Hilary Duff (blog/Twitter) is an indescribably quirky 20-year-old who loves multimedia journalism, cycling, food blogging, and churning massive amounts of baked goods out of her cramped student kitchen. When she’s not living the chaotically busy life of a Carleton journalism student, she also enjoys winter jogging and exploring the ins and outs of her Ottawa neighbourhood.
Ladies and gentlemen of the blogging world, I am going where no blogger has gone before. In a mission of tastiness and partial disregard for my health, I hereby begin my search for Ottawa’s perfect cupcake.
Hilary Duff
So how is this going to work?
Well, I plan on visiting all the cupcake shops/bakeries in Ottawa so I can relay my findings back to you through the magic of words and pictures.
But here’s a full disclosure: I’m not pretending to be any sort of food critic or cupcake connoisseur. Heck, I’m just a university student who thinks that any type of cheap dessert is awesome. But I am, dear readers, a cupcake lover, and I hope this love alone can help me in naming the top cupcake in the city.
I believe that eating a cupcake is an experience.
This being said, in addition to judging cupcakes on their level of decadence, I’ll also be ranking the overall atmosphere and vibe of cupcake’s environment (read: I will sit in your bakery and lurk about until I get a feel for the place).
My goal is to hit up at least one bakery a week (maybe two if I’m feeling really ambitious and sugar deprived). Also, since I will likely be travelling to some bakeries out in the middle of nowhere, I will probably have some pretty decent OC Transpo adventure stories to share…
Last but not least, I know that Ottawa has plenty of privately operated bakeries/caterers, so if you want me to try your cupcake you’ll have to let me know!
Please feel free to comment on this post or tweet at me (@hilaryduffcu).
Let the Ottawa Cupcake Challenge begin!
I once stood in line for an hour and a half at New York City’s Magnolia Bakery…just to see what all the cupcake buzz was about.
Let me tell you: it was delicious.
The best local cupcake I ever had, which gave NYC a run for its money, was baked by Cara Rowlands at #SMBOttawa. Wait, maybe they were muffins. Does that count?
Check it out: http://polkadotapron.posterous.com/
Muffins definitely count! I once made cupcakes based off of my mom’s pumpkin muffin recipe. After I disguised it with piles of icing and filling there was no way anyone would ever suspect it had once been a muffin. Also, highly considering a cupcake tour across North America after this!
My personal favourite is Isobel’s Cupcakes on Beechwood Dr. I’ve got a strong sweet tooth and I have travelled across the city to find favourites in such categories as cheesecakes, creme brule, specialty cookies, brownies, etc. It’s crazy to think that I’d travel across the city for what amounts to be something relatively inexpensive…but when something’s good, you just gotta have it I guess.
Hi Alex, thanks for the comment! I’ve already heard two good things about Isobel’s so that may be the next shop I check out. Also, I sympathize with your sweet tooth and greatly admire the steps you’re taking to find the best desserts in Ottawa (a worthy cause). You’ll have to share your favourites with me one day!
Alex – feel free to get in touch with us at LTOttawa@gmail.com if you’d like to write a guest post about a non-cupcake topic!
You should definitely hit up Second Avenue Sweets in the Glebe. Those cupcakes are delicious. There’s also the Flour Shoppe, though I’ve been really disappointed with their cupcakes. If you need any help, Hilary, I’d be happy to volunteer my services!
Hi Margaux, I’ll add Second Avenue Sweets and the Flour Shoppe to my list of places to try out. I appreciate your willingness to help.. if I start getting massive amounts of cavities and heart problems from this quest, I may have to take you up on that offer, haha
My favourite cupcake business in Ottawa, sadly, is now defunct: Three Cheers Cupcakes. They made amazingly good treats, typically vegan, that sold at events and the Xpresso Cafe on the edge of the Market on George. Maybe someone good has replaced them?
Otherwise, check out Three Tarts in Westboro. (But go in the morning! Their good stuff sells out early, especially on weekends.)
Aww man! Closed down cupcake businesses are the worst. I’ll have to do a bit of digging and see if they’re still selling their cupcakes somewhere else in the city. I’ll keep you posted! I’ve never been to Westboro before, so this will be an exciting adventure for me – I’ll add Three Tarts to my list, thanks!
A comment from the lovely and talented Don @foodiePrints:
Here are my personal 2 favourite cupcake bakers/bakeries
Baker Jenny Burgesse of Geek Sweets. Jenny doesn’t have a storefront. She takes orders through her website/blog: http://geeksweets.squarespace.com/. Think inspired flavour combination, crumb that matches the cupcake concept (oh she is creative), and of course incredible care with decoration. Her sugar work for cakes and cupcakes can be breathtaking.
