Review: Magnolia Bakery

If I could only go to one cupcake shop in New York City, it was going to be Magnolia Bakery. This is the place that started it all! Because of them, cupcake shops have popped up everywhere. So let me start off my saying, "Thank you Magnolia Bakery."

I walked into a bakery heaven. So many yummy desserts! But I was there with one mission: eat cupcakes.

The place was packed! This must be the right place.

I couldn't decide which cupcakes to try. There wasn't a flavor that caught my eye, so I picked out Vanilla, Red Velvet, and a special Swan Lake cupcake. Their cupcakes are $2.75-$3.25 each.

Vanilla
Usually I stay away from a vanilla cupcake, but Becky from Utah Loves Cupcakes recommended it. This was definitely the best of the three. The vanilla frosting tasted homemade and the cake was so-so. It didn't wow me, but it was good.

Red Velvet
I already knew that I wouldn't enjoy the red velvet because they don't use cream cheese frosting. Instead, the cupcake was topped with a whipped vanilla frosting. There's nothing I dislike more than whipped frosting. The cake wasn't any better. The fake-looking, bright red cake was dry. This cupcake was a fail for me.

Swan Lake
This chocolate/vanilla swirl cupcake was a fundraiser for something associated with Swan Lake. The chocolate frosting was delicious, but the vanilla frosting was the same whipped vanilla frosting found on the red velvet. The cake was also swirled with moist and dry cake. It was weird.

As much as I wanted to fall in love with this cupcake pioneer, Magnolia Bakery could only be summed up in one word: disappointment. Dry cake, little variety, whipped frosting...the perfect storm.

To be honest, I think that the cupcakes were the least appealing desserts in their shop. I should have tried some cheesecake, pies, or cookies. Maybe I would have had better luck. What do you think? Am I wrong? Did I hit them on an off day?

Magnolia Bakery
www.magnoliabakery.com
1240 Ave of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
NY locations: Rockefeller Center, Columbus Ave., Bleeker Street, Grand Central Terminal.
Also located in Los Angeles, CA and Dubai.
Facebook: Magnolia Bakery
Twitter: @magnoliabakery

This Cupcake Family is Home

I made it to Magnolia!

What a week! I had an awesome time exploring New York City and tasting their cupcakes. And let me tell you that I saw cupcakes everywhere! I didn't want to come home, especially since I have a mound of paperwork waiting for me at my office. But life goes on.

Thank you for all of the congratulations! My husband and I are thrilled and enjoyed discussing possible baby names on our trip. We will soon find out the gender and then the serious discussions will begin.

I got to visit quite a few cupcake shops, as well as tasted some other yummy desserts. I can't wait to share my adventures with you shortly.

(By the way: please excuse my ugly shoes. After a whole week of walking all day, my feet needed some comfort.)

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.

Magnolia Bakery opens in LA

The cupcake shop that supposedly started the whole cupcake craze has finally made it to LA! Magnolia Bakery opened their doors to their first west coast store last Saturday. But will it survive?

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As much as I wished I could have been there for opening day, from the sounds of it, maybe it was a good thing I wasn't. Yelp already has 12 reviews about Magnolia Bakery and they aren't off to a great start. The complaints range from long lines (well, that's expected on opening day...duh!) to no parking.

Photo: Daily Candy

But what about the cupcakes? Plenty of complaints about those too. Too dry, too sweet, and vanilla frosting on red velvet is a bad idea ("felt like I was eating a sponge"). Ouch!

"Ugh......just waited in line for the worst red velvet cupcake I have ever tasted.... I wont even go into the rest of the stuff I tasted, no flavor." --Tony S.

"I've been to this bakery in NYC and was excited to visit the one in Los Angeles. I went on opening day and was quite impressed. The cupcakes are very good... not the best I've ever had, but better than others."--Laurie W.

Photo: LA Times

Can a cupcake shop survive on it's "famous" reputation alone? Probably not, but I'm guessing that Magnolia Bakery still has a few tweaks to work out before we see who they really are. But with lots of great cupcake shops in the LA area, only the amazing ones will survive.

Magnolia Bakery
8389 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-951-0636
www.magnoliabakery.com

Magnolia Bakery Opens in Dubai

Late last year I reported on Sugar Daddy's Bakery, a new cupcakery that recently opened in Dubai. Looks like they have some big competition! Cupcakes Takes the Cake is reporting that Magnolia Bakery has opened a new store in Dubai. It's crazy to see how much cupcake activity is happening in the Middle East.

Magnolia Bakery has managed to open a cupcakery in Duabi, but the real question is: when will one open on the West Coast? Hopefully soon. Last summer there were rumors of a Magnolia Bakery opening soon in LA, but I haven't heard anything since. Until then, I can dream.

Magnolia Bakery coming to LA

I don't know much about Magnolia Bakery, except for that they are a famous cupcake bakery in NYC. They are well-known for being featured on Sex & the City. Since I've never been to the cupcake mecca (NYC), I don't know if Magnolia is all hype or what.

I may get a chance to see for myself, without having to fly across the United States. Several websites are reporting that Magnolia Bakery is coming out west and opening a shop in Los Angeles. Well, wouldn't that be nice?

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