Indulging my cupcake fetish

It’s an unexplainable impulse, the irresistible curse of the sweet tooth. And every time I’d come to a resolution, chanting “desserts do not hold power over me,” the sight of these cute and quirky cakes would break down my defenses and melt my conviction in a heartbeat.

 

It’s a small, almost guilt-free indulgence. A minimalist pastry, if you will, but with each cupcake having its own personality – at times festive, quirky, dark, sexy, simple and so on. And no other pastry can say it like a cupcake could.

 

My passion pre-dates the cupcake craze in America, starting with the appearance of New York’s Magnolia Bakery in “Sex and the City,” where the four friends chatted with each other with a cupcake in hand. Today, a slew of cupcake-centric shows have sprouted, like reality shows “DC Cupcakes” and “Cupcake Wars,” and even a comedy series “Two Broke Girls.”

 

Here in Manila, suffice it to say we’ve caught up on the cupcake craze, judging from the increasing number of cupcake shops—both mainstream and home-based—that have sprouted in less than five years. It’s only a matter of time before we start baking our own show.

 

Armed with a sweet tooth, I’ve scoured Manila for the best-tasting cupcakes, with the hope of curing my cupcake fetish…only to fail again and again.

 

1. Sonja’s Cupcakes/Cupcakes by Sonja

I first heard of Sonja’s Cupcakes back in 2006, when there was so much hype about this little, newly-opened cupcake shop in Serendra. The buzz word that time was “Natikman mo na ba?”

 

This is the closest to the Magnolia Bakery in New York, where owner Sonja Ocampo worked. Credited as the first cupcake business in town, Sonja’s has a share of both lovers and haters. But who can please everyone, right?

 

As far as variety goes, however, with its rows upon rows of cupcakes exploding in an array of colors, Sonja’s is good enough for me. Though my budget did not allow me to splurge, Vanilla Sunshine, Chocolate Surprise and even the expensive Red Velvet are worth all the buzz. My favorite, so far though, is the Berries and Cream, a refrigerated cupcake with a slight macaroon taste with real cream and strawberry slices.

 

Go here if you: want the classic spin on cupcakes and feel like you’re Carrie in New York.

 

Prices: From P58 to P100

 

Cupcake varieties: They accept orders for customized cupcakes. Contact (02) 915-2936 for your orders.

 

2. Blushing Cupcakes Café

As cute as its name sounds, Blushing Cupcakes is a tiny café found in the most unlikely of places – a bright spot among outlet yard stores and a sweaty badminton sports complex along Libis. Their cupcakes are equally cute, with around 25 flavors to choose from. I liked their Peppermint Cupcake best, which went well with my tea, but perhaps I am too much of a mint fan. Their cupcake bases are not too sweet, which is perfect, but I would have liked a more generous serving of butter cream frosting. Why? Well….because I think there is not a problem in the world a good old cupcake frosting cannot solve, at least for the meantime.

 

Go here if you: want to recharge with a sugary treat after a grueling badminton session in Club 650.

 

Prices: They have the most affordable prices (P30 is the cheapest, while P42 is the most expensive)

 

Cupcake varieties: They customize for all occasions. Cheesecake cupcakes, though in smaller sizes, are also sold, like blueberry cheesecake and Oreo cheesecake.

 

Order through: (02) 986-0704/ 664-0538.

 

3. The Regali Kitchen

There is something romantic and mysterious in searching for a place on unfamiliar ground, despite the ire of a hot-headed taxi driver, who wound us through Tandang Sora traffic. But alas, finding The Regali Kitchen, a home-based cupcakery, is worth the fuss and the questionable taxi meter. Inside, couple Chef JB Cada and Stephanie Santos are already working their magic. For a cupcake Neil Gaiman reportedly tweeted, of course I had high expectations. And oh my goodness, my cupcake fetish was tickled with every bite of their sugary masterpieces. My personal favorite is the Orange Cardamom Cake with Rose Frosting, with edible sugar pearls that winked, and a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth butter cream frosting that contrasted well with the slightly tangy cake.

 

Besides their yummy cupcake flavors, the Regali Kitchen’s expertise is customizing cupcakes, with its painstaking attention to details, like the Game of Thrones cupcakes that got featured in The Today’s Show website (look at The Regali Kitchen‘s Facebook page photos to see what I mean.)  

Cupcake varieties: As far as imagination could take.

 

Order through: regalikitchen@yahoo.com. For customized cupcakes, order at least a month in advance. For regular cupcakes, at least a week. Minimum order is 1 dozen.

 

4. The Cupcake Boutique

Another home-based cupcakery I was lucky to find is Cupcake Boutique, owned by a young pastry chef and magazine writer Klarisse Joseph.

 

At first glance of the box of cupcakes I opened, I already knew I was in for a different cupcake spin. The flavors were distinctly gourmet like Green Tea, Diplomat (dark chocolate), Baileys and Red Velvet.

 

What I liked about them is that they did not look and taste like the usual cupcakes with the typical pyramid-like, butter cream frosting on top. Instead, she used cream frosting arranged neatly on top with a few embellishments here and here (my favorite was the gold leaf). The base was moist and slightly salty that contrasted well with the sweetness of the cream frosting.

 

Go here if you: want to surprise a girl friend or your mom with cupcakes as lovely and sweet as her.

 

Prices: box of 6 - P420; box of 12- P840

 

Cupcake varieties: As of now, The Cupcake Boutique only offers regular sizes.

 

Order through: 0917-5335527. Order two days in advance. Minimum order is half dozen.

 

5. Frostings

 

For a thesis project that started in college last 2007, Frostings has come a long way. As 24-year-old owner Ernest Vergel De Dios shared, Sonja’s was ahead by one year, but this did not stop him from building a distinct Frostings brand.

 

They have the biggest cupcakes (one cupcake can be shared by two persons) and the most Filipinized flavors, like Ensaymada, Ube Macapuno and Brazo de Mercedes. Kids will love their best-sellers Swiss Choco and S’mores for their fluffy, marshmallow frosting.

 

And for persons with a cupcake fetish like me, who cannot wait days or weeks, Frostings is the most accessible cupcakery in Manila, with a total of 5 mall branches.

 

Go here if you: would like a tasty, filling, yet not too sweet cupcake to pair with a cup of coffee.

 

Prices: P45 for regular, P60 for premium, P70 for fruit

 

Cupcake varieties: Besides the regular size, they have cuplets, large cupcake (equivalent to two regular-sized cupcakes) and the cake size. They also accept orders for personalized cupcakes.

6. Jenny’s Specialty Cakes and Pastries

I wish I had more time since I have more cupcake stories to share but because of lack of space, I shall end this piece with Jenny’s Cupcakes, also a home-based cupcake biz former banker Jenny Que owns.

 

These are the moistest cupcakes I have tasted, none of that dryness that some cupcakes tend to have. There’s no frosting involved, as each cupcake is baked like a mini cake with a moist base, yummy filling inside and flat icing on top. Her best-sellers are Caramel, Red Velvet and Decadent Chocolate.

 

Go here if you: need a big batch of cupcakes for a fancy dinner or a celebration with family.

 

Cupcake varieties: Accept customized orders, including picture/photo cupcakes.

 

Order through: 0917-5377178. Minimum order of 36 cupcakes for caramel and chocolate flavors, 24 for red velvet.

 

Prices: P700 (36 pcs. caramel cupcakes; P925 (36 pcs. decadent chocolate); P1065 (24 pcs. red velvet) –KG, GMA News