Magnolia Bakery

Name: Magnolia Bakery

Neighborhood: Loop
Address: 108 N. State St.
Map (link above): Light Blue Dotted Marker
Nearest El Transit Locations:

Washington Blue Line Stop

Lake Red Line Stop

Randolph/Wabash Stop: Brown, Pink, Green, Purple, Orange Lines
Hours:
Mon - Thur: 7:30am - 9:00pm
Friday: 7:30 am - midnight
Saturday: 8:00am - midnight
Sunday 8:00am - 8:00pm

Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Prices: $3.25 - 4.00
Boxing/Packaging: box with inserts
What makes this bakery special: Magnolia is famous worldwide for their cupcakes and signature frosting swirl. Also, Magnolia is certified Kosher and donates daily to local food pantries.

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
Pistachio
Cake: Pistachio
with Pistachio Meringue Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Vanilla
Cake: Vanilla
with Vanilla Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 2

Additional Notes:
The quest to find a perfect pistachio cupcake perhaps has come to an end. Magnolia's pistachio cupcakes are absolutely fantastic: lingering, rich nutty flavor, moist cake, and creamy frosting.
The vanilla cupcake had almost an overdose of delicious buttercream frosting which was paired with a light, buttery cake.
Magnolia swirls their cupcakes individually by hand and it takes sometimes weeks to perfect it. Each cupcake is carefully prepared to be devoured.
The store is cozy and warm with indoor and outdoor seating. Finding it is a little difficult because the mall it is in, Block 37, doesn't look like a mall (more like a huge business-y spaceship). From the outside the Magnolia sign is hard to see, so just look for Sephora or Puma and you'll know you're basically there.
Coffee/espresso.

Bulldog Bakery

Name: Bulldog Bakery

Neighborhood: Avondale
Address: 3207 N Elston Ave 
Map (link above): Blue dotted marker
Nearest El Transit Locations:
Blue line, California or Belmont stops. I took the California bus from the Blue line.
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Price: $1.92 each, with tax
Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts
What makes this bakery special: Kosher Dairy!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Carrot
Cake: Carrot
with Cream Cheese Frosting
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 2
Chocolate/Chocolate
Cake: Chocolate
with Chocolate Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 1

Additional Notes: 

Bulldog Bakery is really easy to find. A few different buses drop you off right at the corner. Inside is small and cozy and the baker herself came out and helped me. It was so intimate.
The cream cheese frosting on the carrot cupcake was delicious, smooth and rich. The cake was a little dry, but tasted like good ol' homemade cake.
The chocolate cupcake had rich frosting, the the cake was dry. The frosting made the cake much better.
I admit, I visited Bulldog about 30 minutes before they closed so it may be safe to say that it's best to go early. Again, I liked how cozy and intimate the experience was. Sometimes customer service makes more of a difference than product.
Bulldog also is Kosher Dairy and both the carrot and chocolate cakes are organic!
They also offer sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan options.
Since pistachio cake is one of my all time favorites, I'll be sure to come back to Bulldog for a chance to try their famous pistachio nougat cake!

Sensational Bites

HAPPY NATIONAL LEMON CUPCAKE DAY!  

HAPPY NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY!

Name: Sensational Bites: A Dessert Cafe
Neighborhood: Lake View
Address: 3751 N Southport Ave
Map (link above): purple dotted marker
Nearest El Transit Locations:
Southport Brown Line Station
Hours: 
Tue - Thur  8am - 7pm
Fri - Sat  8am - 10pm
Sunday  8am - 7pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Price: $2.75
Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts
What makes this bakery special: Fresh and fine ingredients, a laid-back atmosphere, and sweet home bakin' makes this place a must-visit, especially when paired with a show at the Music Box Theater (just steps away).

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Butterfinger

Lemon

Lemon
Cake: Lemon
with Lemon Buttercream
Appearance: 3
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Butterfinger
Cake: Vanilla
with Butterfinger Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3



Additional Notes: 
The lemon cupcake was nice and refreshing. The cake was soft and subtle, with strong, super sweet (and slightly grainy) lemon buttercream. It's a common misconception that citrus season is the summer because it's refreshing but really winter is when citrus is in season. Delicious!

