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Crushcakes Cupcakery
1315 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-9353
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Reviews by the General Public
very, very good!, 8/14/2010
Reviewer: Katie
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had the Chocolate Bliss today, though it is a bit more crumbly to my liking, it was not dry or oily at all. Icing was good, not too sweet. I do suggest Crushcakes to come up with more original & unique flavors, and definitely nicer boxes.
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Great Food and People, 5/10/2010
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
The only negative to this place is that the cupcakes gave me a sugar overload headache! The frosting is really sweet but good. The cake seemed just right to me, not dry or not oily though I have never baked them before. They have several options available and even mini cupcakes(what I should have got!). The server was extra sweet too, did not meet the owner. They rival my fav, Enjoy Cupcakes in Los Olivos which has similar to Bella Rosa a frosting filling. I can see why they are voted #1 in SB on this website. Cupcake places(seen this multiple times) need to come up with boxes that don't tilt the cupcakes as regular baker boxes don't keep the top heavy creations steady enough. Oh well.
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Way too oily, 4/13/2010
Reviewer: Danielle
from Santa Barbara, CA
I'll start off with the positives: The flavours are inventive and tasty. The frosting is super sweet, but good. My favourite is the strawberry with actual flecks of strawberry in it. On to the less appealing side. I wanted to love these cupcakes and gave them a few chances, but it was always the same; the cupcakes are dense, crumbly/dry and oily. A cupcake should be light and moist, but the texture of these seem like a dry sponge that was soaked in oil. You can see the grease left over on your fingers. Ick. Like the reviewer below wrote, you CAN moisten baked goods up with things other than oil, such as fruit purees. I know this because I bake A LOT. To top it off the staff always seems annoyed that you interrupted their conversation. And the other reviewer who commented on the owner's blog is right about professionalism. I want to buy cupcakes from a person who enjoys their trade and likes to make others happy with their product,and not some cranky broad who complains about her customers on her blog - a blog that is posted on the company's website?!! I have read it, BAD business move. Professionalism speaks volumes about who you are dealing with and what a company is about. Bad service and bad attitudes can leave leave behind a nasty after-taste.
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Not exactly Sprinkles...but, 2/9/2010
Reviewer: Ashley
from Santa Barbara, CA
The cupcakes are pretty darn good. Are they as moist and colossal as a cupcake from Crumbs bakeshop let alone Sprinkles, Nope. Are they delicious? YES! Are they pricey? YES. But if you want something tasty and not too big and full of quality ingredients look no further and be prepared to battle it out for parking. I gave a 4.5 rating for both food and service because I can have a delicious cupcake in Beverly Hills for the same price with EXCEPTIONAL service, and BIGGER cupcakes-however I am always fiending for a legitimate red velvet and this is the place to go. The owner comes off a bit...well..she's okay. I don't know her but from reading her blog entry titled "WTF" I'm a little irked by her lack of professionalism regardless I will be back for my cupcake fix.
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Trust my taste buds!, 2/5/2010
Reviewer: eric
from Santa Barbara, CA
They know best :-) Seriously, I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion but I have a hard time comprehending the reviewers who claim dryness - I've been a return customer since this place opened and have always enjoyed the cupcakes thoroughly! Vanilla Bean and Strawberry are still my faves. Keep up the great work!
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Good idea but needs a lot of work., 2/3/2010
Reviewer: Leslie
from Santa Barbara, CA
We tried Crushcakes while on vacation in Santa Barbara. It's a cute idea but they really need to work on a fresher tasting product and better service. The girl at the counter was acting like she'd rather be somewhere else than help customers. As for the cupcakes the frosting was OK, but the cake part had the consistency that cake gets when its been sitting out for a couple of days, we had a half dozen and each one was super dry. I don't want a greasy over-the-top moist cupcake but the cupcakes we had seemed more like cake that had been left out for awhile, not something baked fresh that day. Overall if Crushcakes tweaked a few things in the recipes, the service and cleaned up the place a little bit it would be a good idea.
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different kind of cupcake, 11/1/2009
Reviewer: Kelly
from Santa Barbara, CA
I go to crushcakes at least twice a week, I think of the cupcakes as more "muffiny" than "cakey" so if you are looking for super sweet, moist cupcakes, you aren't going to find them. It's kind of an acquired taste I'd say! The frosting is soooo yummy, you can tell it's not just one type of buttercream frosting tinted a different color like another certain cupcakery in town.... and the food in the cafe is awesome too, super fresh and organic.
