What is the definition of consistency? Well, if you were to ask me, I would tell you to take a visit to Beascakes Bakery and Breads to find out. Since I can remember, Beascakes has been a constant source of good food and good vibes for the Armonk community. Truthfully, I am happy that not much has changed within this local bakeship. It has stuck to the fundamentals and has therefore been cooking up delicious treats for quite some time now.
If Beascakes is the established veteran, then one could say that Sugar Hi is the young but talented rookie. On its website, Sugar Hi calls itself a “dessert shop”- a proper name for a store that serves up such a wide variety of sweets ranging from trendy “freakshakes” to banana pudding to fresh poptarts and even homemade liege waffles. The selection really is endless.
To compare the two shops in the most objective manner, I reviewed an American staple: cupcakes! I mean, who doesn’t love cupcakes? At each location, I tried 3 separate cupcakes recommended to me by the store’s staff. Importantly, I had never tasted the cupcakes from Beascakes or Sugar High before this review.
So, let's get right to it and find out which bakery, Sugar Hi or Beascakes, will reign supreme in this edition of Cupcake Wars.
Beascakes Bakery
Cookies n Cream: At first site, it becomes obvious that, unsurprisingly, Beascakes doesn’t mess around with their cupcakes- they look outstanding. When I take my first bite, my mouth actually does not explode with sugar. Instead, the pure frosting is mild, yet still very much satisfactory. The frosting is extremely light and maintains a consistency similar to whip cream. The oreo crumbs provide an extra kick of flavor, taking this cupcake to the next level. The cake is fluffy and sweet; however, it is slightly dry, which is unfortunate.
Buttercream: For the second time, Beascakes comes out with another attractive cupcake. The buttercream forms a perfect circle atop the cake and is outlined by colorful rainbow sprinkles. The buttercream possesses the slightly gritty texture you are looking for. Sadly it lacks the sweetness customary of this type of frosting. Fortunately though, the cake saves the day. In contrast to its Cookies n Cream counterpart, this cake is actually quite moist- always a good sign.
Red Velvet: Once again, Beascakes delivers with a stunning cupcake. The cake is a vibrant red and the white frosting is outlined by what appears to be red velvet cake crumbs. At first bite, it becomes obvious that this one's my favorite of the three. Compared to the buttercream and cookies n cream, which are tasty nonetheless, this cupcake really does stand out. The cream cheese frosting is strong and tangy, with the sweetness of the cake providing the perfect compliment. The touch of cocoa also provides a nice, mild chocolate flavor to the cake itself.
Sugar Hi
Cookies n Cream: The cupcake, while not as visually appealing as Beascakes, still looks yummy. The frosting is notably darker in color than Beacakes’ cookies n cream, suggesting that the oreo cookies are blended rather than simply placed in. At first bite, it becomes clear that the frosting is the star of this cupcake; it is rich, dense, and sweet yet salty at the same time. The cake is incredibly moist and fluffy as well. The one complaint I have about this cupcake is that: I wish it was bigger! Great work Sugar Hi on this delicious treat.
Cookie Dough: Wow- now this cupcake looks interesting! I mean, it's topped with a giant glob of cookie dough for god's sake! Don’t get me wrong, the cookie dough is delicious but maybe a little too rich. I am just not sure if the enjoyment from the first bite is sustainable. Still, the vanilla base, being the same as the Cookies n Cream, is moist, sweet and fluffy. Key word: moist. Personally, this is what I look for most in all cakes.
Chocolate: Unlike the previous cookie dough flavor, here we have a very traditional flavor in chocolate. Often so, these are the hardest ones to master. I am particularly excited for this cupcake as its chocolate frosting is covered in m&m’s, my favorite candy. The frosting is surprisingly thin, and slips off the top of the cake when picked up. Fortunately, the frosting’s taste makes up for its messiness. It is extremely flavorful, resembling dark chocolate more so than milk- a good thing considering that I personally prefer dark chocolate. The m&m’s add a touch of sweetness, and the chocolate cake, as now expected, is both MOIST and delicious.
The Verdict
Don’t get me wrong, both bakeries did an amazing job with their cupcakes. And before I announce the winner, I just want to say that I recommend you take a visit to both Sugar Hi and Beascakes to taste all the delicious treats they have to offer (suggestion: TRY THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES AT BEASCAKES!).
But now, back to the decision. While Beascakes’ cupcakes were absolutely beautiful, Sugar Hi’s cupcakes tasted just slightly better. This was not an easy choice, but…
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