The Flying Cupcake

831 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel IN 46032

Overall rating: 13/15

Atmosphere: 

This seemingly random shop on Rangeline—a quaint, old-school building filled with the aroma of fresh baked cupcakes—is like a throwback to the 1970s. Not only does the wallpaper with “flying cupcakes” draw your attention to the counter, but the gift shop located on the side of the store also creates a fun environment. The shop is filled with pastel colors and “cutesy” decor. If you’re looking for a “boho chic” cafe to spend hours in, this is not the place you are looking for. It’s meant to attract simple traditionalists, ideally with children, who are looking for a cupcake. When you think of what a cupcake shop should look like, The Flying Cupcake is a perfect example.

Score: 5/5

Service: 

The store can be busy sometimes, and with only a few employees, the line can be long. The cupcakes are either boxed to go or served on a plate. Overall, the service is adequate but could be better.

Score: 3/5

Food: 

The Flying Cupcake is definitely the best place to get cupcakes in Carmel. The “Red Velvet Elvis” is my favorite of every cupcake I tried. It has nice frosting consistency, as well as tasty red velvet cake. An additional touch to this recipe is the large chocolate chips in the middle that melt in your mouth. The “Happy Birthday to Me” cupcake is a delicious chocolate cupcake. The frosting tastes like a Hershey’s chocolate bar, and the cake is moist and delectable. This cupcakes are massive in size and have a great cupcake-to-frosting ratio. They are very filling and satisfying. With a variety of options (even gluten-free and vegan choices), you can never go wrong with The Flying Cupcake.

Score: 5/5

Auntie Em’s

111 W. Main St., Carmel IN 46032

Overall rating: 11/15

Atmosphere: 

Conveniently located on Main Street in downtown Carmel, Auntie Em’s is a wonderful place to eat. Designed after an old diner in the ’50s, Auntie Em’s makes you feel like you should strap on a pair of rollerblades and ride around with the workers. The black-and-white checkered tile floor is a nice touch.

Score: 4/5

Service: 

The owners and employees here make you feel at home. They truly would do anything to win over the customers and make them content with their purchases. The paper plates the cupcakes are served on seem a little less formal, which may be a downfall.

Score: 4/5

Food: 

With a variety of options other than cupcakes, Auntie Em’s has delicious food. The store’s classic red velvet cupcake is not one of my personal favorites. Although the cake tastes good, the frosting tastes artificial. The chocolate cupcake, however, is amazing. The chocolate frosting is light and fluffy, and the cake tastes great. If you are looking for a variety of options, you can’t go wrong with Auntie Em’s.

Score: 3/5

Holy Cow Cupcakes!

61 City Center Drive, Carmel IN 46032

Overall rating: 9/15

Atmosphere: 

The inside of this building is designed in a modern style. The bright blue walls get your attention, and as you walk around the corner, there are couches and swivel chairs to sit in. Along the wall there are photographs taken by the locals of Carmel. Holy Cow Cupcakes! is a great place to sit back and enjoy a cupcake or some ice cream.

Score: 5/5

Service: 

The employees are positive and upbeat. However, the cupcakes are served on napkins, and a cup of water is usually just in a clear plastic cup. After paying $3.50 for a cupcake, that feels like a little bit of a ripoff.

Score: 2/5

Food: 

Definitely my least favorite of the three cupcake shops I went to. The red velvet cupcake tasted dry and appeared brown, not red. The frosting was good, but frosting can only be so good when the cake itself doesn’t taste great. The chocolate cupcake is decent because the cake is delicious, but the frosting tastes artificial. The cupcake-to-frosting ratio is not good, seeing as how a mountain of (mediocre) frosting is piled on top of each cupcake. The cupcakes are approximately half the size and half as good as the cupcakes from Flying Cupcake but are sold for the same price.

Score: 2/5