Cupcakes in Chicago
 

If you love cupcakes, some ideas for you:

Every Saturday from 9-11pm at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago (160 E Pearson St) in the Greenhouse there is the Saturday Night Cupcake Buffet.

Swirlz Cupcakes www.swirlzcupcakes.com in Lincoln Park

Cupcakes www.chicagocupcakes.com (613 W Briar Place)

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I highly recommend Sensational Bites on Southport: http://www.sensationalbites.com/

If you're still in the mood to try some more, you'll be within walking distance of Southport Grocery: http://www.southportgrocery.com/

It's my understanding that the people behind Sensational Bites used to work at Sweet Mandy B's (1208 W. Webster), and you'll see a lot of similarities between the products at both bakeries.

See also the short article in this months UA Hemispheres magazine regarding some fo the Chicago cupcake destinations.

I went to Swirlz last night and had the gluten-free peanut butter chocolate.

It's $3/cupcake. I enjoyed mine, and would definitely go here over an ice cream store.

Finally got over to Sprinkles on Walton. Best cupcakes I've ever had any time, any place. ^

Actually, I was headed to the Belgian Bakery a few doors to the east, just across the street from the Bloomingdale's Building and remembered Sprinkles was down the street. I have heard their croissants were great. I was very disappointed - not flakey at all. :(

and
 

There's More Cupcakes downtown. On Friday afternoons, they have a happy Hour with free mini-cupcakes based on drinks--like Black Russians.

http://www.morecupcakes.com/

I've not yet tried them, but a few of my colleagues like Flirty Cupcakes, the cupcake truck in the Loop area. Daily schedules are on their FB & Twitter pages.

http://www.flirtycupcakes.com/

I drove past Sprinkles yesterday after the Cubs game, thinking I might stop in. There were AT LEAST 25 people in line outside. That is just crazy! :)

Wow! You people sure like cupcakes!!!!!!!!!!

Do they have sugar free/low-carb available??

Sprinkles has gluten free and vegan.

Speaking of cupcakes, Bittersweet is having an 'openhouse' on Sept. 13 - I believe 7-9. They promise a 'hands on cupcake demo' among other things, as well as a 'goodie bag' for those who RSVP and give an e-mail address 2 day previous. (An RSVP is not necessary to attend Monday however.)

I have never had their cupcakes, but I have had just about every cake and tort they make and they are all very, very good.

Here is their website:

http://www.bittersweetpastry.com/

I realize the open house is not on the site, but I got my information from a poster they have displayed on Alderman Tunney's window.

Occasionally my wife brings home cupcakes from SugarBliss and they are very good. If you are in the loop, I recommend them.

http://www.sugarblisscakes.com/

Sugarbliss has an AWESOME product and they seem to sell out virtually every day.

I'm sitting inside Sugar Bliss right now; just had the cookies 'n cream. All I can say is mmmmmmmmmm! ^ Interestingly, they also do 6" cakes with advance notice and delivery too.

Slightly OT...

When needing a croissant fix outside of Paris, I am quite in love with what Julius Meinl has to offer. I can vouch for the many flaky layers and buttery goodness. They now have three locations on the Northside, 2 in the Southport corridor and one in Lincoln Square.

Sugar Bliss
 

Cookies and Cream cupcakes are great, I also like their chocholate toffee

I thought cupcakes were already last year's news. :confused:

cupcakes & architecture
 

After a teeth cleaning appointment and against my dentist's wishes (about 300 feet away), I finally visited Sugar Bliss. Very good, but IMHO, not quite as good as Sprinkles. One thing I liked better about Sprinkles is that they don't fall apart as easily. Both have decadent amounts of frosting (particularly Sugar Bliss) and Sugar Bliss makes them "prettier." Otherwise, I don't have anything negative to say, I just found Sprinkles a little tastier. Next on the list is More. :)

If it's against a dentist's wishes, you know it must be good.

My favorite place for cupcakes is Sweet Mandy B's in Linkin Park. Address is 1208 Webster Ave between Magnolia and Racine. I think Sprinkles cupcakes are spectacular, but these are even better. Enjoy!

Not quite about 'Cupcakes in Chicago', but this reminds me of 2 recent trips to DC. Each time I visited 'Georgetowncupcakes'. First time I waited at least 45 minutes to get in: second time I got lucky - there was slight rain and I waited only 15 minutes. Residents tell me the 45 minute wait is normal. Cupcakes were very good, rich frosting but small. If you are in DC and do not mind waiting 45 minutes for a cupcake, here it is:

http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/

East Coast bakery 'Crumbs Bake Shop' is now open at 303 W Madison

www.crumbs.com

I happened upon Molly's Cupcakes on Clark today. It was just OK. Their red velvet tasted exactly like their vanilla cupcake. Their cream cheese frosting tasted pretty much like cream cheese - could have used a bit of sugar and butter IMO. Granted, I didn't taste any of their specialty cupcakes with filling and other extras at $3.75 and $3.99.

Sweet Mandy B's is todays Groupon.

The incentive I need to give them a try!

More vs. Sprinkles
 

We had been going to More. After all the raves about Sprinkles, I thought I would give it a try (only about a block apart after all). Yelpers seem to rank Sprinkles a bit higher.

After trying several at Sprinkles, hubby, son and I all agree we prefer More. The Sprinkles cake part is moist, but the flavor is lacking--maybe even pasty. The currently have a salted caramel and it does not compare to More's.

Son is a red velvet freak--again--slight nod to More.

LOL--23 year son wondered why Sprinkles seemed to decorate their cupcakes to look like breasts :)

Any way, Sugar Bliss is yet to be tried, but three votes for More here :)

The best cupcake I have had was from the Nordstrom Cafe recently. They (red velvet) looked so good sitting in the case that I had to try one. Really rich flavor, but my favorite thing was that it was baked to perfection. Moist inside and with that slight crunch to the top edges! ^

Red Velvet is the biggest hit/miss for me in the cupcake world, either fantastic or meh, no in between. Glad you enjoyed.