I know, I cheated a little. Technically Just Baked isn’t located in central campus, but considering these two places are the most prominent cupcake shops, it’s just too good of an opportunity not to compare them.
Whoever thought of the idea of cupcakes, the mini decorative cakes, was ingenious. These small treats gives just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy that sweet tooth without feeling too guilty.
The Cupcake Station was the first cupcake shop in Michigan. Opened in 2006, it has been baking fresh cupcakes since the first day. There are four locations, all in Michigan and mainly clustered around the south east.
I only recently discovered just baked over the summer. Accidentally stumbled upon it in the Twelve Oaks mall in Novi, MI. With seven locations spread also in the south east side of Michigan, Just baked has been bringing sweets to residents over the past few years.
ATMOSPHERE
There’s always something special about walking into a cupcake shop. Immediately it can brighten a gloomy day. Cupcake station is not a unfamiliar place to me. I discovered it in college and it has become a popular place to go for a little sweet treat since. The shop isn’t very big, but it is cute and cozy. The smell is to divine, filled with the rich smell of the cake and sweet smell of the icing.
The Just Baked that I have been to more regularly is located inside a large shopping mall in Novi, Michigan, but that doesn’t stop it from attracting customers who walk by and can’t resist the smell and attractive looks of the cupcakes. The shop appears very new and modern. The sensational smell of the cupcakes just makes your mouth water.
SELECTION
The cupcake station has its 24 staple flavors: cookies and cream, banana cream pie, PB&C, Party time, What’s up Doc, Bump-a-licious, chocolate cheesecake and more. They will also have special seasonal and occasional cupcakes. For this fall there’s Peanut Butter Pretzel Crunch.
Just Baked sometimes can overwhelm you with its selections. With over 50 flavors, you don’t even know where to begin the elimination. Many of the flavors just sound too good to be true: Chocolate Hazelnut, Cinnamon Donut, Banana Split, Peach Cobbler, Tiramisu, White Chocolate Raspberry, and more. You can probably find any of your favorite dessert in a cupcake form here.
TASTE
Of course the most important. Well let me let your mouth water a little and show you what I have been savoring at the Cupcake Station.
These are really are heavenly dessert. The richness of the frosting and the softness of the cake. Truly a work of art. Sometimes I just like staring at these little guys. They seem almost too good to eat. One of my favorite flavors at the cupcake station is actually their vanilla latte (being the coffee addict that I am).
So what have I had the opportunity to taste at Just Baked?
The flavors here are so unique that it’s hard to even try everything. I don’t even know if/when I will ever get to taste all 50 flavors. The tiramisu tasted just like the dessert. There’s good hint of coffee soaked center that comes as a surprise when you bite into the center of the cupcake. The white chocolate raspberry immediately caught my attention when I was searching for my perfect flavor. There’s just the right amount of sweetness from the white chocolate, tartness from the raspberry, and the moisture from the yellow cake.
WHO REIGNS SUPREME?
Just Baked!
As much as I enjoy my regular visits to the cupcake station, the right balance of cake and cream and flavor is what makes Just Baked stand out to me. I can not but crave for my next visit where I get to uncover another mouth-watering flavor that I can add to my growing list. Good news is, there is a Just Baked located on W. Stadium in Ann Arbor, just a short drive away!