Welcome to Sugar High, a series devoted solely to spotlighting the best ways to sate a sweet tooth in St. Louis. We'll sample the best the city has to offer at restaurants, bakeries and holes-in-the-wall, and provide some insight on how these confections are made along the way.
Smallcakes: A Cupcakery (343 South Kirkwood Road; 314-698-2780) opened a year ago in Kirkwood, slinging thirteen standard flavors of cupcakes baked daily in addition to a rotating selection of specialty flavors. Mainstay cupcakes include everything from hot-fudge sundae and red velvet to peanut-butter cup and lemon-drop options.
The shop's most popular seller, however, is a familiar flavor typically reserved for special occasions: the "Wedding Cake" cupcake.
Smallcakes: A Cupcakery originated on the other side of the state in Kansas City, Missouri. Founder Jeff Martin appeared on several seasons of Cupcake Wars and now franchises his concept across the country. Besides the standards, his gourmet cupcakes rotate regularly -- with flavors such as maple bacon and key-lime joining the mix -- and cost $3.50 each or $39 for a dozen.
According to Smallcakes' Kirkwood store manager, Lauren Donoghue, the shop's cakes are known for being very moist, striking a fine balance between airy and dense crumb. The wedding-cake cupcake is an almond white cake with almond-flavored American buttercream frosting sprinkled with edible pearls. Whether it's ordered for special events or just grabbed on the go for a snack, Smallcakes provides a sweet treat that boasts a defined flavor as memorable as the big day.
Previously on Sugar High: - Pastries of Denmark's Petit Fours - Lucky Buddha's Five-Spice Crème Brûlée - Amy's Corner Bakeshop's Scones - Vincent Van Doughnut's "Mini Vinnies" - Piccione Pastry's Sfogliatella Riccia - The Feasting Fox's Warm Apple Strudel - I Scream Cake's "I Scream Sammys" - LuciAnna's Pastries' Chocolate-Mousse Cheesecake - Spoon Baking Company's Spoon Cookie - Insomnia Cookies' S'mores Deluxe Cookie - Living Room's Peanut-Butter Chocolate-Chip Cookie - Stimulus Baking Company's Pad-Thai Cupcake - La Bonne Bouchée's Strawberry-Mousseline Cake - Pie Oh My's Pumpkin-Maple Pecan Pie - Annie Moons' Banana-Split Muffins - Cyrano's Carrot Cake - Whitebox Eatery's Cheese Pastry - Comet Coffee's Mousse Cakes - Whisk's Apple-Cinnamon "Pop Tartlets" - The London Tea Room's Blueberry-Lemon Cake - Corner 17's Fluffy Ice - The Fountain on Locust's "Banana Bourbon" Sundae - Vinnie's Pinwheel Baklava - Red Fox Baking & Catering's Lemon Tart - Sugarfire Smokehouse's Crack Pie - Russell on Macklind's Coconut Cake - The Kitchen Sink's Sweet Potato Fries - Giovanni's Kitchen's Panna Cotta Trio - Crepes Etc.'s Crepe Cake - Cafe Ventana's Beignets - Frida's Raspberry-Chocolate Avocado Mousse - India Palace's Gulab Jamun - Melt's "Violet Beauregarde" Waffle - Brevan's Patisserie's "Brendan" - Winslow's Home's Chocolate Cake with Espresso Meringue - La Patisserie Chouquette's Eclair - Black Bear Bakery's Raspberry Oat Bar - Gelateria's London Fog Gelato - 4 Seasons Bakery's German Cheesecake - Libertine's "Candy Bar" - Cleveland-Heath's Old Fashioned Cherry Pie - Schlafly Tap Room and Bottleworks' Sticky Toffee Pudding
We're always looking for some sweet ideas. E-mail the author at [email protected].
