It’s time to haul out the cupcakes and have ourselves a party! I hope you all liked the scrapbook layout and pictures from yesterday because I’m uber excited to share lots of yummy cupcake photos and musings from my trips to The Sweet Escape. I’m going to be bold and declare The Sweet Escape as my one of my favourite cupcake places in Toronto. I have mad love for The Cupcake Shoppe, Blue Banana, and For The Love of Cake off of King St. West in Liberty Village, but I have to say that The Sweet Escape gives me everything I want in a cupcake eating experience. I mean, sure, the artistry is just as important as the taste (because heck, who wants to eat a cupcake that looks stale and drippy and like it was sat on by an elephant?), but it’s the culmination of the appearance, the taste, and the atmosphere and environment of the cupcakery (or bakery/café) that does it for me.
First off, the cupcakes at The Sweet Escape are the perfect size. They’re not the size of a thimble and they also don’t look like they’ve been injected with steroids. They’re beautifully frosted, and nice and neat and pretty. That covers appearance. On to price. These are $2.50 a pop, which puts them on the lowest rung on the price ladder of cupcakeries in Toronto, which is absolutely fantastic. I have no issues paying a bit more for quality, but seriously, if you could get something that looks great and tastes great (not to mentioned baked and served by lovely people), why wouldn’t you? And when I’m referring to cupcakeries, I’m talking about the places that specifically serve baked goods specializing in cupcakes. Yes, Starbucks has some great cupcakes too for $2.25, but they’re not a cupcakery. They’re a coffee empire and that’s a big difference.
And The Sweet Escape has something that several other places don’t have: seating! I know, something as simple as a table and chair can tip my love in favour of another place, but it makes sense. Some people may place orders for cupcakes for parties or take them to go during their lunch hour or break and thus not care about this, but I love having a place to sit to enjoy my cupcake. Especially since I take a bazillion photos! I look like a nut otherwise, running around the streets looking for a spot to get a decent shot! The Sweet Escape has plenty of seating just outside their café and you get a nice little plate and fork to devour your sweet treat.
And here’s the kicker: their tables are decorated with vintage magazine clippings of baked goods, kitchen goodies, and 50s housewife inspired articles *squeals*! I absolutely ADORE that about this place. On the surface (quite literally; these clippings and collages sit right underneath the glass of the table), they’re pretty pictures of cakes and sprinkles and all that jazz. But underneath this facade is an homage to the connection between food and home, the historical (and even current) socialization of women as wives and mothers, and the artistry and pride of baking. Just think, you literally eat, read, and learn all at the same time and I LOVE IT! Okay, so you’re all anxiously awaiting for the cupcake photos and reading about delicious they are, so here we go 😀
So far I’ve tried 4 of their cupcakes: Raspberry Chocolate, Gingerbread (a holiday seasonal), Red Velvet, and Black Velvet. The Raspberry Chocolate was sweet and subtle with fruity raspberry flavour coming out in the frosting (you got that great raspberry pit flavour and texture without the pits, ha!) with dark chocolate chips sprinkled on top, and the gingerbread was subtly spiced with a tangy cream cheese frosting. I loved them all, but if you want to know which one knocked my socks off, the Black Velvet (pictured above and below beside her Red Velvet sister) is just amazing, oh my goodness! The frosting is quite possibly the creamiest, smoothest frosting I have ever had and the chocolate cake…oh man. When I was eating this cupcake, I felt like I was eating moist, soft, fluffy chocolate pillow. The cake and frosting melded together in the perfect way and this cupcake is an A+ in every way. A sweet, chocolatey, creamy mouthful of happiness! They change up their selection of cupcakes daily, so you may not see all the ones I mentioned when you go, but if I’m going to recommend any, the Black Velvet, hands down. Happy salivating, y’all 😉
*****
The Sweet Escape Pâtisserie is located at 55 Mill St., Building 47 in The Distillery District. The Distillery District is east of The St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, sitting south of Front St.E, and sandwiched between Parliament and Cherry St. The café also sells cute merchandise. I’m a freak for postcards so I picked one up for $1, yay.
Ate by Ate 