New Jersey's 6 Best Cupcake Shops
Because of their versatility, cupcakes have taken the nation by storm. Specialty bakeries dedicated solely to cupcakes are springing up throughout New Jersey, all with their own gourmet twist and creative design for the delectable dessert. CBSNewYork takes a look at the highlights. By Emily Tamburri.
See Also: NYC's Best Desserts | Best Chocolate In New York | NJ's Best Wineries
Editor's Pick: Confections Of A Rock$tar
550 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park, NJ
(732) 455-3510
coarock.com/Home1.html
MORE: The Jersey Shore's 5 Best Restaurants
This isn't your mama's bakery! Owner Kimmee Masi, rock drummer by day, baker by night, combines her two loves in this Asbury Park bakery: Music and dessert. When you first walk into Confections, you might be fooled into thinking you're in a music shop -- with instruments adorning the walls and rock videos playing on the TV, but that will instantly change once you see the display case. There you'll find a variety of aptly-named cupcakes like the "Oreo Speedwagon" (a vegan chocolate cupcake with Oreo frosting), the "Don't Be Cruel" (Banana cake with peanut butter frosting topped with honey-dipped bacon) and "Strawberry Fields" (Strawberry cake with lemon buttercream frosting). Confections also offers cake pops, cake shots, cookies and custom theme cakes made to order for any occasion. They also have a dog-friendly cupcake "The Hound Dog" for your four-legged friends that is sure to please (my dog devoured it). Kimmee and crew are always coming up with new flavors, so I strongly suggest you stop by if you're ever in Asbury Park. Or make a special trip – you'll be glad you did. They make cake rock! - Billie Rama, Managing Editor, CBSNewYork.com
Sweet Avenue Bake Shop
153 Park Avenue
Rutherford, NJ 07070
201-935-8853
sweetavenuebakeshop.com
For vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike, Sweet Avenue's vegan cupcakes are spectacularly sweet and far from bland. The eccentric cupcakes are on a rotating menu, so you'll be sure to have a new surprise selection each time you visit. Offering both mini and regular-sized sweetness, these cupcakes run the gamut from traditional, to filled to specialty picture-screened toppings. Recent pop culture-oriented favorites have include Super Bowl XLVII cupcakes, the Steve Jobs Apple Cupcake, The Charlie Sheen Tiger Blood Cupcake and the Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcake.
Mr. Cupcakes
1216 Van Houten Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-859-0180
mrcupcakes.com/index.html
With three different locations in Clifton, Oradell and The Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack, your sweet tooth can't hide from Mr. Cupcakes! These little cake morsels are astonishing, not only for 40+ varieties offered every day, but that the flavor comes from baking the ingredients right into the cupcakes—no filling here! Varieties like French Toast, Fruity Pebbles and Strawberry Shortcake are just some of the creative creations that line the Mr. Cupcakes shelves year round, with others such as S'mores and Tiramisu making a temporary menu appearance, so get them while they last!
Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies and Bakery
27 Utter Ave,
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
1-800-4JIMMYS (454-6697)
gjcookies.com
Tucked away in a little corner of Hawthorne, NJ, Gimmee Jimmy's cupcakes and multitude of other baked goods can be shipped wherever your cravings reside. These gourmet cupcakes are larger than the average, however remain moist and delicious. Gimme Jimmy's cupcakes are not only fresh baked daily but are certified Kosher, as well as all of their other popular desserts.
Cupcakes by Carousel
192 East Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-389-3090
cupcakesbycarousel.com/index.html
Beautifully decorated with the freshest ingredients, Cupcakes by Carousel's menu spices up classic cupcakes with every sugary sprinkle, candy, frosting and cream filled combination to take even simple vanilla to a whole new level! With precise and spectacular design, Cupcakes by Carousel creates works of art out of delectable little cakes that taste as heavenly as they look. As if these fancy little treats weren't a good enough on their own, Cupcakes by Carousel also showcase specialty cupcakes that have a portion of their sales donated to charity—does it get sweeter?
Petite Café
503 Franklin Ave.
Nutley, NJ 07110
973-667-7778
stuffedcupcakes.com
These stuffed cupcakes out of Nutley, N.J., were such a hit that, you can now find them in high demand at many retail locations throughout New Jersey, New York City and greater New York. The Petite Café offers the best stuffed cupcakes you can get your hands on, and are filled with every type of gourmet frosting, crème, chocolate and fruit. With quirky names and simple decorating techniques, The Petite Café's cupcakes have enough options to satisfy every eater's taste buds!
