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Cupcakes
updated: Jan 17, 2011, 8:50 AM

I have had a craving for a really good cupcake lately, where can I get the best cupcake in Santa Barbara/Goleta?

Places People Are Talking About:

Anna's Bakery	Crocodile Restaurant	Crushcakes
Enjoy Cupcakes	Fresco	Jeannine's
Sugar Bliss Sweets	Violette Bakeshop	Whodidily World

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 137212	2011-01-17 09:09 AM
The ones in town are over-laden with fatty icing on top of inferior cupcakes. Might as well go to Ralph's and get some Twinkies and a can of frosting and eat it with a spoon. Or better yet, get mochi ice cream at Trader Joe. Satisfying but way less fat.
COMMENT 137217	2011-01-17 09:17 AM
In the Duncan Hines aisle at your favorite food market.
THE BARRON	2011-01-17 09:20 AM
Crushcakes Cupcakery - a block from the Arlington. The best selection, & freshest by far
COMMENT 137225	2011-01-17 09:22 AM
Whodidily World!!! and if you join their Tweet-feed, they are always giving away free cupcakes! and its sooo much fun! Its down at the Paseo Nuevo mall :)
COMMENT 137231P	2011-01-17 09:24 AM
225 has got to be Whoodidly. Whoodidly makes the cupcakes from the afore-mentioned Duncan Hines mix. Sorry, they taste like the box.
COMMENT 137253	2011-01-17 09:42 AM
There are 2 main cupcake stores in Santa Barbara. I prefer the whimsical Whodidily for taste and texture. They also box them beautifully. Crushcakes is good also; I found the cupcakes drier. The owner of Crushcakes was on the food network Cupcake Wars. Also check out the new cupcake and cake shop on the Mesa near Albertsons. They have minis.
COMMENT 137265	2011-01-17 10:00 AM
I agree, Whodidily is the best! I love the new gluten-free ones. There need to be one in IV near school, they would make sooo much money!
COMMENT 137267	2011-01-17 10:02 AM
I really like Crushcakes on Arlington, one block north of State. Their cupcakes are not dry, in my opinion, and the frosting flavors are tasty. I normally skip the icing on all cakes and such, but I actually like the butter cream variations at Crushcakes. They don't leave a film on your mouth the way grocery store frosting will. I haven't tried Whoodidly yet.
THE BARRON	2011-01-17 10:31 AM
I got one at Whole Foods a few weeks ago and - forget them. Dry and no imagination in the flavor or top finish - probably WF's version of Duncan Hines Crushcakes all the way.
COMMENT 137278	2011-01-17 10:39 AM
Crushcakes are sooo dry. Their Vegan cupcakes are awful too. If you really want a good cupcake Google "Billy's Vanilla Cupcakes" and make them yourself. Mmmmm. Whodidily Cupcakes are pretty good. Especially the vanilla ones.
COMMENT 137285	2011-01-17 10:46 AM
For white cake and chocolate frosting Fresco's in 5 points is the best. Also red velvet isn't bad. For creative flavors definately Whodiddily (in Paseo near Rudy's or in Montecito on Coast Village Rd). Their chocolate peanut butter one is awesome. They were also on cupcake wars. I've bought from crushcakes a few times and the frosting was so-so but the cake was dry and not very flavorful. Also seemed expensive for such a small cupcake that lacked a lot of flavor. Does anyeone know the vegan cupcake place that opened up around the same time as the other two? There was article in np before they opened then no more info.
COMMENT 137293	2011-01-17 10:54 AM
I'm sure that the cupcakes at these local stores are good, but I'm equally sure that for the price of one cupcake you can make a dozen your own at home.
COMMENT 137296	2011-01-17 10:58 AM
Crushcakes for sure! First of all, they are a whole dollar cheaper than the versions at Whodidily in Paseo. And, their flavors are the best. I also really appreciate the mini option, which Whodidily only sells by the dozen. As for a cupcake store in IV, I think it's a great idea. 137281, keep in mind, IV is next to a college. All of the students are adults, the store wouldn't be targeting students at a school that is being served "weeds and twigs." Not everything is a conspiracy. I happen to enjoy cupcakes AND "weeds and twigs".
COMMENT 137300	2011-01-17 11:03 AM
i'm sure i could make something just as good- i've just never had a cupcake from any of the places around here that I keep seeing. I know cupcakes are fattening, and I know they're overpriced. Can't a girl just have a treat every now and then? sheesh, not like I wanted to go out and eat a whole $44 dozen by myself.
COMMENT 137302	2011-01-17 11:07 AM
whodidily!!!!!!! crush cakes have very dry/sour tasting "cupcakes"..... you will die for the taste of whodidily!!!! no joke!!!
COMMENT 137304	2011-01-17 11:10 AM
There are only a few choices unless you make it yourself. But the best I have had are in Los Olivos at Enjoy Cupcakes right on the main drag.
COMMENT 137309P	2011-01-17 11:23 AM
I would caution you against ANY gourmet cupcakes. They are made with raw egg whites which can contain salmonella. I have multiple friends who have become severely ill from eating them.
EDHATBARBARA	2011-01-17 11:32 AM
The ones at Jeannine's (downtown on Figueroa) are wonderful, but really expensive.
COMMENT 137319	2011-01-17 11:33 AM
I make "gourmet" cupcakes and have never made nor heard of them being made with raw egg whites. I'm assuming that you're referring to the frosting? Yuck.
COMMENT 137323	2011-01-17 11:45 AM
Isn't it a rule when someone has to describe food with multiple !!!!!!!!!!!!! and liberal sprinklings of awesome and amazing, it ain't? Only cliche missing is to die for. Why does this Whodidily place use metallic non-biodegradable cupcake liners? Ew.
