Delicious icing. Utterly disappointing cake. These guys seem to have forgotten about the whole "cupcake" part of the cupcake, and focused far too much on the icing (which is quite delectable). The cake is completely dry, and relatively flavorless. While they have quite a few varieties, they leave out what seems to be a pretty common favorite--yellow cake with chocolate icing--maybe I'm crazy, but I'm bummed out every time I've been there because this is my favorite kind of cupcake. The "Shoppe" is cute, and so are the cupcakes, however the cuteness doesn't surpass the mediocrity of the taste. read more

I really wanted to love this place since its the closest place to my house for cupcakes. Unfortunately the cupcakes are pretty dry and lack a lot of flavor. I tried on two different days because I thought it might be the day that I went but to no avail. read more

I really don't want to give a place a low rating but I just can't help this one. I was born, raised, and lived around the Raleigh area until last year, but had never heard of The Cupcake Shoppe. Just before Christmas, a friend and former co-worker posted pictures of her Cupcake Shoppe cupcakes on Facebook, and was raving about how delicious they were. Everyone who commented on her pictures agreed with her. Now I love a good cupcake, so I figured I'd try them when I visited NC at Christmas. My brother and I dropped in while I was in town. Between us, we picked out an assortment of flavors (bought a dozen). Oh the cupcakes looked divine and the staff was positively delightful. The cupcakes were pricey, but I was willing to give them a fair shot. The cake itself was blah. The icing was sickeningly sweet, and there was a lot of it. The cupcakes lacked balance in the flavors. Half the icing (and sugar!) would've been more than sufficient. I am disappointed because I love a good cupcake, but one visit was more than enough. read more

After winning the tennis state championship in Cary, we found ourselves at The Cupcake Shoppe. I usually don't like bakery cupcakes because of the icing, but this place was GOOD. I got the Plain Jane (vanilla on white) and it was delicious. 3 bucks was a great price and completely worth it. The people that work here were super nice and even congratulated us on winning. Try this place! read more

These are the best cupcakes in Raleigh hands down. I go here at least once a month and I have never had a dry cupcake. I have also ordered the mini cupcakes for different functions and they are always a hit. The Pretty in Pink and Big Red are the best. They also have some pretty awesome flavors of the week. My only complaint (which they can't help) is that the parking is difficult. read more

The store is adorable but the cupcake was only okay. I'd been to Gigi's the week before, and was disappointed to discover that The Cupcake Shoppe just doesn't compare. Their cupcakes tasted a little dry to me. I wouldn't turn one down if I happened to go back, but I would rather go somewhere else. read more

Even befor competition rolled into town (gigi's cupcakes, and Sugarland Bakery) I wasnt particularly impressed with the Cupcake Shoppe. Maybe I just always arrive at the wrong time the cupcakes look lovely however the cake has always seemed dry and the icing more sugary than the flavor its suppose to represent. Conceptually the building and the atmosphere is lovely, I want the vintage cash register its adorable. However I was not impressed by the dessert that everyone continues to tell me I need to try again and again. read more

The red velvet cupcake is pretty darn good.

Walked to the Cupcake Shoppe after eating dinner nearby with my husband and kids. Was really excited since I've driven by countless times but have never stopped in. The atmosphere is very cute and the coffee smelled amazing. We chose a carrot cake, chocolate cupcake with mint buttercream, chocolate cupcake with peanut butter buttercream and a strawberry cupcake. We took them to go to eat at home. Was taking and thinking about them the entire way home. Long story short, a complete let down. The cupcakes were hard and the tops of the cupcakes were borderline crunchy. It was probably the most flavorless carrot cake I've ever had. I didn't even finish it. The other cupcakes lacked flavor too. I was really disappointed and really wanted to love them. Will not be returning. read more

I ordered 60 customized cupcakes for my son's first Birthday party and everything came out great. The only thing was the mint icing was so strong you could taste it on some of the other flavors, but this was not a huge deal. I would just ask that they package that flavor separately in the future. Great product and good service! read more

