Sugar Buzz

What a shame we are losing this place.
I have tried several of the cupcakes and they never disappointed. My favorites tended to always be the cobbler cupcake of the week — seriously, two of my favorite desserts in one?!
I will certainly miss Sugar Buzz. Thank you for all the delicious cupcake adventures and best wishes for any future endeavors.

I LOVE this Place! I regularly come here for my morning mocha, and have been for a quite a few months. Their White Chocolate Mocha is a step above the rest. The staff is exceptional. Never have I been somewhere where the staff was so accommodating and genuinely nice. The consistent positive energy and fun atmosphere is a breath of fresh air. To the owners/​management, you have an amazing team, especially in the morning!

I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to coffee. Sugar Buzz is definitely a 5 star place! I drive out of my way to get my morning coffee here because they have a drive thru. Hallelujah! They’re always fast, friendly, and ready to serve my drink exactly how I like it. They even have a day of the week when coffee is only $ 0.60! I think it’s Tuesdays.

One of two back to back reviews that I preface with this… Living amongst the bright lights of the big city, I make it out to the suburbs infrequently, and the distant suburbs rarely. But something work related had me driving out to McHenry for several days in a row. Lots of long driving stints and many hours waiting around in the car made it feel like a continuous road trip, sprinkled with brief stops at home. Naturally, I searched for places to sate my roadhead snack cravings.
This was the only non-​chain coffee joint I found in the area. There is another one listed on Unilocal,but it’s shuttered. I can’t comment on the coffee, as I’m a tea drinker, but on that front, they have a decent selection of maybe a dozen Two Buds and a Leaf brand teas — the kind with the neat triangular shaped bags. And then there were the cupcakes. The few I tried were entirely pleasing. The cake was very moist, had a nice soft spongy texture. The frosting was a little too sweet, a little sugar granulary textured, but not bad. Lime in the Coconut was great, but my favorite was the Lumberjack. Brown sugar coated caramelized bacon gracing the top and thrust into the innards. Although I’m certainly not lacking, I could always do with a little more bacon in my meals. Dinner, breakfast, midnight snacks, and elevenses, all increase in enjoyability by ratio of bacon included. I have yet to find any food product that bacon doesn’t make better, cupcakes now included. Add to it the pancakey batter and maple flavor and you have a excellent breakfast cupcake. Yes, I eat cupcakes for breakfast. Also of note, they have great little infallible single cupcake holders. Not only is your treat encased in cardboard, with a see through sky light, it slides into a holder at the bottom, so the only way to mangle your cupcake on the way home would be to stop at a local carnival and ride The Wizzer.

Stopped on a whim passing through the area and we were very pleased! I had a vanilla cupcake and boyfriend had oreo cheesecake. The vanilla cupcake was a 4/​5, the cheesecake a ⁵⁄₅! I want to go back and try some different cupcake flavors.

THE BEST SALTED CARAMEL I’ve ever had. I practically turn my nose up at all other salted caramel cupcakes that wish they were as good as this one perfectly incorporated salty and sweet delicious cupcake. It’s throughout the brown sugar cake itself, not just the frosting– and there’s a delicious dollop of luscious caramel inside the cupcake as well. If you like salted caramel, you will LOVE this cupcake. I have enjoyed every cupcake I’ve had here, but the salted caramel reigns supreme for me.
Their cupcakes typically use a light buttercream frosting flavored with whatever couples well with the specific flavor of the cake. Other favorite flavors of mine are the campfire (think smores) with its beautifully torched marshmallow topping, anything with Valrhona chocolate, the Lime in the Coconut, and the raspberry cobbler. There’s a different cobbler flavor each week, FYI. There’s also a long list of everyday flavors, plus about 7 flavors of the week. Lots of choices!
They have Intelligentsia coffee and various teas, as well as a punch card for drinks, getting a free one when filled. I love the chai (which I think is actually pre-​mixed, fyi) and the caramel latte.
Keep your eye on their Facebook page for $ 1 cupcake/​muffins promotions, and note that they GO SUPER FAST once they post. I was just here today and in 15 minutes of their post, they went from every flavor to NADA. Lol So be on your game! And pray for that you are able to savor that salted caramel. It will change your life, or at least your day. As fellow Unilocaler Eduardo would say, «you deserve it, the shit you put up with.» Lol ;)
Bonus: Pick up your cupcakes and drinks in the drive thru– gotta love that.

