Hi there!
Today I’m switching gears a bit, as I thought it’d be fun to start a new series where I highlight an eatery, bar, or winery that I love within San Diego County. There are so many great places in my area, so I figured I’d share some of my favorites with this post series!
Today the spotlight is on a place that’s sort of like heaven on earth for those with a sweet tooth called Elizabethan Desserts. Located in the town of Encinitas in North County, this bakery became my favorite joint to satisfy a dessert craving upon moving to the area.
I’m usually a take-it-or-leave-it kind of girl when it comes to regular cupcakes, but moist, decadent gourmet cupcakes are another story. You can keep the plain old Betty Crocker vanilla cupcake with store bought chocolate frosting, I’ll take Elizabethan Desserts’ “Grasshopper” cupcake instead – a chocolate cupcake topped with mint buttercream and hand dipped in dark chocolate. Drool.
Photo cred to Elizabethan Desserts
The bakery offers a variety of other mouthwatering flavors, including the Beeze-kneeze: a chocolate cake frosted with honey buttercream, hand dipped in milk chocolate topped with a sweet sugar bee…
Photo cred to Elizabethan Desserts
…the Churro Cupcake: a cinnamon spiced cake with cinnamon cream cheese icing and crunchy cinnamon sugar, finished with house-made churrito…
Photo cred to Elizabethan Desserts
….and the Chocolate Toffee cupcake, which is a chocolate cake with caramel buttercream, dipped in milk chocolate and sprinkled with homemade toffee.
Photo cred to Elizabethan Desserts
They also offer all of their cupcakes in mini sizes, which I love because then I can get a couple of different ones to enjoy. It’s no secret that I have a thing for mini sized foods, and this way I can sample a bunch of their flavors!
Elizabethan doesn’t just make cupcakes, they also offer pies, scones, cookies and bars. Their chocolate chip toffee cookies and caramel pecan bars are awesome:
Elizabethan’s chocolate toffee cookies are kind of amazing.
Ever since I discovered Elizabethan Desserts, it’s become my go-to place when I get a craving for indulgent sweets. I stop in there every few months for a treat, and they never disappoint!
Oh how my dog would love to get her paws on an Elizabethan cupcake… Not happening little lady!
As for any possible downside of Elizabethan, they don’t offer vegan or certified gluten free treats. I would love it if they made a vegan cupcake on certain days as I’ve seen with some other bakeries. One other thing to know if you’re a local wanting to visit the bakery: Elizabethan is closed on Mondays. I went there once on a Monday before I knew this tidbit, and was a little disappointed that I couldn’t get my sugar fix. 😉
Elizabethan’s caramel pecan pies [photo cred to the bakery]
Besides the amazing desserts that they make, Elizabethan Desserts also has adorable decor and a very bright, happy sort of feel to it. The last time I visited the bakery I found out that they’ve applied for a liquor license (!!) and are looking to extend their hours to become more of a nighttime dessert spot. I can totally see popping into the bakery after a dinner date night with my hubby for a glass of wine and a cupcake, or meeting up with a girlfriend and catching up over some shared mini cupcakes and local vino. That’ll definitely be happening if their liquor license comes through, so we shall see!
Tell me… Do you prefer cupcakes or cookies? Chocolate or vanilla?
What a fun series! Love the idea! These cupcakes look amazing and I want one right now!!! Mmm!
Oh wow. I need a trip north! As a GA Tech fan, those bee cakes are calling my name.
Reading this and eating peanut butter m&ms! Like cupcakes ( make really good surprise ones) but more of a cookie person.
UGH! I love bakery food porn – perhaps because I cannot actually have it?
I am totally a vanilla over chocolate girl, I actually HATE chocolate! 😮
I also think I would prefer a cookie than cupcake? I haven’t had too many cupcakes in my day to know though!
Whoa! Those are some delicious looking treats! Totally drooling over all of those cupcakes. Yummm.
Those cupcakes look epic. I know this is a controversial statement, but I have never had a really good cupcake. They always look better than they taste, but I hope San Diego can prove me otherwise when I am there.
Wow. I’m with ya – I can totally pass up cupcakes, or cake, if it’s just a plain ‘ole original recipe. But if it’s a gourmet recipe, I must try. And I LOVE the mini sizes too – I can never choose one kind to try either! Those pecan pie bars look so good! Sounds like that place will make a great date night if they get a liquor license and stay open later! We found a similar place this last weekend, downtown, so I added it onto our winter time activity list – they have chocolates, wine AND coffee! Can’t beat THAT!