Little Cakes. Ask for Baker Shakira. They also don’t have a storefront, but their wonderful cupcakes can be found at the Timothy’s at Bayshore from time to time. They mostly sell their cupcakes through their website: http://www.littlecakes.ca/ and e-mail. Always a moist cake with non-shortening-based frosting.
Now, you can’t do a cucpake round-up without visiting Ottawa’s first dedicated brick and mortar cupcakery, Melissa Somers’ The Flour Shoppe(Isobel’s is a good cupcakery, but it didn’t start out as one). Address: 617 Bank Street Website: http://theflourshoppe.ca/
I haven’t tried Baker Mandy Loo’s vegan cupcakes, but her other vegan bakery is fab! It’s amazing what textures she achieves without eggs or butter. Address: 507 Bronson Avenue Website: http://www.auntieloostreats.ca/
I have been amazed by the textures of Dolci: A Gluten-Free Bake Shop’s bakery. Again, I haven’t tried their cupcakes. Website: http://www.dolcibakeshop.com/
When you are tired of cupcakes, may I suggest contacting the wonderful Paula, The Vanilla Bean Baker? Her cookies warm the heart on the coldest days! Website: http://vanillabeanbaker.wordpress.com/order-info-pricing/
WOW, thanks for all this info Don (and thanks Jessey for passing it on to me)! I’m adding all these places to my list, which is growing longer and longer by the hour. I can’t wait!
I haven’t tried Isobel’s but I have tried the cookies – which are fabulous! I imagine the cupcakes would be just as good. I’m a big fan of Three Bakers & A Bike on Wellington. The bakery’s ‘baby cakes’ (serves two/three people) are a great option if you want to ‘share’ a cupcake. I’m an avid baker myself and just diving into Martha Stewart’s Cupcake Book – will test out something pink and pretty for Valentine’s Day.
Hi Andrea, I’ll let you know how the cupcakes at Isobel’s are as soon as I try them! I’ve also added Three Bakers & A Bike to my “cupcakes to try” list. Good luck with your baking – let me know how your Valentine’s treats work out
I’m also trying to work out my V-Day baking schedule…
how much fun are you going to have! I did a cupcake crawl of NYC and sampled many a cupcake in San Francisco – next is going to be Ottawa – in the summer, when it’s warm and I can walk to my selected locations :0) This is certainly a culinary adventure I look forward to keeping tabs on.
The link below will take you to the first of my cupcake adventures :0)
http://thetwistedchef.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/crawling-my-way-through-nyc/
I am going to have SO much fun! My roommates are also very excited for this adventure, and are hoping to accompany me around to a lot of the shops, haha. I have never heard of a cupcake crawl before, but it sounds like something I need to add to my bucket list! Thanks for the link to your post. Looking at your pictures made me so hungry! Luckily I have a lot of options to suppress my sugar cravings…
What a noble and worthy project you’re taking on
Ottawa has some great cupcakes and I’m glad to see that we’ll be included in your quest (we’ve met Hilary a few times since we’ve been open!) Be sure to take a look at our flavour schedule to help you decide what day you’ll be coming in! Mini cupcakes are available by advance order if you’d rather do a “tasting menu” – may be a bit easier on your “health”!
Good luck and have fun!
Melissa
Hi Melissa, I’ve been checking your schedule frequently trying to decide on the perfect day to visit! I’ll pop over to you guys sometime this week
See you soon! Hilary
Hilary! This sounds like an amazing opportunity. Don’t forget to check out the new cupcake place on Bank street in centretown. Let me know if you need a cupcake tasting buddy!!
Gord – I checked Thimble Cakes out earlier this week, it was the first place I went! My post on it should be up in a few days =) Also, I tweeted that we should go to one of the cupcake places on my list sometime this week. I’d love to have a fellow food expert and friend come along with me (since my roommates refuse to experience every sugar crash with me)!
I was looking at the picture and now I have to make pumpkin cupcakes. How do you make the cream cheese filling? Do you just beat it until smooth?
Hilary also moonlights as a bit of a baking genius: check out http://www.hilarymakes.com
Hi Josephine. Thanks for your comment! I’ve copied and pasted the link to my blog where I make pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese filling. I hope you enjoy them!
http://hilarymakes.com/2010/09/30/pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-filling-and-a-brown-sugar-icing-whew/
My favourite cupcakes are yours Duff
Hahaha, awww thanks Iman, you’re too sweet =)