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Two Stars for the Icing, 11/1/2009
Reviewer: Francis
from Santa Barbara, CA
The icing is wonderful (in my opinion) at Crushcakes. However, time and time again, the cake part is dry. This is a common complaint on this guide as well as when I speak to others in the community. Dry, dry, dry. The owner laments on her blog that she makes the cupcakes from scratch and uses good ingredients making her cakes superior to others. Word of advice, there are other ways to make a cake moist besides oil. Applesauce is one idea. I have tried plenty cakes that are vegan that are moister than Crushcakes awful, dry cupcakes. Want a really good treat? Go to Our Daily Bread and get their Vegan Chocolate Muffin. It is delicious.
Listen to your consumers, Shannon. You're cupcakes need help.
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Dry and Tasteless, 10/30/2009
Reviewer: Elizabeth
from Santa Barbara, CA
I don't usually write reviews, but I was so dissapointed by these cupcakes. I've been on two separate occassions and have been met by the most dry and bland cupcakes I have ever tasted. I would prefer cupcakes from a grocery store, and that's saying a lot. The last time my boyfriend went, he bought a cupcake for me and put it in the fridge. When I got it out 2 hours later it was hard as a rock - I threw it away.
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To Dry, 10/17/2009
Reviewer: Marie D'amico
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband and I wanted to try the cupcakes here. We couldn't eat them 'yuk'. The icing was to sweet and the cake was dry, don't waste your time going here.
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Wanted to like the cupcakes!, 10/5/2009
Reviewer: Elizabeth
from Santa Barbara, CA
First of all, let me start off by saying that wanting a moist cupcake doesn't mean you want a preservative-ridden grocery store bought cupcake as inferred in a previous review. Secondly, let me say that I LOVED the frosting on the Vanilla Bean cupcake, however, once I dug into the cake, I was very sad. Too dry! I really hope that the owners take these 'dry cupcake' reviews into consideration, because the frosting and the variety of flavors are fantastic (not to mention the friendly staff).
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lunch then desert!
Reviewer: javier zapien
from Santa Barbara, CA
After taking the kids to play at the park close by we stumbled upon my new favorite cafe... my kids loved the cupcakes i loved the food. I have to admit I've had a lot of mushroom soups from all around town but this one u can say it takes the cake! best I've ever had....good food great atmosphere u got to visit crushcakes to see what im talking about!
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My favorite place to get something sweet...
Reviewer: Kelly
from Santa Barbara, CA
I LOVE these cupcakes. You can absolutely tell they are not made from a box! They are more muffiny than super moist cakey, which is what I like.... b/c they don't taste like they are from a grocery store with all sorts of artificial ingredients and food coloring. My boyfriend got me a margarita cupcake (my favorite dessert in town) pull apart cake for my birthday... and I could not stop eating it!!! Only go here if you want a new, fresh, lighter version of a traditional cupcake... but if you want super moist, fake taste, food coloring and artificial ingredients you will not like this place!!!
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Disappointment- in cupcake form.
Reviewer: Meg Elison
from Hemet, CA
I was very excited to try Crushcakes. I got a signature red velvet and a chocolate bliss. Both were dry, less than flavorful, and clearly made from a box. Both were topped with cloying and pedestrian buttercream frosting in alarming amounts. Not moist, not subtle, and not good. Unworthy of being a specialty bakery, or staying in business in such a cute part of town.
My advice- keep the minis, the imaginative flavors, and cute setup. Start over with scratch recipes, more flavorful extracts or actual lemon rind or almond flour- anything, in short, other than a pre-made cake mix. The frosting could be less sweet, less kiddie, and more creamy and certainly thinner in application. Be a specialty bakery- not a grocery store cake counter. Act like it!
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a cupcake store that makes cupcakes out of a box?
Reviewer: Gina
from Santa Barbara, CA
When i think of a cupcake store, i think cupcakes made from scratch! that is not the case with this place. the cupcakes are dry and sometimes hard. the decorations are pretty but its not worth buying if the cake inside tastes crappy! plus its just wayy too expensive! they should get real bakers in there!
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fine not great
Reviewer: kimmy
from Santa Barbara, CA
decent cupcake but not worth what you are paying. they have great choices and varieties of cupcakes but the texture-not very moist or rich.
