Take a trip to just about any town in Marin County and you’re likely to stumble across some type of independent bakery. It’s these bakeries that deserve a little more love and appreciation for the joy they bring to both someone’s stomach and someone’s day. The Redwood Bark recently tried a treat universal to any bakery–their cupcakes–and reviewed them based on appearance, moisture, frosting, and the overall experience of consuming the cupcake. Red Velvet was the cupcake tested at each bakery.
TEACAKE BAKE SHOP…$3.25
Located in the Town Center shopping mall, Teacake is often busy with shoppers stopping for a light treat. The store is small and crowded on a weekend day, so there is a bit of a wait. However, the atmosphere is a fun one because their bakery operations are visible to the customers.
Seeing the cupcakes emerge from the oven and slide onto the shelves makes for a more personal cupcake-buying experience. However, as the cupcakes seem to be perfectly frosted, they look almost too well-balanced. The cupcakes look less like they were made in your grandmother’s kitchen and more like they were sent down a baker’s assembly line. The cupcake looks dry at first sight, and after peeling off the paper wrapper, it almost immediately drops crumbs onto the table. The appearance was not deceiving, meaning that after consuming the cake in just a few bites, a tall glass of milk was in order. My mouth was left feeling dry.
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES… $3.99
This hidden gem of a bakery is located off of Tamal Vista Boulevard and sits among other small, quaint stores. This store is not so much a cupcake shop as it is a bundt cake store that makes cupcake-sized bundt cakes, or “Bundlets”.
Walking in is easy, as the store always appears to be empty, however, rather than being greeted by the smell of cakes baking in the oven there was an overwhelming scent of cleaning solution. The store offers soft and tasty sample bites to anyone who sets foot in the store, which are a big mistake if not buying anything was a goal.
The bundt cake was placed in a small plastic container, but after a few attempts to remove it from the plastic, my frustration mounted. The cake was so moist that it stuck to any surface it came in contact with, including fingers. When enjoying this treat, it is good to know that many, many napkins are needed. While looking back on this cake, the only word that comes to mind is “moist.” It tasted great with chocolate chips making a surprise appearance, but it could have been more flavorful. However, the next time I head back there I’ll be sure to bring a few paper towels with me.
SUSIE CAKES… $3.00
Just to the right of CVS/Pharmacy in the Bon Air shopping center, Susie Cakes sits amid shadows. However, upon entering the store, the open space and airy feel make choosing a cupcake from their displays a pleasant experience. Priced at $3, the cupcake feels worth the price after gazing at the perfectly swirled buttercream frosting, dotted with flecks of multi-colored sprinkles. Upon the first bite, the warm cupcake’s rough texture complemented the frosting’s smooth consistency. It is the happy medium between the previous two in terms of both moisture and appearance, but it also had a little bit of crunch that the other two did not have. Should I crave another cupcake sometime soon, I know where I’ll be spending my $3.
