I recently went to New York City with my most favourite girlfriends (minus a few).  While I was there I checked out every possible cupcake shop I could to see what people are doing, what's new, and what is different.  From New York to your tummy, Enjoy:

Baked by Melissa is where mini's rule the land.  There are 2 locations and I visited the one at 7 East 14th street which is just around the corner from Union Square.  The cupcakes were delish.  The buttercream was straight up goodness and the cake was great too.  I was surprised at how mini their mini's actually are...I think you could eat 6-8 of their mini's to equate to one standard size cuppie.  Buuut I guess that's a good thing is you like a different taste for every bite!

About the size of a quarter, you can choose from a yummy selection of cookie dough, red velvet, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Tie Dye to name a few!  A great place to visit if you want to try a little of everything!

The famous Magnolia.  I visited the downtown location at 401 Bleeker street.  The shop was as cute as I imagined it to be and the staff was lovely in spite of the fact that their air conditioner broke and the store was soooo stinkin hot. 

I have to admit, their cupcakes were less then average... The cake was really dry (again, could be the result of the heat) and the icing- gulp- I can't say that I liked it at all.  I have heard many a mixed review about their icing and it just isn't for me.  Over the top sweet and leaves an oily after taste.  However, my friend insisted on getting the banana pudding which is a combination of sliced banana, a custard like banana pudding and vanilla wafers- OHHHH MYYY GOOOOD. I never go for deserts like this- it was to die for.  Click here for the recipe!!

Eleni's is located in the Chelsea Market at 75 9th avenue.  This was one of the cutest shops I visited and in, hands down, one of my most favourite areas in NYC.  They are a cookie shop first but they had a large variety of cupcakes for sale.  The price was steep at around $3.50 a cupcake but they charge that because they can...

Crumbs!!! Of all the cupcakes I tried, these were the best.  The cake was moist and flavorful and the icing was bangin'!  The sizing of their cuppies is a little different in that they carry only Chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet in a standard size and all other flavors come in these jumbo-ish size.  You could quite possibly share with 3 people.  They also have a mammoth cupcake, that is really a cake, if you want to feed 6-8 people but I'd rather have my own!

The Cupcake Stop.  This little shop was inside an old church that had been converted into this gorgeous house for boutique shops!  My kinda church!!!  They had everything from Hunter rain boots, to Ralph Lauren, to designer baby clothing and puppy accessories.  The church also had an area that sold treats: cheeses, aged balsamic vineagars, and cupcakes!!! 

 The cupcakes were descent.  I wouldn't crave them but they were good.  The shop was definitely cute but their cupcake truck was so cool!

Can you imagine if there was a cupcake shop in your church???

 The Cupcake Stop's main source of business comes from their mobile cupcake truck and this is where their business began.  They pull up to all of your favourite places in the city and sell cupcakes- this is where it's at.  This is where D&B is  going... hint hint!!!

And so there ya have it...a tour of New York cupcakes in a nut shell!  I had an amazing trip, got lot's of great ideas, and ate a s&%t ton of cupcakes!  Stay tuned for more from NY...