have a soft spot for Whimsical Cake Studio (I have to stop myself from referring to them as “Whimsical Cupcakes” every time). Whimsical was one of the first full-time cupcake purveyors in the city, before the cupcake colonization of Whyte Avenue. It was also their cupcakes that initially drew me to the City Centre Market, where I now spend nearly every Saturday morning between May and October. Moreover, picking up a couple of their cupcakes was an annual tradition for a few years running, the perfect single-serving treat to help ring in a friend’s September birthday.
Whimsical Cake Studio at the City Centre Market
Edmonton’s cupcake landscape has changed in the past few years. Several home-based cupcake businesses have sprung up, as well as Flirt, The Cake Studio, and two locations of Fuss. Whimsical Cake Studio was tucked for several years in the suburban recesses of Riverbend, where I only had the opportunity to visit once, but this month, they moved into their renovated, more visible location right next to the Garneau Theatre (the best news about their move, besides the fact that combined with T2, daCapo, High Level Diner and the Sugar Bowl, among others, this little strip is a force to be reckoned with, is that a walkable cupcakery crawl is now possible!). Mack and I checked our their new digs over the weekend on our way home from the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market.
Whimsical Cake Studio
It’s a bright and beautiful space, hues of sweet baby blue and cotton candy pink contrasting with the stalwart heritage brick. A small seating area with brightly coloured, albeit a haphazard collection, of lounge chairs occupies one side, right next to a sprinkle station (too cute). I love how customers are able to peer into the open bakery, between the racks of still-cooling and just-iced cupcakes. Prices are slightly cheaper than nearby cupcakeries ($2.75/cupcake vs. $2.95 and $16 for half a dozen).
Interior
Sprinkle station!
Cupcakes galore
We picked up four cupcakes to share with Mack’s Grandma later that night – raspberry, cookies and cream, Smarties and hazelnut chocolate. They hit the spot – moist and not too sweet, we all enjoyed them (I loved the addition of crushed Smarties on mine too – the extra crunch and pop of colour made it more fun to eat).
Our cupcake bounty
I’ll be back to Whimsical Cake Studio some time, most likely in combination with a coffee at daCapo or T2, or before a movie next door at Garneau. Note also that Whimsical is hosting their grand opening on April 17 – nothing says happiness like free cake samples!
Whimsical Cake Studio
8716 109 Street
(780) 988-2253
Monday 11am-5pm, Tuesday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
Only Here for the Food 
I love looking at their cupcakes…never been there before, but so glad their new location is near whyte! Can’t wait for a cupcake break in the summer!
Thanks for the lovely pics ❤
I have enjoyed many a cupcake shop but I think this is the first time I’ve encountered a “sprinkle station” What a great idea!
Tracy – yeah, three cupcake shops near/on Whyte – means you have choice, or a sugar overload :).
Maria – I agree!
What are your favourite – your favourite shop, Sharon – quality? taste? I don’ t buy them any more. Have never had a good one in a store. They are just holders of a ton of icing. ewww.
Magnolias in NYC is famous and theirs did not taste good to me.
Is there something wrong with me?
🙂
Don’t answer that. Just, which is your fav?
Valerie
I don’t buy cupcakes that often – they’re more of an occasional treat, and to some extent, still a novelty to me. I love giving them as gifts more than anything else :). That said, I’m partial to Flirt Cupcakes, because I think they do the best job decorating them (and great flavours). I agree with you on Magnolia though – it’s overrated. There are better cupcake shops in NYC.
Valerie, I am with you on the cupcakes. I do not get excited about them. I will confess that I have only tried Fuss – and I wasn’t fussy about them.
My co-worker is a self-proclaimed cupcake expert. She swears by Crave in Calgary. I told her about Whimisical after reading your post. She is going to let me know where on the scale their cupcakes sit.
I’m also entirely devoted to Crave in Calgary! I just love their ‘A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ flavour however; I’m going to put an end to my cupcake snobbery and give Whimsical a go this weekend.
Thanks for the swell review & pictures Sharon!
Dajana – you’re welcome! If anything, make sure to give the sprinkle station a whirl :).
i tried both flirt and whimsical. i say whimsical hands down. so fresh. flirt had semi stale cake and crunchy icing..plus my coconut one was squished 😦 whimsical goes tow to toe with crave..