11 February 2015

Best of Canberra Taste Off - Cupcakes

9 February 2015 | Sophia Carlini

I was very surprised this week when I scrolled through the recommendations for Canberra’s best cupcakes. Our readers seemed to agree that the best cupcakes are home-made. Maybe we need a best of home-made cupcakes article?!

There were a couple of businesses named:

Stand by Me in Lyons – Sorry guys, but muffins don’t count as cuppy cakes.

Jazz Apple Cafe – I hate to be negative but I’ve never had a good experience at Jazz Apple. I went into the Civic store last week to buy cupcakes for a friend’s birthday. I was having trouble choosing as I didn’t think they looked overly pretty and was met with unfriendly service. I was disappointed because cupcakes are an experience; they remind me of being a kid. I still get as excited eating a cupcake now as a 25-year-old, as I did when I was five. I didn’t want to buy the cupcakes out of principle but it was late in the day and I didn’t have any other options. In saying all of that, I know a lot of people who really love Jazz Apple cupcakes.

Crafted3 – I have also had Crafted3 cupcakes from various markets and I agree they are good, but I wouldn’t say they are the best I have ever had.

As someone who is passionate about baking, I have made (and eaten) quite a few cupcakes in my time. I’ve spent many years working on my recipe and trialling cupcakes on family and friends. Despite what some may think, there is actually a skill to baking and buttercream is not just buttercream, there are a hundred variations.

I’m not picking a winner this week because I agree with the majority. Cupcakes are always better when they are home-made. It might sound silly but there really is something about baking with love that makes the difference. When businesses bake commercially and on a larger scale, what may have once been a great recipe risks becoming basic, and the love and attention to detail may not be as important anymore.

I know a few people who are petrified of baking, but cupcakes are seriously one of the easiest treats you can make. Everyone loves them, they are super cute, they make fabulous gifts and are very easy to decorate. If you don’t believe me, you should try it for yourself.

These are a few of the cupcakes I’ve made in my kitchen at home.

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thisisme7:41 pm 10 Feb 15

Jazz apple cupcakes suck. Too sweet and bad ratio of cake to frosting. Had one from the fash and treasure markets and it was pretty good! Great butter cream. Dont remember what they were called though. Home made definitely kills it.

Rangi6:52 pm 09 Feb 15

We have tried the Jazzapple ones a couple of times, we won’t ever again. Every cupcake we have tried there on both visits, were dry and stale tasting. They weren’t cheap either. They looked good and sounded tempting but were just gross, and got thrown out.

Sophia Carlini6:18 pm 09 Feb 15

Maya123 said :

Impressive. Do you make the decorations too, as some people I’ve known do. Very skilful that, putting it together petal by petal. I admire the skill, which goes way past the cake making, and the patience for the time consuming job it is. I cook cakes, etc, but I don’t have the patience for intricate decoration. Just icing and some sprinkles. I admire people who do though have the patience. It’s art work.

Thanks for your comment! Yes, I do make the decorations and yes they are ridiculously time consuming but the satisfaction of the finished product is worth it. It takes practice and I watched a lot of YouTube clips to help me master it. Now I can do it at home and get the product I want for way less than buying from a specialty store.

Sophia Carlini6:15 pm 09 Feb 15

Holden Caulfield said :

They look good Sophia. But in this post-Masterchef/MKR world we live it seems simple vanilla cupcakes with nothing more than frosting and chocolate sprinkles would be laughed at.

And yet, I think they’re the best!

I totally agree with you. I think simple cupcakes are the best. The only reason I didn’t upload an image of a plain home made vanilla cupcake with sprinkles was because I don’t think enough people bake and I just wanted to demonstrate that anyone can do it.

Alexandra Craig3:21 pm 09 Feb 15

Maya123 said :

Impressive. Do you make the decorations too, as some people I’ve known do. Very skilful that, putting it together petal by petal. I admire the skill, which goes way past the cake making, and the patience for the time consuming job it is. I cook cakes, etc, but I don’t have the patience for intricate decoration. Just icing and some sprinkles. I admire people who do though have the patience. It’s art work.

Definitely agree. I have a few friends who do it – one is out of control with how clever she is. She’s made everything from a Chanel handbag, to a rubix cube, to a Corolla! I don’t have the patience, nor the skill to pull something like that off – I’m an icing and sprinkles gal too.

Maya1232:47 pm 09 Feb 15

Impressive. Do you make the decorations too, as some people I’ve known do. Very skilful that, putting it together petal by petal. I admire the skill, which goes way past the cake making, and the patience for the time consuming job it is. I cook cakes, etc, but I don’t have the patience for intricate decoration. Just icing and some sprinkles. I admire people who do though have the patience. It’s art work.

Ezy2:28 pm 09 Feb 15

Those cupcakes look legit – Please send some cup cakes over my way for judging purposes.

PS – Stand By Me is in Lyons.

PPS – Their raspberry/passionfruit/white chocolate/lemon curd/coconut meringue yesterday were A+++ would stuff face with again.

Alexandra Craig1:25 pm 09 Feb 15

I still stand by Kingston National Bakery’s cupcakes with the smartie eyes and drawn on chocolate smile! Om nom nom…

Holden Caulfield11:36 am 09 Feb 15

They look good Sophia. But in this post-Masterchef/MKR world we live it seems simple vanilla cupcakes with nothing more than frosting and chocolate sprinkles would be laughed at.

And yet, I think they’re the best!

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