So many DC cupcake shops, so little time! My family, friends and I have been to the lot of them, famous shops to local shops, you name it. My advice: stop looking around, grab a friend + a fork, then head to Baked & Wired. This spot is nestled in the charming Georgetown neighborhood; we tend to eat our goodies at the nearby green space of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal or the Georgetown Waterfront Park just a few blocks down the hill.
Similar to their sister store, A Baked Joint which we reviewed a couple months ago, Baked & Wired offers small-batched baked goods. From bars, biscotti, breads, brownies and biscuits, to cookies, cakes, muffins, pies, and quiche, this local bakery does not disappoint. All of the aforementioned baked goods are delicious and creative, but the large cakecups are Baked & Wired’s claim to fame – they keep people coming back for more. That’s no typo, they’re actually called cakecups. Dig in and you’ll see why.
These thick, moist cupcakes are wrapped in wax paper which may have something to do with keeping that moisture in there. The consistency is denser than your typical fluffy cupcake, but that consistency coupled with the fresh flavors will make you a life customer of Baked & Wired.
Our standard order includes their classic Vanilla Vanilla and their bestselling Strawberry Cupcake. This bestseller is a vanilla cake with fresh strawberries folded in the batter and finished with a swirl of pink buttercream. The light cake + real strawberry flavors are unrivaled. Side note: my husband and I featured their Vanilla Vanillas at our wedding party!
If we’re buying for a group, our favorite assortment includes: Red Velvet, German Chocolate, Pistachio, Carrot Cake, Dirty Chai, Coconut, The Tessita (named after the owner’s daughter, vanilla cake + dulce de leche filling + chocolate-hazelnut satin icing), and Karen’s Birthday (named after the owner’s mom, this is their family recipe for moist chocolate cake + vanilla buttercream), plus the Vanilla Vanilla and Strawberry Cupcake. Family recipes are a treasure and it’s the secret sauce for this local spot.
If you’re vegan or gluten free, don’t count yourself out. There are a few options for these special diets. And be on the lookout for the Pumpkin flavor that pops up seasonally – the absolute best cupcake.
Baked & Wired (1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC // 202.333.2500)
