(Sigh) I’ll be honest, I’ve been avoiding this review for a while. That’s what happens when you meet the owners of an establishment and they’re nice to you! Alas, the truth had to come out eventually…. Magnolia Cupcakes… are not good. There- I said it. The frosting is both extraordinarily sweet and bland while the cake is often times dry.
Furthermore, horror of all horrors, they don’t even use cream cheese frosting on their (hyper) Red Velvet cupcakes! Instead, it’s a marshmallowy whipped vanilla icing. My friend’s birthday had both Hansen’s Cakes Cupcakes (on the left below) and Magnolia Cupcakes (on the right).
Look how artificially red the Magnolia’s cupcake is!
Everyone agreed that Hansen’s made a way better red velvet (I mean, it’s really no competition when you don’t even have cream cheese frosting!)
On a positive note, I love Magnolia’s slightly smaller size and wonderful frosting to cake ratio. They also make a phenomenal Banana Pudding!
For more information on Magnolia Bakery, click here.
I feel the same way! Everyone raves about it, I don’t get it.
Awww how sad for this review. When I first moved to NY I would walk to Magnolia Bakery every sunday night and get the vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting. I disagree that they’re dry, I actually found them to be quite moist especially in comparison to Crumbs and other bakeries/cupcakeries. You hit the nail on the head about the red velvet cupcake, it’s flat out gross. That frosting does not compliment it and I’m honestly surprised they haven’t realized that the whipped cream and red velvet cake combo is not working…
i have yet to go – i guess i’ll save the trip? but i loved the ones in NYC!
I would have to agree! Their icing was way to sugary and the cake was a bit dry. Crumbs is SO much better!
I’ve never tried cupcakes form Magnolia but everybody’s always talked only the best about them. I hope I will have a chance to try them once!