Since we were heading downtown to the Dogwood Festival a while back, we popped into Sprinkles (located at Lenox Square near the front door) for a treat-to-go on the way home. The place was buzzing with activity and the staff seemed somewhat overwhelmed (and under-trained). The only gluten-free flavor they currently offer is the red velvet flavor (also offered in a gluten version). Since I'm used to choosing from maybe six flavors at Gigi's in Norcross (available six days a week!), it was disappointing to have no choice at all at Sprinkles.
After I placed my order for one cupcake to-go, I overheard the person who rang my ticket up ask what my order meant...the order taker explained it was a gluten-free cupcake. I paid and then waited for someone to bring the already bagged cupcake to the counter. I looked inside to see a G on top which indicates the item is gluten-free. I love the fact that there is not a mountain of frosting on the cupcakes at Sprinkles. I LOVED the cream cheese frosting on the cupcake - it was seriously amazing! Unfortunately, the cake part was slightly dry and crumbly (though I've had much worse) and had very little flavor to it. I would not purchase it again unless someone told me they improved the recipe to be much more moist and flavorful.
Since Kelly's post about the cupcake ATM indicated that gluten-free cupcakes were available that way, I checked out the machine outside the store in Atlanta. At least the day we were there, the one gluten-free cupcake option was not listed on the ATM menu. Maybe the gluten-free cupcakes are so popular that they ran out of them in the machine...I don't know. The staff was so busy that I would have had to wait a while to ask them about this so I didn't bother.
It's great that Sprinkles has a gluten-free option and the shop itself is simply darling. I love the concept of the cupcake ATM and I really wish I could say I loved the gluten-free cupcake, too. Hopefully, most gluten-free patrons enjoy them as that could lead to the company choosing to offer other gluten-free flavors.
Thankfully, if I'm in the mood for a sweet treat at Lenox in the future, the macaron kiosk just down the mall has amazing options - all of which are gluten-free!
