#5 Buzz Bakery

First, let me start out by saying, its not easy to make my Top 5. There are dozens of shops in the DC area that make cupcakes, and I've tried most of them. While there is no formula that I used to develop my Top 5 list, here are a few of the key elements to a good cupcake (shop):

• Taste (it has to taste good)
  
• Size (I don't want to finish a cupcake in two bites)
  
• Cost (more expensive doesn't always mean better)
  
• Accessibility (being able to get one easily when you're craving one is key)

We open the series with one of my staples: #5 Buzz Bakery in Alexandria, VA. Since its on my boyfriend's way home from work, I probably have a Buzz cupcake at least once a week. The uber trendy coffee shop offers an incredible array of baked goods-- cupcakes are just one of the delicacies.


Permanent menu flavors include traditional cupcakes (vanilla, chocolate, red velvet) and more unique flavors like their Bumblebee & 9:30 (quite popular). They also offer some of the most creative seasonal/rotating varieties: Guinness, Pumpkin, their famous Bacon Cupcake, and many more.


Obviously my favorite flavor is vanilla-vanilla, but I've tried the red velvet and bumblebee cupcake and both were delicious.

• Size: Just right-- not too big or too small
• Cost: $2.25 -- best tasting cupcake under $3 in DC, hands down
  
• Cake: Perfect, definitely buzz's strongpoint
• Frosting: Delicious, but can be a little dry sometimes

I like Buzz because its strong across all categories (though not truly spectacular in any). Most of my Top 5 fall short in a few categories, but more than make up for it in the others. The cupcakes are very delicious, the shop is a great place to just hang out (they have great coffee too), they are open till 11pm everyday, and they are some of the cheapest in DC.

They also have some of the cutest to-go containers-- regular boxes are over done!

Katie's Top 5 Cupcakes in DC

it's coming... here's a sneak preview!

Can you tell where each cupcake is from?

If you're ever in St. Louis...

On a recent business trip to St. Louis, I stayed at the beautiful Chase Park Plaza hotel which is conveniently located less then one block away from one of St. Louis' only cupcake shops.


The Cupcakery is an adorable shop in downtown St. Louis offering a variety of cupcake flavors. The menu features 7 flavors, plus 2 or 3 seasonal/rotating varieties. Each cupcake is $2.75 which is on the low end compared to DC pricing. They were also very generously sized with the perfect icing:cupcake ratio.

In addition to traditional flavors, the Cupcakery had a number of unique options like "Grasshopper" with vanilla mint buttercream frosting and "Cuppa Coffee" which features a cinnamon struesel topping.

I am sure you won't be surprised that I was drawn to their vanilla cupcake "Confetti." I appreciated the name, since Funfetti cake was a childhood favorite. The cake was the perfect texture-- moist but firm and the frosting was silky and creamy. This seemingly ordinary flavor wandered a bit from a traditional vanilla recipe using almond extract. My only comment is that it tasted a little bit too much like a sugar cookie (and I LOVE sugar cookies, just not in my cupcakes). I appreciate the creativity, but I'm not sure it was executed effectively-- maybe my batch just had a bit too much extract in it. :-)

Despite it's almond "sugar cookie" taste, my Confetti cupcake was still delicious!

The Cupcakery is definitely worth stopping for if you're ever in St. Louis. Their late hours also make it convenient to visit even if you're schedule is hectic.

Taste of Georgetown

I know the posts have been slacking lately.Work has been crazy and I'm traveling a lot. Have no fear, I'll be back next week.

In the mean time, enjoy Taste of Georgetown today which is where I first tried my #1 cupcake of all-time: Baked & Wired.

Baked & Wired will be there today, along with the overrated and overpriced alternative: Georgetown Cupcake.

Enjoy!