10 Best Cupcake Shops in Los Angeles

By Elina Shatkin Mon., Mar. 5 2012 at 9:00 AM

The gourmet cupcake bubble should have burst -- long ago. For some reason, it hasn't. New bakeries claiming they specialize in cupcakes seem to pop up every month. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? How do you know which bakeries are selling desiccated supermarket cupcakes at inflated prices and which are selling rich, moist, freshly made wonders? Read on.

10. The Oinkster:
Better known for its and burgers, The Oinkster makes cupcakes that could rival those at most bakeries in town. The cupcakes are dense with a consistency closer to heavy cornbread than traditional cake, and they come in only a few flavors. The best one is PBJ. 2005 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock.

9. Vanilla Bakeshop:
Offering elegantly decorated mini and full-size cupcakes, this small Santa Monica shop offers the basics (vanilla, chocolate, red velvet) as well as a half-dozen specialty flavors that rotate every day: banana chocolate chip, Meyer lemon raspberry, strawberries and cream, marshmallow graham and more. The Key Lime cupcake is the most stunning. 512 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica.

8. Polkatots Cupcakes:
The vibe is kid-centric rather than chic, but the flavors are gourmet. Among the specialty options, the best is the Dolcissimo: a dose of dulce de leche in the cake and the buttercream frosting. Polkatots is also known for its elaborately decorated cupcake cakes. 720 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena.

7. Auntie Em's Kitchen:
Auntie Em's does only a few flavors, but it does them well. It's a toss-up which flavor is the most acclaimed, but we vote for coconut. The cake is dense yet moist, crumbly and full of intense coconut flavor. Cupcakes come in mini and standard sizes, though "standard" is really more like XL. 4616 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock.

Turn the page for #6, etc...

Location Info

Venue

Map

Frosted Cupcakery

1200 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Restaurant

1 user reviews	Write A Review
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Tags:

Bakery, Big Man Bakes, Cupcake, Cupcakery, Cupcakes, Elina Shatkin, Frosted Cupcakery, Joan's on Third, Los Angeles, Magnolia Bakery, Oinkster, Polkatots Cupcakes, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The Oinkster, Vanilla Bakeshop, Yummy Cupcakes

We Recommend

ragsxriches

My favorite is Heavenly Frostings Bakeshoppe in North Hollywood. Can't go wrong with their amazing Godiva Espresso, Red Velvet and Taro cupcakes. So moist! Unfortunately, you have to order ahead of time since they are an online bakeshop for now. Can't wait for them to open a bakeshop; will be the first one in line :D

ragsxriches

Briannarockstheboat@yahoo.com

Yummy cupcakes is amazing

S Reyes6

You need to include Sugar Fix in Pasadena. They're cupcakes are the best! Much better than Sprinkles.

Karen McHale

BigManBakes are the best cupcakes out there! Moist and very flavorful. Yummy Cupcakes are overrated and dry.

Ezraeelian Bernadet

Polkatots Cupcakes: IS THE BEST I LOVE IT LOVE LOVE LOVE IT CAN'T GET ENOUGH

jessica

these are terrible choices!!! have you actually EATEN these cupcakes?!?! yes the pictures are divine, but umm try and eat them. dry and over-hyped each and every one of them. I get better cupcakes from my local farmer's market.

Joaquin

I thought cupcakes peaked in 2001 with Sex and the City. They are the annoying lap dog of baked goods.

Lns370

Notable mention Sweet Red Peach in Inglewwod, CA... Best cupcakes ever!!!

Dessert Darling

As a dessert critic who's reviewed over 500 desserts at DessertDarling.com, I can definitely say I know my cupcakes! I firmly agree with YUMMY Cupcakes and FROSTED Cupcakery being the best as they both won the GOLDEN CHERRY at my site (WOO!). That said, Magnolia and Joans on 3rd will Surely disappoint you- those cupcakes are always substandard. I rate and review desserts with a 5-cherry system, to see more, visit me at DessertDarling :)

Wanda

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Wanda

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Stephen Smythe

Cupcake dreams

Leib Siegel

you have obviously never heard of friandise pastries...sucks for you

roshay

You all have got to try ButterSweet Minis. They've got awesome cupcakes as well!

karin

Vanilla Bakeshop should be #1. And Sprinkles should NEVER be on any top 10 lists unless its the list of worst foods! Raph's $1 cupcakes are better than their heavy tasteless all around gross cupcakes. Just because people stand in line doesn't mean the food is good!

Pauline Adamek

You couldn't find a single place in the San Fernando Valley worthy of mention?! Or did you just not bother going over the hill? Totally LAME "LA" Weekly.

Big Sugar Bakery in Studio City do fantastic work. I used to adore the mini cupcakes at Leda's Bakeshop in Sherman Oaks, but Ledette shut up shop to focus on catering. A sad day indeed :(

The Spleen

Is this the new trend for LA weekly. Out with counter intelligence and in with a bloody 10 best list every other day that no one thinks is spot on? I'm bored of them already.

A guest

I like Brown Sugar LA!

Claudiagurl88

Frosted cup cakes are delicious but, I also love Miss priss cakes in LB

LanaV

Sprinkles are too dry, Vanilla Bake Shop is better, Frosted Cupcakery in a pinch, since I am in the OC and the closest to me is in LB, but since I drive to LA county at least every week, Yummy Cupcakes are the best, just plain YUMMY!

GlendaleResident

The Oinkster is totally overrated! Had the PBJ last week as recommended and it was dry, with very little and very bland jelly. Stick with Big Man bakes

robtak

Awwww... It's like Elina's still there!

...but on to my comment:

I'm angry about something that I like that you left off this list!

Angelina Duplisea

As a fatty, I'm going to agree with the Frosted Cupcakery choice. Their cuppies are the best! Sprinkles & Yummy? Not so much. Both had exceedingly dry and gross cupcakes.

Yanni

I stopped reading when magnolia bakery was on the list. They are some of the most over hyped and awful cupcakes around. The only saving grace for magnolia is their banana pudding.