Photos & Sweet Company: New York City Cupcake Crawl (Cupcake Cafe, Amy’s Bread, Kyotofu, Magnolia Bakery)
New York City is full of cupcake surprise, some almost on every corner. During our epic cupcake crawl with blogger buddies, Aaron and Norbert, we decided to put some of the more famous ones to the test.
Our adventure began at the famed Cupcake Cafe on 41st Street and 9th Avenue. Cupcake Cafe ‘s wares are works of art: buttery blossoms that sprout flowers of every shade on moist cakes that run the gamut from vanilla to maple. One part eye candy, and the other part a confectioner’s museum piece.
We tasted them in record time until there was nothing left except the buttery wrappers.
Then we went uptown for a few blocks to Amy’s Bread, a sliver of a store and already a legend in New York. The current cupcake specials were of the Easter variety.
Above, the crew and I. We mean business. From left to right in the picture above: Norbert, Matthew Minucci (aka “hubby” & “photog”), Aaron.
The magic of natural food coloring played a leading role in these cupcakes. But don’t be fooled: they were easily the best we tasted during the crawl. The cake itself was moist but not too buttery, and the frosting was perfect — not too sweet.
The spring interlude of cherry blossom, lit the few 9th Avenue blocks we walked, making Monets of corners.
Our next stop, Kyotofu, is another sliver of a place (aren’t most stores in New York City?) located on 9th Avenue between 49th and 48th. A Japanese dessert place that serves vegan and green tea cupcakes and soy ice cream, this is a must visit for all dessert lovers. New York Magazine voted it home of the “Best Cupcake” and we agree that its healthy and light treats leave you sated without feeling heavy.
The decor gets an A+ rating. It’s sparkling clean, and very feng shui. A lot of detail went into making this shop pristine, perfect and calm.
Above: chocolate & matcha green tea cupcakes from Kyotofu. The shop also serves sake, shochu, beer and wine.
Then we headed to Magnolia Bakery near Rockefeller Center, famous for its cameo appearance in Sex and the City. The store entertains visitors with its visually appealing treats in many flavors, from pumpkin, pistachio, red velvet and vanilla buttercream. On our way there, the rain started to pour buckets. But the line to Magnolia was out the door! We actually had to stand outslde for about five minutes with our drugstore umbrellas, bravely trying to survive the storm. We were also delighted to finally meet Lisa from ChickyBus at Magnolia. Blogger reunions are fun!
Below, the illustrious women and men of Magnolia Bakery, trying to keep calm despite the overwhelming demand for baked goods.
Our first blogger cupcake crawl was a triumphant success and ended on a sugar high and a positive note. We tasted several masterpieces, and soon I felt like Michael in “The Office” when he crashes on his birthday from a sugar high. Every place we visited was so well worth the stop, and made us realize how fortunate we are living in the Big Apple. Only New York could offer so many cupcake stores within a few square miles.
Feeling like you missed out? If you’re in the area and want to join in on our next crawl, leave a comment below. Spread the sugar love!
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Let the record show that I will not be blackmailing you to take that photo down!
Alas 'twas a fun afternoon! Now I wish I'd tried one of the cupcakes at Kyotofu!
Blackmail!!!!!!
Looked like you guys had a lot of fun, but how you went home without tummyaches is beyond me!
We didn’t eat everything in sight
Just a nibble here and there, sort of like wine tasting.
OMG! I can't get over all of the scrumptious cupcakes you captured in these tantalizing photos!! I want one now!!
Great post and fantastic photography!!!
Jeff
I know, it was pretty awesome. Hope you can join us on the next round my friend!
I am drinking my morning cup of coffee, wishing I could taste some of these incredible treats.
They were pretty awesome, Ted. Thanks for checking it out!
Yumm, now that I'm at work and reading this I'm drooling over the cupcake pics… lol Hmm, it's ok, I'll hold the blackmail money for other "more compromising" photos… lol
I definitely had a great time at the Cupcake Crawl, and I agree, Amy's Bread cupcakes are the best ones!
Norbert, I should have supersized that photo of you stuffing your face
I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooo jealous!!! Why on earth did we not know each other when I lived in NYC? Boo! But, I'm so glad you guys had such an awesome time. YUM!!!
Next one will be in Charlotte!
I had a great time with you guys. I did miss few of the cup cake spot but I get to catch up with the last two. I love what I brought too. Thank you for putting this event togather sweetie. You're the best.
Great time, all! Special thanks to Norbert and Aaron for the candid open-mouth-insert-cupcake poses. Very genuine.
ummmm… i think you should do a cupcake crawl part II… because I would definitely be in! haha
Sounds like a delicious way to spend the afternoon. Although, I don't know how you guys ate several cupcakes in a few hours. I think I might have trouble stomaching all of that sweetness.
We didn’t (at least I didn’t). I had one, and a quarter of another, that’s it. It was more about the pictures and the company.
Those cupcakes look delicious!
They were, ask Aaron. He ate most of them! I only had 1.25!
Wow! That crawl looks awesome, and the pictures, well, they look delicious. You've got me really jonesing now for a cupcake or three.
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Oh, yum! This is right in my neck of the woods, but I've never had the cupcakes from Amy's Bread. I'll have to check them out!
I really hope you come to the next one!! I’m thinking of organizing another soon for the fall
Amazing! I'd recognize those Cupcake Cafe or Magnolia confections anywhere!
They are so signature— and MAYJOH!!
You are the devil! Why did you send me this link? Now I have to go out and get a cupcake. I've just lost 15 pounds and you have wrecked it! I must say I have tried Magnolia, but it was only ok. It didn't keep me from finishing my cupcake or banana pudding, however.
A couple of years ago my friend took me on a cupcake crawl around NYC (okay, we were also looking for polka dotted scarves). It was fun how each place had its own distinct style.
It’s amazing how many cupcake places there are in NYC: every alley and nook results in a discovery. Some are found in food trucks! You should definitely come for the next cupcake crawl!
Think that’s worth getting a flight across the pond! I’m there in spirit…and taste buds!
Ah thank you! I’d love to have you over for the next cupcake crawl