So I took the wife and family to downtown Raleigh to try out the much anticipated cupcake shoppe. We were all disappointed in how little the cupcakes were and how dry they were. With all the hype about cupcakes, you would think this place would have the best tasking and moist cupcakes. They tasted like they were a couple of days old and left out for awhile. We have a family of five and we tried five different flavors and everyone complained on how dry each one was. We will not be going back to this place for cupcakes. read more

I really like the Cupcake Shoppe for an occasional sweet treat. I am particular about which flavor so I always check the web site to see if the flavor of the day is something I like. As other reviews have noted, the cake is a little small and the icing is a little ... ok, a LOT ... high. But I like it that way. If you are not big into sugar, this is probably not the place for you. I went there this past Friday for a Rocky Road and really like it ... but I agree, you need to like sugar. And I do. So I will be back (I also like the Black and White flavor). read more

I got the Cookie Monster, outstanding. Husband got plan Jane, he said perfect amount of vanilla! So glad we stopped before heading back home. read more

Iv been coming here for years! But lately I feel like they are not really trying to empress their customers. Cupcakes are not all that. They don't taste fresh anymore & they are flavorless (no flavor) You will gets charge for anything! 25 cent for one sprinkle! That's how I feel. It's a really cute store where you can host a private party. read more

We brought my family into the Cupcake Shoppe on a recent visit to Raleigh so everyone could pick out their own cupcake. Everyone tried something different and we heard no complaints out of anyone. The shop is cute, the service is friendly and the frosting is gritty as you bite down on the first bite. At $3.00 a pop, I feel the price is a touch high but overall this place rocks. read more

I finally got around to stopping by the shop. We were in a sweet cupcake needy mood. Luckily there were samples out so we ended up tasting 4 different types. The main that was disappointing was the flavors were not strong enough. AKA I could barely taste a difference between lemon and strawberry?!?! The icings were almost identical minus the color? It tasted good, but just like vanilla. The cake- I actually liked. It was not too sweet- which I think would have paired much better to a icing that was stronger. I wanted a bit more kick from the cake- especially lemon or strawberry. The chocolate cake on the other hand was quite good. And not too dry, which I find fairly common in chocolate cakes. I had the peanut butter cup one and this guy was the winner. The icing had a great PB flavor!! Matched quite well w/ the chocolate cake. Also tried the oreo one and honestly it just tasted like vanilla. Needed more oreo-ness. Overall, not bad. I'd go again, but I know what to expect. read more

Either a great cake or great frosting, but they never seem to get both parts right.

The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh is simply the best place to get a cupcake in the Triangle. These cupcakes were meant to be devoured and shared. The cupcake to icing ratio is perfect, the cake is of excellent consistency, the icings are of ideal sweetness and flavor, and there's something for everyone in their collection of regular flavors. Perfection can come in the form of their weekly flavors, of which I have tasted their Bailey's and Guinness, maple flavors in the fall, and something amazing involving salted caramel and brown sugar, if I remember correctly. There's something to be said for doing one thing and doing it really, really well - delicious! read more

I've TRIED to like these cupcakes...I really have but there are much better options out there. The icing is hard and kind of breaks/flakes off when you bite into them. The cakes is sometimes dry. There is no decoration to the cake, just a cake and a mountain of icing. read more

