Anyone who knows me would tell you that I’m not much of a dessert person. Sometimes I’ll jump into a pint of ice cream, but more often than not, I’ll just pass. Walking in Belltown the other day, I noticed a new cupcake shop was open for business. After passing it so many times while they were redecorating the interior, curiosity got the best of me, so I thought I would stop in and see what people were waiting in line for.

As soon as you walk in, the aroma of fresh cake batter surrounds you and pulls your gaze towards the frosted treats that await your taste buds. The ambience is warm and inviting. I looked around the cozy shop while waiting for the couple in front of me to choose their desserts. The walls are done in a tasteful yellow with pictures of the Pacific Northwest on the wall. Getting antsy with the “when is it my turn” sigh…I started listening in on the conversation in front of me.  One of the owners (Mike) was talking to a couple about the tea they were about to enjoy in a tea press: 

Steep this for about 3 – 5 minutes, taste it, and you’ll get the vanilla. Wait another couple of minutes and that’s when the tea follows through with a lemon flavor. Don’t let it steep too long so it doesn’t get bitter.

After waiting a couple of minutes, it was my turn at the front of the line. I glanced over the selection and picked out a Tomato Soup (their signature cupcake) and a Vanilla/Vanilla. While making my decision, Mike went through all the flavors and explained that they make their cake batter in micro-batches, so you’ll always get the freshest product, that also means that when they run out of a flavor for the day, that’s it until tomorrow, maybe. Unlike some other area cupcake shops, Mike (and his partner Tony) have decided that they’ll have a selection of about 9 cupcakes a day with some of the more popular flavors making a daily appearance. They’ve also decided to use the power of Twitter (follow them @theyellowleaf) to let people know the flavors for the day. With more than 30 flavors to choose from, the possibilities are endless. 

From the moment you step up to the glass, Mike is engaging and knowledgable about his product. With a selection of teas from Art of Tea, Mike is able to tell you the best tea to pair with your cupcake. They have Irish Breakfast and other basic teas as well as other flavored teas. I went with the “vanilla and lemon tasting one”. For the record, it’s called Mandarin Silk, I think.

I sat down at one of the tables with my tea press and glass plate. The furniture is comfortable and reminds you of something in the Restoration Hardware or Pottery Barn catalog. I took a bite of the Vanilla/Vanilla cupcake and the first thing you notice is the buttercream. It’s Italian buttercream, so rather than the thick, sugar-laden consisties that you think of when it comes to buttercream…it’s light, it’s airy, and the vanilla is just the right amount. Because Tony makes only small amounts of cake batter at a time, the cake is moist and fresh. They’re baked so  that there’s a nice crisp to the top of  the cupcake. 

Washing down the last bite of the Vanilla/Vanilla with a swig of tea, I got ready for the Tomato Soup cupcake. At first, I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I had heard of it before, and thought I would give it the “old college try”. It is pure entertainment for your taste buds! As Mike put it, the perfect marriage between carrot cake and pumpkin spice. Who knew that can of Campells in my cabinet could do so much?

While enjoying my last bites of the Tomato Soup cupcake (parting is such sweet sorrow), Mike was discussing The Yellow Leaf’s efforts to go “completely compostable” in the coming months. Even the special plastic travel mugs (40 cent discount on refills) break down in about 5 years versus the 100’s of years for normal plastic.

Bottom Line: The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Co. is a welcome addition to the Belltown neighborhood. If you live outside the city, the cupcakes are worth the drive. They’re the same size, if not bigger…and cheaper than other area cupcake shops.