Nostalgic yet contemporary, evocative of fond childhood memories, cupcakes have been around for decades and have made a dessert comeback. Decorated with lavender hearts, fondant petals, and buttercream swirls, the cupcake is a perfectly sized canvas for culinary artists.

Creatively designed stores filled with trays of colorful cupcakes have gained popularity throughout the United States. These bakeries, called cupcakeries, exclusively sell cupcakes that have become part of the modern urban landscape. From elegant soirées and themed baby showers to barbeques and birthday parties, cupcakes are becoming the dessert of choice. For me, a cupcake is my very own morsel of perfectly proportioned cake and frosting in an assortment of innovative flavors like: peanut butter and jelly, chocolate hazelnut, and pink champagne with Italian buttercream.

In addition to its famous monuments and museums, DC has become known as a gourmet cupcake destination. Here are three of my favorites:

Best Chocolate Cupcake

Flourless Chocolate Cupcake from Lavender Moon Cupcakery

Located near the busy waterfront of Old Town Alexandria, the Lavender Moon Cupcakery bakes many delicious flavors. The Flourless Chocolate Cupcake is my favorite and happens to be gluten-free. Owners Tammy and Peter Durkin source organic, sustainable, and local ingredients to create quality treats. In fact, it took Peter Durkin one year of culinary experiments to finally arrive at the perfect recipe.

I love chocolate in all its forms and this dense cake which is made of almond flour, butter, eggs, sugar, and a sinful amount of Callebaut Belgian chocolate is my cupcake dream come true. It is topped with a luscious chocolate mousse frosting and sprinkled with sea salt and almonds. The sea salt is added with a delicate hand and enhances the notes of coffee and richness of cocoa butter that lingers playfully on the palate. The store has a cozy seating area and usually sells out of cupcakes towards the end of the day, so it is good idea to call ahead and reserve a few of the cupcakes in advance.

I like to stop by one of the many coffee shops in the area, like Grape + Bean next door,  for a strong shot of espresso to pair with my Lavender Moon Flourless Chocolate cupcake. The waterfront is only a few blocks away with benches that provide a great view of the many boats and yachts that navigate the Potomac—a great spot to savor your cupcake and espresso.

 

Best Vegan Cupcake

Red Velvet Vegan Cupcake from Sprinkles

Nestled among the charming buildings of Georgetown, Sprinkles makes one of the best vegan cupcakes in DC. Founder Candace Nelson sources fine ingredients like Belgian Callebaut cocoa and vegan sugar, making this Vegan Red Velvet my absolute favorite. Coconut oil replaces butter, resulting in a very moist cake; while cocoa adds layers of flavor. Made of silky, soy-based cream cheese, Madagascar vanilla and sweetened with vegan sugar, the frosting is the star of this ensemble. The company’s green ethics, biodegradable flatware, and sugar-free, yogurt frosted, doggie cupcakes are other alluring aspects to support this business.

Sprinkles serves a rich, hot drinking cocoa in the winter months and coffee and tea all year long. Georgetown’s picturesque waterfront nearby is the perfect spot to enjoy a a cupcake with a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

Best Citrus Cupcake

“You Tart” Lemon Cupcake from Hello Cupcake

Located at Dupont Circle, Hello Cupcake is easily accessible by Metro. Baked with wholesome, seasonal, local ingredients, Hello Cupcake boasts of an array of over 50 unique flavors. My favorite is the bright and refreshing citrus cupcake which is playfully named, “You Tart.” It is composed of lemon cake, topped with lemon cream cheese frosting and yellow sugar crystals. The cake is light and fluffy with zesty, citrus notes of lemon that marry perfectly with the smooth and tangy cream cheese to make a delectable frosting. The sugar crystals add a perfect amount of crunch and flair.

Hello Cupcake has a comfortable seating area, free Wi-Fi and a variety of hot beverages. Pair this cupcake with an aromatic Earl Grey tea for an uplifting mid-morning indulgence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gia Coelho was born in India and holds an MBA in Marketing. She lived in Toronto and has traveled extensively in India and Europe. She now lives outside Washington DC and pursues passions that include wildlife conservation, writing, culinary adventures, painting, and creating colorful Zentangle art that she sells on her Etsy site at www.etsy.com/shop/giacoelho.

