Here we go. I know this is what you’ve been waiting for. Magnolia Bakery: the spot that put New York City cupcakes on the map. And they are still as popular as ever. I have a long history with these famed cupcakes. When I first moved the big city I live in the hip, cool, nabe of Greenwich Village which is home to the original. And it was here that I discovered the power of the cupcake. Lose your MetroCard, wallet, and keys in the same day? Have a cupcake. Escape an awful first date? Cupcakes to the rescue. Celebrations of all kinds call for a cupcake. So I thank you Magnolia for instilling such important life lessons. I only wish you tasted have as good as you used to make me feel.
Upon the first bite into that perfectly frosted cupcake my thoughts are, ” Oh GOD. My teeth are going to fall out.” This is one sweet cupcake. And not saaaweeeeet, a delicious cupcake. More like, sweet Jesus. So that’s where all the sugar went. Nice job for having a fluffy, cupcake with a moist crumb. I just wish it had some flavor. This is a vanilla cupcake. It should taste like vanilla. The frosting is cloyingly sweet, and although it was perfectly thick and creamy there was no balance. I did like the cake:frosting ratio since there was slightly more frosting than cake, which is exactly how it should be. But I didn’t pick up on an subtleties that should be present in the perfect cupcake. Everything reminds me of box cake mix and canned frosting. Which definitely have their place, but not as the Queen of New York City cupcakes.
But a 5-year-old will probably love it. Just be prepared for the crazy sugar high and crash that inevitably follows consuming so much sugar at once. Magnolia cupcakes are not for the #adulting crowd. But their banana pudding is insane. And that is something everyone can get behind.
A part of being a grown-up is graduating from SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR and finding comfort in a well balanced flavor combination. Maybe it’s possible that I can do this adult thing after all.
1240 Avenue of the Americas (@ 49th Street)
New York, NY
Flavor: Vanilla Buttercream
Presentation: 5/5
First Bite: 2/5
Cake: 2.5/5
Frosting: 2/5
Cake:Frosting Ratio: 4/5
Overall: 15.5/25
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