When you think summer food you think ultra-portable savory goods, usually from a food truck or street vendor, wrapped in a napkin, and ready for consumption. There’s all the usual suspects: street meat, falafel, pizza by the slice, subs - but what is there to offer for those with more of a sweet tooth? The cupcake fills all of the above criteria, while also being cute (kudos).

 

CAKE-OLOGY - $2.50
85 Arthur Street

Always has been, and still is, my favorite cupcake in the city. Nestled nicely in the exchange district, the shop is tiny, but very welcoming, even from the sidewalk. Pair with a coffee of your choice from nearby Parlour Coffee, and you’ll be in heaven. They also have experimental flavours that you can’t get anywhere else – such as pink lemonade and lemon poppyseed with earl grey frosting – and they always nail it when it comes to pairing the perfect icing and batter for optimal flavour balance.

 

JENNA RAE CAKES - $3.25
580 Adacemy Road

With an Instagram army captivated at their every post, these ladies know how to make an attractive cupcake. The shop itself is spacious, and is as well decorated as their cakes; there are a few places to sit, and you have the option to order a variety of coffee beverages if you are sticking around to enjoy your goodies. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of their chocolate batter (tried the Skor cupcake), but the blueberry cupcake with cream cheese icing was fresh and moist and unlike anything I’ve ever had.

 

GREEN NINJA EATERY AND BAKERY - $2.75
240 McPhillips Street

Considering this place is very far out of the way - from pretty much everything - it’s got to be good. This was the only place I’ve ever tried that I had no idea what kind of icing they use because it’s so light and airy. The Taro is a bright purple sweet potato cupcake and is one of their best sellers, but has a hard to nail down taste. Is it fruity? Is it sweet? I don’t know its just GOOD. Go try for yourself and get back to me.

 

SWEET IMPRESSIONS - $2.75
669 Stafford Street

A long-time staple, this place is the only bakery in Winnipeg that is 100% nut free, and they also offer a whole line of sweets that are egg and dairy free. Their flavors rotate daily, but if you aren’t a crazy desert person, the chunky monkey (available every Thursday until the end of August) would be perfect, as it is basically a banana bread cupcake. Not free on Thursdays? A daily safe bet is the Vanilla Yum.

 

THE CUPCAKE CORNER - $3.75
439 Stradbrook Avenue

You’re basically paying for the exceptional presentation and details, but they don’t even bother to ice them even remotely close to the edges. They have the biggest selection of fun flavour and icing combos to choose from of any place in Winnipeg I’ve seen, so go here to try something fancy and avoid anything plain.

Published in Volume 68, Number 29 of The Uniter (August 5, 2014)