The first stop was Savannah, Georgia. Next to one of the many park squares is a place called the Cupcake Emporium. We stopped in to pick up a "cookie cup" and a chocolate raspberry. The cookie cup was like a cookie cake, cooked in a cupcake tin. I liked the idea, but it was an average cookie and the icing was so so. The chocolate raspberry quickly melted in the heat, but was still deemed delicious. Very subtle raspberry flavor, moist chocolate cake. Overall, 3 1/2 sprinkles.
Next in Savannah was Back in the Day Bakery. When I walked in, it did not look promising. I only had 2 choices, vanilla with buttercream or red velvet. I went with the vanilla and buttercream with pink icing. I sat down, took a bite and quickly took back all my doubts. This cupcake was one of the best cupcakes I have ever tasted. The buttercream was exactly like my grandma's. She is the reason why I like to bake. In fact, my daughter will be named after her. That is how awesome she was. It really did take me back in the day. To the days of special occasions eating her buttercream and angel food cake. It was so simple, yet so delicious. An easy 5 on the sprinkle scale.
Next, we hit LuLi's in St. Augustine. The place is full of cute cupcake decorations, as you can see in the picture. The cupcakes were bigger than ones we've had in the past. We chose Strawberry Lemonade, complete with a little straw, and Funky Monkey. Strawberry Lemonade was light and refreshing, neither flavor overpowered the other. The Funky Monkey had chocolate chips added to the cake and was denser. Both cakes, although very different from each other, were very good. We give them 4 1/2 sprinkles.
On our way home, we stopped at CamiCakes in Jacksonville, FL. I was a littled disheartened to see it within a new shopping sprawl area, but once I walked inside, I forgot the location. It was simple with the main focus on the cupcakes displayed. We got the Elvis and a simple vanilla with chocolate buttercream. The Elvis was very creative. It was a chocolate cupcake with banana and peanut butter frosting and a hint of sea salt on top (to bring out flavor, I assume). The flavors came together and it was very fresh. We give it 4 sprinkles. The other, was average. I'll just give it 3 sprinkles.
Our last stop was Cupcake Girls. This was also amongst some urban sprawl in Jacksonville, FL. I was disillusioned by the outside look of this place too, but inside was cute. Their cupcake selections were unique and everyone was named after a cupcake girl. We got the creme brulee, or Mimi, and praline, or Mazie. The creme brulee was very sweet. It had a brown sugar meringue frosting. I give them credit for the creative idea, but it was too sweet for me. The praline had an actual piece of praline in it, but it made it difficult to eat. It wasn't bad, but didn't stand out. We give them 3's on the sprinkle scale.
So, an unbelievable 5 cupcake stops in 4 days! What a demanding hobby I've chosen!