The Butterfinger cupcake was moist, light vanilla cake with thick, rich buttercream with tiny bits of butterfinger candy bars mixed right in!
Both cupcakes were delightfully fresh. Sensational bites was also very busy. No surprise there. Delicious treats for all!
While waiting in line, their display cases are very charming and appealing.
Vegan options, espresso bar, indoor seating.
Friendly staff, who handled the line well and also packaged each cupcake carefully.

Dinkel's Bakery

Name: Dinkel's Bakery

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3329 N Lincoln Ave

Map (link above): green dotted marker

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Paulina Brown Line Station

Hours: 

Tue - Fri  6am - 7pm

Saturday  6am - 5pm

Sunday  8am - 4pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.49-3.09

Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Dinkel's dates back to 1922 when baker Joseph K. Dinkel and his wife moved to the U.S. from Germany. Since, the bakery has been passed down four generations, has continued using original family recipes and radiates a homestyle charm. With this warm, loving atmosphere comes an enviro-concious mission, using local ingredients, such as wheat, eggs, and dairy from Wisconsin, and eco-friendly energy use.  Also, buy-one-get-one-free-cupcake Tuesdays are ah-may-zing!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Chocolate with Vanilla

Cake: Chocolate

with Vanilla Buttercream

Appearance: 2

Size: Large

Bite #: 5

Moisture: 3

Price: $2.49

Vanilla with Chocolate

Cake: Vanilla

with Chocolate Buttercream

Appearance: 2

Size: Large

Bite #: 5

Moisture: 3

Price: Free! (Tuesdays: Buy one cupcake, get one free*)

Vanilla Strawberry

Cake: Chocolate
with Vanilla Buttercream (and a strawberry made from frosting) with strawberry filling
Appearance: 2
Size: Large
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 2
Price: $3.09
*filled cupcakes, such as the vanilla strawberry, excluded from Tuesday cupcake deal (fyi)

Additional Notes: 
My cupcakes from Dinkel's were so deliciously moist I regretted sharing mine with my cupcaking partner, D.E.  At least he had an opportunity to relish in the freshness with me. The cake for the "unfilled" cupcakes (the first two above) was moist, soft, and rich with flavor. The frosting, while delicious and flavorful, left a coating of sugar in my mouth, but did not take away from the experience whatsoever. The vanilla strawberry, I admit, let me down a little bit. Filled cupcakes are not included in the Tuesday Special (and understandably so) but this one--the last one, mind you-- was just calling to me. The cake was a little dry and the frosting was too much--or perhaps too little--for this particular cake/frosting pairing. To borrow words from D.E., "the filling/cake/flavor concept is great" but not quite what I had hoped for. 
The employees were friendly and welcoming (even close to closing time) and packaged each cupcake carefully.  
Full cafe menu, coffee.
Close to brown line and other bus routes.
The mind-blowing freshness the other two cupcakes provided--truly the prevailing part of the Dinkel's experience!

Southport Grocery

HAPPY NATIONAL VANILLA CUPCAKE DAY!

Name: Southport Grocery and Cafe

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3552 N. Southport

Map (link above): yellow dotted marker

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Southport Brown Line Stop

Hours: 

Mon - Fri  7am - 4pm
Saturday  8am - 5pm
Sunday  8am - 4pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.50

Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Famous throughout Chicago for their amazing homemade vanilla cupcakes, Southport is the place to go when celebrating the beauty of vanilla cake (like, say, on National Vanilla Cupcake Day). The entire second floor is a bakery kitchen where they make most of their baked goods, including cupcakes!

