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Fab Dish Friday: red velvet cupcake at magnolia bakery, the loop

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Remember that scene in Season 3 of Sex and the City where Carrie and Miranda savored cupcakes while dissecting their romantic escapades? That fleeting moment was enough to catapult Magnolia Bakery from a local secret to a global sensation faster than you can say “I couldn’t help but wonder.” Suddenly, everyone wanted a taste of those cupcakes.

Flashback to the early 2000s: I was in NYC, dodging those cupcake-crazed mobs like it was the running of the bulls. Given my preference for a good chunk of cheese over sugar-laden treats, I often thought, “Is this really worth it?” Spoiler alert: it only took me 20+ years to discover the answer is a resounding yes.

Red velvet cupcake

Fast forward to 2024, and there I was, finally sinking my teeth into a Magnolia Red Velvet Cupcake. Why did I wait so long? Magnolia’s website describes these red delights as made “with cocoa, vanilla, and a little southern mystery, topped with a special whipped vanilla icing.” Translation: a cupcake so good it might just make you rethink your life choices.

This cupcake isn’t just dessert; it’s a revelation. Not overly sweet, it’s got the perfect balance of melt-in-your-mouth moistness (ugh, not my favorite word, but it fits) and decadently creamy vanilla icing. Pair it with a cup of English Breakfast Tea, and you’ve got yourself an afternoon that’s more satisfying than a SATC marathon.

Living near a Magnolia Bakery in Chicago is officially a perilous situation for my waistline. But hey, some risks are worth taking, and this Red Velvet cupcake is definitely one of them. It’s a Fab Dish Friday thumbs up from me!