Crave Cookies and Cupcakes

Like Buttercream, I would rate Crave to be 3.5. The cakes are decent, though not legendary. It’s the icing that’s absolutely fab though. One thing though, the Red Velvet was a bit of a disappointment, as the cake really had some off aftertaste that no amount of cream cheese icing can fix entirely.
Being the first mini chain to bring the cupcake «craze» to Calgary, I have to say that they did a fantastic job from the start. Even now, its not unusual to come in duing the mid afternoon and find them sold out.
Now the 17^th one has shut down for unknown reasons (probably due to the high rents of the street and the competition of Buttercream just down the road), but the other outlets are still running strong. Still, well worth a visit if in the area.

Although these cupcakes are super pricey, I am a huge fan. They are so tasty & moist with amazing frosting! I almost always go for the Red Velvet Elvis with delish cream cheese icing, but today I tried the Princess (vanila cupcake with strawberry icing) and found it very tasty too! :) I like this place better than the other chain retailer Butter Cream, but that’s just me!

I just find the whole Crave craze a bit silly… it’s the total pull on your Lulu’s & big sunglasses, grab your Starbucks latte & Coach purse & stand in line for an hour because you’ve hopped on this bandwagon type of thing.
I’ve gone into the Kensington location maybe twice. The cupcakes are darling and the store has that retro feel to it, that is also very cute. The service was not exactly rude, but not very friendly — just short and hurried. All the other times I walked by on a weekend, it was closed after being open only a couple of hours because they had sold out.
As for the cupcakes… they are decent. I don’t find the cake part itself very impressive; it basically tastes like any homemade cake that you can get anywhere or make yourself. The icing is what has really put Crave on the map — it’s sinfully sweet (like almost too sinfully; I wish they’d lean a bit more to the un-​sinfully side of things), ultra cute and fluffy. They are not shy with the icing — which is mostly good because there is nothing wose than stingy icing, but they’ve gone a little overboard. In fact, I can normally eat only half of a cupcake in one sitting before the sugar overload sets in. I admit they are tasty, but I just don’t think they are «to die for» or worth the price.
As a side note, If the store is so popular that they are often closed hours before closing time (for years now) because they’ve sold out, maybe they should use that money and invest in putting out a higher volume of product?
I know it’s a super trendy spot, but I don’t think it lives up to the hype enough to make it worthwhile.

I don’t know what the big deal is. The icing is too sweet, the muffins themselves really aren’t that great and most of the time I go in I get a rude girl who really doesn’t want to be there. I usually want to say «You sell adorable cupcakes to people all day long, why on earth are you pouting about it?» and I think I will if I have to go in again for a birthday or something.
It’s over priced for the quality of cupcake. It’s too sweet, and because of the size I get sick before I finish one. The muffin bit is really poorly mixed and has no real flavor to it. There really is no difference between the chocolate muffins and vanilla ones. If I have to pay that much for a dozen, I at least want the butter to be pot butter! (Edit: Okay– not really. But for that price I expect a little something extra, not just hype. I can get better cupcakes at safeway for a fraction of the price they’re charging and they sometimes come with silly rings on them)

Tried a cupcake here while visiting Calgary and the cupcake was one of the better ones I’ve had in a while – good flavor. I’d go back!

When most people hear the words Crave cupcakes they think yum!
This location for Crave is tucked away on 17^th ave in a very small little shop, which quite often on a Saturday morning will be lined up out the door. Inside you are drawn to the glass display case filled with rows of delightful colorful cupcakes. Clearly, I am a fan of this place.
I will say that as far as the Cake part of the cupcake is good, but not fantastic. It is the icing that makes them so decadent and delicious. The signature cupcake is my favourite dark chocolate cake with a tiffany blue icing on top (called the Crave– 0 — licious). There is literally about an inch of icing on top… and consequently when eating these your mouth is like 70% icing 30% cupcake!
The cupcakes are made fresh every morning, and once they are gone for the day, they are gone, hence the morning line ups. They have 13 Flavours.
If the regular sized ones are too much for you, there are mini ones as well. They started making cakes and cookies as well in the past 6 months or so… they are equally good, and equally expensive. The cupcakes are about 3 bucks each actually not a bad price considering the quality ingredients and handmade factor.
I have always found the service to be great, sweet girls who are pleasant and helpful.
I love this place, and only go when I want to reward myself with a very special treat. If you haven’t been, then treat yourself.

I have heard tons of rumours about how great Crave’s cupcakes were on 17^th Avenue but how rude the staff that works there were. So tonight I thought I would see for myself, I entered with a friend, all smiles and noticed that at 5:45, 15 minutes before they closed that all the glass showcases were empty except two plastic containers on a back shelf with half a dozen cupcakes in each.
We were not greeted warmly by the two women working there plus there was no eye contact. So to break the ice I tried to start up conversation by saying how wonderful the cupcakes in the glassware looked. Obviously a joke, neither of the two women reacted and coldly replied that «yes we only have the two half a dozen packages to sell». So I said «did you sell everything?» and there was a pause and the girl hesitated and said «ummm yes».
Intuitively and I could be wrong but it seemed that these two women had already cleaned up the store and wanted to go home early on a Friday night at 6, but as a customer, I expect that if an establishment is open to 6 then you should leave the product out till 6. And if you are really out of product be more gracious about it, I mean you are still in the service industry.
So I gave Crave a chance to dispel the negative feedback but in the end they just endorsed it and have given this national review of 1 star. No loss, however, my friend and I shimmied down to Butter Cream just blocks away where we were greeted with smiles and delicious cupcakes, needless to say who do you think is getting the better review.