So I found this place on Daily Candy and wandered over there one afternoon about two weeks after they opened their doors. The co-owner Charles was behind the counter and provided a wealth of information about their darling and delicious cupcakes. They had just opened their business and were so swamped that they had to change their business plan to accommodate the demand. I've been there at 10 am (when their doors open) to pick up a dozen cupcakes for work and by the time I've finished placing my order, there is already a line formed that goes outside the door.

The place is *cozy* with a full glass front and a display that features their cupcakes of the day. There is a small bar space that faces the street and a couple of patio style tables and chairs on the sidewalk out front.

All the cupcakes are made on site from scratch. The recipes are from Charles's wife who was a chef, I believe, and shifted gears to enter the lucrative world of gourmet cupcakes. They offer many different flavors of cupcakes of which I have tried dark chocolate, vanilla milk chocolate, strawberry and peanut butter chocolate. The strawberry is made with fresh strawberries that are pureed into the batter and the frosting. The dark chocolate is rich and moist with a delectable frosting that is smooth, creamy and not gritty (the problem I usually have with cake frosting). The peanut butter chocolate - I have to take a moment to say a private prayer for this one - I don't normally like peanut butter things. Peanut butter for me is reliably good in two forms: pb&j sandwiches that I make or inside a Reese's peanut butter cup. Outside of that I do not feel adventurous enough to try some peanut butter flavored treat where the pb could be lacklustre. What a let-down, you know? So I usually stay away unless I know for SURE, completely sure that it's going to be good. I tasted this cupcake only because my husband swore by it and let me tell you: WHOO. This is probably the best cupcake I have ever had in my life.

At $3.25 a pop they are a little pricey. But when I brought the aforementioned pb-cupcake home to my skeptical and frugal husband, his comment after a bite was: That tasted more like a $6 cupcake.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd (between La Sala and Monique L'Huillier)
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-274-8765
310-274-7890
www.sprinklescupcakes.com