Any fan of cupcakes will instantly fall in love with Magnolia Bakery. This little bakery opened at 401 Bleecker Street in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York in 1996. Decorated with mint green walls, jars of various sprinkles, cases with swirling, whimsical cakes inside, and, of course, cupcakes, Magnolia’s has a retro feeling to it, and makes you feel as if you were helping your grandmother bake in her kitchen.
Magnolia Bakery has the perfect location: on the tree-lined, hip Bleecker Street in the heart of New York City’s West Village. There is usually a place to park, but most prefer to walk. There is a park across the street that is ideal for relaxing, enjoying a dessert, and reading the newspaper, or just watching the people walk by.
Albeit charming and welcoming, Magnolia’s is often frequented by tourists, and very tiny and cramped, resulting in lines out the door. Due to the popular demand, you are only able to purchase a maximum of twelve cupcakes. The easy “grab-and-go” method of choosing your cupcakes is considered unsanitary by many- the cupcakes are sitting out on various trays lined with paper doilies, exposing them to other customer’s hands, sneezes, and coughs. It may be better to just point out which cupcakes you want from behind a glass case. Employee-wise, Magnolia’s tends to hire the younger, college crowd. They are helpful and attentive, but the stress of the large amount of customers can subtract from getting any personal attention. But, ask them a question, and they will respond with an interesting answer (and possibly a joke).
Now, to the most important part- the desserts! Despite only sampling the cupcakes out of the many delicious baked goods Magnolia’s offers (banana pudding, coconut layer cake, peanut butter icebox pie, brownies, blondies, the list goes on), the original chocolate or vanilla buttermilk cupcakes with chocolate or vanilla icing are the most popular. Each cupcake is decorated with an assortment of different types of sprinkles, and the vanilla frosting comes in a variety of pastel colors. Aesthetically, these are the perfect cupcakes. The most important aspect is, of course, taste. Nearly every Magnolia cupcake I have ever eaten has had a fluffy, moist taste for the cake, and a sweet, smooth taste for the frosting. Still, there have been a few times where the frosting was overpowering and the cake a bit dry, but that did not change my like for them. Renee Vitello, from Connecticut, says that “they were fresh, I could tell that all of the ingredients they used were fresh.” The red velvet cupcakes are excellent as well- the cake tastes mainly of vanilla, but there is a small hint of chocolate to it. At costs $2.50 for a regular cupcake and $3 for a special cupcake (the special cupcakes have more ingredients and unique flavorings than the regular buttermilk cupcakes), the prices are reasonable. But, I will warn you- Magnolia cupcakes are only for those with a sweet tooth. Says Megan C. from New York, “You have to really like sugar to enjoy the cupcakes.” Nonetheless, if you are not into sugary-sweet cupcakes, then the banana pudding or icebox cakes may be your best bet.
Some say Magnolia Bakery has the best cupcakes in all of NYC, while others dislike the sugary taste. Whatever your opinion may be, you will never leave without enjoying at least one of their delicious desserts. I highly recommended Magnolia Bakery, from children to college students to senior citizens. And of course, I recommend Magnolia’s to the sweet tooth in everyone.
