Let’s talk about what makes a good cupcake. In my opinion, a good cupcake is moist without being heavy, tender but not falling-apart soft. The frosting is flavorful, but not gum-achingly sweet. The ratio of cake to frosting is appropriate, and every mouthful provides an even taste of each. In a perfect world, every cupcake would be beautifully frosted and decorated, but as you and I both know, good cupcakes more frequently come from amateur kitchens helmed by the local PTA president.
We’ll pay upwards of $3 a cupcake for just a small bite of our childhood, a brief flashback to summer days and birthday parties. Who would have known that for just $2.75, you could have one of the greatest cupcakes in town?
Dots Cupcakes in Pasadena has a gorgeous modern glass storefront, not unlike Vanilla Bake Shop, but far more chic. The selection of cupcakes changes daily, but the quality of the cupcakes doesn’t. Hours after purchase, every cupcake is still moist and delicious. The carrot cupcake is sweet and light, and lacks the raisin and pineapple mess usually included in full-sized cakes. Boston cream pie is a delightful cream-filled surprise and looks just as good on the outside as it tastes. The chocobutter also comes highly recommended and visually does not disappoint, each cupcake being topped with a mini peanut butter cup.
At this point in the cupcake trial, I’ve tasted enough cupcakes to start making bold claims as to who the frontrunners may be. Up until this point I’d been leaning towards SusieCakes and Leda’s, but Dots blows them all out of the proverbial water. Head out to Arroyo Parkway to taste for yourself, would love to hear your thoughts!
Dots Cupcakes
400 South Arroyo Pkwy
Pasadena CA 91105
626.568.3687
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1 christianne // Mar 7, 2008 at 8:56 am
Update: had leftover cupcakes that we hadn’t gotten around to consuming, ALL of which were better the 2nd day than many of the cupcakes we’ve been sampling over the past few weeks. Kona (coffee flavor), Banana chocolate chip and Choco-butter… fabulous. This is my absolute favorite cupcake shop to date!
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