Before Mike and I headed to NYC I did a little research on the infamous cupcake culture of New York. Magnolia is the obvious choice when you’re in the midst of New York with a cupcake craving, but I’ve heard mixed reviews. The biggest offenses I’ve heard about Magnolia’s cupcakes are that they overpriced (which is to be expected…what isn’t overpriced in New York City?) and dry. I can live with an occasional overpriced cupcake…but a dry cupcake? Definitely not worth the calories. If I’m going to indulge in a calorie fest it better be worth every bite (am I right, ladies?). And trust me, if I’m going to be walking as much as we walked in NYC I will be indulging in an occasional cupcake. ;) I found quite a few rave reviews for Crumbs so Mike and I decided to give it a try.
Crumbs is a chain bakery with several locations in New York City as well as other places across the country. The Crumbs motto is “Made by Hand. Baked with Love.” Sounds pretty good, right? Well it gets even better. Many of the cupcakes are filled with different fillings, including ganache, flavored frostings, and jams.
So many choices!
In the picture below, I was trying to take a picture of the cupcake with the pretty flower on top. Later when I looked at this picture I noticed the clerk in the background…I wonder what he was saying?
There are several Crumbs locations in NYC with seating areas; the location we went to was actually pretty spacious with quite a few tables (especially by NYC standards).
Mike had a chocolate croissant. He said it was delicious – tender and flaky with the perfect amount of chocolate.
Chocolate Croissant
I had a Cookies and Cream Cupcake. It had chocolate cake and vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with crushed sandwich cookies, and was topped with a sandwich cookie. It was amazing. The cake was dark chocolaty, moist, and not overly sweet (just the way I like it!). The frosting was really sweet, but there wasn’t a ton of frosting, so that worked out well. The only thing I didn’t like was that the frosting was somewhat hardened and dry, but depending on the type of frosting that can happen even if it was made the same day.
Cookies and Cream Cupcake
We ordered a couple of cupcakes to sample later during the week and they are definitely worth mentioning…
I’m usually a chocolate girl, but my #1 favorite was the Raspberry Swirl Cupcake, which has vanilla cake filled with raspberry preserves and frosted with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a swirl of raspberry preserves. The cake was super moist even though it wasn’t eaten the same day it was bought. There was a really generous amount of the raspberry filling, and the taste of the preserves reminded me exactly of the filling in a raspberry jelly donut. It was incredible.
Raspberry Swirl Cupcake
The Red Velvet Cupcake was my #2 favorite. It was classic red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting, then sprinkled with red velvet crumbs and edged with white sprinkles. The beautiful red cake was rich with a moist, tender crumb and had the perfect hint of chocolate. I have to say I think it actually might be the best red velvet cake I’ve ever had.
Red Velvet Cupcake
Next time a cupcake craving hits, I will probably be hitting up Crumbs again (and I probably won’t wait until our next trip to NYC…they have online ordering!).
Crumbs Bake Shop (Garment Center Location)
1385 Broadway
(Between West 37th Street & West 38th Street)
New York, NY 10018
Tel.: 212.764.7100
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Yum!
~ingrid
okay, i don’t think i ‘got’ the cupcake trend until this post! they all look absolutely amazing.
now i really wish that i could make perfect cupcakes :(
That place is amazing! How did you chose? So many choices there. I would of been there all day! Lol
That raspberry cupcake sounds DELISH!!!
I can’t speak for Magnolia’s cupcakes, but I have to say – their PIECES OF CAKE are the best taste-wise and value-wise around!!!
And Billy’s Bakery has amazing carrot cake.
OMG I LOVE CAKE IN NYC!!!
I’m with you Faith…any pricey calorie fest worth having better not be dry! This keeps reminding me to get going on trying to make my own cupcakes. Hopefully this winter…cupckaes will bless my home ;o)
Thanks for giving us your personal take on this bakery :)
Claudia
I walk around crumbs often but have never stopped in! I do my sweet damage at the donut plant on the lower east side.. now… I think I will give cupcakes a try…thanks for the review!!
can you believe that I’ve never had a cupcake in the four years I’ve lived in US? I love how cute it is but I don’t have sweet tooth and it looks really sweet with all that frosting! We have a famous georgetown cupcake place that always has a long line … maybe I’ll give that a try one day! ;)
That cookies & cream cupcake looks divine!
I have to be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Crumbs. My friends and I have unanimously agreed that my cupcakes are tastier and I feel weird about paying for something when I can make it at home. Next time you’re at NYC, you should stop at the Eats Well With Others “bakeshop” on the upper east side :P
Those cupcakes and the croissant looks so good! Now I’m craving cupcakes!
