Cupcake Showdown

Cupcakes are taking over the world...and my kitchen! From Throwdown with Bobby Flay to Cupcake Wars, the tiny treats are still a hot trend that has lasted surprisingly longer than I ever imagined it would. With that said, I realized it was time to do an OFFICIAL cupcake survey.

I took some of SoCal's most popular cupcakes and conducted my own taste test. Disclaimer: I don't like frosting that much and I especially don't like cream cheese or buttercream frosting, so my opinion may not matter to you. However, I'm not opposed to tasting a cupcake with the offending frostings, but it better be damn good.

- Sprinkles: the pioneer. I've had the chai cupcake and liked the flavor. didn't exactly knock my socks off.

- Yummy Cupcakes: super cute and creative. makes a great presentation...i would know...I've purchased dozens for clients simply because they are adorable, but they are a bit dry for my taste.

- The Cupcake Store: I've only been to the Downtown Disney location, but man was the chocolate cupcake perfection! mmm...so moist and rich, not a ton of frosting, but just enough to make it perfect! In fact, I like this one so much that I decided to step up my own cupcake game because I must be better than my competition =)

- Famous Cupcakes: The only red velvet cupcake that I have ever enjoyed. Ever. I really don't understand what the big deal is about this flavor, but Famous cupcakes definitely does it right.

- Frosted: Most of the flavors that were available when I visited the LB location had cream cheese frosting, so I tried the Nutella cupcake. Unlike other cupcakeries that frost with Nutella (like out of the jar), Frosted at least makes a frosting that incorporates the chocolate-hazelnut spread. Not bad, but I haven't tried enough flavors to decide if I would go back.

- Auntie Em's - Texas-sized cupcake with way too much frosting. I cut into my cupcake and it was actually half cupcake, half frosting. I took a small bite and immediately got a sugar rush. Not my favorite way to enjoy dessert.

- Babycakes - the Torrance cupcakery has great flavors...my faves are the mocha and cherry cheesecake. Moist and delicious...what more could you want from a cupcake? Click here to see the complete review.

So...today's winner in the cupcake survey? The Cupcake Store! Agree? Disagree? Try them out and let us know what you think!