Cupcakes and the City (of New York)

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Unlike the dot.com crash, the cupcake boom has yet to nosedive into a pile of crumbs, particularly in the city that supposedly started it all, New York! Innovative bakeries with new twists on the palm-sized treats are popping up right and left, challenging the limits of icing-covered cakes. How did this cupcake trend begin anyway? Was it really due to the ladies on Sex and the City? I'm here to take you on a little tour of the cupcake's coming-of-age in the Big Apple.

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The First Cupcake Bakery in NYC

Most of us have fond memories of birthday cupcakes in elementary school, so to attribute the spawning of a cupcake craze to one bakery or a TV show seems inane.  Cupcakes were everywhere before Magnolia Bakery or Sex and the City came along! Therein lies an important fact, however: cupcakes have always been popular with kids, but never before did they strike such a chord with adults. 

Magnolia Bakery was the 1996 West Village brainchild of two childhood friends, Jennifer Appel and Alyssa Torey. Three short years later, all ties between the two dissolved, and soon enough, more cupcake offspring appeared. Jennifer would go on to open Buttercup Bakeshop, and Magnolia employees would follow suit with their own cupcake business ventures.

Carrie and Miranda eat Magnolia Bakery cupcakes

The famous clip, circa 2000, that launched Magnolia to cupcake fame!

Cupcakes Perforate the Internets

Some Extras for the Cupcake-Lover

Cupcakes the size of a baby's head!

 

These are a few of my Favorite Things...

As a baker and cupcake maker myself, I was a late bloomer to the cake scene, in general.  For the first 20 years of my life, I never touched my birthday cake.  I was solidly anti-cake, and therefore, anti-cupcake.  A sweet tooth I had, but only when New York became home did I really explore the wonderful world of cupcakes.  These are my suggestions for where to scarf down some sweet airy goodness.

Babycakes Nyc

248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

For those of you out there allergic to gluten, I am genuinely sorry, but at least you can indulge in every single baked good at Babycakes. All gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free, talk about innovative solutions to complex dietary needs!

For those of you out there allergic to gluten, I am genuinely sorry, but at least you can indulge in every single baked good at Babycakes. All gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free, talk about innovative solutions to complex dietary needs!

Cupcake Cafe Inc

522 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018

The honor of eating my first cupcake in New York proudly goes to Cupcake Cafe, after I spent 10 hours on a greyhound bus. Yes, Cupcake Cafe is a stone’s throw from the dreaded bus terminal near Times Square, but fortunately, their artfully-decorated cupcakes cancel out all negative bus memories.

The honor of eating my first cupcake in New York proudly goes to Cupcake Cafe, after I spent 10 hours on a greyhound bus. Yes, Cupcake Cafe is a stone’s throw from the dreaded bus terminal near Times Square, but fortunately, their artfully-decorated cupcakes cancel out all negative bus memories.

Magnolia Bakery Inc

401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Despite the long lines, the cupcakes do not disappoint. Alternately, I recommend the peanut butter frozen icebox cake if you wander in on a unlucky, “no more cupcakes” day.

Despite the long lines, the cupcakes do not disappoint. Alternately, I recommend the peanut butter frozen icebox cake if you wander in on a unlucky, “no more cupcakes” day.

Joyce Bakeshop

646 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

I am proud to call Joyce my neighborhood bake shop, and luckily, there are a always a few cupcake varieties on hand, including Red Velvet. The staff is friendly, and you can see Joyce herself in the back kitchen, mentoring her bakers.

I am proud to call Joyce my neighborhood bake shop, and luckily, there are a always a few cupcake varieties on hand, including Red Velvet. The staff is friendly, and you can see Joyce herself in the back kitchen, mentoring her bakers.

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A cupcake tree @Buttercup Bake Shop

Buttercup Bake Shop

973 2nd Ave Frnt, New York, NY 10022

Magnolia Bakery co-founder Jennifer Appel’s first bakery opened with much fanfare, showing up on the Today Show, on CNN, and in the hands of Martha Stewart and Hilary Clinton!

Magnolia Bakery co-founder Jennifer Appel’s first bakery opened with much fanfare, showing up on the Today Show, on CNN, and in the hands of Martha Stewart and Hilary Clinton!

Even vegan cupcakes are tasty, like this one!

Crumbs

321 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023

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Discussions

-621041618

The title picture looks like an ear with little candy thingys. I want to eat it. Is that weird?

-621293768

I reallyyy need to go to NYC and try all of these. I don’t know what’s the matter with me that I haven’t yet!!

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CUPPYCAKES!!! I have to say, I’m into the lighter, fluffier variety a la Magnolia and not so much about the dense, shortening-laden Cupcake Cafe kind. I just read an article about cupcakes in The Atlantic Monthly and the author claims that the ’cakes at Magnolia are all frosting and that if you taste the different flavors of cake without the frosting, they all taste pretty much the same. Did I mention i love cupcakes? The thumbnail definitely resembles an ear…or a sprinkle supernova. Cupcakes rule…

About The Author

-618919168

aliciak Rss 

Tribeca
I like to: crochet, eat, read, write, go to museums, watch old movies, cook, bake, observe children, visit the library, travel, cut my own hair, explore New York, mix gin drinks, bike ride, take photographs, keep in touch with people, be crafty, swim in the ocean, make bets, and read blogs and ca...