Gourmet donuts, chocolates, candies and cupcakes – Portland certainly loves its high-end treats. And what could be sweeter than a decadent, frosting-topped cupcake? Sprinkled throughout the Portland Metro Area, these six independent, brick-and-mortar bakeries create some of Portland’s best cupcakes (many of which are filled, flavored and decorated by hand) using top-notch ingredients.
photo by: Carrie Uffindell
Saint Cupcake
Almost shuttered in 2014, this much-loved cupcake maker has come back strong and now has four locations throughout Portland. Choose from more than a dozen classic flavors such as vanilla, carrot, chocolate and red velvet. (Vegan options are available.) Mini cupcakes are $1.50 and $3.50 for full-sized. And did I mention their ice cream cupcakes? Think chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream, fudge and sprinkles. You know you want one.
Cupcake Jones
One of Portland’s oldest cupcake-centric bakeries, Cupcake Jones uses locally sourced ingredients to make everything in house, right down to the candied rose petals and lemon curd. Flavors range from everyday favs like chocolate-mint to seasonal specials like coconut lemon, including gluten free and vegan. Minis (no filling) are $1.75-$2 while large (filled) cupcakes run $4-$4.50. Storefronts are in NW and NE Portland.
Kyra’s Bake Shop
As well as the only four-time winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, Kyra’s (formerly known as Crave Bake Shop) is also a pioneering 100% gluten-free bakery, located in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego. Except fresh flavor twists like chocolate curry caramel and orange strawberry passionfruit. Flavors rotate weekly, so there’s always something new to try.
Hungry Heart Bakery
Last year, Hungry Heart won an episode of the Cooking Channel’s Sugar Showdown, so perhaps it’s little wonder this cozy bakery is rapidly making a name for itself as a gourmet cupcake shop. Another reason is its fresh, one-of-a-kind flavors, from cardamom-spiced carrot cake to salted caramel filled chocolate topped with bacon. Cupcakes come in mini ($1.75) and standard size ($3.25).
FAT Cupcake
One of the newest cupcakeries on the block, FAT Cupcake is the only one to specialize in both sweet and savory flavors at its two eastside locations (Oregon City and Portland’s Woodstock neighborhood). Standouts include the Charlie Brown (chocolate cake, peanut butter buttercream frosting and a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup baked inside) and the Boss Hog (butter pastry, BBQ sauce, pulled pork and onion crisps). Mini $1.25, regular $2.75.
Toadstool Cupcakes
What makes the cupcakes at SE Hawthorne Blvd bakery stand out? Along with the largest variety of flavors in town (50 everyday including wheat-free and vegan options) are stuffed with creamy fillings. Then they’re hand dipped and decorated with white or chocolate ganache to look like – you got it – toadstools. $2.75 each. Yum!
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