My visit to Baked & Wired in Washington, DC

Baked & Wired sign

Baked & Wired counter

This weekend, I was visiting Washington, DC and had planned to try cupcakes from 3 bakeries - CakeLove, Georgetown Cupcake, and Baked & Wired. But time was short and these bakeries are not like ones in New York with long hours. They were open from 11-4 or 12-5. Well, save for Georgetown Cupcake - like many who've tried to go there, I found it closed an hour and a half before it was supposed to be. Helpful hint: It's not a good business practice to stay open only until "we run out of cupcakes." Bake more!

Thankfully, nearby was Baked & Wired, a lovely little shop with some pretty big cupcakes. At $3.50 each, they better be. I was told that their flavors rotate - I tried all 5 on offer on Sunday: vanilla/vanilla, vanilla frosting/chocolate cake, strawbrry, coconut, and carrot cake.

Strawberry cupcakes from Baked & Wired

Coconut cupcakes from Baked & Wired

Baked & Wired cupcakes

Half a carrot cake cupcake
inside the carrot cake cupcake

They were all delicious, though probably the vanilla/chocolate and coconut were my favorites. The strawberry was wonderful if you're really into strawberry. The cake was moist and did indeed have strawberries in it and the frosting was pretty intense. The vanilla buttercream frosting was amazing, but the vanilla cake was a little crumbly, the chocolate was excellent. I'm not the biggest carrot cake fan generally, but this one I found myself reaching for seconds for. (On a non-cupcake note, I also recommend the apple caramel bar and the peanut butter brownie, but the cupcakes were better overall, though I may be biased in that regard.)

They also had some fabulous cupcake art by Dana Ellyn on the walls:

Cupcake art at Baked & Wired

Cupcake art at Baked & Wired

Baked & Wired

See my full Flickr set from Baked & Wired here

Comments

Anonymous said…
I want to know how they made their liners! Is that just folded parchement paper???
Anonymous said…
You have to go during the week at opening time (11 am) to get into Georgetown Cupcake. I was there a week ago and got six cupcakes, all of them very good. Unfortunately, the Baked and Wired cupcakes I tasted on the same day weren't as good. The frosting was just fine but the cake part was dry... Hopefully, GC will get its act together and get another oven because they must be losing a ton of business when they run out. As you can see, DC is in dire need of more cupcakeries!!
CreoleInDC said…
Baked and Wired is right across the street from my school and I'm always there. I always balk at the price but the one time I've tried a cupcake was PURE heaven!
TessaV said…
i happen to know that they fold parchement papers individually to complete this classic beautiful cupcake look.
i also happen to know that Baked and Wired is MUCH better than Georgetown Cupcake. Seriously, how are they closed all the time? all they have to do is make cupcakes. On top of that, their cupcakes taste so...generic...nothing special for $2.75.
For me, a Georgetown student, Baked and Wired's cupcakes take me right back home except even my mom can't compete with them! You should definitely try their lattees too...perfect to go with any cupcake!

Another thing that makes me a Baked and Wired fan is their service. They are all so down to earth, friendly, and thoughtful! Not to mention they make a damn good cup of coffee! The owner is the friendliest of all. Definitely a breath of fresh air in this city.

Happy Cupcaking!!!
Chatterbox said…
I have to say that Gtown Cupcakes are definitely better than B&W, but they really need to get their act together on the supply & demand thing. That sense of exclusivity about getting cupcakes is going to turn into frustration and backlash sooner or later...

I like B&W's setting, though - definitely friendly and relaxed!
Anonymous said…
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Georgetown Cupcake is a pathetic excuse for a "cupcakery"--it doesn't compare to Baked & Wired!! They never have cupcakes available--I've had 4 friends go in the past week to try and get cupcakes and they've been "sold out" every time. Regardless of the fact that their cupcakes are small and tasteless, these idiot sisters obviously don't know how to run a business. I am just looking forward to when they finally close down and give the space up to a shop that's actually worth the hype.
Anonymous said…
The sisters who own Georgetown Cupcake are Canadian and obviously unfamiliar with DC. Otherwise, why would they claim they're "DC's first and only cupcakery"?

I'd rather support a business that's owned by a local who has strong ties to the community.
Anonymous said…
Did the tour ever make it to CakeLove? Any comments on their cupcakes? I have never eaten them before.
Anonymous said…
Don't bother with a trip to CakeLove unless you are have a yearning to be disappointed.. I've tried them twice, in DC and again in Shirlington.. dry cake and tasteless frosting.. even at "room temperature" as Warren suggests..
Anonymous said…
I definitely prefer Baked & Wired to GC. Baked & Wired people are so friendly and their cupcakes are large, moist & delicious! At GC, you wait in line for 45 minutes just to get inside and see the selection has dwindled to two or three less appealing flavors. I will admit that their Chocolate cubed (with shavings on top) is very good, although there wasn't enough frosting IMO. I found them average mostly, and just standing around instead of baking more cupcakes for all the people in line! Buyer beware, they just close when they're out of cupcakes with no warning at all!
Anonymous said…
"I love Georgetown Cupcake!

Baked and Wired and Georgetown Cupcake are totally different concepts and can't really be qualified as competitors because Baked and Wired is more of a one cupcake at a time kind of place as you drink your coffee and GC is more like buy a dozen, take them home, and share. GC has more flavors and selection because that is their main source of income, Baked and Wired's main source of income is drinks. People need to stop cupcake bashing these stores because they are both small companies that are doing well, employing students, and satisfying the sweet tooth of the DC community. GC is still relatively new and trying to work out the kinks, Baked and Wired has been around longer... they are both good and remember cupcakes should make people happy and not be a source of conflict or bashing. Get over it and go to both depending on your craving, you want a cupcake and to sit down, relax and enjoy it while surfing the web with a coffee go to Baked and Wired, you want them for dinner or to bring home to your family or just one in hand to walk with go to Georgetown Cupcake. Georgetown Cupcake also presents a prettier product.

Both businesses are quality in service and product.

Also remember GC just opened a few months ago and they are working out the kinks that come with any new business... I mean lately there have been very short lines and an availability of flavors. They aren't running out anymore, they stay true to their hours, and their staff is really friendly!

Good luck to both businesses, they can thrive together.
Anonymous said…
There is a new cupcakes business, Nikki's Tasty Cake, no store front but they will deliver to your door or you can pick up from MD. They will also give you a sample if you request it. Small business but let me tell you their cupcakes are soooo moist it is crazy. they have over 15 flavors that you can mix and match. I had them do my daughters b-day with variety flavors and they set it up really cute. Just my 2 cents and you will never have to worry about them closing on you early!!!