Patch Picks: Cupcakes

“Make Cupcakes, Not War” -Unknown

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word “Cupcakes”? Does it make you smile? Do you recall a childhood memory of a cupcake smeared all over your face? When you look at a cupcake, you just have to smile.

The holiday season is upon us and lucky for me, I have fabulous friends and local bakery’s to satisfy my baked good cravings. Because let’s face it, I can’t bake. Yep, I admit it; I am the worst when it comes to baking.

Don’t you just love those little, dainty, personal, round, moist pieces of cake ornamented with an assortment of frostings, sprinkles, and other decorative elements? Almost any cake can be turned into cupcakes. And cupcakes allow people to handle them without getting their hands dirty.  Did you know that the “first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796, when a recipe notation of 'a cake to be baked in small cups' was written in American Cookery by Amelia Simms” (according to Wikipedia).

Here are our “Patch” Picks on local spots to find a good cupcake.

Address: 220 Boardwalk Pl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-208-2828
Hours: Mon - Wed, Sun, noon - 8pm; Thur, noon - 9pm; Fri, Sat, noon - 10pm
About: Lilly Magilly's Cupcakery is a bakery shop located on Boardwalk Place in the Rio. The store's specialty; yep, you guessed it….cupcakes. Lilly’s specializes in cupcakes and offers a huge variety of flavors. Cupcakes are baked fresh every day and flavors include pumpkin, cherry almond, chocolate, Oreo lemon, red velvet, strawberry, carrot, mint chocolate chip and many more. They can also do designs for any occasion, including wedding cupcakes, baby showers and holiday designs. Owner Kristen Kendall is now taking holiday orders; call 301-208-2828 to place your order. Cost: $2.75 each  •  $15 half dozen  •  $30 dozen.

Address: 3301 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-333-8448
Hours: Mon - Sat, 10am - 9pm; Sun, 11am - 7pm.
About: Pretty much everyone knows about Georgetown Cupcake. It is located on the corner of 33rd and M streets and their cupcakes are melt in your mouth, delicious treats in every single bite. Georgetown Cupcake offers gourmet cupcakes baked on-site daily. They only use the finest ingredients, including Valrhona chocolate, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, Callebaut chocolate ganache and European sweet cream butter. Sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne founded Georgetown Cupcake in February of 2008. Custom decorations are offered at no additional charge. They are the home of TLC's DC CUPCAKES!  Cost: $2.75 each  •  $15 half dozen  •  $29 dozen.

Address: 4834 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-907-8900
Hours: Mon - Sat, 10am - 9pm; Sun, noon - 6pm
About: As if one location was not good enough, yes Georgetown Cupcake is also located in Bethesda. So you can choose to wait in the line in DC or Bethesda… either way, there is always a line. These trendy cupcakes come in a variety of flavors including: chocolate, chocolate birthday, chocolate and vanilla, baby pink*, bubblegum pink, gluten-free lava fudge, Susan G. Komen*, Sunshine* and baby blue*. They also have daily specials that include: chocolate peanut butter, chocolate coconut, coconut, carrot, key lime, chocolate hazelnut, mint cookies and crème, strawberry, lemon blossom, maple, mocha, honey banana and many, many more. Cost: $2.75 each  •  $15 half dozen  •  $29 dozen.

Address: 90 W Montgomery Ave, Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 240-386-8584
Hours: Tue - Sat, 11am - 7pm; Mon, Sun, closed
About: Haven’t heard of CakeDreams? They are the winner of the Food Network’s “Going for Gold” episode on Cupcake Wars. CakeDreams is a family owned bakery in Rockville Towne Center. They offer a variety of baked goods including cupcakes. Flavors include: chocolate mocha, chocolate sweet vanilla, yellow raspberry, yellow sweet vanilla, red velvet, carrot, boston crème, pumpkin spice, seasonal, flavor-of-the-month and more. Cost: $3 each  •  $33 dozen.

Address: 19206 Montgomery Village Ave, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Phone: 301-740-3142
Hours: Mon, 9am - 6pm; Tues-Thurs, 7:30am - 7pm; Fri, 7am - 7pm; Sat, 8am - 8pm; Sun, 8am - 6pm
About: Just Chocolate Palace is located in the Montgomery Village Shopping Center, minutes from my home and my waistline. They sell specialty cakes, pastries, napoleons, chocolate confections and creamy filled cupcakes. The owner and head pastry chef Peter Weerasinghe is a wonderful businessman, he makes you feel welcomed and he can definitely bake. I highly suggest stopping by, saying hi and purchasing some tasty treats to take home.