A new little cupcakery has recently opened up on Bank Street: Thimble Cakes. This place is cute as a button and the cupcakes in the window are absolutely beautiful.
A couple of months ago, I was pleasantly surprised when a friend brought me a gluten-free cupcake from this place. It was a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, and looked scrumptious! However, when I sank my teeth into it, I was disappointed to find it was quite dry and bland tasting. I thought it could be due to the cupcake having been out all day, and being carried around by my friend. I decided to reserve my judgement of Thimble Cakes until I got to try a fresh cupcake straight from the shop…
Lo and behold, today was that day! Over my lunch break, I sauntered in, all excited from the cute cupcakes in the window. I found the interior of the shop to be just as charming as the outside, with it’s assortment of cozy vintage furniture and mismatched tea cups. There was one gluten-free option called “Citrus”. The lovely lady at the counter explained that it was a light lemon cake topped with a vanilla buttercream frosting and orange zest. It sounded tasty! I picked one up and headed back to work to immediately devour my treat.
Well. It was pretty bad. The frosting was delicious, but the cake was the texture of a dense muffin and tasted like corn bread. A lot. You can imagine that a hunk of tough corn bread with vanilla orange frosting is not a very good combination. Plus, the cake took on the texture and taste of raw muffin batter as I was chewing it, which was pretty unappealing. I am curious what blend of flours they use. : (
I’m sad. This place seemed so promising.
Nevertheless, I have to say that the service was beyond excellent and the place was very cute, so I will certainly be going back for lattes and wifi. But, I will pass on the gluten-free cupcakes from now on. For a total of $4.23 (with tax included), I had expected something great, and it did not deliver.
But, do go for the drinks and atmosphere. And, bring your gluten-loving friends, as I hear the gluten-filled cupcakes are worth a taste!
**Read my updated review HERE**
Thimble Cakes
395 Bank Street
613-695-0109
Map
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I live very close to this place and have now had their gluten-free cupcakes quite a few times. Unfortunately, I have also had a similar experience with the cake being dry. However, I have also now had quite a few amazing cupcakes from this place. Their recipe and technique seems to be improving. I've had many of the different kinds that they offer (they do one gluten-free kind per day and it is posted on their website what their cupcake will be each day of the week) and from my experience the best ones are the chocolate-chocolate (or chocolate lover) and the spicy chocolate. I'm not a fan of the coconut chocolate one or the pretty lemon.
ReplyDeleteHope you might give it another shot!
I tried their gluten free citrus cupcake and um... i agree. it was pretty awful. they clearly do not roast their quinoa flour before baking, so its full of saponin- that overwhelming grassy taste. Plus, corn flour in a cupcake with quinoa is a very heavy consistency. I won't be going back. BTW- note- they make the cupcakes in the same kitchen as the regular gluten fare. If you are sensitive to cross contamination, I wouldn't suggest risking.
ReplyDeleteah well.
Ahhh, I had a feeling there was quinoa flour in those cupcakes. I had never heard the trick about roasting it beforehand, so thanks for sharing! I will try that sometime!
ReplyDeleteMy friend works here and though it's true that they make everything in the same kitchen they are impressively careful with how they do it.
ReplyDeleteAlso...don't like the flavour of the day? Just ask!
There may be a stash of day olds that are just as good as the day ofs.
I tried this place the other day - had the GF vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting. The cupcake was pretty crumbly under my fork, but surprisingly tasty and moist nonetheless. I had to sort of scoop up a bunch of crumbs as the cake fell apart, but it was still good.
ReplyDeleteHi guys!
ReplyDeleteWe're so sorry that you've had bad experiences with out gluten-free cupcakes. Just wanted to let you know that we've improved our gluten-free recipes and have had many compliments on the taste and texture.
And it is true that we are very thorough and careful when making our gluten-free treats. It is extremely important to us that we can offer a variety of allergen-conscious foods to our customers, and we do everything in our power to ensure that we won't make anybody sick.
We would love for you to come in and give us a second chance, we're confident think you'll be pleased with our new recipe.
Smiles!
Wendy
I can vouch that they have changed their recipe. I have had one great gluten-free cupcake after another from there, most recently, a Pumpkin Spice one.
ReplyDeleteI am also extremely sensitive to gluten, and have never had an issue.
Thimblecakes is the best!
I've tried them a couple times, and the chocolate mocha is my favourite (_really_ strong coffee flavour!) I haven't been there recently, but in the past I found the vanilla-based flavour cupcakes somewhat dry and heavy. Daily Grind's cupcakes gets my vote!
ReplyDeleteI've tried them many times and yes the chocolate ones are better. Mocha is definitely great, but also chocolate mint. Lately, they are not dry at all, moist and the frosting, miam!!
ReplyDelete