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

 
Vanilla/Vanilla

Cake: Vanilla
with Vanilla Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Large
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 2

Additional Notes:

Southport bakes on-site, yes, that's noted above, but here not only do they bake fresh daily in small batches but they use a special old family recipe for the cake and the amazing vanilla buttercream. This magical blend of flavors has made Southport the go-to in Chicago for vanilla cupcakes. 
The frosting is has a rich vanilla flavor, is sweet but not over-sugary, and is smooth and creamy to the palette. The cake is made from a warm, rich, thick vanilla batter with love baked right in. The simplest way to describe it is grandma's homemade vanilla cupcakes with a touch of heaven blended right in.
It can get really busy here (when I went it was packed) so plan ahead. The cafe part makes it kind of confusing to get to the grocery part, so just know that you can just walk through to the counter. Also, if you go to the cafe part, try their (also) famous "cupcake pancakes," pancakes made with cake batter. When you do, comment below and let me know how you liked them! (I haven't tried them yet.)
Espresso/coffee bar.
Indoor seating (cafe).

Bittersweet Pastry

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE DAY!

Name: Bittersweet Pastry and Cafe 

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 1114 W Belmont Ave

Map (link above): yellow pin

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Belmont Stop: Purple, Red and Brown Lines

Hours: 

Tue - Fri  7am - 7pm

Saturday  8am - 7pm

Sunday  8am - 6pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.75-3.25

Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Particularly for celebrating National Chocolate Cupcake Day: their chocolate cupcakes are actually fudge cupcakes! That's right, chocolate here is fudge!! Also, they have gluten-free chocolate or red velvet available (your choice of filling and/or frosting!).

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Princess

Cake: Fudge

with Vanilla Buttercream

Appearance: 2.5

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Price: $2.75

Additional Notes:

Their fudge cake is absolutely fantastic! You can definitely tell the difference between this fudge cake and a regular chocolate cake. It's slightly more dense, softer, and richer. The light and fluffy buttercream matched with it is superb. 

They have a cupcake calendar available for pick up in store. Each day of the month they have three cupcake flavors available. Attached to the calendar are detailed descriptions of all their cupcake flavors... I can't wait to go back to try the chocolate stout, rocky road, key lime pie, and/or tiramisu! Wowza! 

In addition to a fabulous cupcake, check out how it is packaged. There is an adorable ribbon wrapped around the box. No, I didn't have to ask or pay extra; that's just how they come! So dainty!

Along with the (fabulous) bakery/display Bittersweet has a handy gift shop, complete with baking accessories, to the right and a cafe to the left. Talk about one stop shop, especially if you're bringing someone there for an occasion like, say, National Chocolate Cupcake Day (or their birthday...).

Phoebe's Bakery

UPDATE:  Sadly, Phoebe's has closed since this posting.

Name: Phoebe's Bakery and Espresso Bar

Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3351 N Broadway Street

Map (link above): dotted light blue marker

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Belmont Stop Red, Brown, Purple Lines

Hours: 

Mon - Sat  6am - 10pm

Sunday  8am - 8-pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Price: $2.95

Boxing/Packaging: Fitted clam shell

What makes this bakery special: 

They have super creative cupcakes--candy corn and root beer float, anyone?--and have a new menu each week. One week gives enough time to get there for the unique flavor you have your eye on, but also is short enough that new flavors are constantly being introduced! Sweet!

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Malt Ball

Cake: Chocolate

with Malt White Chocolate Italian Buttercream, plus a malt ball!

Appearance: 2

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Candy Corn

Cake: Candy Corn

with Honey Buttercream

Appearance: 2

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

First, I would like to give a shout out to Kevin! Kevin, who works at Phoebe's, said the Malt Ball was delicious and was super excited about this cupcake blog! Thanks, man!

Like he said, the Malt Ball was fantastic. For someone who likes malted milkshakes but usually avoids malt balls, I enjoyed this cupcake. The moist chocolate cake left no doubt that it was fresh and the super creamy malt frosting had just the right amount of malt flavor to it--not too much, but noticeable. 

The Candy Corn cake was moist and fresh as well. I didn't necessarily find that "candy corn" taste in there, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless and is one fall flavor you don't usually see outside of regular candy corn. Nice touch!

Many people have asked me if I've been to Phoebe's yet and I am so glad to have finally visited here! Definitely worth the wait.

Super friendly staff, who obviously love the products they sell.

