Mara’s Baking Bites

I forgot to update!
So for Valentine’s Day I decided to take Mara up her special 12 Pack Valentine’s Mini Sampler, including the following:
–4 Red Velvet ‘Chipped’ Cupcakes with Cream Cheese
–4 Chocolate Decadence Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
–4 Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
Let me just say… the chocolate chip red velvets were divine. I also liked the chocolate ones. I guess I’m partial to cream cheese frosting? ;o)
Can’t wait to order more! Thanks Mara!

So I have the distinct honor of working with Mara, and yet I didn’t know her until the Merlion UYE in March. Moreover, and just as sad, I never had the pleasure of her cupcakes until the past 2 weeks, and now I’ve had them 3 times! Once we bartered pumpkin bread from Bakesale Betty’s for a cupcake, once at the La Bamba UYE, and once she had rejects at work.
The bartered cupcake was fantastic, moist and sweet and full of frosting yet not too rich. Even her rejects that caved were delicious! No they’re not perfect but they were cooked fine and tasted good, even without frosting. And then the ones at La Bamba were, for lack of a better term, scrumrilescent. 30+ Mexican chocolate cupcakes for the Unilocal gang to gnosh on was just boss!
I’m going to have to order some and take them home to my mom in LA. Omnomnom.

Everyone loved them at the party! I ordered Gingerbread, Chai, and Red Velvet. I loved the Red Velvet because I am a sucker for vanilla bean anything.
Next time I would order the mini ones. It seemed like everyone didn’t finish their cupcake because it was too rich (plus it was for Thanksgiving dinner so everyone was already full).
Advice to cupcake eaters: Eat the Frosting and Cupcake at the same time! I know it sounds simple, but licking the frosting first will give you a sugar jolt!

i ordered two days before i needed the yummilicious cupcakes from mara =)
i got 24 mini Strawberrylicious cupcakes! i just asked mara if i could have those gorgeous pearls on my cupcakes but she surprised me with a really cute topper, a picture of a spice cake with a birthday candle — just what i needed for my birthday!
the cupcakes were so elegant that my mom even mentioned that it was like for a wedding! the cake was nice and moist and low in sugar (i asked that) and the frosting was also delicious that complimented the cake really well!
and picking up is a breeze, meet at a location and get it, mara is also very prompt =)

Mara’s cupcakes are so beautifully decorated, I just want to stare and admire them… for about 5 seconds, and then I want to stuff it into my mouth! I mean, just look at the photos. Aren’t they purdy?
I ordered her limited Holiday Sampler, which consisted of:
–3 Red Velvet cake with Chocolate Chips and Vanilla Cream Cheese frosting (My all-​time favorite! The chocolate chips baked inside are what takes the cake!)
–3 Pumpkin Spice cake with Spiced Cream Cheese frosting
–3 Snickerdoodle cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting
–3 Dark Mint Chocolate cake with Mint Buttercream frosting
Absolutely to die for! And yes, I did share half of them! I plan on eating at least one for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so don’t even bother asking if I have any left. The cake is so moist and the frosting is not too sweet, so it’s a perfect meal.
With the holidays coming up, why not be the best liked person at the party and be the one who shows up with Mara’s cupcakes? Everyone will rave about them and thank you profusely all night long for bringing them. For the holidays, Mara has special flavors (in addition to the pumpkin spice and snickerdoodle) including:
–Banana Caramel: Soft banana cake filled with sweetly salty caramel and topped with Spiced Cream cheese frosting
–Gingerbread Cookie: Gingerbread spice cake topped with Cinnamon n’ Spice Cream frosting
–Maple Pecan: Maple pecan cake with Spiced Cream Cheese frosting
Check out her site for more flavors. A minimum order of 1 dozen regular cupcakes or 2 dozen minis is $ 36. Make sure you contact her to see what her availability is, and order in advance!