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My Favorite Place in SB
Reviewer: Kari
from Santa Barbara, CA
I love everything about this place. I go there fairly regularly, and I cannot stop singing it's praises!
The crushcafe is wonderful, has a great variety of food including delicious vegetarian options. Their soup chef is a genius- he makes whatever soup he feels like for the day and every time I have some I wish I could take a whole pot home.
The people who work there- especially in the cafe- are the sweetest you could ever hope to meet. They take such good care of me!
I enjoy every cupcake, though my favorite is the original crushcake- today I had an "old school" cupcake, which looked like a hostess cupcake, which was amazing also.
You have to try this place out if you live here! The place is so cute, the cupcakes are amazing, the food is original and the people are the friendliest of anywhere I've been.
You have no idea how sad I am to be moving away!!!
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try the margarita cupcake...
Reviewer: meggie
from Santa Barbara, CA
these are the best! I was not impressed with the lemon(Pledge flavor), the peanut butter or the coconut, and the chocolate, well how can one go wrong with chocolate? But the Lime Margarita Cupcakes are worth fighting over! The recipe is posted on Rachel Ray's website, and these are sure to be an awesome addition to any summer parties.
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Don't forget cake, is a key part of a cupCAKE. Disapointing
Reviewer: CS
from Santa Barbara, CA
Wow, these cupcakes are dry. The crumb is more like a muffin and they are very, very dry. The frosting is good, but it still can't cover up the poor excuse for cake below. It's a bummer that we now have an excess of "cupcakeries" in SB, but all of them pretty much are a fail when it comes execution. Better off baking a batch at home to get your cupcake fix in.
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Simply the Best Cupcake in California!
Reviewer: Matthew B
from Marin County, CA
Crushcake is a wonderful little store front just off of State Street in Santa Barbara. I've tried many boutique cupcakes in California (Kara's, SF; Heavenly, SD; Sprinkles, Newport) and to my surprise, Crushcake was my favorite. I purchased four late Friday afternoon half an hour before closing. Selection was okay given the time but the cupcakes were sensational. The red velvet seems to be the signature but I enjoyed the vanilla best. My wife and I returned on Monday morning and enjoyed a very nice breakfast at the Crush Cafe and then left with 8 cupcakes. They endured a six hour drive back to San Francisco and the unanimous decision was a thumbs up. The cupcakes stayed moist and the icing was devine. If you're in the area, stop by Crushcakes...you won't regret it!
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Getting better!
Reviewer: chee
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used my discount card to buy 3 cupcakes and get 1 free today, and thus far, I have only tried the Lemon Drop cupcake. It was SO good! I don't know if they used a cream cheese frosting on it, but the frosting was nice, thick, and creamy, and it was heaped generously on the mildly lemon-flavored cake. I had the strawberry cupcake a few months ago and was saddened to eat a very dry and brittle cake. This lemon cupcake, however, was moist but still had a good structure to it, making it seem more substantial. I don't know whether the bakery is switching up the recipes to make the cakes moister, but whatever they're doing, I give them a hearty frosting-covered thumbs up!
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I (heart) Crushcakes.
Reviewer: Amanda
from Santa Barbara, CA
I LOVE Crushcakes, I think the concept is great and love that they have a Vegan offering as well. I've been going there on and off since last summer. While it is true that the cupcakes themselves can be a bit dry they seem to have improved them quite a bit over the past few months. The frosting is to die for, I love the passion fruit frosting on the Peace Cake, there isn't quite anything like it. The girls working there are always super sweet and helpful, they even helped me with a special design when I ordered an extra large cupcake for my boyfriend's birthday. I'll keep going back.
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Hmm...
Reviewer: Cam
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have to agree with the other reviews in that the cupcakes are just too dry. I got a variety to try and the velvet one almost tasted a bit burnt?? For a place that specializes in cupcakes...I think I can open my own cupcake shop as the ones I make at home (that comes from a box) is more moist than the ones I've had here. I will say that the frosting is tasty, but for the price, they should almost include a small glass of milk.
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Hmmm....
