Sweet Posie

Sweet Posie. R.I.P.
You’re like one of those girls that you date for a while and you have a good time, but you never really get to see the bad parts. You end up having to leave, probably to work for the Peace Corps or something seemingly noble. Then I think you of you and what could have been, not knowing you’ve got some really annoying habits like cutting your nails in public places or something completely reprehensible.
Well, we had a good thing going. I paid cash and you lavished me with baked goods from your sweet, sticky bosom. JT’s Pumpkin bread, apple walnut bread, and the coffeecake muffins fueled my creativity and helped me to «git ‘er done». You even had gluten-​free yummies.
I have fond memories of your pistachio cupcakes. Maybe in another lifetime?

Sweet Posie is an adorable shop located in the heart of Ballard. Bright blooms in the window boxes welcome you in even in the dead of winter. The shop itself is shoebox-​sized, though there is seating for a few inside if you choose to take your coffee or sweets in the café.
Though Sweet Posie has a selection of boxed lunches on order as well as coffee drinks and other delectable-​looking baked goods, I visited in search of cupcakes. Although I must admit, I was sorely tempted by the scones, snatched up quickly while I sat, and the vegan or gluten-​free offerings said to be delicious.
I was pleased to find two cupcake choices; of course I had to try both. I had intended to take them ‘to go’ and eat them by the Ballard locks but my only takeout choices were a giant pastry box or frosting-​destroying paper bags. So I settled in with two cupcakes, less than an hour after breakfast. (Let it not be said that I’m uncommitted to my cupcake cause!)
Sweet Posie’s cupcake offerings that day were red velvet and strawberry, $ 2.50/each, and almost twice the size of a «regular» cupcake. I dove into the red velvet and… nothing. It didn’t taste like anything. In fact, it didn’t taste good at all. Sponge-​y, with a weird moist quality and no flavor of anything. Having sampled my fair share of red velvet I thought it might actually be a vegan or gluten-​free cupcake — that might explain the taste and texture difference and perhaps excuse the flavor. The frosting was creamy, not overly sweet and powdered sugary with a good cream cheese frosting flavor. Before I left I asked the friendly server behind the counter if there was anything special about the cupcakes. She shook her head and said that the only vegan and gluten-​free offerings were not cupcakes.
Disappointed with the red velvet, I moved on to the strawberry cupcake, a flavor rarely found in cupcakes. The strawberry cupcake suffered from similar lack of flavor as the red velvet, though this cake at least had a discernible biscuit flavoring. The strawberry frosting was a high note: it had a really strong strawberry flavor that would have been fantastic if the frosting wasn’t mostly solid (the cupcakes are stored in a refrigerated case and this frosting would have benefited from some time out to warm to room temperature).
I was a little saddened that I cannot recommend the cupcakes from Sweet Posie; I was more than ready to welcome a new place for cupcakes into my Ballard rotation. However, it seems better that you stick to the place down the street for cupcakes (you know where I’m talking about) and give the drinks and other baked goods a try here instead.

Pumpkin shortbread. Mexican chocolate cupcakes. Really delicious… organic and in many cases gluten-​free or vegan. Dare I say it, but I think I like the sweet treats here better than Besalu… too bad there’s nowhere to sit!
Edit ¹⁰⁄₂₅: I noticed they lowered their prices about 50 cents per item, which is great because I thought it was kind of overpriced. And all their fall sweets… sweet potato cupcakes, pumpkin pie bar, etc, have been wonderful.

Tiny, Neapolitan ice cream colored bakery (reminiscent of the Chef’s childhood flavor of choice) with salads, sandwiches, and pastries to go. They’ve got Tony’s coffee, Oregon Chai (and Morning Glory on the way), and the guys who own it– JT and. Chris? I think?– are down-​to-​earth, young, cool guys with a good vibe. They just make you want to support ‘em.
The Applesauce Muffin was delicious. Tasted fresh. There was a vegan raspberry coffee cake that looked marvelous, and an Asian chicken salad that I’m definitely going back for. Plus Greek yogurt & fresh fruit cups. JT said we don’t see a lot of Greek yogurt in the States. It’s filtered more, has more of a custard consistency. The fruit will change depending what’s in season.
I have a feeling they’re a five-​star worthy place, but they just opened today, so I haven’t tried enough to know for sure. I eat lunch in Ballard every day, so this time next week I’ll be an ol’ regular.
It’s definitely one of those charming little spots that makes you love living in an urban environment. Great use of small space. Plus they’re just a store-​front for the large kitchen/​catering operation they’re running. Pastries are all super fresh! Hooray!