Don’t judge a cupcake by it’s cover. Boy did I learn this lesson from Sweet Lady Jane, the bakery made famous by stars like Jennifer Lopez and Bruce Springsteen for having their wedding cakes made by this chi chi cakery in WeHo and Santa Monica. Once you know one, you can spot a SLJ cupcake from 3 tables away. They’re the most darling creations you ever did see, a harmony of pastel colors blossoming into beautiful floral creations. They look like the perfect addition to any tea-party, young and old.

Just don’t bite into one.  I did so at a birthday dinner and wanted to spit it out immediately. The “frosting” was so dense it was like biting into a cold stick of butter, but even Butter has more flavor than the bland, sculpted brick topping these cakes. I’d been to SLJ a few years ago to order a friend’s cake.  I sampled everything and was extraordinarily disappointed by the lackluster cakes, steep prices, and rude service (It’s a cake shop! Where does “mean” factor into the equation? Should be the happiest place on earth to work!) The one cake that passed my palette was the Dulce De Leche. This was the only sample that had any flavor (like brown sugar) and some semblance of texture in the frosting (versus a smooth, hard stick of cold lard).

I know that some people enjoy the fact that SLJ cakes aren’t overly sweet. Well, if you don’t want something sweet, how ’bout not having dessert? There’s always butter in the fridge. Just a thought~

Click here for more info on Sweet Lady Jane

XOXO