December is the time of year in which we all bake and consume delicious treats like it’s going out of style. Whether you’re a fan of plain chocolate, a peanut butter combo, or the oh-so-difficult-to-describe-but-impossible-not-to-love-taste of red velvet, now is the time for taste testing, while leaving the worrying about your waistline for January.
The latter, red velvet, is made with cocoa and butter and, if it’s in cake form, is topped with layers upon layers of cream cheese frosting. But here’s the thing, Metro Detroiters. There is so much more to red velvet than just the cupcake or slice of cake (though both are mighty delicious). If you’re obsessed with all things red velvet, here is how you can taste your way through Metro Detroit’s many red velvet offerings:
The Hudson Café, 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit, is a classy brunch establishment with a twist. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, it features a Café Bar with specialty coffee and baked goods, which is great when you’re in a hurry and on the go. When you have time to sit down, however, is when you’re going to want to try the Red Velvet Pancakes.
Yep, I said Red Velvet Pancakes. They’re topped with a cream cheese drizzle (in place of boring ol’ maple syrup) and dusted with cocoa powder. You’ll never find your stomach satisfied by plain pancakes ever again.
Taste Love Cupcakes, 304 S. Main St., Royal Oak, is somewhat of a local celebrity. The gourmet cupcake bakery has been featured on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” and is known as Royal Oak’s freshest cupcake shop.
There are a variety of flavors available each day (until they sell out!), as well as several options for special order, but of course we’re focusing on “The” Red Velvet cupcake. Not only will this be one of the (or perhaps THE) best red velvet cupcakes you’ve ever eaten, it’ll certainly be the cutest. Atop the perfectly coiled frosting is a little red velvet heart cutout—a little something extra and incredibly sweet. Be sure to stop in on Tasty Tuesdays and you’ll receive $2 off your purchase of four or more cupcakes!
Peteet’s Famous Cheesecakes, 13835 W. 9 Mile Rd., Oak Park, isn’t famous for nothin’. The cheesecake company, which has a secondary location in West Bloomfield, makes each of its two-layer cheesecakes from scratch with all-natural ingredients of the highest quality possible.
The Red Velvet Cheesecake is perfect for any holiday gathering, because even if you aren’t normally fond of cheesecake, you’ll love the classic red velvet flavor with a touch of chocolate. It’s blended through Peteet’s original cheesecake and baked atop a graham cracker crust. Don’t forget to try some free samples (which are available daily) while you’re in store!
Addison Eatery, 3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit, features “American cuisine with a twist,” and I guess you could consider dessert-inspired breakfast food to be somewhat of a twist. The joint is open between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., so whether you’re fixin’ for an early breakfast or a late brunch, you’ll be all set.
The menu features a Red Velvet Waffle, which is topped with vanilla cream cheese, fresh whipped cream and cocoa powder. If you ask me, all of that sounds decadent enough to be dessert, but I suppose starting your day off with it wouldn’t be too awful, either.
Aqua, 413 N. Main St., Plymouth, is a newer restaurant to the downtown Plymouth area, and may not be your first assumption when you think “red velvet cake.” Well, not all of the places featured on this list need to be bakeries! When you’re out on the town this month enjoying a holiday meal out with friends you only see around the holidays, you just may want to get that red velvet fix.
Here, the Red Velvet Cake is layered with vanilla buttercream and cappuccino whipped cream, then topped with fresh berries. If that doesn’t sound like the best way to end a meal, I don’t know what does.
Just Topped, with locations in Detroit, Canton and Novi, is a genius side project of Just Baked, the local cupcake company we all know and love. Just Topped combines those cupcakes with Royal Oak-based Ray’s Ice Cream to create cupcake and ice cream creations.
While you can build your own, you’re really going to want to choose the Red Velvet, which consists of vanilla cupcake crumble topped with a scoop of red velvet ice cream, hot fudge and chocolate candies. So decadent, and so completely worth every last calorie-filled bite.
Whether you choose to start your day with something red velvet or end your final meal of the evening with it, things will just seem a little sweeter. Everything is better with cream cheese frosting, didn’t you know?