Reviewer: Johanna
from Santa Barbara, CA
I just ate a lemon cupcake. The frosting was delicious (I am a gal who LOVES frosting). I just can't put my finger on actual cake recipe that is used at Crushcakes. While the cupcake I had (today) was not dry, it is very coarse in texture. This makes me apprehensive to purchase the cupcakes at the end of the day or to have them at any sort of party/event because of the concern that the cake will be dry. I have heard this same sentiment from others in the community.
I want this business to do well, however, one is not guaranteed consistency when purchasing a Crushcake.
BUT! I highly suggest that people dine at the Crushcafe. It was WONDERFUL!!!!
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Am I eating a muffin or a cupcake?
Reviewer: JR
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went into Crushcakes for a cupcake for the first time. Looking at their display, I thought to myself that I had never seen a cupcake that's top had a larger circumference than the base....in fact it was in the shape of a muffin. When I started eating the "cupcake" the top broke off like a perfect muffin top (something strongly desired for a muffin, not a cupcake). Also, the texture of the "cupcake" was pretty dry when the ideal cupcake is moist....like cake. There is actually quite a big difference between a muffin and a cupcake, hence the different names. Even though my experience of Crushcake's actual product was disappointing, the staff and owner behind the cupcakery are very welcoming and extremely friendly. I would love to go back just for the service!
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Worth the wait?!?
Reviewer: Sarah
from Santa Barbara, CA
I ordered 4 dozen Choc.& PB mini cupcakes in advance and arrived to pick them up at the specified time and when I showed up they were assorted mini cupcakes, rather than what I had ordered. I had to wait almost 2 hours for the new batch! They were delicious. However, I was surprised that they did not offer a discount or something to drink while I waited.
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Nice location and people, dry cupcakes, too expensive
Reviewer: Lorraine Wood
from Santa Barbara, CA
I really love the idea of a "cupcakery" because with cupcakes, the cake-to-icing ratio is always perfect.
I was really happy this place opened and love the flavor of the cupcakes, but the cake part is usually dry.
Improve cake quality and you'll fare better.
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Great!!!
Reviewer: dawn
from Santa Barbara, CA
they must have made some changes because my cupcakes where great!!! I have just moved in the neighborhood for the past three months and have had the cupcakes several times and they have been consistant and delicious. I've had lemon, coconut peanut butter and red velvet and they have been great!
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Cute place, but DRY cupcakes!!
Reviewer: Amanda Milholland
from Lompoc, CA
I agree with the people below, everyone is really nice and the frosting was yummy, but the I got their original red velvet cupcake and it was very dry, not good for a cupcakery!!
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What happened?
Reviewer: Alex
from Santa Barbara, CA
The first few months that crushcakes was opened I went at least once a week. The cupcakes were delicious. The service varied depending on who was working. Lately, I have to be honest the cupcakes are bad. They are way to dry. I tried going in the morning thinking that I could catch them straight out of the oven but same result.... dry and every cupcake taste the same. Did you get a new baker? Are you trying a new recipe? Please go back to the original plan.
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DRY DRY DRY
Reviewer: C. Redmond
from Santa Barbara, CA
I visited crushcakes and sampled three seperate cupcakes and all of them were super dry. The frosting and service is great but the actual cupcake is so dry and flavorless it is not really worth finishing. It tastes like it was baked two days prior. I hope they improve because they have very creative flavors but until then I won't be coming back. How the owners don't know this needs improving is beyond me...
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Hurrah for Crushcakes
Reviewer: Elizabeth
from Santa Barbara, CA
The FINE TUNING has paid off. Not all cupcakes are created equal so here's a lead on which ones to try. The strawberry cupcake sends me over the moon and the toasted coconut is right up there with Barefoot Contessa's version. These are full of flavor not to forget-a wonderfully moist and tender crumb that'll get you tapping! I just had a bite of the earth cupcake and what can I say, it is heavenly. And the vegan cupcakes have not let me down-an excellent balance of flavors. There's a tropical pineapple kind and also a chocolate coconut one that's both scrumptious. The buzz is on Crushcafe and I will be back for that!
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Great for Parties!
Reviewer: Shobs
from Santa Barbara, CA
A few weeks ago I ordered a Red Velvet cupcake for a Good-bye party I was having. Over the phone I described that the party was a viking theme and that my costume was going to be gray and pink. Well, I was thrilled when the cake arrived to the party and I had a first look. It was absolutely awesome.
Thanks so much, I will definitely recommend you to friends. It's a bummer I no longer live in SB, because I would use you for occasions to come.
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