COMMENT 137326	2011-01-17 11:48 AM
Anna's bakery at Calle Real Marketplace. Scones too :-)
COMMENT 137366	2011-01-17 01:23 PM
Jeannine's!! I had a coconut one from there the other night that was delicious :)
COMMENT 137385	2011-01-17 02:04 PM
CRUSHCAKES OVER CHARGES!!! TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT YOU GET. I like Fresco's at 5 points. The frosting is great but a little bit too much for me so I scrape about a third of it off and then...heaven.
COMMENT 137387	2011-01-17 02:08 PM
Coconut, you talkin coconut? Nothing better than the huge slice of coconut cake you get at Crocodile Restaurant in the Lemon Tree Inn - probably even cheaper than getting a single cupcake at some of these cupcake specialty shops.
EDHATBARBARA	2011-01-17 02:23 PM
My husband had a great idea recently -- he calls it the "cupcake sandwich." Instead of frosting the top of the cupcake, you cut it in half and frost the middle. That way, you can hold it, top and and bottom. Good idea, huh? I'm going to try and make a batch that way for him soon.
COMMENT 137435	2011-01-17 03:37 PM
Violette Bakeshop in Goleta has hands-down the best cupcakes - perfect frosting, gorgeous presentation. Pricing is very much in line with everyone else, but their quality is miles ahead of all the others.
COMMENT 137450	2011-01-17 03:56 PM
I haven't tried any local cupcakeries but I can tell you that Crush Cafe has tasty sandwiches/salads! And I do NOT work there.
COMMENT 137487	2011-01-17 04:51 PM
Crushcakes are great, but boy they are like $3 a piece.
COMMENT 137521P	2011-01-17 05:50 PM
137309P: I'd like to hear more about your friends' illnesses and circumstances. Did you reliably trace it back to the cupcakes? Did you report this to anyone but EdHat? Food borne illnesses are tricky to diagnose, especially the causes. I sometimes get sick from eating many desserts, especially too much and too rich. Sugar and wheat are troubling for some, as can be dairy and raw egg. I am trying to be respectful, but I feel like there's an "I know a bunch of people who got sick from that place/ that food" comment on many of these threads, and they're always poorly substantiated. Food poisoning is painful and serious, and I would appreciate helpful information.
COMMENT 137542	2011-01-17 06:34 PM
I love Crushcakes; Whodiddly tastes like Duncan Hines to me. Oily and not authentic; Crushcakes at least taste homemade.
COMMENT 137554	2011-01-17 06:58 PM
Crushcakes has improved their recipe since they've been open and the cupcakes seem to be much more moist now - at least the flavors I've tried. My favorite is the red velvet. I also LOVE the fresco cupcakes - especially the carrot w/cream cheese frosting. The Fresco in Goleta has minis now too!
COMMENT 137574P	2011-01-17 07:49 PM
I just can't justify $4 for a cupcake.
COMMENT 137599P	2011-01-17 09:23 PM
I think Whodidly's staff or owners have been working overtime commenting here today. I mean, come on.
COMMENT 137618	2011-01-18 06:01 AM
Home made. The frosting from the two overpriced local cupcakeries taste like lard.
COMMENT 137663	2011-01-18 08:23 AM
Fresco's white cupcakes with chocolate frosting. No mixes used - they taste homemade and are absolutely cupcake perfection. Huge enough to share, too.
COMMENT 137696P	2011-01-18 09:07 AM
My vote is for Crushcakes.
COMMENT 137703	2011-01-18 09:19 AM
SUGAR BLISS SWEETS - Contact Somthavy at her website and check out the photos. My vote - yes!
COMMENT 137711	2011-01-18 09:29 AM
Cupcakes are out, pie is in!
COMMENT 137722	2011-01-18 10:04 AM
No question about it - the absolute best cupcakes are at Enjoy Cupcakes in Los Olivos. Its totally worth the drive. They have different flavors each week, and they are amazing. I look at the menu online each week, and am tempted to make the drive pretty much every weekend (but I don't - they are special treat!) The coolest thing is that you can buy a box of mini's - one in each flavor, for $10. Check them out - its always a treat to take a ride up with friends, get a cupcake (and maybe a wine tasting somewhere) and wander around Los Olivos for the afternoon. They are located in the Saarloos Winery in case you decide to go find them. They are soooo worth the ride!
COMMENT 137865	2011-01-18 06:19 PM
Cupcakes are made from sugar, flour, eggs, and some sort of fat (oil/butter), flavorings with some sort of binding liquid. That is all. Flavor and texture comes primarily from fat content and quality There is nothing amazing about any of this, just hyper-marketing of simple chemistry. Make your own. The only thing amazing about Billy's Vanilla cupcakes is using two teaspoons of vanilla instead of one. This is an old baking secret so nothing magical there either. And the only thing that makes a difference between the various commercial cupcake bakers is their handling of sugar, fat, flour, eggs, flavoring and liquids. There is nothing healthy or unhealthy about a cup cake because it is what it is: a cup cake. Cake, get it? Baked in a cup.
COMMENT 138189	2011-01-19 03:43 PM
Crushcakes? Talk about the emperor's new clothes. Fresco definitely has the best cupcakes. Food of the gods.....
COMMENT 176894P	2011-05-25 09:28 PM
Crushcakes in SB and Carp are amazing (as is their cafe) I tried whodiddily when they were still called sprinkled pink and was surprised that their cakes are smaller and more expensive. I guess it boils down to personal taste but crushcakes frosting tasted like the name of the cake (ie strawberry actually tasted like strawberry) where as whodiddily tasted like sugar and butter.