Cup Cake Wars

Blame it on Sprinkles.

Some people say the Beverly Hills bake shop, with its iconic dot, started the fancy, haute cup cake craze that spawned imitators, law suits and starring roles in movies and TV shows.

But they’re not the only cupcake in town. We set out to do some rigorous (taste) testing. First up, Crumbs Bakery.

Made by hand, and baked fresh every day, the Crumbs Signature size cupcake (read: huge) in red velvet is a delicious meal in itself. And you don’t need to live in BH to try them; they now offer delivery to all 48 States. They freeze the cupcakes; package them in insulated containers with dry ice and ship UPS next day air. Treat yourself to the Taste size cupcakes (just enough to whet your appetite) which are shipped in pre-selected assortments of 12. With over 50 varieties baked daily, the hardest decision is which one to buy!

If you’re feeling a tad guilty, remember that each month they have a special cupcake benefiting a charity. For instance, in July they had the “Courteney Cox,” a vanilla cupcake with mint cream cheese frosting, covered with red and white chocolate chips which benefits the EB Medical Research.

We tested the “Candy” cupcake (vanilla, chocolate, Filling, Crumbs, Choice, Buttercream, M&Ms,) and the “Hostess” (chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream filling, ganache icing) with our focus group of sophisticates and they pronounced the “Candy”cupcake : “Yummy! The BEST cupcake I’ve ever had!!!!)

(Ok, they’re teenagers.) But the office staff all agreed that the “Red Velvet” was “to die for.”

If that doesn’t make you feel better, there’s tailor-made “excuses” on the site under “Reasons to Celebrate.”

Next up: Susie Cakes

Tell us your favorite cupcake place in Comments!