Flirty Cupcakes Dessert Garage

Name: Flirty Cupcakes Dessert Garage

Neighborhood: University Village / Little Italy
Address: 1030 W. Taylor
Map (link above): Purple pin 
Nearest El Transit Locations: Racine Blue Line Stop

Hours:
Mon - Sat 9am - 8pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Bake On-Site: 
Individual Cupcake Prices: $3.35
Boxing/Packaging: Fitted clam shell
What makes this bakery special: 
Flirty Cupcakes has the dessert garage in University Village but also has a cupcake truck which can be found at different locations around the city each day!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
The McDreamy
Cake: Chocolate

with Cream Cheese Frosting and Cream Cheese filling
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Curious George
Cake: Banana
with Salted Caramel Italian Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:
Flirty is nestled comfortably on Taylor Street along the cute shopping district. There is indoor seating within the "garage" and benches along Taylor if you want to sit outside. 
When I went, there were a few customers in the store. The experience felt a little rushed since the lady behind the counter was a little flustered.

The cupcakes tasted super fresh--these people know how to do chocolate cupcakes. The McDreamy, she said, is one of the most popular, so I went with that one and the Curious George. McDreamy is cream-cheese-city. If you like cream cheese frosting this is the cupcake for you. The Curious George had sweet, delicious chocolaty cake with salted caramel buttercream, which was smooth, thick, and had a delightfully salty kick.
At the beginning of this cupcake project (last summer), I had the pleasure of having cupcakes from Flirty's cupcake truck. While visiting the "garage" was necessary for this cupcaking project, I much prefer the experience of their cupcake truck.

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.

Twisted Baker

Name: Twisted Baker
Neighborhood: Old Town
Address: 1543 N Wells
Map (link above): purple marker
Nearest El Transit Locations:
Sedgwick Brown and Purple Line Stop
Hours:
Tue, Wed, Thur, Sun  8am - 7pm
Fri - Sat  8am - 10pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.75
Boxing/Packaging: box with inserts
What makes this bakery special: Each cupcake is frosted to order--right there, right when you want it. No hard frosting or stale cupcakes siting in a display case here! (I even like that there is a sign that says "display only" so you know that you're getting the real [fresh] deal. Nice touch!)
Also, on Thursdays cupcakes are buy three, get one FREE!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
Key Lime
Cake: Vanilla
with Lime Cream Cheese Frosting and Key Lime Filling
Appearance: 2
Size: Average

L: Key Lime
R: Choc Cheesecake

Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Chocolate Cheesecake
Cake: Dark Chocolate
with Swirled Chocolate and Cream Cheese Frosting and a layer of Cheesecake Filling 
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:
I can't even begin to describe how deliciously rich these cupcakes were. Their cupcakes are the perfect (PERFECT) example of how a traditional cake (e.g. vanilla or chocolate) can be made into a spectacular dessert. Sometimes bakeries get too overzealous mixing cake flavors with frostings, fillings, and other counterparts. Here, you'll find a delicious, rich traditional cake (I'm talking both the vanilla and the chocolate cupcakes I bought) paired to perfection with delicious fillings and flavor-punching frostings.
The Key Lime, I think, was the "perfectest perfect" example of what I describe above. It was amazing: rich, lime-y, sweet. (I may have to re-visit this post at a later date, when I'm not overdosed cupcake goodness.)
The Chocolate Cheesecake had super rich chocolate cake, a full layer (LAYER) of cheesecake gently hidden beneath the chocolate-and-cream-cheese-swirl-of-frosting. Absolutely fantastic.
My first favorite part about the Twisted experience (as mentioned above) is that the cupcakes are frosted immediately once you place your order. This can mean only one thing: the cupcakes here are fresh (I MEAN FRESH, PEOPLE) and ready to be devoured.
My second favorite part about the experience was when, upon learning I was a Twisted cupcake virgin, a staff member said, "You're in for a treat!" and I thought, you sure seem confident...but we'll see. Turns out she really meant it and I love being genuinely satisfied.
Twisted Baker has indoor seating and a lunch menu.
Coffee / espresso.

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.

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).

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).

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.

Bake

*hours updated as of 20 March 2013*

Name: Bake

Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Address: 2246 W North Ave
Map (link above): red pin

Nearest El Transit Locations:
Damen Blue Line stop

Hours: 

Wed - Sat  8am - 5pm

Sunday  9am - 4pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Price: $3.95

Boxing/Packaging: Box w/out inserts

What makes this bakery special: 

Bake bakes fresh every single day, like other Chicago bakeries, but at bake you can watch the product sell out via photos posted on twitter (or by personally stopping in of course). Although this means there aren't as many options later in the day, it's nice that you can know the product put out each morning is baked the day of.

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:

Chocolate Raspberry

Cake: Chocolate

with Swirled Raspberry and Chocolate Frosting

Appearance: 3

Size: X-Large

Bite #: 7

Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

As I mentioned above, it's nice being able to watch the product sell throughout the day, even though it means less options the later you stop in. I went in two hours before closing and found just a few cupcakes left, but still ended up having a hard time deciding which one to get!

The cupcake was huge; I mean close to Crumbs huge! It took two sittings for me to eat, that's for sure.

The cake was moist--freakishly moist actually--to the touch and to the palette. The frosting was thick and I particularly enjoyed the blend of the raspberry flavor with the chocolate. I'm really glad that I chose this one over the vanilla/raspberry swirl (which I'm sure is also delicious), even though the counterperson mentioned she didn't like the choc/rasp flavor pairing.

