There has been an explosion of coffee and sweets in Seattle - most noticeably, cupcakes. I turned around one day and was completely surrounded by people passing by in GoreTex & socks with sandals, munching on their cupcakes. But I’m not complaining; I have a giant sweet tooth. The rulers of this cupcake sweet tooth niche in Seattle are Cupcake Royale and Trophy Cupcakes. I’m a bit impartial to Cupcake Royale because I’m a Ballardite and choose convenience over everything. So, that’s where I found myself one summer day, in the Ballard Cupcake Royale with my friend Heather, buying into the sweets explosion of Seattle.

The hardest part about Cupcake Royale is deciding. Do you want a vanilla, chocolate, lavender, red velvet, mint, ballerina, flavor of the month? The flavors are also fairly seasonal. Every time I go in, there seems to be new cupcakes in the display case to try. No matter what it will be delicious; it’s a cupcake! I settled on a Lavender cupcake with Morning Glory Chai; a perfect pairing. The chai tea wasn’t overly sweet and the cupcake had the right amount of lavendar frosting - just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth craving.

Besides cupcakes and Verite coffee, Cupcake Royale sells shirts advertising their brand, coffee, and cute slogans. Legalize Frostitution. It’s also one of my favorite places to visit on a gray, overcast Seattle day. I’m always engulfed with that warm “home” feeling and the bright frosting cupcake colors make it impossible for me to not smile. I still need to check out the other three CR locations; especially the one in Capitol Hill. But for now, Cupcake Royale in Ballard is one of my favorite places to go to satisfy my sweet tooth (but not overwhelm my tastebuds) and catch up with old friends.