Thanks to Christina S’ great review & pics, I kept bugging my husband to checking out Sugar Buzz. I love any sweet dessert so why not try a place that serves cupcakes.
To me, cupcakes are mini cakes. Since I love Velvet cake, I wanted to try their Velvet Cupcake. Usually the cream cheese is great but the cake part isn’t moist. But at Sugar Buzz, that cupcake was soooooo moist & I think the frosting was the BEST cream cheese frosting I’ve ever had. Soooooooooo good!!!
We decided to dine at SB so I hesitated ordering hot Tea —- I’m very picky about my black tea. I chose Earl Grey & boy!!! that was a great cup of tea!!! I love a good cup of tea to compliment my dessert.
The young lady who took our order («Tay Tay») was so friendly and informative. She was great with customers when they came into the store. She answered any questions they had & made them feel comfortable in a new surrounding. More businesses need a friendly & bubbly worker like her.
We had a great experience at SB, so we are definitely coming back.

If You Want A Terrific Cupcake, Then Come Here!!!
There is no confusion why I am writing this review and giving this place 5 stars. The cupcake I just ate (Lime in the coconut) was so incredible, it left me wanting another.
Why was it so freaken fantastic? Because the cake was moist, the key lime was spot on and the coconut was toasted. Success! It was so good that I contemplated eating the wrapper. Well maybe not but that’s how awesome it was.
I won’t claim to be a cupcake aficionado but I know what I like and I like this place and their cupcakes.
The shop is very clean and the staff is friendly. Wow what a concept.
I can’t wait to return here for another cupcake and a coffee. Maybe tomorrow.

Traveling through Mchenry for work and stopped at this adorable
was my birthday so i thought I would stop and get some cupcakes instead of cake. Loved the cookies n cream Cookie Monster looking cupcake! Great service, best of luck to owners!

I tried Sugar Buzz today for the first time. I went through the drive-​thru and ordered an iced mocha and four cupcakes. The girl who took my order was super friendly and she even gave my dog a treat! The cupcakes were awesome! And the mocha was great too. My entire order came out to just under $ 15, which I thought was very reasonable. What a great addition to Mchenry!

Adorable little shop with wonderful tasty treats. I love the staff there, they’re always super friendly and have great suggestions. They won’t hesitate to tell you if something ‘isn’t their favorite, but so-​and-​so likes it’ and always tell the truth about what’s fresh! They always have daily specials but, like any good shop, occasionally run out of the one you were craving. I don’t mind though, it means that you’re doing good business. Their drive through window is ridiculously adorable… seriously, a cup cake drive through window!!! The girls who work there are so funny, I’ve been known to have a conversation or two through the drive through menu speaker.
I highly recommend this adorable gem. My husband, who dislikes sweet treats will pick up a fork and devour any of their cupcakes (he just pretends that he doesn’t want to eat all of the frosting). It’s very reasonable priced and the service and variety are lovely. Go treat yourself… you won’t be disappointed.

We happened upon this place while my husband was on an errand in McHenry. Let me break it down for you…
Their coffee = High quality + delightful!
Their cupcakes = Delicious + magical!
I had an blended iced coffee drink which wasn’t super sweet and the coffee flavor was bold and very good. My husband always just gets a black coffee– he loved his. And I’m not just saying all of this, we’re for reals coffee snobs. Their coffee is seriously good.
We decided to order some cupcakes as well. I got a red velvet, my son got the cookies and cream one with the cookie monster face on it (SO cute!) and my husband got some chocolate one I can’t remember exactly what flavor it was. They were all scrumptious. End of story.
High recommend this establishment!

Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon hoping to find a few treats to bring home for dessert. I’m not a huge fan of frosting, and I really dislike filled cupcakes, so I was high maintenance in choosing but was definitely impressed with the cupcakes I settled on: Gingerbread cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. There was a LOT of frosting on top of the cupcakes, way more than my liking, so I ended up scraping most of it off. Again– not a bad thing since I have this issue just about everywhere.
The staff working was really friendly, and I loved the apple sauce samples.

This is a new favorite cupcake place for sure. It is up by where I work, but not exactly «near» where I work or on any of my regular routes, so I have only been a couple of times, on the way to other stops in McHenry. Both times I got 2 cupcakes to go, both times the service was nothing but prompt and friendly, and both times the cupcakes proved delicious!
I can’t remember the exact flavors I got — pretty sure I got the cobbler of the week both times because it was so amazing the first time. I also remember a candy-​bar themed one that was also extremely delicious. Cupcakes are a little bit on the sugary-​sweet edge of acceptable, but the cake quality (i.e. texture) and the flavor combinations are so good it makes up for it. Worst case, you scrape a little of the frosting off. I will definitely be back to try more of their flavors.
I don’t hand out 5 stars to cupcake places, as can be seen from my reviews, but this place deserves it. Also, prices are prices are very good.

I love Sugar Buzz! They have exceptional coffee and amazing customer service. My family and I stop there almost every day for an iced coffee or latte, and the employees are always very nice and welcoming. Plus, they offer $.59 coffee day about once a week (it is usually announced on their FB page).
As for their cupcakes, I have tried them several times and loved them. My fiancé did say it was a bit much icing for him, but I love icing so I didn’t mind. We have tried the red velvet, lime in the coconut, cookie monster, pure bliss, blueberry cobbler, and you got your peanut butter in my chocolate. The cobbler and pure bliss were my favorites by far. They also offer delicious muffins in the morning, which go great with the coffee.

Im still in love with this place! Honestly if you have never tried a Lumberjack cupcake you need too!!! Maple frosting and bacon :)

I’m really baffled by the raving reviews for Sugar Buzz. While the shoppe is cleanly (which is the sole reason we have 2 stars here), it just doesn’t make up for the main reason you want to go in here… Cupcakes.
My initial thought was that the prices for the cupcakes seemed on the low side, and then I realized why.
Either everyone I know has an above par palette or the general area has a boxed mix, fast food palatte.
We tried several flavors including the Lumberjack — clearly maple syrup «flavoring» and a crazy greasy cake. The bottom of the cupcake liner was filled with grease/​oil. So gross.
The bright blue vanilla frosting on the vanilla cupcake wasn’t even worth trying a second time — like pure sugar.
The chocolate cake — spit it out. Dry, no flavor. How can a chocolate cake not taste like chocolate? Same with the chocolate frosting — blech.
My last complaint is that the frosting to cake ratio is absurd. You can visually see that the frosting is at least an inch taller than the cake itself — does not make for good cupcake balance.
I adore that they serve Intelligentsia, as I’m from Chicago and was a fan of Intelligentsia from the beginning. I think that’s the best thing they have going for them — great taste in coffee.
I do hope that a privately owned food/​dessert spot makes it in the area, but there are clear corrections to be made to withstand the test of time.

I love Sugar Buzz!
Their cupcakes are incredible. Today I had «Put the Lime in the Coconut» which tastes like creamy delicious key lime pie with toasted coconut and a fresh raspberry. It is indescribably good. On Saturday my husband and I shared a «Lumberjack» — sugared bacon in a yellow cupcake with maple icing and a spear of sugared bacon on top. OMG Bacon and cupcakes? What could be better.
We have previously tried Cookie Monster, Red Velvet and a few others. All were perfect! Not too sweet but very decadent tasting.
They also serve my favorite coffee, Intelligentsia. If you haven’t tried, you should. The espresso is so smooth and flavorful.
The atmosphere is nice. Very light and bright with several seating areas. They display students’ art work so there is always something interesting to view.
So far, everyone I have dealt with on their staff have been great. Knowlegable, friendly, helpful and fast too.
Go there — you will not regret it.