Spacious indoor seating.

Full espresso bar.

Alliance Bakery

Name: Alliance Bakery

Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Address: 1736 W Division St
Map (link above): purple pin

Nearest El Transit Locations:

Division Blue Line stop

Hours: 

Mon - Sat  6am - 9pm

Sunday  7am - 9pm

Bake On-Site: Yes

Individual Cupcake Prices: $3.00-3.75

Boxing/Packaging: Plastic Cup with Lid

What makes this bakery special: 

This Polish bakery turned French pastry offers beautiful desserts while keeping neighborhood history alive. The neon sign outside has been there since 1947!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Vanilla Passion Fruit

Cake: Vanilla

with Passion Fruit Curd Filling and Toasted Meringue

Appearance: 2

Size: Large (taller than "average")

Bite #: 5

Moisture: 2
Price: $3.75

Double Chocolate

Cake: Chocolate

with Chocolate

Appearance: 2

Size: Large (taller than "average")

Bite #: 5

Moisture: 3
Price: $3.00

Additional Notes:

Even though I went to Alliance near closing time, I was pleased to find a nice full display case with many options.

The Vanilla Passion Fruit cupcake was delicious. Usually I'm not a big fan of filled cupcakes but I just couldn't pass this one up. I loved that the "plain" vanilla cake flavor allowed the curd filling to take the spotlight and the sticky, mouth-watering toasted meringue put a terrific finish to the experience.

My favorite classic cupcake is definitely choc/choc and Alliance didn't disappoint! The cake was super moist and fluffy and the frosting was smooth and light (the chocolate flavor of the frosting, though, was a little subtle). Delicious!

The bakery itself seems small upon entering but, along with a sizable separate wifi room available for customers to lounge in, the back kitchens are nice and spacious with special areas for each dessert to be created in; don't let the seemingly small shop fool you!

Before becoming the French pastry it is today the bakery used to be a Polish bakery and still holds historical significance for the surrounding neighborhood.

Terrific for staying in; a lot of seating indoors and outdoors.

Also fine for take-out.

Molly's Cupcakes

Name: Molly's Cupcakes
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Address: 2536 N Clark St
Map (link above): orange marker 
Nearest El Transit Locations: 
Fullerton stop of Red, Purple, and Brown lines
Diversey stop of Purple and Brown lines
(And the 22 Clark bus has a stop right there!)
Hours: 
Monday: Noon - 10pm
Tue - Thu: 8am-10pm
Fri - Sat: 8am-midnight
Sunday: 9am-10pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Prices: $1.05 (mini), $2.05 ("Molly"), and $3.75 (center-filled)
Boxing/Packaging: box w/ inserts (4+ cupcakes)
What makes this bakery special:
They are famous for their center-filled cupcakes and rightfully so! They have unique combinations with generous amounts of filling.
They also have "build your own Molly cupcake" where you can choose specifics for the exact ("classic") cupcake you want and they ice it right in front of you and, further, you can personalize your toppings!

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:
Kahlua

Cake: Chocolate
with Kahlua Cream Filling and Coffee Buttercream
Appearance: 3
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Cookie Monster (Top Left), Kahlua (Top Right)
Ron Bennington (Bottom Left), PB Nutella (Bottom Right)

Price: $3.75

Note: This cupcake contains alcohol.

Ron Bennington

Cake: Chocolate
with Peanut Butter Filling and Ganache sprinkled with Butterscotch pieces
Appearance: 3
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Price: $3.75

Note: This is their best seller!

Peanut Butter Nutella

Cake: Peanut Butter
with Nutella Filling and Nutella Buttercream
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 2

Price: $3.75

Cookie Monster*

Cake: Vanilla Chocolate-Chip
with Cookie Dough Filling, Vanilla Buttercream, and a mini cookie
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Price: $3.75

Additional Notes:

The Kahlua cupcake had fantastic smooth, rich coffee buttercream that actually wasn't too overpowering and was a nice compliment to the kahlua filling. Physically, the cupcake didn't seem to be able to handle the generous amount of filling and fell apart easily (same goes for the other filled cupcakes) but this didn't take away from the delicious experience. The filling had a definite kahlua taste to it but it was in proportion to the rest of the cupcake components.

The Ron Bennington is the most popular and I knew that without the sign telling me so. The entire cupcake is perfectly proportioned out, with smooth, rich, and dense chocolate ganache and cake with creamy peanut butter filling. The butterscotch pieces on top made for a nice crunchy surprise every bite. Absolutely fantastic.

Wait, are those swings?
...YES! 

I admit, I set high expectations for the Peanut Butter Nutella cupcake and was sadly disappointed. It seemed that all of the flavors were not as pronounced as the flavors in the other cupcakes, but were still detectable. The cake tasted more like a peanut butter cookie than a cupcake and had a large crumb. Without the Nutella filling this cupcake would be nothing. 

The filling in the Cookie Monster* is what made the entire cupcake "AMAZING." The frosting was good but could have been a little thicker.

The store is actually pretty sizable for a cupcakery and has many tables indoors and outdoors.

Good for eating in or for quick drop in.

They have swings at the espresso bar. (!!!!!)

Also, I visited Molly's this past winter with my bestie (who is a huge Molly's patron!) and I got the CAKE BATTER CUPCAKE, which was absolutely fantastic! I was one of those kids who begged to lick the bowl and this cupcake brought back all those wonderful memories. I think about this cupcake often, to this day. No joke.

* denotes that this cupcake was enjoyed by my research partner, D.E.