15 Colorful Cupcakes for the Hudson Valley Sweet Tooth
By Sabrina Sucato and Olivia Perez via HV Mag
Sky-high frosting and secret fillings are only a few reasons to love these sweet and tempting Hudson Valley cupcakes.
Cupcakes are perfect. As cuter, bittier versions of birthday cakes, they deliver just enough sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth sans the food coma results. When it comes to flavors, imagination is the only limitation. In the Hudson Valley, local bakeries tempt with fluffy buttercream frostings, secret dulce de leche fillings, and tasty combinations that run the gamut from the staple chocolate and peanut butter to amaretto, cannoli, and even Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Take a scroll through some of our favorite baby cakes in the Hudson Valley, then head off to get some for yourself! Fair warning: These will most definitely induce hunger.
Antonio’s Cupcake Factory
New Windsor
Order: Cannoli Filled Cupcake
If the name doesn’t give it away, Antonio’s is something of a cupcake institution in New Windsor. The cake-crazy locale tempts with concoctions inspired by other desserts, such as birthday and red velvet cake. If you want something really unique, look for the flavor of the day, which could be anything from pumpkin to chai spice.
Baked by Susan
Croton-on-Hudson
Order: Nutty Girl Cupcake
If you find yourself in Westchester craving something totally sweet, Baked by Susan is the perfect destination. Founded by Susan O’Keefe, this family-owned business is the ideal place for freshly made, handcrafted goods. If you have a soft spot for something a little nutty, the nutty girl chocolate cupcake is a must-try. This cupcake features a luscious peanut buttercream filling and is iced in a delicious ganache. Baked by Susan is known for creating a sense of old-fashioned warmth and comfort, making every visit feel like baking at home. In addition to daily delights, the shop also makes custom orders for any special event.
Caked Up Café
New City
Order: Liquor-Infused Cupcake
New City’s Caked Up Café has more than 90 cupcake flavors. Yes, you read that correctly. If options like Amaretto Crunch, Blueberry Cobbler, Milky Way, and Raspberry Cheesecake aren’t enough to entice you to visit, consider the fact that flavors are only part of the appeal. To complete the cakes, Caked Up goes all out with tempting toppings as “basic” as frosting and sprinkles and as quirky as jelly donut-topped and caramel-infused. If you want the best of dessert and happy hour at once, go for the booze-infused treats, which are almost too pretty to eat.
The Cakery
Fishkill
Order: Vanilla-Caramel Bourbon Cupcake
The Cakery in Fishkill is truly a haven for cupcake lovers in the Hudson Valley. With a lineup of over 50 cupcake flavors ranging from basic to gourmet and even adult varieties, there is something for all ages to enjoy. This is the perfect place for your sweet desires and will satisfy your dessert cravings. The specialty infused wine and liquor cupcakes are a flavorful treat exclusively for those 21 years old or older.
Cakes by Ashlee
Hudson
Order: Key Lime Cupcake
If you’re looking for custom desserts for any upcoming celebrations or events, Cakes by Ashlee has you covered. Preorder the specialty cupcakes for birthdays, weddings, and corporate events, featuring any theme you may desire or even the unique pull-apart cupcake cakes. The coconut and lemon cake flavors are absolutely irresistible.
Carousel Cakes
Nanuet
Order: Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake
Carousel Cakes is known for its creative twist on cupcakes. If you are looking for a craft project that has a tasty reward when completed, order the DIY cupcake kits. Not only does the Nanuet-based business offer delicious DIY kits, but it also has a large selection of gourmet cupcakes as well. Each month, it does limited-edition cupcakes that are simply decadent. The strawberry cheesecake cupcake is a dream come true for cheesecake aficionados. This cupcake features vanilla cake filled with sweet strawberry preserves and topped with cream cheese frosting, graham cracker crumble, and strawberry drizzle.
Delightful Bites by Nina
Cairo
Order: Almond Raspberry Cupcake
Located in Greene County, Delightful Bites by Nina is an artisan bakery known for creating unforgettable dessert treats. Delightful Bites offers an array of both cake and cupcake flavors from which to choose. You can personalize your Hudson Valley cupcakes even more by adding extra fillings for a small fee. A selection of dozen cupcakes is priced at $30, with mini cupcakes available for those seeking bite-sized treats.
