Charli’s Cupcake Factory

Went about a month ago. Kinda disappointed.
The vanilla cupcake was somewhat stale and the icing was hard-​ish.
The sweet potato with cinnamon icing was fresher… but different.
Chances are I won’t be back.

I’m a cupcake fiend when I have the chance and finding my staple bakery near to New Haven is a bit difficult to come by. I’ve tried Charli’s Cupcake Factory numerous times and some times it’s been great and other times the cupcakes have been dry and the frosting overpowering. Although their red-​velvet has never failed.
Pros
Good flavor selection
Offer both large and mini-​cupcakes
Gluten-​free options
Not too pricey
Customized cupcakes and cakes available
Great service (everyone has been really nice)
Cons
Seem to be iffy on the batter
Odd hours for working adults
No nut-​free options
Small parking lot
Still looking for my staple…

The look great, but lack flavor and texture… also, very expensive.

I’ll admit it… I’m a cupcake whore… nevermind my pesky gluten intolerance. Whenever we go away, I do my research to see where the best cupcakes are to be found.
The last year or so, Connecticut has been lacking on the cupcake front. Sure, I can try to hunt down the Cupcake Truck in hopes they will have what I want left; or, I can drive all the way out to Brookfield to get some cupcake goodness from Kelly’s Sweet Rewards (ahem, GO).
However…recently, something has happened. The Cupcake Truck people have opened a shop (with woefully SHORT hours I might add…11−4, even on Saturdays? Come on people) and Charli’s opened up! I hear rumors of a cupcakery in East Haven as well… but I’ve gotta get to Toppings first.
Anyways…a few weeks ago I ended up having a short work day and was craving burgers and cupcakes. Nice combo, right? So, before stopping at 5 Guys, I made a jaunt up Rte. 1 to Charli’s.
First off the shop is very small, but warm and inviting. I had been warned that their cupcakes were large… but man, they are HUGE. Well worth the almost-​four-​dollars a cupcake. I ended up with four flavors: Pistachio, Sweet Potato, Peanut Butter Chocolate (for the hubs), and Red Velvet. Pistachio… SWOON. REAL pistachios and just moist, yummy goodness. Apparently they only make this flavor every 5 weeks or so… they really should be making it more. Sweet Potato had a cinammon frosting… again very moist, sweet but not TOO sweet and the balance of potato to cinammon was perfect. Hubs enjoyed his Peanut Butter Chocolate… so much he wouldn’t share. And the Red Velvet? Standard, but delicious. The frosting was again sweet, but not overly so… just the right amount of frosting to cupcake.
Word of advice, they only take debit cards or cash.
I will definitely be going back here… after I have made my rounds. And especially if I can get that pistachio cupcake again.
Oh and the best cupcake so far? LuLu’s in Boston BY FAR.

Overpriced for what they are. They have a little bit of taste, but they are not all butter cupcakes. Flavors are rather boring-​all they had both times I visited were variations on chocolate or vanilla cake, chocolate or vanilla frostings. No fruit flavors, Yawn.
You can taste the Crisco/​margarine in some of the frostings. The kid who boxed my second order here didn’t put them in the rigid insert to keep them from rattling around, subsequently when I got them home they were all messed up.
13 dollars for 4 cupcakes…
Parking very tight and dangerous.

i *reaLLy* hope i was here on an off day, but chances are i will never venture back to this factory of blah cupcakes to try it again. seriosuly, it was close to $ 4 for a good sized cupcake that had no flavor — on the plus side, it wasn’t dry, but also it wasn’t rich, it wasn’t moist, and unfortunately it wasn’t as good as duncan hines made by an 8 year old… the frosting was bland and not really all that sweet — really, i dont think it had butter or sugar in it. they did have more than enough flavors to choose from but i wonder if the other ones were as unexcpetional as the one i had. i am sure they will do well until some competition opens around here. and the frosting on the cake — the parking lot sucks, especially if you are headed back toward orange.

Recently went to Charli’s for a half dozen birthday cupcakes! It’s easy to spot from Boston Post Road, has a dedicated parking lot and I think I remember a couple small tables in there, but we got our order and left with it. Décor was cute and fun. We went on a Saturday about an hour after they opened and I must admit I thought there would be more of a selection, but maybe we caught them too early. We got a Coconut Craze, Elvis, Cory’s Bada Bing, Sweet Potato, Reese’s, and a Red Velvet. I tried them all and have to say that their original – the Sweet Potato – was my favorite! It was moist and spicy with luscious spiced cream cheese icing. Mmmm! The others were great too, and all were HUGE… made to be split between two for sure. On the pricey side… I think we paid over $ 20 for six… but for a fun treat I’d recommend Charli’s cupcakery to others.

Cute décor; owner was super-​friendly and let us come in although she had just turned the ‘open’ sign off. Split the heath bar cupcake. The cake itself was vanilla and delicious. Not too dense or dried out, but just right. The frosting was equally tasty and not overly sweet buttercream, as often happens. Would definitely return. And they’re pretty big and can easily be split between two people for the price

This place has a cutsie feel to it with ceramic cupcakes as their décor but straight off the bat the $ 3.25+ cupcakes were a distraction, and not a good one. I was on a hunt for red velvet cupcake and was pleased that they had them but once I took a bite I was disgusted. I asked the owner why on earth were the cupcakes expensive and she said because these are quality cupcakes. HA. tastes like a box mix.