Category: Eat & Drink

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LA's Best Cupcakes

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LA is pretty prone to food fads (see Pinkberry), but it's pretty remarkable that gourmet cupcakes have proven so popular in a city that is so wary of cellulite. Here's where you can chow down on some of the city's most high-profile cupcakes—whether you're a vanilla purist or want a cupcake that tastes like a soft drink.

Cupcake Dance

Technically these look more like muffins than cupcakes, but it’s still super cute.

Cupcake Recipes

Just in case you think $50 for a dozen Sprinkles cupcakes is a tad outrageous…

Cupcakes Take The Cake

Cupcake, meet blog. Blog, meet cupcake.

Sprinkles Cupcakes Inc

9635 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Could Sprinkles be the cupcakery that started all this madness??? Possibly. While many swear by Sprinkles (you can usually find most of these people waiting in a long line that snakes out of the shop and onto the sidewalk), others find the cupcakes way too sweet. Still, they offer a fun selection of flavors like chai latte, ginger lemon, and cinnamon sugar.

Could Sprinkles be the cupcakery that started all this madness??? Possibly. While many swear by Sprinkles (you can usually find most of these people waiting in a long line that snakes out of the shop and onto the sidewalk), others find the cupcakes way too sweet. Still, they offer a fun selection of flavors like chai latte, ginger lemon, and cinnamon sugar.

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Dainties

11058 SANTA MONICA BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA 90025

This teeny shop isn’t in the most obvious location (in an alley behind a Winchell’s donut shop), but word of its cream-filled cupcakes has traveled far and wide. The dense cupcakes come with a large dollop of whipped cream frosting on top. The Stupid Chocolate, banana, and caramel are not to be missed!

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Leda's Bake Shop

13722 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Leda’s crafts a pretty cute looking cupcake, and that’s not the only reason it attracts foodies from all over the city. One of the big draws here is that Leda’s offers mini versions of its scrumptiously light and fluffy cakes, so you don’t have to spend the rest of the day feeling like a glutton. And, they even offer vegan cupcakes!

Leda’s crafts a pretty cute looking cupcake, and that’s not the only reason it attracts foodies from all over the city. One of the big draws here is that Leda’s offers mini versions of its scrumptiously light and fluffy cakes, so you don’t have to spend the rest of the day feeling like a glutton. And, they even offer vegan cupcakes!

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Sweet Lady Jane Inc

8360 Melrose Ave Ste 108, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Hotcakes Bakes

4119 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Bluebird Cafe

8572 NATIONAL BLVD CULVER CITY, CA 90232

Toast Bakery Cafe Inc

8221 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

 

Auntie Em's Kitchen

4616 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

This quaint little place is a little off the beaten path, but it’s worth a visit. The cupcakes are LARGE (one can definitely feed two people), and moist without being too sweet. Try the coconut and the carrot cake.

This quaint little place is a little off the beaten path, but it’s worth a visit. The cupcakes are LARGE (one can definitely feed two people), and moist without being too sweet. Try the coconut and the carrot cake.

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Susiecakes

11708 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

This cute little bakery seems like it could have come straight out of “Leave It To Beaver.” The cupcakes taste like homemade (try the chocolate mint), and come with frosting on the inside (for the frosting fiends among us). And while it technically isn’t a cupcake, you should also seriously consider getting a whoopee pie.

This cute little bakery seems like it could have come straight out of “Leave It To Beaver.” The cupcakes taste like homemade (try the chocolate mint), and come with frosting on the inside (for the frosting fiends among us). And while it technically isn’t a cupcake, you should also seriously consider getting a whoopee pie.

Buttercake Bakery

399 PICO BLVD SANTA MONICA, CA 90405

Buttercake isn’t a cupcake boutique like most of the other places on this list, but that doesn’t stop it from being a local favorite. They don’t offer snazzy flavors (just chocolate, peanut butter, buttercream, coconut, mocha, and red velvet), but their fluffy delights keep Westsiders coming back for more.

Lark

3337 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

This Eastside bakery has hipsters getting Italian butter cream icing all over their bearded faces. The chocolate mousse, red velvet, and salted caramel ensure that people keep on coming back—not to mention the cakes are fluffy and not overly sweet. And unlike Westside competitors, these frosted delights are reasonably priced.

This Eastside bakery has hipsters getting Italian butter cream icing all over their bearded faces. The chocolate mousse, red velvet, and salted caramel ensure that people keep on coming back—not to mention the cakes are fluffy and not overly sweet. And unlike Westside competitors, these frosted delights are reasonably priced.

Violet's Cakes

21 E Holly St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Violet’s has won the heart of many a sweet tooth. And why not? This mom and pop shop keeps it interesting with a variety of inventive flavors like cherry pie, oreo, p.b. & j, and raspberry lemonade—don’t worry they also have traditional chocolate varieties as well. And since they use top-notch ingredients (like fresh fruits and high quality butters), these cupcakes never taste artificial.

Violet’s has won the heart of many a sweet tooth. And why not? This mom and pop shop keeps it interesting with a variety of inventive flavors like cherry pie, oreo, p.b. & j, and raspberry lemonade—don’t worry they also have traditional chocolate varieties as well. And since they use top-notch ingredients (like fresh fruits and high quality butters), these cupcakes never taste artificial.

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Yummy Cupcakes

313 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Yummy has a reputation for packing a lot of sugar in their cupcakes, so be prepared for your blood sugar to spike. Those who aren’t prone to breaking out in sugar-induced hives can go a little crazy and try the Lemon Pinot Grigio, 7-Up, Tomato Spice, or the Banana Split flavors. And if you’re REALLY looking for something special try the Cupcake-In-A-Jar or the Cupcake-On-A-Stick.

Yummy has a reputation for packing a lot of sugar in their cupcakes, so be prepared for your blood sugar to spike. Those who aren’t prone to breaking out in sugar-induced hives can go a little crazy and try the Lemon Pinot Grigio, 7-Up, Tomato Spice, or the Banana Split flavors. And if you’re REALLY looking for something special try the Cupcake-In-A-Jar or the Cupcake-On-A-Stick.

Crumbs Beverly Hills

9465 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

In a rather ballsy move, Crumbs set up shop down the street from Sprinkles. But Crumbs has failed to lure Sprinkles’ fans down Santa Monica Blvd. (last time we checked, the lines at Sprinkles were much longer than those at Crumbs.) The cupcakes here aren’t bad by any means, but the sugary parcels aren’t worth fussing over either.

In a rather ballsy move, Crumbs set up shop down the street from Sprinkles. But Crumbs has failed to lure Sprinkles’ fans down Santa Monica Blvd. (last time we checked, the lines at Sprinkles were much longer than those at Crumbs.) The cupcakes here aren’t bad by any means, but the sugary parcels aren’t worth fussing over either.

Joan's On Third

8346 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Joan’s strategically places its baked goods in the window in order to lure dieting Third Street shoppers. But you’re much better off sticking to the sandwich fare here. These cakes may look delectable, but they’re not terribly moist or tasty, for that matter.

Joan’s strategically places its baked goods in the window in order to lure dieting Third Street shoppers. But you’re much better off sticking to the sandwich fare here. These cakes may look delectable, but they’re not terribly moist or tasty, for that matter.

Clementine

1751 Ensley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

My Little Cupcake Inc

11925 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Big Sugar Bake Shop

12182 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Dots Cupcakes

400 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Vanilla Bake Shop

512 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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