Bakeries | Dessert Darling

Archive for Bakeries

Mini Cupcakes by Brown Sugar LA

By Dessert Darling · April 26th, 2013

I found these darling cupcakes by Brown Sugar LA on a Living Social deal and am so happy that I did! The pastry chef, Amy Brown, was top of her class at Le Cordon Bleu and she strives to use the best ingredients in her desserts (a key point for me!). These minis that I brought to Book Club were fresh, bouncy, gently flavored and just overall well rounded. The only thing I noticed was that not many girls got into the them, which highlighted a lack of umph. Perhaps a dash more salt.. or white sugar (?!) would make them a bit more crave-worthy.

For more info on Brown Sugar LA, click here.

Ps: Brown Sugar LA is a virtual bakery, which means they don’t have a store-front right now. Just fyi!

XOXO

Marzipan Treats and Pastries at Berolina Bakery

By Dessert Darling · February 22nd, 2013

Today my friend and I stumbled upon Berolina Bakery in Glendale where I had the most delicious marzipan treat. It was called a “Vacuum” and was basically a small log of mild rum soaked chocolate cake, enveloped by a layer of marzipan, with the sides dipped in a delicate shell of chocolate. The mild rum and almond flavors dominated as the chocolate took a quiet back seat. The Vacuum’s consistency was thick, pasty, and delicious! 5 Cherries for the Vacuum!

The pastry, on the other hand, bored me with it’s thick dried out sides. However, it did have delicious fruit on top! Over all, the Berolina Bakery earns 4.5 cherries for the exquisite Vacuum, which almost makes me forgive and forget the very ordinary pastry.

For more info on Berolina Bakery, click here.

Gluten Free Birthday Cake from Cake & Art in West Hollywood

By Dessert Darling · January 25th, 2013

AhhhH! Ohmygod!!!! I was DYING when my husband surprised me with this special Birthday Cake. Just look at how darling, cute, and adorable it is! To explain, this is a photo of our dog, dressed up as a seal. Best part? There is glitter on Charlie’s little outfit! Yes, leave it to Cake and Art (2011 Golden Cherry winner: see here) in West Hollywood to add that extra touch of magic.

It says: “Happy Birthday Mommy: Daddy and I Love you! Your son, Charlie ‘arf arf.’” So freaking cute.

Cake and Art’s signature vanilla frosting with a hint of amaretto is totally delicious. However, the gluten free cake is still a work in progress. I know they’ve been tinkering with some recipes, but I’m not sure they’ve hit the money spot yet. Making Gluten Free cake is no easy challenge, but I know Cake and Art will rise to the occasion and get it perfect soon. The flavor was great, but the consistency was too dry and firm. That said, I still adore this cake bakery to smithereens. I mean, there’s Glitter on my dog!

Cupcakes at Joan’s on Third

By Dessert Darling · January 18th, 2013

In the window, these well-groomed cupcakes look deliciously inviting. I bought a vanilla/vanilla with white sprinkles and a carrot cake: these different options yielded varying results.

Vanilla/Vanilla: The dense vanilla cupcake let me down. The slightly bland icing needed more vanilla, less sugar. The cake was a bit dry and the topping didn’t really work here. With so many sprinkles piled on, they made for a very crispy experience..like biting into a cookie, rather than a cupcake. The sprinkles also gave off a bit of a waxy, store-bought flavor.

Carrot Cake: Mmmm, Now we’re talking! This little moist cup of cake loaded with flavorful frosting melts in your mouth. If they toned down the salt and amped up the spice a bit, this treat could be a 5-cherry cupcake!

For more info on Joan’s on Third, click here.

Pumpkin Pie from Whole Foods on Fairfax and 3rd

By Dessert Darling · November 19th, 2012

It’s Pie Time and I love nothing more than eating a delicious Pumpkin Pie and justifying the indulgence thanks to the squash’s high levels of fiber and Vitamin A. My girlfriends and I recently tried this gorgeous pie from Whole Foods and swooned in unison. In addition to it’s rich, creamy texture, fresh and delicate balance of flavors, Whole Foods never uses artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives, or trans fats in their baked goods. Yes Yes Yes! I swear guys, this is how you get to eat desserts and stay thin, eat real food!!!