Oh. My. Cupcake. I’m NEVER in NYC but if I ever am I’ll be sure to check this place out. Thanks for giving me an insane craving for sweets. ;)
i’ve actually been to a crumbs! i got cinnamon apple. :)
Oh man those cupcakes look so freaking delicious. I want some! Doesn’t help that I am on a major cupcake kick as of late!
Happy Wednesday!
Nice review! While I do enjoy cupcakes—and that raspberry swirl thing looks remarkable—I must say that I am drawn more to your lovely toasted coconut muffins!
guess I’m more of a cake than frosting person…
I gained five pounds just moving through today’s entry. Your photos of my downfalll are really wonderful. I hope you are having a great day.
New York City cupcakes…they are famous :) The bad thing is that there are so many different places to try! I have several cupcakes from Magnolia and they were delicious. I noticed if you hit the place late at night before they closed you had a good chance of getting some fresh frosted red velvets. Now Artie and I will have to come up with a reason to go into the city for cupcakes… ;)
I have honestly never had a bad cupcake from Magnolia’s (and I’ve had a lot – at my old job we used to find any occasion to get them for the office), but these look fantastic, too! I’ve never had one from Crumbs, but it looks like I’m going to have to try it out one of these days. I’m sure it won’t be difficult for me to come up with some sort of occasion for these!
Oh wow, they all look so good, but that red velvet with the crumbs on top is calling my name!
All those look really tempting, can’t decide what to try first?
Mmm, that chocolate croissant went straight to my heart. I suspect I would love this place.
One of my best friends just raves about Crumbs every time she goes to NY. I’ve yet to try one of those famous cupcakes. I might have to book a trip just for that. ;)
Raspberry swirl cupcake would be my choice…I always consider the cupcakes are calorie bombs…but I have to admit that they do look very pretty and exciting!
Red Velvet Cupcake looks so goooooooodd :) but I would have also had to have the cookies & cream one.., did you really stop at 3. I’m impressed, I could hang out at that place & do some serious damage.
Mmmmm!
Those ones definitely look like they are worth the extra calories. I think I’d be a fan of the cookies one…I love cream cheese frosting.
Everything looks so delicious! Wish we have a similar shop like this here! Your coconut muffins looks scrumptious too:)
There is a Crumbs right down the street from my place and I love it. While I do agree that the frosting can be a bit hard at times, it is the perfect sweetness and the cake is never dry. I haven’t had Magnolia yet so I can’t compare but these certainly hit the spot!
Interesting read. The wife and I are big cupcake fans. We could do some serious damage with all that selection.
I love your photos of the cupcakes, especially the one of the glass case with all the different colours! I’ve only recently had red velvet cake (one I made) so I would love to try one you think is the best! Alas, NY is a long way away ;)
Ooh New York and cupcakes go hand in hand I agree! And I have heard the same thing about Magnolia so good that you did your research! Well if I am lucky enough to get to NY you know where I’m going! :D
Such amazing sweet treats! I would love to try the raspberry swirl and red velvet cupcake!
I didn’t get to try these though I saw many of them around. Its just that I was always eating and whenever I was near a Crumbs, I was full LOL. I saw a pistachio cupcake at Crumbs that I really wanted to try, but didn’t get the chance. I did try Magnolia though. I had a hummingbird cupcake. it was good, nice and moist, but not terribly memorable. Flavour wise I’d say 6/10. You didn’t miss much.
*kisses* HH
Yuum. That chocolate croissant is right up my alley. I’ve been to Magnolia’s and the cupcakes were just good, imo, not great. I did like the atmosphere of the place though, that turned the cupcake experience up a notch.
My goodness! Everything looks so delicious I wouldn’t know where to start!
I’ve heard about this bakery. Thanks for sharing the goodies, the Red Velvet Cupcakes, YUM!
Ganache-filled cupcake? Wow! I agree though, a calorie fest has to be worth every bite! And ummm…those cupcakes look MORE than worthy!!
Cupcakes! yum! I am loving these reviews of NY so I can plan my trip accordingly.
Mmm, cupcakes! One of my weaknesses! I bet the red velvet was to die for!!! (Love the layout, by the way!)
Everything look so good! Especially the raspberry swirl and red velvet crumb.
They all look amazing! I am dying to try Crumbs but haven’t had the chance. Worth every calorie, I’m sure! I’ll be heading there soon, thanks for the push!
I am with you on the raspberry swirl cupcake – sounds amazing! I love jelly donuts so that would be my pick!
See, I’m a frosting addict. I’ve been known to sit with a tub of it and slater it on with every bite!