Where do you get your favorite cupcakes? Share the name of the store and your favorite flavor below.

Traditional Italian desserts and pastry have been around for centuries. They were perfected by nuns and monks who lived lives of austerity and chastity, producing decadent treats to fund their charitable endeavors. The pursuit of authentic Italian treats led me to Little Italy in New York City, where the magic of the Italian culture has evolved across the generations that migrated to the United States. It was among the traditional stores and restaurants that I discovered Veniero’s Pasticceria and Caffe, a fabulous bakery that serves Italian desserts with a side of old-world charm.

Veniero storefront (photos by Gia Coelho)

Founded by Antonio Veniero of Sorrento in 1894, this old-world Italian bakery and café is located in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood. Eye-catching shelves loaded with pastries of all sizes and shapes are framed by Italian marble floors and copper stamped ceilings. Oodles of vintage charm defines this bakery which is still family owned and operated. The seating area is cozy and serves hot beverages that complement the delicate pastries.

Veniero’s is usually crowded so it is important to take a number from the dispenser and get in line while drooling over the trays of sweets. I sampled several of them and recommend the following:

• the signature chocolate-covered cannoli’s with delightfully crunchy shells, smooth chocolate and a rich ricotta filling
• sponge puffs saturated with rum sauce and filled with a custard or cannoli filling called baba rums
• mini tiramisu rectangles
• layers of puff-pastry and cream called millefoglie
• lobster tail pastry filled with ricotta or French cream called sfogliatelle
• delicious fruit tarts

An assortment of cannolis and sweets (photo by Gia Coelho)

Veniero’s also serves gelato in the back of the store where they have a separate display of cakes and cheesecakes. I selected a generous slice of chocolate raspberry cake to add to my already enormous take-out order and thoroughly enjoyed the sinful combination of silky dark chocolate and tart raspberry jam.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gia Coelho was born in India and holds an MBA in Marketing. She lived in Toronto and has traveled extensively in India and Europe. She now lives outside Washington DC and pursues passions that include wildlife conservation, writing, culinary adventures, painting, and creating colorful Zentangle art that she sells on her Etsy site at www.etsy.com/shop/giacoelho.

What are your favorite Italian desserts and where do you get them? Share your recommendations in the reply section below.

Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is an exciting city that is fast becoming known for its culinary diversity. Its close proximity to Washington, D.C., colonial Williamsburg, and Norfolk makes it easily accessible. I enjoy taking day trips to Richmond that typically include a morning at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and lunch on Cary Street, followed by dessert at Shyndigz. Recommended by a friend, Shyndigz has a cozy ambiance, friendly service, and exceptional sweet treats.

Shyndigz is a unique, desserts-only café that serves menu items like Samoa Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake. Owned and operated by Nicole and Bryon Jessee, the desserts are created using quality ingredients and served in generous portions. I highly recommend these three of my regular favorites:

(Dessert images courtesy of Shyndigz)

1. Salted Chocolate Caramel Cake

Standing tall at five inches, this sumptuous cake is layered with a smooth chocolate buttercream that has a distinctly velvety texture. It is drizzled with a salted caramel sauce that brings out the rich cocoa flavors of the cake. It tastes best at room temperature or slightly warmed up.

2. Peanut Butter Mousse Pie

Quintessential American peanut butter is the undoubted star of this decadent dessert. The pie features a cloud of peanut butter mousse that sits on a crunchy graham cracker crust and a thin layer of gooey chocolate ganache, topped with a generous portion of whipped cream. An ideal dessert for a nut lover, the mousse is smooth and airy and melts in your mouth. It is perfectly complemented by a rich chocolate layer and a cookie crust with a hint of salt.

3. Fresh Fruit Cake

Although I am not usually fond of vanilla cakes, this one definitely won me over. It is a classic, layered vanilla cake with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Nestled between each layer are ripe blackberries, strawberries, pineapple and kiwis. The pure vanilla flavors of the cake and frosting allows the distinctive flavor of each fruit to shine, especially the crunch of the blackberry seeds and the mild acidity of the kiwis.