This is Part II of Kristy’s and my Cupcake Bonanza, in which we visited five different cupcake shops and rated our favorites.  To read Part I (including the skinny on Dahlia Bakery, Sugar Rush Bakery & Trophy Cupcakes) go here, and remember: since I’m supposed to be writing about local and eco-fashion (as opposed to local food) I tried to keep my reviews as bare as bones.  To get the details on these places, check out Kristy’s Eats & Interests blog!

Cupcake Royale (look, it’s Kristy!)

The Bakery: Cupcake Royale had the most locations out of all of the bakeries we visited: you can find them at their flagship location in Ballard as well as Madrona and West Seattle (right down the street from Sugar Rush, in fact).  The best way to describe their stores is “toned-down indie“: while there’s always really interesting music and funky local art on the walls – which you can peruse, then purchase – it’s not intimidating for those of us that don’t subscribe to Music No One Has Heard of Magazine.  Voted “Best Cupcakes” by the readers of Seattle Magazine and Seattle Weekly, they also serve Stumptown Coffee, which is not only fair trade, but has amazing business practices, in and out of the US.

The Skinny: I love that no matter who I’m with or what I’m wearing, every time I go into Cupcake Royale I feel just a little bit cooler.  The Ballard location is especially inviting, with friendly employees, a great display (Legalize Frostitution!) and easy-to-read placards explaining which treats are which.  And knowing that everything about them is eco-conscious and philanthropic – from the coffee to the composting bin to the community and environment groups they proudly donate to – makes coming to Cupcake Royale even cooler.  (Who doesn’t love impressing their friends with little-known info about their favorite small business?)

The Cupcakes: When I first started going to Cupcake Royale, I noticed that they had a dryness problem: their cakes were almost too floury, and even their ingenius monthly specials couldn’t stop me from complaining.  Nowadays, though, their cakes are perfection: moist with a hint of crumbliness with a frosting that compliments the cake without overpowering it.  Their April special, Honey Peanut Brittle, was so good that I honestly can’t think of a critique.  The honey flavor was thick without being too strong, the cake was light and fluffy, and the crushed nuts on top added just the right amount of saltiness.  The Red Velvet was just as tasty, but in a more subtle way, with a nice cream cheese frosting and another moist, crumbly cake to compliment it.  I give them a 4/5 stars, for their commitment to greenness (composting, fair trade coffee, and local art) and utterly delicious cakes.

New York Cupcakes

The Bakery: The only east-sider of the bunch, New York Bakery was hard for Kristy and I to coordinate, so she did me a favor and picked up a few cupcakes for me to try.  I don’t have tons of info on the location, but I can say that the ‘cakes were packed well and looked pretty when I got them.  I was on my way to a small dinner party, so instead of hiding the cupcakes in the car, I brought them in and cut them up so everyone could get a taste.

The Skinny: Their slogan is “You Are What You Eat, So Eat Something Cute.”  I pride myself on being adorable, so I bonded with NYC right away.  Along with the sweet presentation, New York Cupcakes uses as many local ingredients as possible, and even donates proceeds for special occasion cupcakes to charity (see their “Cupcake for the Cure”).  They also have tons of flavors available every day, which are named after some of the owner’s New York favorites.  (Yep, they’re still Seattle owned and operated.  The owner just really likes Sex & The City.)

The Cupcakes: Yum!  The Royal Red Velvet was moist, well-balanced and still tasted fresh near the end of the day, after sitting in Kristy’s car for hours.  The Vanilla Bean Dream was just as rich (but not too sugary) and got two thumbs up from the entire dinner party.  My favorite, though, was the Park Avenue Peanut Butter cupcake: it wasn’t too rich, and the peanut butter frosting had that high-end peanut butter taste without being hard to chew or overpowering the rich, moist chocolate cake.  Overall, I give the cakes 5/5 stars, but since the location is hard to get to (unless you live in east Bellevue) and Kristy reports that the location is too tiny for a trip with friends, I have to drop my rating to 3/5 stars.

So who is the winner?

Sugar Rush Baking Company gets my vote, with their hormone-free, organic, fair trade, and above all tasty treats.  The espresso was smooth and rich, the atmosphere comfortable and cheery, and the cupcakes so delicious that I could have made up stories for each one.  If you’re in Seattle and looking for a local sweet treat, make the trek to Coffee to a Tea and try these cupcakes.  (Bring an appetite.)

A reason to get married: Sugar Rush wedding cakes (photo c/o Sugar Rush)

My runner up: The always delicious Cupcake Royale, which will always have a place in my heart as a safe haven when I first moved into the city and needed a place to relax.  Their cupcakes are moist and well proportioned, and their monthly specials take risks without being too sweet or even too complicated.  With locations in Ballard, Madrona and West Seattle (and one coming soon in Capitol Hill!) they’re perfect for any day, no matter what part of the city you’re in.

What we missed: Kristy and I were too sugared out to taste the cupcakes at Bella Dolce or Oddfellows Cafe, but believe me, they’re on her (and my!) list for a test…once I’ve come down from this sugar high, that is.

Tags: cupcake royale, dahlia bakery, eats & interests, food, local, new york cupcakes, seattle, sugar rush, trophy cupcakes