Cupcake

Comment: Loved the display, very cute! But I loved these cupcakes even more!

  

  

Charmed Cupcakes

04: Red Velvet

18: Blueberry

www.charmed-cupcakes.com

Store located in Long Beach

Comment: They were the only bakery that made full-sized cupcakes. The Mardi Gras theme added some personality to their booth.

  

 

Cupcake Couture 

19: Sunday Mimosa

20: Little Miss Shortcake

www.cupcakescouturemb.com

Twitter: @CupcakesMB 

Comment: Taste matched their beautiful decoration.

 

Fairy Cakes 

05: Vanilla Bean Almond Dream

21: Pumpkin White Chocolate

www.fairycakesbakery.com

Comment: Based in Orange County, this was my first sampling of their cupcakes, but it is certainly not my last. The Pumpkin White Chocolate was outstanding!

And this is just the beginning! Check back soon to see more of the competitors and their cupcakes.