True story… I have been addicted to Mara’s cupcakes before I even had one. HA HA How could you not? She posts pictures of them up on her profile and I salivate over them and even view them when I’m craving something sweet and trying to be «good.»
Finally… an opportunity arose for her to make cupcakes for an event I was a part of. She made 48 mini red velvet cupcakes with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting for our Wicked Dance & Fitness Grand Opening Event. She decided on the flavors and colors to compliment our studio’s colors. Not only were they great to look at (she even added some red W’s & hearts on top of a handful of them) they were even tastier than they looked… which you know doesn’t happen often. They were moist, flavorful, decadent and delightful. I even know that some people had more than 3 each… caught red handed! I had to hide one so the owner could try one after the event was over. LOL Of course, they didn’t even make it past the 3^rd out of 4 mini-​classes held that night. They were the only food items there to be gone by the end, as well… and with obvious reason.
Now…don’t tell anyone at the studio, but I think I had more questions about Mara’s cupcakes and requests for her business card than I did regarding the event. HA HA HA That’s okay… I think her cupcakes brought in new clients! =)
Thank you Mara for your wonderful customer service, your presentation and your to-​die-​for treats! Honestly, I’m trying to conjure up another reason to place an order as we speak…

I can still remember the day that I first tried the infamous Mara cupcake. (Flashback) It was Flor’s B-​day and I had been waiting for this goodness for sometime, since I had heard many great things about them. Finally the time came to taste the little suckers and I kid you not, I think I saw a chorus of angels singing the moment I put one in my mouth. So many flavors, so delicate, and moist, I was about to pass out from the sensory overload. Instead, I managed to grab 3 more cupcakes with no shame whatsoever. Once you start, you really can’t stop.
And so, (Flash forward) I finally got the chance to order some of these heavenly cupcakes for a friend’s son’s birthday. Mara was very professional and kept constant contact through the ordering process. She was very helpful as I made all the arrangements and was flexible with my pick up time and location. Sure enough, everyone loved the cupcakes! The miniature ones are perfect for little kid hands and just enough sugar for those calorie counting adults. With all the myriad of deserts my friend had, Mara’s cupcakes were the first to be devoured; the other deserts did not stand a chance.
Mara is now my go-​to person if I am ever in need of cupcakes!

This chick can bake and this is coming from another chick who bakes.
I love Mara’s cupcakes. She uses the best ingredients and puts a lot of love and effort into each one of her fabulousity cupcake. They are always stunning to look at as well.
I can’t compliment her enough. . the flavor, creativity, and passion are reflected in each bite. Always moist., delicious, and not overly sweet.
My personal favorite is her red velvet. . to die for. Powerful punch of sweetness; perfectly balanced with the frosting. Seriously, she knows how to harmonize looks and tastes together. I love how she makes everything from scratch. The quality is there without a doubt. The frosting doesn’t taste like shortening (aka ass). . it tastes like it was concocted by a stellar baker.
She customizes her order to your liking as well. If you want something extraordinary, she will do it. She is all about the customer and I can appreciate that.
What are you waiting for? Place an order now!

4 words my friends… chocolate almond coconut cupcakes… yeah…
Does anyone actually need more of a review after that?
Alright then. I was jonsing for some cupcakes for Flor D. had mentioned some in one of her reviews. After chatting her up a bit she gave me Mara’s information and it was cupcake time after that =) I ordered 24 mini cupcakes and picked them up a few days later.
Mara is as awesome as the tasty treats that she bakes. I highly recommend giving them a try! She is willing to work with you to create pretty much anything you have in mind, how friggen cool is that? Not too sweet and while I thought they would curb my appetite for sweet cuppin cakes, it really has only fed my addiction! Oh no… I see many many meetings with the personal trainer at the gym in my future… for this dessert though, I’ll suffer through it.

