Comments (0) Best Bakery - 2007

The Cupcakery

It's been years — years — since other urban dwellers have benefited from the cupcake craze launched by New York City's famed Magnolia Bakery. Now, at last, cupcakes take St. Louis, with thanks to baker Nicole Panepinto. She and co-owner Ericka Frank have enjoyed several years of success with special orders at Frank's Dogtown bakery, the Cakery, and decided to stuff the masses at their new location, a cheery nook with a patio behind Maryland Plaza in the Central West End. The fluffy cupcakes go for $2.25 apiece (or $25 a dozen) and come in specialty flavors (Strawberry Cream, Red Velvet) every week in addition to the de rigueur "Confetti" (French vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles) and "Tuxedo" (dark chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream). Beautiful as they are, Panepinto's creations are all about the frostings, uh, butter, and the, um, cream.