I was excited to try this new shop based on the good reviews it received on Unilocal and from some friends on Facebook. I have been to Sugar Buzz two times so far and wish there was a rating for 3.5 stars… it was better than OK, but not over the top awesome. It was good and I would definitely go back. Here are some of my observations.
Service: The first time I went, I was the only one in the place and I had obviously never tried their cupcakes before, so I was asking a few questions about them. The associate was a little short with her answers, and it came off as if I was annoying. After I picked my first cupcake flavor, she asked me a few times, «Will that be all?», while I was looking back and forth between the menu explanations and the cupcakes themselves (as she wasn’t overly helpful with trying to «sell» me the flavors). The second time I went, I had the same associate and she was much nicer and more helpful — maybe she was just having a bad day the first time I visited.
The Ambiance: Cute coffee shop with good music playing and some neat art on the walls. Would be a fun place to meet friends or just hang out when you need a break.
Food: This is where personal preference might come into play and puts me on the edge of giving them 4 stars. In my opinion, the cake to frosting ratio is a little off. For my taste, there is too much frosting on the cupcake — especially when the frosting is the sweet vanilla frosting (I personally can never get enough cream cheese frosting!). I also ordered an iced coffee, which was very good, since they brew Intelligentsia. Here are the cupcake flavors I’ve tried and my ratings:
1. Red Velvet — 5 star yum!
2. Put the Lime in the Coconut — 5 star — very unique!
3. Blueberry Cobbler — 4 star — could use more filing and less frosting
4. Apple Cobbler — 4 star — could use more filing and less frosting
5. Razzmatazz — 4 star — could use more filling, cake itself was great
6. Strawberry — 3 star — frosting was really too sweet and a little grainy
7. Lumberjack — 4 star — moist cake with bacon? Yes please! A little too much frosting for my taste.
8. Lemon Blue — 5 star — perfect combo!
9. Twixified — 4 star — holy sweet tooth, Batman! Reallllly good if you love caramel and tons of sweet. Cookie crunch under frosting added a fun twist.
10. Orange Blossom Muffin — 5 star — DELICIOUS!!!
11. Cherry Bomb — 4 star — not too memorable…
I will be going back this week to try Lemonade Stand and Lemon Blue cupcakes.
I like that they post their flavors of the week on their website, so I can see if there is anything I would like before I go. I also like they have a Facebook fan of the day promotion on their FB page. I also spoke with the owner both times I was there, and the second time, we discussed a cupcake flavor that I’d love them to start making again (that I saw on their website, but has since been removed) and he said he would consider doing that.
Overall, this area needs something fun and cute like this, and I think I will go back because it’s joyful to eat sweets with good friends and fun music. I hope this place stays open and gains popularity!

I was wrong.
Yep and I’m admitting it.
I visited Sugar Buzz again — this time this morning on my way to work (this morning ⁰²⁄₂₈).
Super friendly service (didn’t get the name of the girl with the red hair and nose-​ring but she was not only friendly and genuine but helpful and sweet — thanks for your awesome customer service Red-​Hair Girl).
I asked RHG what she would suggest for a «breakfast» cupcake and she said, «I’d try the apple cobbler for breakfast.» So — I did.
Sweet smokin’ Jesus… that was the best cupcake I ever ate in my life (and if you know me, you know I’ve eaten my fair share of cake, candy, sweets and yes, cupcakes!).
I usually could care very little about the actual cupcake part and only eat it so I could get to the frosting. Honestly, I was pretty sad when the cake part was gone. It had apple pie filling in it! Oh yes it did!!! I couldn’t believe it.
Then, of course, I got to the icing. Double You Tee Eff. I’m ruined for all other cupcake shops for life.
Admittedly, I did get an email from the owners after my first review. They explained about the opening issues with the lack of cupcakes and apologized for the attitude I got the first time I was in. The email was very kind — kinder than I would have been to someone who gave me the review I gave them so — wow,…that’s just rockin’.
I will totally be back and I want to thank Mike & Anisa Cichon for contacting me and suggesting I try them again. I’m very glad I did. Thanks again!