Cupcake Craze

Posted by Kate on Jan 31, 2011 in News | 2 comments

Growing up, cupcakes were always a special treat – a small individualized cake that I could look forward to at birthday parties and the 4th of July. Though I won’t criticiae sharing, there is something delightful in unwrapping your own personal, well proportioned treat. Luckily in London, one doesn’t need to be celebrating a specific occasion as an excuse to enjoy a cupcake—though this post can be in celebration of my 1.5 year anniversary in London. One can hardly walk a neighborhood without running into two or three shops lined with these delicious treats. And there certainly is satisfaction in delicious buttery goodness with creamy cheese frosting on top. I’ve scoured some of these boroughs in search of the best of the best cupcakes to share.

Peggy Porschen Cakes
116 Ebury Street

Made famous from her wedding-cake business, Peggy’s sugary goodness is now made available in more bite sized form. During the winter months, you can stay inside the pastel covered walls and enjoy your delicious treats and a cuppa while looking out of the Georgian windows into calm Belgarvia. In the summer, the corner cafe has numerous chairs and tables set outside. I loved the stick toffy cupcakes with tart cream-cheese topping, though the chocolate truffle cake looked almost too good to miss.

Bake-a-Boo
86 Mill Lane

This petite tearoom tucked away off the main streets in West Hampstead, has been described as quite the affair, with pink shop front, mismatched crockery and cutlery and all things kitch. The selection of cupcakes is broad, and a constant reminder to the customer from the racks of delicious delights lining the windows. Gluten free and vegan free cupcakes are included alongside oreo, lemon, bailey’s, cosmopolitan….you name it.

Ms. Cupcake
Greenwich Market, Brick Lane Tea Rooms, Truman Brewery.

No eggs, no butter, no milk. Though leaving out some of my favorite indulgences, Ms. Cupcake, marketed as the naughtiest vegan cakes in town does not disappoint. I let my curiousity get the best of me while taking a break from vintage shopping on brick lane. One moist, chocolate ginger cupcake later and I was hooked without the normal guilt.

Buttercup Cake Shop
16 St. Albans Road

Perfectly moist cupcakes with buttercream and cream cheese frosting.Here you can always find the old favorites: red velvet, chocolate, vanilla and, depending on the chef’s mood you might catch some unusual flavours such as chocolate zucchini or sticky toffee. If you don’t want to venture out to Kensington to enjoy, Buttercup is also conveniently located at Westfield Shopping Centre after some afternoon shopping.

Hummingbird Bakery
Multiple Locations

Imported from the States, I find it almost impossible to walk by this bakery branch in Soho without peering in. Each holiday you can expect to see a window display. The frosting is the best part, and if you’re not necessarily in a cupcake mood you can choose from an assortment of other American desserts, such as Mississippi mud pie. If you’re going takeaway, they’ll give you a cute little box and bag to cart away—a perfect accompaniment if you’re buying as a gift. And best of all: if you want to try some recipes from home you can pick up the Hummingbird cookbook.

Where do you go for your afternoon cupcake?

Photography: Lamantin