Crazy over Cupcakes: Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

Of all the sweet things that weaken my knees, there are only two pastries that make me swoon: chocolate mousse and chocolate cupcakes.  Cupcakes are like gifts from heaven, divine sweetness packed tight in little cups, just enough to tease our sweet tooth.  Like the ramen craze sweeping our foodie nation, cupcake shops keep sprouting up like mushrooms, left and right.  Some deserve praise, while some aren't worth even mentioning.  Still others simply blow the competition away.

When I was a kid, my very first memory of cupcakes was that peculiar "bee-hive" variety.  You know, the usual chocolate cupcake topped with a swirl of cream, typically sold by the corner bakery.  Yep, to me that was already supernatural.  So when shops dedicated to cupcakes alone started opening all across the metro, it sparked my enthusiasm.  Each had its own creative design, its own twist on familiar flavors, and its own attractive charm.

Life-sized dollhouse. (pics taken from the first branch in Glorietta)

I first tried out Vanilla Cupcake Bakery when they opened shop in Glorietta, right across the new wing. (They have since moved, by the way, to two larger spots in Glorietta 3 and 4.)  Barely a week old then, the brightly lit and colorful spot was beaming with life, luring curious passers-by with its almost dollhouse-like feel.  But it was the cupcakes that were hogging the spotlight: they had a variegated selection of delectable treats, from chocolate cupcakes to red velvet, and even cheesecakes in a cup.  Success went sooner, as they branched out to Trinoma and ATC (their largest so far).

On my return visit to Vanilla Cupcake Bakery, we tried out their cozy nook along the hallway of Trinoma.  By this time, their selection had blossomed into a delicious myriad of flavors.  Choosing was therefore tougher this time around.  But one cupcake caught my fancy: it resembled my old friend, the "bee-hive".  She went for the Oreo variety, then ordered two more flavors to-go.

Fearsome foursome (clockwise from right): Banana Cream Cheese, P75; Chocolate Cream, P95, Oreo Cheesecake, P105, Red Velvet, P85.

To the uninitiated, the first reaction is consternation: almost a hundred bucks for these cupcakes??  Sounds crazy.  But, to long-time devotees, the prices are expected.  These aren't your run-of-the-mill, corner bakery creations.  These are works of art, a culinary masterpiece.

Chocolate-y Swirls

Toss out the diet plans for the meantime.  Indulge in these creations carefully crafted and ingeniously designed by the bakers of Vanilla.  The Oreo Cheesecake was a delightful surprise.  It is what it is - a cheesecake in a cup!  Underneath that silver covering is more than inch of real cheesecake, tucked within a chocolate cookie crust, which I'm betting is made of Oreo.  Its consistency approximated that of ice cream, almost like that wonderful cheesecakes by Bag of Beans.  On top, a liberal amount of creamy vanilla icing crowns the cake, and then a few broken piece of Oreo added to the mix.  It was a tantalizing mix of the peculiar taste of cheese and the wonderful sweetness of cookies and cream.  Never overwhelming, yet consistently gratifying.

Match made in heaven.

But my prized possession was the Chocolate Cream cupcake.  I gazed at this treat for a few seconds, then started peeling off its silver covering.  As I sliced a small portion with my fork, a luscious surprise burst forth.  Its innards were made of - chocolate mousse!  Within the chocolate cookie crust was a firm chocolate mousse, akin to that of a turtle pie, another of my favorites.  The filling was smooth, sweet but not overpowering.  It had a hint of darkness, but the vanilla icing swirl on top broke the bitterness with its cloying sweetness.  And then, those chocolate shavings toyed with my palate, returning that element of pureness of the cocoa.  Elegant and superb, this cupcake combined my two kryptonites in a single cup of paradise.  Whoever had this brilliant idea deserves my utmost praise and eternal gratitude.

I didn't get to taste the two flavors brought home, but from what I've heard, they were also mind-blowing.  But my special moment with the Chocolate Cream will be a lasting memory.  

Blissful things come in small cups.

I have tasted quite a number of cupcakes.  Especially around Christmas time, these babies are the perfect giveaways.  So, my taste buds have gone through a lot ever since the craze hit the metro.  But, Vanilla Cupcake Bakery stands out like a shining beacon.  In my humble opinion, they have the creamiest cakes so far.  Moreover, their flavors are unique and innovative.  Their crafty bakers have twisted the norms by putting in cheesecake and mousse inside their cakes.

With a cheery vibe and an ever expanding cupcake collection, Vanilla Cupcake Bakery is set to dominate the cupcake scene.  Oh, and they serve breakfast meals too (that I got to try soon).  The prices remain reasonable for an ethereal kind of experience.  So take your time whenever you drop by their store.  Remember, these pastries were carefully designed, and they deserve an exquisite degustation.

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

Second Floor, Trinoma

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanilla-Cupcake-Bakery/387998437965416