Cupcake Tour of North America - Kara's Cupcakes

Hello Darlings,
I'm back home, safe and sound.

So, last you checked in I was telling you about my trip to Vancouver and Cupcakes... well once I left Vancouver, I took a quick trip south to San Francisco. I was dying to try 'That Takes The Cake' but low and behold they were closed on the days I was in San Fran... needless to say, I was quite sad... luckily I stumbled across another cupcake shop and a smile came back to my face when I saw the words 'organic cupcakes'!

If you haven't been following me for long, you may not know how much I love the health food store. No, I'm not a freak about what I eat, I eat take-out and 'normal' food, but I love the special diet variations and organic offerings the health for store has waiting. I often bake gluten-free and lactose free treats, and don't include nasty chemicals, (like red dyes) in my baking. I would rather have a few extra calories and know I'm eating real sugar and farm fresh butter than take in the endless chemicals and damages of sugar substitutes that are deemed unsafe for pregnant women and fat substitutes in margarine if I can have the choice. Ok, jumping down off my soap box.

While in San Francisco I had to make a trip to the famous Ghiradelli Square. A bright outdoor shopping area with some sweet offerings. Upstairs and right in the center of the square is Kara's Cupcakes. A little pink cupcake shoppe that bakes almost entirely organic cupcakes.

They offer a selection of about 12 cupcakes each day, and they are nicely displayed in a lit, below counter, windowed section.

Sweet and simple cupcakes with great flavors like Smores, Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Velvet. The shop is clean and simple with a few chairs and counter seating, they serve cupcakes, water, milk and coffee. But what else do you really need? For my first trip here (yes I said first) I got chocolate velvet, a chocolate cupcake with velvety bitter sweet chocolate buttercream rolled in chocolate bits and passion fruit, a vanilla cupcake with passion fruit filling and vanilla buttercream topped with what appears to be a signature kara's fondant flower.

The chocolate cake was moist and moderately dense, just perfect. The chocolate buttercream was light and truly velvety and the chocolate (no doubt ghiradelli) sprinkles it was rolled in added that extra touch of bittersweet chocolate that I love. The passion fruit...OH MY GOD! To DIE for!!! The vanilla cupcake was sweet and sumptuous, really moist and creamy. The passion fruit filling really packed a punch, but was just a squirt, so it wasn't overwhelming. The vanilla buttercream was so light and so buttery with a sweet hint of real vanilla. Best buttercream I have ever tasted, EVER! The cute little flower on top was a light citrusy fondant that was actually enjoyable to eat. So good, I had to go back.

And so, two days later, I did just that. And this time, the place was packed. A line up right out the door. My first time through I had my eye on these...

Raspberry Dazzle, a chocolate cupcake with raspberry cream filling and raspberry buttercream. Sadly by the time it was my turn to order, they were all gone (dag nabit)! So I looked through the other options and chose Meyer Lemony Lemon... a vanilla cupcake with lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream. Again, incredibly delicious. I think if Kara's came to Toronto I would be a very chubby bunny...and likely their best customer. As you might have guessed, although I did not get a chance to taste any other cupcakes in San Francisco, I highly recommend, if you are in the area to go to Kara's Cupcakes. I will forewarn that the cupcakes are 3.25 each...but they are so worth it. I will admit, as much as I love cupcakes, I often find it hard to eat a whole cupcake at once. I'm more of a mini cupcake person myself. But I easily downed these cupcakes in a few minutes. NOM NOM NOM.

Down to the review part. I give Kara's 5 out of 5 (bet you didn't see that coming, haha).
Yes the price was a little high, but such is the way of the world right now when you want fresh organic, healthy ingredients. The recipes I'm sure are old fashioned, something your grandma would have kept in her recipe box, but with modern twists like salted caramel cupcakes. Oh dear, I'm drooling on my keyboard again... I applaud you Kara. Your cupcakes are delicious, simple but interesting flavors, simple but sweet and classic decorations and organic wholesome ingredients. Well done!

On a personal note, for my dear friends in Toronto, I'm giving up my space and will be back home for a while until I can find a more central location. I'm sorry for any inconvenience or further drives this may cause, but I promise it is not permanent or long term. Since I will be leaving the city soon, I'm going to try and stop into a cupcake shop in my (soon to be) former neighborhood and let you know what's happening in the cupcake world downtown.

I hope you've enjoyed traveling with me, and maybe you'll get a chance to try out some of these cupcakes yourself. If you've been to Kara's cupcakes, tell me what you thought of their product!

Until next time,
Happy baking, caking and decorating!

Love and sprinkles, xoxo