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The 9 Best Cupcakes In New York City

February 14, 2012 9:00 AM

It appears as if the cupcake trend is here to stay. Here are some of the best spots in the city for a sweet treat. This Valentine’s Day, try one of these nine sweet treats. – Camille DeMere

Baked

(credit: Baked)

359 Van Brunt Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 222-0345
bakednyc.com

If you’re willing to make the trek to Red Hook, this Food Network-featured bakery will make sure that you’ll get your just desserts: try the sweet’n’salty cupcake to see what we mean. Homemade caramel and dark chocolate can’t be beat. Try out their seasonal specials too.

Billy’s Bakery

billys The 9 Best Cupcakes In New York City

(credit: Billy's Bakery)

184 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 647-9956

75 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 647-9958
billysbakerynyc.com
Reviews & more info

Declaring your cupcake affinity in the city may be more polarizing than wearing Greek letters at college, or picking a table in a high school lunchroom. Lovers of Billy’s, however, pledge their allegiance proudly. From the sugary pastel colors, to the grandma’s kitchen aroma, your cupcake experience is sure to be amazing. Snatch up a coconut cupcake if they have them, or go for classic chocolate or vanilla with cloud-like fluffs of buttercream icing.

Butter Lane

(credit: Butter Lane)

123 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 677-2880
butterlane.com
Reviews & more info

East Villagers already know this spot for creamy and delicious sweet treats. Butter Lane calls itself “cupcakes for grownups.” The frosting is prepared two different ways, one being the traditional American style you know and love, the other a French style involving eggs that evokes merengue. Customize your cupcake – choose your own icing and make a pairing.

Chokolat Patisserie

(credit: chokolat.com)

3111 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
(212) 662-6096
chokolat.com
Reviews & more info

Red velvet cupcakes that are to die for. Rich, real cream cheese icing. Space is a little tight – there’s really only one table – so enjoy your taste of heaven on the go. For insider deals and giveaways, follow them on Twitter.

Ivy’s Bakery

(credit Ivy's Bakery)

278 87th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 833-1626
ivybakery.com

There’s something to be said for variety, and Ivy Bakery is saying it – in the form of cupcake flavors like ginger, pistachio with almond buttercream, and espresso ganache walnut. If you’re set on a specialty flavor, make sure it was made that day. If you want to try your hand at being America’s next top baker, they offer private classes on Sundays. Of course, you get to bring home all your creations… .

Sugar Sweet Sunshine

dsc02700 The 9 Best Cupcakes In New York City

(credit: Sugar Sweet Sunshine)

126 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 995-1960
sugarsweetsunshine.com
Reviews & more info

Aw, sugar, this is the spot. Lower East Side cupcake lovers flock to this flower power-themed hangout for adorable treats with names to match. Grab an Ooey Gooey (chocolate cake with chocolate almond buttercream) or a Lemon Yummy (lemon cake with lemon buttercream) or even the “Bob” (yellow cake with chocolate almond buttercream). We think the real standout is the most moist, dreamy pumpkin cupcake that will ever pass your lips.

Sweet Revenge

(credit: Sweet Revenge)

62 Carmine Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 240-2240

http://www.sweetrevengenyc.com

Reviews & more info

Check this out: sugar coma-worthy treats plus a perfectly paired wine or beer. Sound like heaven? Sounds like Sweet Revenge. Their to die for, eponymous peanut butter and chocolate masterpiece is loaded with a chocolate ganache center. Revenge on your diet never tasted so sweet.

Tu-Lu’s Gluten-Free Bakery

Tu-Lu's Vanilla Cupcake with Vanilla Buttercream (credit: Tu-Lu's)

338 East 11th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-2227
tu-lusbakery.com

Have the gluten-free blues? No worries – gone are the days of dealing with too-dense cakes for want of a wheat-free treat. Tu-Lu’s got the goods. Go for the classic here – vanilla cake and vanilla icing. You won’t be sorry.

Two Little Red Hens

(credit: Two Little Red Hens)

1652 2nd Ave.
New York, NY 10028
(212) 452-0476
twolittleredhens.com
Reviews & more info

There’s nothing little about these cupcakes – except maybe their price. For the standard price of a “cake without the commitment” in the city, you’ll get a huge treat. Red velvet, vanilla as sweet as a cloud and spicy pumpkin – you can’t go wrong.

Ron C

everything from Baked is to dry, i have tried it 3 times and every time it’s the same dry cake and good frosting. The best vanilla or chocolate cupcakes are from Magnolia Bakery on Bleeker St. super light moist cake and the frosting kills
blair

my bf brought me to Baked as a surprise and i have to say i was greatly disappointed the cupcake itself was ok but the icing had little to no flavor and left a weird after taste in my mouth not a fan
Nazish

i haven’t tried any of these. At a family wedding with 700 guests, we had a variety of Tonnie’s Minis cupcakes (the middle size) instead of formal cake, and they were a major hit. Some people ate 3-5 of them throughout the night. They was two other desserts as well; but the cupcakes were everyone’s favorite and were finished by the end of the night. Just the right amount of cake and frosting…just the right amount of sweetness.
Kesha Marie

Ihavtosaymyco-workersboughmeadozenofcupcakesfromsugarsweetsunshinonmybirthdayntheywereamazing!
Nancy DuHaime Layton

Butter Lane has really “tough” cake..and a very FRUGAL amount of frosting. I was disappointed.
Amd

TriBeCa treats!!!!!!!!
Candi

Best cupcakes, best staff, best baking classes… Butter Lane. Go.!!
MA

BEST gluten free cupcakes and GF baked goods in the city by far- Tulu’s Bakery!
Steven

Sweet Revenge has to be my favorite cupcake!!
http://athenachang.yelp.com Athena Chang

I really like those from Chikalicious, Spot and Molly’s Cupcakes! They should be on the top as well.
Jessica M

In Brooklyn i really like Cupcake kings. lots of flavors. http://www.cupcakekingsny.com/index.html
Jessica

I agree with Amy J – http://www.MrsCrabtree.com has the best cupcakes (and most creative!)
M

Should have included Everything Frosted in Chinatown, it’s excellent.
Abby Popper

Interesting article but it is worth checking out Flour & Sun Bakery in Pleasantville, New York in Westchester County. Wonderfu, very creative flavors that change daily and on Tuesdays, they have mini’s.
pokey

The best cupcakes are from WHOLE FOODS – $5.99 for 6 pre-packaged (in the bakery area) and homemade by Whole Foods. I’ve brought these to office parties and other places where there are people who are die-hard fans of Crumbs, Magnolia, Billys and Buttercup and everyone has always asked me where I got them because they are the best (plus they are natural and so much cheaper).
cate

Babycakes has the best cupcakes in NYC
Barre Flynn

Redhook is getting some really good places for food like Fairway, the Key Lime Pie Place, Baked and lots more. It has a wonderful bike trail and on weekends along colombia street they have all the street vendors. How much fun is Brooklyn!!
EKavet

The one thing all these have in common is too much topping and not enough cake. The frosting is much too sweet and all overpriced..
I would just as soon open a package of Hostess cupcakes and down it with a cup of coffee.
Amy J.

Great Cupcakes! Here is another great cupcake and dessert company serving all NY Boroughs. http://www.MrsCrabtree.com or call 1-888-888-CRABTREE
benjamin

besides Baked, this list should actually be titled “Worst cupcakes shops in NYC”