Cupcake Royale253

Nothing kid-friendlier than a coffeehouse that sells cupcakes. You get a superior cup of joe or a latte; the kids (and maybe you) get a swirl of buttercream frosting and sprinkles on a vanilla or chocolate cupcake.

The cake isn't too sweet and has a nice, rather coarse, crumb; it makes a perfect counterpoint to the buttery-sweet frosting. Look for the yellow-frosted "Lemon Drop", the coconut-dusted "Chocolate Bunny" and other retro-looking versions of the basic cake-frosting combination. Kids swoon over the variations, fun cupcake toppings, and pastel-colored frosting. The vanilla cake has a buttery vanilla flavor; the chocolate cake's flavor is rich, with a hint of sour cream.

Cupcake Royale's cupcakes are baked and frosted daily in-house and don't use artificial ingredients. You can buy them by the dozen for birthday or other celebrations; allow 48 hours in advance for a dozen or more. Call to place an order or download an order form online, fill it out, and drop it by the store.