Crazy for cupcakes

Cupcake mania is said to have begun with Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Now, it's a global phenomenon, with cupcake stores in places as far as Annam, Jordan. Washington is no exception to the trend. The Diamondback evaluated four of Washington's top cupcake joints: Georgetown Cupcake, CakeLove, Hello Cupcake and Baked & Wired.

Georgetown Cupcake

This tiny store off of M Street was Washington's first cupcake store. The lines on Saturdays are dauntingly long, but their cupcakes are arguably worth the wait. Their flavors are pretty standard, but some do have fun names — for example, a vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing is called "Vanilla2". Some of their more original flavors include "Chocolate Banana" and "Mocha." Georgetown Cupcake is lauded for its use of gourmet ingredients, such as Valrhona chocolate from France and Madagascar bourbon vanilla.

On the "Chocolate3," a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and French chocolate sprinkles, you can taste the cupcakes' premium ingredients. Everything about Georgetown Cupcake is top-notch, except for its one major downfall: the size of the store. The establishment needs to expand or face disheartened customers. Hopefully, this tiny shop will either expand or acquire a second location because one Georgetown Cupcake is simply not enough.

Verdict: Don't go on the weekends.

Georgetown Cupcake is located at 1209 Potomac St., near M Street. The closest Metro station is Foggy Bottom on the Orange and Blue lines. Cupcakes are $2.75 each.

CakeLove

CakeLove, which opened in 2002, is the brainchild of Warren Brown, a former lawyer. Despite his short tenure in the business, Brown already has seven locations spread out through the Washington area. CakeLove is not a cupcake-exclusive establishment — the store sells other baked goods, such as éclairs and brownies.

Love Café, the cozy little sister of CakeLove, was created for people to enjoy CakeLove's baked goods, as well as beverages and light meals, and is located right across the street from CakeLove. The café has an urban feel to it — the walls are exposed brick, and an eclectic mix of tables, booths and ottomans furnish the space.

There are a plethora of tantalizing flavors, such as "Tropical Thunder," which contains coconut and lime. "Mudcream" is a chocolate cupcake with strawberry buttercream frosting, but unfortunately, it leaves the consumer yearning for more. Brown's advice is customers should wait 15 to 30 minutes before eating the cupcakes with buttercream frosting because the butter has to melt first.

Even after waiting, the buttercream had a distressingly lard-like quality to it. The fact that one has to wait is also a drawback — it is hard to stare at a cupcake for 15 minutes without eating it.

Verdict: Don't get a cupcake with buttercream frosting.

CakeLove is located at 1506 U St. Love Café is at 1501 U St. The closest Metro station is U Street on the Green and Yellow lines. Cupcakes are $3.25 each.

Baked & Wired

This adorable shop just off M Street in Georgetown does not just sell cupcakes. Indeed, it has been recognized for its other baked goods, especially its pies. Compared to Georgetown Cupcake, Baked & Wired is a little less well known, but the word is spreading. Its luscious selection of cupcakes include "Carrot Cake" and "Coconut." Baked & Wired's cupcakes fulfill a sugar junkie's wildest dreams, as the icing on them is half an inch thick. Thirst is an inevitable consequence. However, they have arguably the best buttercream frosting in Washington.

The best thing about Baked & Wired is its city-chic atmosphere. The cupcakes are displayed in retro glass cases, and the store itself manages to seem airy and spacious despite being small. The cupcakes are lovingly wrapped in parchment paper, and most have sophisticated little decorations, such as edible silver beads. Its employees are quirky and cool, and they are always up for some banter.

Their flavors aren't shocking or bold but are universally appealing. The best is "Karen's Birthday Cake." The only problem with Baked & Wired is their cupcakes' size — they are massive! However, others may argue this is a plus. 

Verdict: Don't go on a full stomach, and be prepared for a sugar rush. Still, really good cupcakes.

Baked & Wired is located at 1052 Jefferson St. in Georgetown. The closest Metro station is Foggy Bottom on the Orange and Blue lines. Cupcakes are $3.50 each.

Hello Cupcake

Cupcakes are not a manly dessert. Hello Cupcake in Dupont embraces this fact with its stylish, pink décor (think plastic pink chandeliers and sleek marble tabletops). The store was designed by award-winning, university-trained Bill Bonstra.

Hello Cupcake opened in August 2008. Owner Penny Karas argued via e-mail her store is the best because it offers 50 flavors (16-18 of which are in the store on any given day) and has at least one vegan and one gluten-free option every day. 

Their most popular flavor, according to the girls behind the counter, is "Peanut Butter Blossom." "You Tart!" contained impeccably moist cake, and the lemon cream cheese frosting had the perfect consistency. This cupcake would definitely fulfill any lemon cravings one might have. The cake had a tinge of lemon but not enough to overwhelm.

The one imperfection of Hello Cupcake was its somewhat puzzling cupcake name selection — the names of the cupcakes seldom yielded any hint as to their contents.

Verdict: Hello Cupcake for the win! Even if you're adverse to pink, these are the best cupcakes in town. The cupcake-to-frosting ratio is perfect, and there's not much to complain about.

Hello Cupcake is located at 1361 Connecticut Ave. The closest Metro station is Dupont Circle on the Red Line. Cupcakes are $3.00 each.

mwildman@umd.edu