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.

A Taste of Heaven

Name: A Taste of Heaven

Neighborhood: Andersonville
Address: 5401 N Clark St
Map (link above): blue dotted pin
Nearest El Transit Locations: 
Berwyn Red Line Stop
Hours:
Mon - Thur  7am - 10pm
Fri - Sat  7am - 11pm
Sunday  8am - 10pm
Bake On-Site: Yes
Individual Cupcake Prices: $2.75
Boxing/Packaging: Cups with lids
What makes this bakery special: They have a substantial, homemade-fresh, assortment of unique cupcake flavors. 

Cupcakes Purchased and Reviewed:

Nutella
Cake: Nutella
with
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Lemon Meringue

Cake: Lemon
with Meringue icing filled with lemon curd
Appearance: 2
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 3

Additional Notes:

After the disappointing Nutella cupcake at Molly's I was hesitant to try the one here at A Taste of Heaven. With some convincing, I gave it a shot--and will never regret it! This cupcake is exactly the dream Nutella cupcake I've been wanting: rich, moist cake, extremely light and fluffy frosting with [almonds?] on top. ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN' DELICIOUS! A Taste of Heaven, please know that you gave me what I so badly wanted last year and it was WELL worth the wait and commute. Honestly, this was one of my absolute favorites so far. Even if you're not a huge fan of Nutella, I'd say give this cupcake a chance. The cake and frosting were absolutely, well, heavenly.
The Lemon Meringue was also amazing. The cake wasn't over-powering, the lemon curd filling was packed with flavor, and the creamy frosting was delicious. This cupcake had a nice balance of cupcake sweetness and lemon tartness.
The actual storefront is kind of tiny (they're a cafe, too!). There is an indoor seating area, but if you're dropping in for cupcakes, I'd recommend you take them to go so you don't have to bother with the cramped space. The staff is super friendly and are not only willing to make suggestions, but will give an honest answer to any questions you may have.

Oak Mill Bakery

**HAPPY (British) NATIONAL CUPCAKE WEEK**

Name: Oak Mill Bakery

Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Address: 2204 W North Ave
Map (link above): green pins
Nearest El Transit Locations:
Damen Blue Line stop
Hours: 
Tue - Sat 8am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm
Other Chicago Locations: 
Belmont Central, 5753 W Belmont Ave
Clearing West, 5747 S Harlem Ave
Bake On-Site: Some items
(and have local distribution center)
Individual Cupcake Prices: $1.95-3.25
Boxing/Packaging: Box w/out inserts

What makes this bakery special:
Oak Mill has deep, proud Polish roots. The founder has keeps involved with the Polish-American community, including donating to local charities, such as Gift from the Heart.

Cupcake Purchased and Reviewed:
Vanilla (?)
Cake: Vanilla
with Meringue (?)
Appearance: 1
Size: Average
Bite #: 3
Moisture: 1
Price: $2.25

Additional Notes:

Left: Mouse (not a cupcake)
Right: Vanilla Cupcake with cookie

Oak Mill Bakery is the bakery I discovered on my way to Bake a few weeks ago. I was really looking forward to getting a cupcake from here because when I stopped in that first time their cupcakes on display were decorated all fun and exciting (for example, one had goofy cross-eyes). I was also taken by the beautiful mousse treats they had on display next to the cupcakes. When I stopped in today, however, I admit I was a little disappointed. There were no fun cupcakes, just some small plain ones on a cake stand. The (nice) employee didn't even know what flavor the one I got was (she guessed vanilla). I'm sure you're wondering why there is a mousse dessert next to the cupcake in the photo above, huh? Well, to make this trip more worth the time I decided I would give in and purchase outside of the cupcake limits--just this once! I'm glad I did. The cupcake was dry and I have doubts that it was vanilla; it was kind of like angel's food cake but I'm not exactly sure. (With the combination of the frosting and the cake I expected it to be lemon, but I certainly didn't taste lemon.) The frosting was meringue, or if I'm wrong it was very fluffy, sticky (in a good way) vanilla frosting. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the cupcake but the mousse was fantastic and I do want to maybe stop in another time for one of the fun cupcakes I saw a few weeks ago. Now, in their defense this is a European-style pastry shop, so as long as the other European desserts are tasty I say kudos for even carrying cupcakes.
Indoor seating.

As mentioned above, the owners/founders are very involved with the Polish-American community, regularly donate to local charities, donate leftover desserts to local food banks, and recycle what they can.

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.