Well, after a big opener over a month ago, I’m finally getting around to posting my first cupcake ratings. I haven’t been able to get out and try as many cupcakes as I’d hoped (although I just finished a delicious Entenmann’s Hallowe’en cupcake) but I’ve got three rated, and that’s enough to kick things off. I’m going to list them in the order I rated them.
The Blue Frog Bakery – Rating: 47
I have enjoyed delicious pastries at the Blue Frog in the past, and honestly, I didn’t even know they made cupcakes. I often park next to the bakery when I have to run into the post office, so one morning, after doing just that, I happened to notice that they had some adorable cupcakes in their rack. Knowing I was going to be rating the Commonwealth’s cupcakes, I decided to start with a local bakery. The cupcakes were vanilla cake, with white frosting, drizzled with chocolate and with a chocolate shard stuck into the frosting. The big disappointment in this particular cupcake was the cake. It was fairly dry with little flavor at all. It was as if they were counting on the frosting alone to carry the cupcake, which for me just doesn’t work at all. The frosting had an interesting flavor, and it was nicely proportional to the cake, but it wasn’t very sweet. All-in-all a disappointing kick-off experience. I will continue to enjoy the Blue Frog’s other pastries, and may even try another cupcake at some point, especially if they make different kinds, but the standard vanilla was definitely lacking.
Kickass Cupcakes – Rating: 57
Much has been said about Kickass Cupcakes in Davis Square, Somerville, and I was eagerly looking forward to trying them out. I was also armed with the comments that accompanied my first cupcake post however, that reported that Kickass’ cupcakes were unreliable… sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I bought an assortment of Kickass Cupcakes, but I didn’t get to the “special” cupcake until it was stale, so I’m not going to count it. The cupcake I rated was vanillla cake with white frosting sprinkled with pink candy crystals. I have to say, I was pretty disappointed with the standard Kickass Cupcake. The cake was marginally better than the Blue Frog cupcake, as was the flavor and proportion of the frosting, however, the Blue Frog cupcake’s frosting was much sweeter (in a positive way). However, there was nothing original about the flavor of the standard cupcake, but I did give it some points for the pink, candy sprinkles, which were fun. There are a host of cupcake flavors listed on the website, so I do plan on trying out some of the other varieties.
Party Favors – Rating: 94
I didn’t want to start with the Party Favors cupcake, because I know how much I love them. Well, I’m happy to say that when faced with my rating system, the Party Favor cupcake still scored strongly. I rated a simple vanilla cupacake with white frosting and a small flower. This is definitely going to be the cupcake to beat, and it is deeeelicious. I ate the chocolate cupcake with white frosting as well, and was amazed how delicious that one was as well. I believe what makes the Party Favors cupcake such a winner is the incredible moistness and delicious flavor of the cake, things that many cupcake makers tend to ignore. Additionally, the sweetness of the frosting is just perfect… that sweet, sugary frosting that I just love. The cupcake with the small flower lends the ease of eating a very high rating, although the more elaborate cupacakes, while potentially earning points for beauty, would be another matter in this category. Party Favors score a perfect rating in the overall attractiveness category; all their cupcakes are just beautiful. Finally, the Party Favors cupcake scores top points in the discretionary for the surprising cream filling within. Again, this is the cupcake to beat in Massachusetts.