Cupcakes are a huge craze these days. With the new shows on Food Network and TLC all solely dedicated to cupcakes, it is hard to resist getting sucked into the evilness that is cupcakes. The sinfully fattening frosting on top of a buttery, rich, decadent piece of cake is absolutely addicting and always leaves you wanting more....
I've never really been into cupcakes, I really don't like pastries at all (I'm a strange one I know)- but after going to Vanilla cupcake this Wednesday with Ryan and Anupama, I have been converted. After a nice lunch/dinner at Pizza Sola on Penn Avenue, we stopped by next door to Vanilla Cupcake to get a nice piece of dessert.
Walking into Vanilla Cupcake, the pastel walls and decor were a bit overwhelming and girly but I was soon distracted by the little morsels of heaven. With cupcake flavors ranging from chocolate fudge to vanilla caramel, it was hard to choose which one to get and honestly, me and Pama were about to get more than 1 (until Ryan unknowingly dragged us away). This time, we all got the Vanilla Caramel cupcake and ate it in our infamous finance class- it was simply heaven.
Ryan devoured it within, i'd say, 2.5 seconds and I found myself really upset when I took my last bite. We sat through our 3 hour class whining about how we wanted another one. Best/worst idea ever? The frosting was creamy and delicious while the actual cake was light and fluffy. I was really impressed by how delicious this cupcake was and how different it is from Dozen cupcakes.
Dozen cupcakes, another cupcake store in Pittsburgh (located in Squirrel Hill) also has great flavors, which I feel is more complex than Vanilla. Dozen is also great, and I got a cupcake there with Eric for my birthday. However, after going to Vanilla, I feel like the simple flavors with the light pound cake is far more superior than the complex, rich and heavy cakes baked by Dozen.
Both cupcake shops were good, but Vanilla was better (that was just for Eric). I can't wait to return to Vanilla for another cupcake- perhaps I can convince Ryan and Pama to go again tomorrow?