This Pumpkin Pie from the Fairfax and 3rd location was pure perfection.

If you can’t make a Pumpkin Pie from scratch this Thanksgiving, order one from Whole Foods!

XOXO

Best Vegan Carrot Cake by Jamaica’s Cakes in Los Angeles

By Dessert Darling · October 26th, 2012

I’m not vegan, or even vegetarian for that matter, so I was pretty skeptical when I found out the Carrot Cake at my friend’s birthday was vegan. I mean, really!? (I thought)… Vegan Cream Cheese frosting?! Cheese isn’t cheese if it’s not made with cheese, ya know?! Alas, the Cream “Cheese” frosting and the whole cake in general, for that matter, tasted amazing.

Color me impressed.

An easy Golden Cherry win for this Vegan Carrot Cake by Jamaica’s Cakes in Los Angeles!

For more info on Jamiaca’s Cakes, click here.

Carrot Cake from Canters’ Deli and Bakery: the Worst Carrot Cake Ever

By Dessert Darling · August 1st, 2012

No you’re eyes do not deceive you, that really is a half-cherry rating. If there were such a thing as negative cherries, this abominable Carrot Cake from the LA landmark, Canters’ Deli on Fairfax, would surely earn the odious award.

Carrot Cake… right?! How do you go wrong with Carrot Cake?! My dear friend and actress, Autumn Reeser, and I set out to find a a slice of heaven as we both love carrot cake. However, we could not have gone more wrong than we did with Canter’s. “Repulsive” was all Autumn could mutter as she grimaced, gingerly trying small bites.

Autumn thought that the carrot cake resembled a large honkin’ protein bar with waxy glaze and all. Her sentiments were not far off. The “icing” left a terrible taste in our mouths as it managed to have the worst combination of chalky and waxy consistencies. The dried out bread.. oops, I mean “cake,” had barely any seasoning or flavor. Is this place for real!? Canter’s looked gross from the outside, continue to look gross from the inside, and ended up just tasting gross all around. Repulsive, Gross.. what have you.. this cake? Definitely not worth the weight!

For more info on Canters’ Deli on Fairfax, click here. (Ha, like you want it now

XOXO

Gluten Free Brownie at the Black Cat Bakery on Fairfax

By Dessert Darling · July 8th, 2012

Last week it delighted me to catch up with the hilarious Ben of BsideBlog at the Black Cat Cafe on Fairfax. Together we enjoyed this Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie. The brownie’s consistency resembled a cake more than anything, but the yummy frosting on top and chocolate chips throughout yielded the necessary richness to make this dessert a satisfying chocolate experience. Additionally, I’ve enjoyed all my savory meals at the Black Cat Cafe. Yay- I love me a good neighborhood joint with fresh, healthy options (chocolate and all ).

For more info on the Black Cat Bakery, click here.

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery

By Dessert Darling · May 15th, 2012

(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.

Society Bakery in Dallas, Perhaps the Sweetest Ever!

By Dessert Darling · May 14th, 2012

YeeHaw! Society Bakery in Dallas nearly earns 5 cherries for the concepts alone! First off: Bread Pudding Woopie Pies. Holy Smokes- GENIUS! These creative Whoopies have a distinct cinnamon presence and a sassy secret ingredient in the cream cheese frosting that makes them super delish!

Secondly: the name “Society” doesn’t stand for “high society,” but rather, this incredible bakery gives back to society, donating to over 100 different charities, schools, and non-profit organizations a year! Wow-wee! Now what could be sweeter than that?

If you’re in the Dallas area, you Must check out Society Bakery!

Archive for Bakeries

Mini Cupcakes by Brown Sugar LA

Marzipan Treats and Pastries at Berolina Bakery

Gluten Free Birthday Cake from Cake & Art in West Hollywood

Cupcakes at Joan’s on Third

Pumpkin Pie from Whole Foods on Fairfax and 3rd

Best Vegan Carrot Cake by Jamaica’s Cakes in Los Angeles

Carrot Cake from Canters’ Deli and Bakery: the Worst Carrot Cake Ever

Gluten Free Brownie at the Black Cat Bakery on Fairfax

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery

Society Bakery in Dallas, Perhaps the Sweetest Ever!

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