Indoor seating.

Coffee and espresso (obviously).

Sweet Cakes Bakery

**HAPPY (British) NATIONAL CUPCAKE WEEK**
*Information updated as of Feb 2014

Name: Sweet Cakes Bakery

Neighborhood: Bucktown   *they've moved! 
Address:  1223 N. Milwaukee Ave. 

Map (link above): pink pin

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Division Blue Line Stop 

Hours: Mon - Sun 7am - 2pm *new hours!

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: 

Boxing/Packaging: Box without inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Cupcake Happy Hour! When it's Happy Hour, cupcakes are buy two get one free. This is particularly refreshing not just for the free cupcake(s) but it ensures a sell-out-each-day meaning a guaranteed freshness the following day. Watch Twitter for updates. 

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Red Velvet

Cake: Red Velvet

with White Chocolate Cream Cheese

Top Left: Masala
Bottom Left: Butter Pecan
Right: Red Velvet

Appearance: 1

Size: Average

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 3
Price: $3.00

Masala Spice (mini)

Cake: Spice

Appearance: 2

Size: Small/mini 

Bite #: 1

Moisture: 2

Price: $1.40

Butter Pecan (mini)

Cake: Butter Pecan

Appearance: 2

Size: Small/mini

Bite #: 1

Moisture: 2

Price: FREE! (Cupcake Happy Hour)

Additional Notes:

I love Cupcake Happy Hour for three main reasons:
   1) Like I mentioned above, happy hour is a way for Sweet Cakes to productively sell out of cupcakes each day...
   2) ...which is also a way for us, the customers, to feel comfortable knowing that our sweet treats are baked fresh daily.
   3) Who doesn't love free cupcakes? (Buy two get one free!)
The Red Velvet was fantastic. I admit, I'm one of those people who doesn't really understand all the hype when it comes to red velvet (although the fact that the "red" comes from a chemical reaction is pretty fascinating) but I'll occasionally try one then and now. This time it was absolutely worth it! The cake was not soaked with red food dye (as a matter of fact it didn't seem dyed at all, making it even more authentic Red) and was the moistest red velvet I think I have ever had. Match this cake perfection with white chocolate cream cheese and you have yourself heaven on a plate! Seriously, if you're one of those Red Velveters I am telling you right now that you should stop reading at this point and go to Sweet Cakes immediately...hurry, they close at six!
The minis were also extremely flavorful and unique. The Masala cake was packed with spices as well as the frosting. The Butter Pecan cake had delicious pecan chunks in it and the frosting was smooth and buttery. Also, I like when bakeries offer minis for individual sale because if you're feeling caught between two or more flavors and/or if you just want a small, guilt-free indulgence they're just the thing you're looking for.
The owner is super friendly and was nice to talk with. It's always nice when owners are out on the floor working, socializing, and taking pride in their products. He also carefully packaged the cupcakes, tenderly cushioning them with tissue paper, so they didn't roll around in the box during commute.
Coffee, other pastries, wifi, indoor seating.

Lovely: A Bake Shop

**HAPPY (British) NATIONAL CUPCAKE WEEK**

Name: Lovely: A Bake Shop

Neighborhood: Noble Square / West Town
Address: 1130 N Milwaukee Ave
Map (link above): bright blue pins

Nearest El Transit Locations:
Division Blue Line stop

Hours: 

Mon - Fri  7am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm
Other Chicago Location: 
Edgewater, 1138 W Bryn Mawr Ave

Bake On-Site: Yes (at both locations)

Individual Cupcake Price: $1.75-3.00 (dependent on size and flavor)

Boxing/Packaging: Box w/out inserts

What makes this bakery special: Lovely is the perfect authentic neighborhood bakery example. The owners are known for being social butterflies, they bring true Southern-ness to their baked goods, and they both graduated from Chicago's own French Pastry School.

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Red Velvet "Mini"

Cake: Red Velvet

with Cream Cheese Frosting

Appearance: 2

Size: Average (even though they call it "mini"!)