These cupcakes are FANTASTIC! I went with three other people and we all took major delight in the flavors and textures (and icing!!!). We all had a bit of each of these cupcakes: Pretty in pink (strawberry) What's up doc (carrot) Brown Betty (chocolate) You Mocha me crazy (double chocolate) The Taste: I can say that all of them were on point! The cake was moist and the frosting was just sweet enough. There was ample icing, although not so much that you don't know what to do with it. We went on a Tuesday close to closing. We were pleasantly surprised to find a wide variety at that time of day and they were soooo FRESH! I have had stale cupcakes at other local places with too much icing (which does not negate the stale taste of the cake) but The Cupcake Shoppe proved they are the best in town with moist cake and delicious icing. The atmosphere: The shop itself is adorable! The decor is everything a cupcake shop should be. The staff is super friendly and a joy to talk to. The street parking was ample and the outside of the shop was well kept and clean. All in all this is the cupcake place to visit if you are in town for a visit or a local with a sweet tooth! Keep up the good work Cupcake Shoppe. read more

We tried for the first time yesterday, and I have to agree with several other reviews here that the icing is delicious, but the cupcake itself is just okay. The chocolate and vanilla cupcakes tasted dry enough that I wondered if they were yesterdays! The raspberry, mint, and chocolate buttercream icings on top of them were very good. On the other hand, the cinnamon cupcake with cinnamon buttercream and the strawberry cupcake with strawberry buttercream BOTH tasted moist. Those two types of icing were much lighter and more subtle in flavor, and the cakes were fresher. I would buy those two again, but not the others. Overall, I was dissappointed, considering my 6 cupcakes cost me $18.00! read more

With the explosion of cupcake shoppe's, it's nice to find a place that seems more traditional. they have classic flavors of cake, like strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet with cute names (plain jane, pretty in pink, etc.) The cinnamon cupcake is nice and spicy, but not overpowering (I prefer mild flavors). The cream cheese frosting on the cakes is excellent, but I'm removing a couple of stars because the cake itself is a little dry. I'll visit again, but I prefer homemade. read more

A friend and I stopped by here after dinner one night since we were craving sweets. It seemed fairly empty, but that quickly changed after we ordered. I got a You Mocha Me Crazy and I can't remember what my friend got, but both were great! The cupcakes aren't too sweet and didn't seem dry. One or two families and a couple showed up and the place was extremely lively for a cupcake shop. It's definitely a cute place to get a sweet snack! read more

My boyfriend and I prefer the cupcakes with chocolate cake as a base. He is partial to the brown betty - which has a chocolate frosting. I really like the mint icing (which has a nice light mint flavor). Also the peanut butter is really good - I've tried making peanut butter frosting, and I can never get it quite right (they do a good job). We occasionally try other selections, of the other cakes we most like the cinnamon. read more

Interesting the mix of reviews. I have only had one solid experience at The Cupcake Shoppe and it was positive. It was a cold and rainy day and I went in when it wasn't busy. I mulled over the selection and decided on a coconut cupcake and a cup of coffee. It was lovely to sit in the cute atmosphere and sip coffee and indulge in a a little sweet decadence and watch the world go by. Cupcakes are magical and great for the soul and should be gifted to all you know on their birthday. read more

Totally love this place! The cupcakes are so unique and delicious. The chocolate is so moist and I love their flavors of the week! We used them for our wedding cake and it was incredible. Great flavors and wonderful presentation. And we love the service we get there. Recently, we ordered a cake for our child's birthday and had no idea what direction to go. The staff was so helpful and made us the cutest cake! We love them. read more

So impressed... Some of the most delectable and rich cupcakes i have ever had. It's such a cute bakery as well! I love it!!!

I love the concept of cupcake shops: pay lots of money for the most delicious cupcakes you have ever had, in flavors you would never think of. This particular cupcake shop is not the best of the bunch. They have lots of great flavors, plenty of inventory, and awesome service, but the cupcakes are not the best. The frosting is a bit too sweet for me, and the cupcakes aren't as moist as I'd like. As soon as these kinks are worked out, this place will be a great location for people of Raleigh craving something sweet. read more

I LIVE for cupcakes lol my boyfriend and I shared the snickerdoodle cupcake and chocolate peanut butter. Both amazing! Shop is adorable and very cozy to enjoy your cupcake in peace. Can't wait to try another one!! read more