The Fifth Tier Baking Studio
Wynantskill
Order: Vanilla Cherry Cupcake
Pastry chef Lyle Houston is the brain behind this establishment. One look at his picture-perfect cupcakes, however, and we’re more inclined to call him a sweet genius. Inside The Fifth Tier, a multi-hued assortment of cakes, cookies, and scones abound. Order whatever’s on offer the day you visit for a one-of-a-kind eat or opt for the gluten-free goodies if you’re avoiding wheat. P.S. If you need something to supplement the cupcakes, the cinnamon rolls are also divine.
Forget Me Not Cupcakes
Milton
Order: Boston Cream Pie Cupcake
A mobile pastry shop based out of Milton, Forget Me Not is a regular visitor to Hudson Valley fairs and festivals throughout the year. Many of the cupcake varieties are fun riffs on go-to desserts like carrot cake, Reese’s cups, and even bananas foster, which makes it all too easy to walk away with two or three (or more) of the teensy temptations. Our pick, the Boston cream pie cupcake, is a must for anyone who adores the iconic combo of yellow cake, Boston cream filling, and dark chocolate frosting.
Hudson Valley Dessert Company
Saugerties
Order: Chocolate Cupcake
Hudson Valley Dessert Company is a sweet haven in Saugerties, so it only makes sense that the cupcakes there are to-die-for. If the decorated cookies and cakes don’t tempt you from the start, hold out for the artfully adorned cupcakes, which come topped with everything from succulents to Star Wars décor. P.S. They taste pretty great, too.
The Pastry Garden
Poughkeepsie
Order: Death by Chocolate Cupcake
Why settle for regular-sized cupcakes when you can indulge in jumbo-sized versions in the Hudson Valley? The Pastry Garden caters to various dietary needs with gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free options available. The bakery has a wide variety of delicious desserts, including the famous death by chocolate cupcake. If you order it, expect chocolate overload in the form of a chocolate cupcake filled with rich chocolate mousse, topped with scrumptious chocolate ganache, and finished with chocolate shavings on top. Each bite delivers an extraordinary flavor journey fulfilling any chocolate lover’s dream.
Peace, Love & Cupcakes
Woodstock
Order: Tie-Dye Cupcake
No trip to Woodstock would be complete without a stop by Peace, Love & Cupcakes. The shop may be pint-sized, but that doesn’t stop massive lines from snaking out the door. Go for the technicolor tie-dye treat for an authentic Woodstock experience, or check out whichever unique flavors are specials for the day. Note: the shop is temporarily closed until March for some big updates.
Studio Cupcakes by Twisted Soul Food Concepts
Poughkeepsie
Order: Death by Chocolate Cupcake
An offshoot of Twisted Soul Food Concepts in Poughkeepsie, Studio Cupcakes is a dream for cupcake lovers in Dutchess County. Find the cakes at Twisted Soul or order them for catering or pickup. As for what makes the cupcakes unique, that would have to be the hidden fillings inside them. The Black & White, for instance, looks like a regular chocolate cake with vanilla bean frosting. In the heart of it, however, lies a pocket of dulce de leche that is downright impossible to resist. For sweet teeth with allergies, Studio Cupcakes also offers gluten-free and vegan varieties.
The Ugly Cupcake
Middletown
Order: German Chocolate Cupcake
Don’t let the name fool you! The Ugly Cupcake specializes in handcrafted, homemade cupcakes that any Hudson Valley dessert lover would swoon over. All cupcakes can be made to order and delivered for any occasion. Additionally, the hotspot caters to any dietary needs or restrictions. Among the variety of cakes available is the German chocolate cupcake, a flavorful creation filled with rich pecan and topped with smooth chocolate frosting.
Whipped Cupcakes
Maybrook
Order: Chubby Hubby Cupcake
What started as a retro, micro-sized food truck has turned into a brick-and-mortar storefront in Maybrook. On the flavor front, the mother-and-daughter duo behind the confectionery offer a solution for every kind of craving. Chubby Hubby, a moist chocolate cake filled with salted caramel and topped with peanut buttercream and a chocolate-covered pretzel, is a must, while Strawberry Cheesecake, a vanilla bean cake with cheesecake filling that comes topped with strawberry buttercream and graham cracker crumbs, is a fun twist on the classic dessert.