Rhode Island's 5 Best Cupcakes
Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors
Rhode Island's 5 Best Cupcakes
RI's 5 Best Cupcakes
Sweet Indulgence
Cranston
This new boutique location in Pawtuxet Village, with its chic little cafe, has quickly become a hot-spot for nicely made coffee drinks and exceptional cakes and cupcakes. This was our winner for both the creativity and the freshness of the cake (no dry textures here!). We sampled four different kinds and each was better than the last. The chocolate mousse tasted like a perfect chocolate mousse from a French restaurant, and it sat atop a dense chocolate cupcake. The raspberry white chocolate was topped with a mini raspberry macaron! It was perfect. These seemed hard to beat and, as it turned out, nobody did!
2202 Broad St, 228-7719.
City Girl Cupcake
Providence
Many a bad day at the office in Downcity has been salvaged by a quick run to City Girl. Always reliable, these were a close second to our winner. We tried two different varieties on our visit: a classic chocolate caramel and a Boston cream pie. The chocolate caramel was filled with caramel and topped with a caramel butter cream frosting. The Boston cream pie featured a wonderful Bavarian cream and a cake that was made with Madagascar vanilla. They were both pretty awesome.
99 Weybosset St, 580-1271.
The Cupcakerie
Cranston
This spot speaks to us as food lovers AND dog lovers. Here we treat ourselves and our dogs after a run at the ball field. The Cupcakerie, known as Jack's Snacks to our furry friends, make delicious cupcakes and nutritious dog treats. We were on a mission, however, and needed the "Wake Up and Smell the Cupcake" and the "Shake Your Coconuts" varieties. The “Wake Up” features mocha cake and an espresso cream cheese frosting that did indeed wake us up. The “Shake Your Coconuts” has a coconut cake, butter cream frosting and toasted coconut on top. Both frostings were divine. These cakes run a tad bit on the dry side, but some aficionados prefer that.
1860 Broad St, 467-2601.
Decadent Designs
Smithfield
Our friends in the northwest corner of the state claim one of the best as their own: Decadent Designs by Jean. This family-run bakery is striving to bring the small-batch bakery concept back to the forefront. Their cupcakes are both delicious and fun. The flavors and toppings are always fresh and the cake has never disappointed. This week they are featuring special AFC Championship Game-themed cupcakes that you can order and bring to Sunday's game. We also love that for the rest of January they have a two for $5 cupcake special. Check out the old school Hostess Cupcake-style cupcake. It's nostalgia in a bite.
570 Putnam Pike, 499-5767.
Patti Cakes
Kingstown
Our summer cupcake oasis is this home of many tasty confections, located just off Route 108 in Wakefield. It is close enough to the beaches that we found ourselves there too often. Co-owner Patti Vogel Alley has helped create a plethora of delicious treats. The selections here were every bit as creative as the rest with design and beauty being amongst the best we tried. At a recent local cupcake competition, they featured a salted caramel with a caramel injection that we thought were sublime, and definitely eye-catching.
542 Kingstown Rd, 789-2253.