Perhaps it was the time of our visit which was around 6 that made this trip not so great! The cupcakes were DRY! I never ate moth balls but I'm sure the coconut cupcake was close to it. We returned three for three Strawberry cupcakes b/c that flavor was decent. The water was lukewarm but cute set-up. read more

I know a good cupcake, trust me! I visited this place today for the 1st time. Between my group tried lemon, strawberry, & red velvet...all of which were gross! The cake tastes like box cake &the icing was just mediocre. I'll save my 3.25 net time & go to gi-gi's in Cary. read more

We've stopped in here a few times for dessert after dinner at nearby restaurants. The cupcakes are good but can be a little dry. We usually go at night so maybe they've been in the case for a few hours? The icing is too much and I usually end up scraping at least half of it off. The staff is always nice and the shop is super cute. We'll keep going once every few months if we have dinner in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. read more

Recently had a cake from The Cupcake Shoppe. VERY DRY, agree with others that they must make them days in advance. For the price they charge you would think the product would be wonderful. Also, the last cupcakes I had were dry. Not sure what is going on. For the best cupcake in the area, go to Gigi's on Oberlin. They have a large selection of beautiful cupcakes, moist and delicious. P.S. Don't bother trying to complain to the owner, as she just spins it to make you feel you will have a great experience there. I will never visit this store again. read more

The pastries are SO much better than the cupcakes. (Try the pineapple or strawberry!) A little expensive, but good for a treat once in a while. read more

Cute shop! We did not intend on buying so many cupcakes, but we couldn't resist! There were so many readily available choices. We got the strawberry cupcake, oreo cookie, chocolate with peanut butter icing, chocolate mint, and a brownie. They packaged them in a cute box for us and we enjoyed them the whole weekend! read more

The products are great, the people are great and the hours are great. I'll never forget the time when we visited on a Sunday to find the Shoppe closed and a guy outside working on the landscaping. He could see the disappointment in our eyes when we realized that they are closed on Sundays. When we told our 3 kids that we had to find another place, he told us that he would be happy to have us in, then he gave us free cupcakes for the family before locking the door behind us on the way out. Felt like one of those moments when you appreciate living in a city full of people who care. read more

The Cupcake Shoppe is an adorable bakery with amazing sweets and a cute as can be interior. I'm not particularly one for cupcakes, but the Cupcake Shoppe makes the best ones I've ever had. I also love their brownies and rice crispy treats. As far as service, the people working are always lovely, radiant, and enthusiastic whether it comes to helping you decide what you want or talking to you about your day. A wonderful place. read more

I consider myself a cupcake expert. I love those darn little treats. I have had cupcakes at the famous Magnolia Bakery in NYC (featured in the series, Sex and the City), and I will say that the Cupcake Shoppe is better! I have tried cupcakes all over the triangle area, and The Cupcake Shoppe definitely has the best selection of flavors, best tasting, and the cutest atmosphere. You can't go wrong treating yourself,and having a cupcake there! read more

Went on a Saturday and place was pretty busy so my sister and I thought "WOW, must be really good".... WRONG. We had the Strawberry and banana and both were dry and not flavorful. The icing is a different story, the icing on both were great but the cupcake alone was terrible. The strawberry icing tasted like fresh strawberry ice-cream and the banana icing tasted like fresh bananas. They def have the icing thing down but need to work on the cupcake and its dryness. On the way out they were sampling "Root Beer Float" and it was pretty moist and was actually pretty good. That's one of the only reason for the 2 stars because it did taste just like a root beer float. My second reason for the 2 stars is because the really do make great icing. read more

Dry cake, sickeningly sweet icing, unimaginative flavors. The best item is the ice cream sandwich -- delicious, but available only in summer. More than anything is the experience the staff creates for the customers-- I have been ignored, insulted, and treated as if my presence was just a terrible inconvenience. There are better places nearby, especially Sugarland at Cameron Village. read more