The Magnolia Bakery

This honey trap gained fame from being featured in The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City. Magnolia Bakery is based on the uber trendy Blecker Street on the West Village in New York alongside designer stores and chic cafes. The bakery is famous for their cupcakes and tasty cakes so of course I could not leave NYC without paying them a visit. When I got there I had to wait in line because there was a queue going round the block. Yep I could not believe it myself - all this for some little cupcakes I thought. When I got in I was surprised by how small the place was, I had to squeeze myself in. The poor assistant had to navigate herself through us enthusiastic cupcake buyers to lay out more treats but as soon as the new batch of cupcakes had been laid out they were gone in 60 seconds. I began to feel a bit claustrophobic so just grabbed four cupcakes, paid for them and got out of there. Magnolia is obviously a huge attraction because people were taking snaps and looked delighted to have nabbed themselves some Magnolia treats. I heard a lady behind me say to her companion say "Yay I got me cupcakes." I wasted no time in sampling my goodies partly out of curiosity to see if they lived up to the hype and out of pure cravenness. I can honestly say to you that those cupcakes were purely yummy. The texture of the cake was really soft and springy and the cream was light and fresh. Best cakes I have tasted in a long time. They need to open up a branch in London right now and while they are at it extend the Blecker Street premises, if there was a place crying out for more space it is Magnolia Bakery. The eatery opened up for business 12 years ago by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel, there are three stores in New York and rumours that a branch is to open in Los Angeles.

Well I do not have Carrie's budget or a Mr Big to keep me in cupcakes so I am going to start making them. On Saturday I am off to Sainsburys to buy a sieve and a whisker so I can cook myself into cupcake heaven. For those of you who are interested, Magnolia Bakery have published a book where you can copy their recipes and you can buy it from amazon here.

Also check out this hilarious article in The Telegraph by Emma Forrest about how S&TC's descendance on Magnolia ruined her blissful life in the West Village. LOL It made me laugh.