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 2
Price: $2.00

Chocolate "Mini"

Cake: Chocolate

with Chocolate Buttercream

Appearance: 2

Size: Average (even though they call it "mini"!)

Bite #: 3

Moisture: 2
Price: $1.75 

Additional Notes:
This surprisingly-not-so-small bakery welcomes guests with delicious smells and a comfortable, small farm town general store feel. The displays are warm, wood furniture items which, somehow, makes them seem even more appetizing.
The chocolate cupcake had a smooth, rich chocolate buttercream which matched the rich, spongy cake wonderfully.
The red velvet was obviously the product of true Southerners: creamy, smooth cream cheese frosting with cake that wasn't saturated with red dye (a problem with many other red velvets).
Cupcakes can be found in two sizes here: jumbo and mini. The mini's, as noted above, are actually the average size of homemade cupcakes--averaging a 2" diameter--meaning, matched with the prices and quality, are a terrific value!
Spacious indoor seating.
Full espresso bar.
Full menu.

More Cupcakes

Name: More Cupcakes

Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Address: 1 E Delaware Pl.
Map (link above): yellow marker

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Chicago Red Line stop

Hours: 

Mon* - Fri 8am - 9pm

Sat 9am - 9pm

*Open Mondays for advance order pickup

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $3.50-6.00

Boxing/Packaging: Chinese take-out box with inserts!

What makes this bakery special: 

More offers not only many unique sweet flavors but offers many savory flavors, too! See? Cupcakes are for everyone! A few examples of their savory cupcakes are Artichoke Lemon Parmesan, Bacon Bourbon Peach, and BLT. (I couldn't bring myself to venture from sweetness this time around, sorry.)

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

S'More

Cake: Chocolate
with Marshmallow filling and Honey Cinnamon Buttercream
Appearance: 3
Size: Large 
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 2
Price: $3.50

Salted Caramel

Cake: Yellow
with Caramel filling and Caramel Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Large
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 2
Price: $3.50

Red Velvet*

Cake: Red Velvet
with Cream Cheese frosting and a red candy on top
Appearance: 3
Size: Large
Bite #: 5
Moisture: 2
Price: $3.50

Additional Notes:

(I stopped in a few days after my visit to take this photo
of the display case at its fullest--earlier in the day.)

S'more cupcakes are tricky. I've had some before but none compare to this one. More's S'more cupcake was absolutely fantastic. Their combination of the chocolate cake with marshmallow filling topped with honey cinnamon buttercream is...well, I'm literally lost for words. I liked the chocolate cake instead of graham cake, like the s'mores cupcakes I've had before. The marshmallow filling made it feel more like I was eating a real s'more. And the buttercream was to die for! Rarely does frosting catch my attention!

The filling in the Salted Caramel was the best part. It wasn't too sticky or overpowering and moistened the surrounding cake quite nicely. The buttercream was pretty good, too. The caramel flavor was subtle, but not hidden.

"The cream cheese was delectable [on the Red Velvet*]." -C.D., one of my cupcaking partners, who plans on returning to More.

All packaged up and ready to go!

The display case is beautiful and super mod; it was designed to look like an exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art. We went to More around 6:00pm (about 3 hours before they closed) and found the flavor selection smaller than expected and nearly sold out. I advise stopping by More earlier in the day to ensure the fabulous selection is actually there to choose from.

Counter inside for standing/eating.

Best for quick stop in and take-out.

Some flavors that I want to try next time include Cappuccino, Chocolate Champagne, and White Russian. Whoo! (Their menu/flavors aren't listed on the website so I picked up a seasonal product list from the store. Fyi.)

Secure inserts with notches!

You can tell a lot about a cupcakery by how they box/package cupcakes. My favorite thing about More is their care for cupcakes. At first I was nervous for the cupcakes when I saw the take-out boxes but when I realized there were inserts I was thrilled! The boxes were also secured by the seal on the outside too and the bag was nice and shallow so the wind couldn't blow them easily as I walked down the street with them. Nice touch, More!

* denotes this cupcake was enjoyed by my partner, C.D.