Saturday, March 22, 2014

Gigi's Cupcakes

January 30, 2015 Update - This is an old review of Gigi's Cupcakes in Orlando.  You can read my newer review here.

On Monday, my daughters and I finally visited the Gigi's Cupcakes on East Colonial Drive, near Fashion Square Mall.  I had heard that the chain makes gluten free cupcakes on Fridays, and some locations make them every day, which is the case with the store in Orlando.  


You can read more about the Orlando store, connect with them on Facebook, and view their address, phone number & hours here.  


When I asked about their baking practices, I was told that they bake their gluten free cupcakes first every morning in an effort to avoid cross contamination.  


Like almost all businesses today that serve gluten free food, Gigi's has a disclaimer that their products are made in a shared kitchen, allowing for the potential of cross contamination.  It was displayed prominently on a sign at their counter.  


Even my cupcake box had the same disclaimer on a sticker.  


I ordered both of the gluten free options of the day, the french toast (or maybe it was cinnamon roll - yikes, I had an insanely bad day on Monday and didn't write it down) and wedding cake cupcakes.  The gluten free options were not on display with the rest of the cupcakes, and I was told that I could choose my frosting.  I chose the recommended cream cheese frosting for my french toast cupcake, and chocolate frosting for my wedding cake cupcake. Gigi's makes a variety of gluten free cupcakes, with different flavors being offered throughout the week.  If you check out the Orlando store's Facebook page, you will get a better idea of all the gluten free cupcakes they offer.

I enjoyed both of the cupcakes I purchased, but the cakes were not as moist as I would have liked.  Sweet at Waterford Lakes Town Center makes a moister cupcake, but their frosting is too sweet for me.  I much preferred the frosting at Gigi's, and their cupcakes were beautifully decorated.  Other options for gluten free cupcakes in the Orlando area include BabyCakes at Disney World, and Raphsodic Bakery on N. Mills Avenue.

Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcake Mix -- best GF cupcake mix on the market.  They are amazing!!!

Hands down, I still prefer the cupcakes I make at home with Williams-Sonoma gluten free cupcake mixes, but as of right now, they are still discontinued.  Thankfully, I have several containers in my pantry.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil's Food Cake Mix -- I use it to make cupcakes

We also love the cupcakes I make with Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil's Food Cake Mix, topped with my homemade chocolate frosting.  There are instructions on the box for making 18 cupcakes.  You can view my frosting recipe, and read my review of the mix here.

Kara's Cupcakes -- Gluten Free Chocolate Velvet.  http://www.karascupcakes.com/

The best gluten free cupcakes I have ever had in a bakery were from Kara's Cupcakes stores in San Francisco and Napa.  They make a wickedly delicious gluten free chocolate velvet cupcake that is perfectly moist, with amazing frosting. Not even the gluten free red velvet cupcakes I ate at the famed Sprinkles in Beverly Hills could top it.  Don't get me wrong, it was good, but not as good as Kara's.

Sprinkles Cupcakes-- We visited the original shop in Beverly Hills.  I had GF red velvet cupcakes.  http://www.sprinkles.com/

The staff could not have been kinder or more helpful at Gigi's Cupcakes, and my husband really enjoyed the gluten-filled red velvet cupcake I purchased for him.


Have you been to the Gigi's Cupcakes in Orlando or one of their other locations?  What was your experience like?

What are your favorite store bought gluten free cupcakes and mixes?






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