Who Takes the (cup)Cake?

“Sin is sweet in the beginning, but bitter in the end.” -The Talmud

My recent sinful indulgence? CUPCAKES. Don't lie, you are addicted to Cupcake Wars on the Food Network too... I eat them, and eat them, and eat them, and in the end, I'm bitter that eating all of those fancy muffins are giving me a muffin top (although these days I have the luxury of being able to gain a few lbs). I'll be the first to admit, I'm a foodie trend whore. Frozen yogurt, acai berries, rhubarb desserts, quail eggs, you name it, as long as it's kosher (I'm dying to try true foie gras and coq au vin).

The newest trend: Sprinkles Cupcakes. Straight from the skinny streets of Beverly Hills comes this fattening fad. Eaten (and then likely regurgitated) by the ladies of 90210, and sweeping the nation from West to East. Sprinkles opened up about two months ago in Chi-town, bringing lingering lines lasting up to a few hours! Who would wait an hour and a half for a cupcake you ask? THIS GIRL! Work? School? Shopping? Eh, I had nothing better to do.

I first had a medium-sized Sprinkles in May of 2009 during a trip to LA, and was super excited to see the "coming soon" sign at 50 East Walton Street in Chicago. I'll be honest, they are not my favorite cupcakes, not even by a stretch, but for some reason the long line gives me the same type of thrill I imagine Dexter gets upon a killing. The best part? The cinnamon sugar cupcake. It melts in your mouth (if eaten fresh) with the added crunch of a frosting-free cinnamon-sugar topping. The worst part? Their signature dot in the center of the cupcake (uneatable candy? Why torture me?!) The rest, despite the long line, is in between. Yet for some reason I continue to stand in that line, like a mindless zombie. It also helps that if you follow Sprinkles on Twitter: they give you a secret word to whisper when you are there to receive a free cupcake. Don't underestimate the value of an almost $5 cupcake for free. Follow them at @sprinkles for some free goodies!

Another tweeting treat is @flirtycupcakes (http://www.flirtycupcakes.com/). A lovely young lady drives around in a Tiffany-Blue van, tweeting daily locations and times for people around the city to follow.* A hit in the summertime, you could see long lines forming on street corners. We'll see if the frosting can stand up to our winter frost. With creative names like The McDreamy (Chocolate Cupcake With A Cream Cheese & Chocolate Filling), Curious George (Banana Chocolate Cupcake With A Light, Salted Caramel Italian Buttercream Frosting), Smore Me Over (Chocolate Cupcake With A Marshmallow Frosting), and my personal favorite, Devil in Disguise (you guessed it, Red Velvet). There's also a lip-smacking assortment of four mini cupcakes for your chance to try to convince yourself that eating all four different flavors is the caloric equivalent of eating one regular-sized treat (you know who you are...). I find these cupcakes to be light, slightly smaller in size than competitors but full of heart (she bakes all night and drives around all day!), and definitely my favorite cream cheese frosting in flavor, texture and cupcake-to-frosting ratio.

Other notable options?
Sweet Mandy B's (208 W Webster Ave Chicago) are large and pretty, and probably one of the most favored in Chicago. Mandy is too sweet for me, I prefer her cookies.
Swirlz cupcakes (705 W. Belden Ave) have a great assortment of gluten-free and vegan varieties.
Molly's Cupcakes (2536 N Clark St) wins for most adorable store, with wooden swings hanging from the ceiling and a sprinkles station to add your own touch, for the complete nostalgic experience.
A great option in the Loop is Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, where the frosting alone is so pretty you might want to just keep it for decoration.
For the more adventurous, try a More cupcake. Known for its original flavors and ingredients (passion fruit and bacon!), you are always in for a surprise. (1 E. Delaware Pl.)

With all of the over priced cupcake options out there, I'm sure you'll find your favorite. Perhaps a well-spent birthday would include going from place to place searching for the winner. As for my personal favorite? Nothing beats an oversized, colorful, perfectly-sweet Crumbs cupcake. As my luck would have it, just like men and shoes, I want what I can't have: Crumbs has not yet graced Chicago with its presence. Rumored to be coming soon to the Loop, I just will have to hope that it will open here before my next trip to LA, Boston, or NYC.

My final concession is that while paying a small fortune for a cupcake is, er, thrilling, I found after indulging in all of the toppings, flavors, fillings, varieties, shapes, and sizes Chicago has to offer, that nothing beats a good old fashioned home made cupcake. Simple, sweet, and a touch of love in every bite.

*Hungry for a full lunch? Follow @Happybodega. Another truck tweeting location updates around the city for a good lunch alternative to Corner Baker. A (sanitary) fun, fresh, flavorful food experience.