Mara is the undisputed cupcake queen!
At the risk of having Mara hurt me if I ever see her in a dark alley — I’ve never been a huge fan of cupcakes. Mara’s cupcakes are so damn good that I have started to see the light. Maybe all the other cupcakes I’ve had were just being done wrong? Whatever the reason for my previous dissatisfaction Mara’s cupcakes have won me over. I am now preaching the gospel of Mara’s cupcakes.
I first tried them at a cupcake sale and then last weekend at a friend’s birthday party.
For starters, they are visually appealing (aka pretty). They are also moist and fresh. Ummmm, tasty.
You know what? Just try them. I can’t DESCRIBE cupcakes.
Mara is also super friendly and I’m gathering she is incredibly organized.
You REALLY should order cupcakes from her. You’ll be happy you did.

Mara–
When I get married I want you to do my wedding. DON’T MOVE OUT OF THE AREA!

As some of you may know, our very own favorite San Jose Cupcake maker entered a tiny, little, contest that you may or may not have heard of. It’s called the 2^nd annual Unilocal Cupcake Bake off.
Competition was very fierce and super sweet… from what I was told.
As I imagined, our girl did not disappoint. She won 3 of the 7 categories!
THAT’S HUGE!!! If you want to place an order, you can do so via:
AND…TO ADD REAL ICING TO THE CUPCAKE…
SHE WON BEST OVERALL… that’s like saying best in show if we were showcasing dogs.
Prettiest Cupcake — Mara T. for her Lemon Marscapone cupcake
Most Ambitious Cupcake — Mara T. for her Chocolate Mint filled Cupcakes (tasted just like a Thin Mint!)
OVERALL BEST CUPCAKE — Mara T. for her Vanilla Peanut Butter
Congrats to Mara T, from her master taster! Here’s to more baking and the petition to open up your very own shop!

Mara is my cupcake soulmate and she doesn’t even know it. I can’t bake (well), but if I did, I would aspire to Mara’s baking philosophy — the best ingredients, flawless presentation and attention to detail. She’s constantly looking for pretty cupcake decorations. She’s a vanilla cupcake purist, I’m a vanilla cupcake purist. She doesn’t like super sweet frosting, I don’t like super sweet frosting.
When I saw her vanilla peanut butter cupcake, I thought, did she bake it with me in mind? I’m sure that she didn’t but the result was the best vanilla cupcake I’ve ever had. I could tell just by looking at it that it would be off the charts. Unlike the vast majority of vanilla cupcakes, you could see vanilla bean flecks in the frosting AND the cake. The vanilla frosting was thick, soft and creamy but not too soft and not too sweet. Best vanilla frosting ever. The cake was moist and vanilla-​y, just like I like it. And I like mini peanut butter cup surprise center too. And it was gorgeous too with tiny pearls and pink sugar disc decoration.
Her lemon mascarpone cupcake was unbelievably luscious. The frosting was softer, sweeter, and creamier than the vanilla frosting and richer. The lemon cake had lemon rind and wasn’t too sweet. It tasted natural. The cupcake was adorned with a lemon drop candy. I prefer the vanilla cupcake because I love vanilla anything (my favorite flavor & my favorite scent) but I have high praise for the lemon cupcake too.
I don’t think other bakers put in that much time, energy and love into each cupcake. Mara rules the cupcake universe.

Here’s one thing we must all thank Unilocal for: Mara’s baked goods.
I’m not much of a sweets person. I could easily live without cupcakes… or well, SO I THOUGHT until one day Ms. Mara, the angel, brought me one of her outrageously scrumptious cupcakes when we met up for lunch. She knew I had never tried it before (my UYE attendance rate had been low), and figured she’d deliver me one instead so I wouldn’t feel so left out… (Oh I love you, Mara.)
The banana cupcake — which she claimed was «too mushy,» but was actually perfectly moist in my opinion — made me dangerously jealous of her husband. It was original. It wasn’t unnecessarily sweet, but so darn SATISFYING and AMUSING as it had bits of coconut on top and contained a little surprise filling (Reese’s, perhaps?) inside.
Ya, I LOVE THIS WOMAN.
P. S. If Unilocal could set up a cupcake tasting event, featuring Mara and Scott L’s baked goods, I might turn into a sweets person after all.

M — ost
A — mazing
R — ighteous
A — ppetizing
CUPCAKES!
I was so friggin’ surprised when Anna walks in with a box full of cupcakes by Mara! After my graduation, Anna tells me that she’s got to go to pick up something. I thought to myself, «Hmmm, what is she up to?» What a pleasant surprise!
Thank you Mara for making the Kahlua cupcakes and the Coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! My friends and family all got a taste and they were blown away, even my husband who is not a sweets person. If you are not into sweets, you will be converted by Mara’s Baking Bites!

DRUM ROLL Please!
It’s official. Mara’s got it going on like Betty Crocker but better!
Ahem… I just want to announce that I am THE FIRST official paying customer for Mara, so maybe I can get the unofficial first review for this one?
I convinced Mara to hook up some surprise cuppies for Jen S’s graduation party for her Masters degree (yipee) and also for an upcoming work event (updates and pics will be posted in the next week).
Jen was pleasantly surprised and delighted by all the cuppies (Kahlua Chocolate, and Coconut cuppies with coconut cream cheese frosting). Let’s just say, the frosting is where its at. Finger Frickin Lickin Good! I still have a small stash in the fridge. (wink wink)
The work ones are going to be Peanut Butter Chocolate, Lemon Almond with lemon frosting, and Vanilla cuppies with Strawberry frosting. I am anxiously awaiting the day…
UPDATE: I was able to snag one of each! Peanut Butter ones were so cute and tasty but, the lemon and strawberry ones were amazingly moist and the frosting was extra creamy. OH so good! The staff at my work devoured them. Mara had several new fans (non-​yelpers) and future customers in the making!

Each one is like a fluffy, moist, delectable canvas with dollops of sugary satin dream-​stuff whisked atop.
Art.
Short-​lived or savored, Mara magically conjures little unforgettable moments of DELICIOUS works of art…

I was introduced to Mara’s sweet treats at the UYE at St. John’s. These cuppies were so beautiful and professional looking that I hesitated to jump in and grab one! Mara does a fantastic job of decorating. They were simple, yet elegant, and more importantly– THEY DA BOMB YO! You can tell that Mara puts a lot of love into her work.
The peanut butter and the strawberry with cream cheese frosting were my favorites. My daughter Victoria loved the chocolate cuppies. She cannot stop talking about how cute, pretty, and yummy they are! My little Mateo ate two cupcakes before dinner and then at least four of them afterward. Mara– if you ever need an assistant or a taste tester– you can borrow my kids!

I had 4 of them. If I wasn’t busy talking and getting to know other Unilocalers, there would be none left for people to review. I’d be popping them in my mouth like M&M’s, wrapper and all.

Yeay to Mara the cupcake baker! So cute she brought some to her St. John’s UYE – felt like I was in grade school again and it was someone’s bday. :-)
Highlights:
— They’re mini: so cute and bite sized. Perfectly sized for a small sweet ending to a meal – way better than gum or a mint! And if you can’t stop there, makes you feel less guilty eating multiple. ;-)
— Frosting: Super light and not too sugary. Loved the peanut butter and the chocolate!
— Decorations: Very nice touch with a little tidbit on top. Peanut butter ones had a itty bitty peanut butter cup, chocolate had a little swirly hollow chocolate stick (I’m sure it has a name but I don’t know it), strawberry has a little strawberry slice, and vanilla had an outline of a chocolate heart. Almost too cute to eat, but you get over that. She’s such a pro already!
— Mara’s dedication: She makes these sweet treats at least twice a week! I can’t commit to anything twice a week that takes any effort. :-O Well, ok besides planning my meals.
Lowlights (my flip side to highlights):
— I’m not a dessert person but makes me want em now. ;-)
— Unexpected sugar rush to the head.
— Scheming with fellow Unilocalers as to how best to combine the cupcakes together to make different flavors: smooshing peanut butter and chocolate together to make a oreo-​styled cupcake or taking the vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ones to form some sort of Neapolitan trio. 8-​)
Yeay to my first Mara cupcake experience. Can’t wait to try other flavors. I may have to defect to her office to get regular doses.