Wow. Wow. A cupcake bakery in Sofia.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Take a Cake: the cupcake bakery"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Take a Cake: the cupcake bakery" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6222874159/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6222874159_67601b0857_b.jpg" alt="Take a Cake: the cupcake bakery" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I heard a rumor about a cupcake place opening in Sofia a while back. I never followed up on it. Then sometime last week, I thought: I've got to find this bakery.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Pumpkin cupcake"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Pumpkin cupcake" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6223433388/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6223433388_1521a0177b_b.jpg" alt="Pumpkin cupcake" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

So I did what I always do, I posted an inquiry on twitter and later that day I'd been directed to the website of <a href="http://take-a-cake-bakery.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Take a Cake</a>.  And about the same time I found a piece on <a href="http://www.spottedbylocals.com/sofia/take-a-cake/" target="_blank">Spotted by Locals about the bakery</a> as well. <em>Thanks friends! </em>

Take a Cake is a tiny but super cute bakery specializing in cupcakes.

<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Cupcake inspired wall art" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6223404350/"><img class="alignnone" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6223404350_db2c441929_b.jpg" alt="Cupcake inspired wall art" width="1024" height="683" /></a> They aren't so easy to find but totally worth it. We wandered around the neighborhood for a bit. In my mind, these things happen when streets aren't well labeled and dots aren't well placed on google maps.  Luckily I stopped a couple of people for directions and the guy at Costa Coffee on Sheynovo knew where the bakery is.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Me enjoying cupcakes"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Me enjoying cupcakes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6222920745/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6222920745_07ee9c723d_b.jpg" alt="Me enjoying cupcakes" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

The street address is: Tulovo 1. It's one of the little streets behind Sofia University--a street that appears to be one block long. Here's the best way to find the shop. From the University metro take the Russian monument exit and the underpass to the street San Stefano and at the five way intersection take the street on your right. The shop is halfway down the block on the left hand side of the street.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Row after row of cupcakes"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Row after row of cupcakes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6222877561/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6222877561_933e77f44d_b.jpg" alt="Row after row of cupcakes" width="1024" height="683" /></a>[/caption]

The cupcakes are beautifully decorated and the shop is immaculate. Today there were probably 12 different cupcakes to pick from.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Ball jar lighting"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Ball jar lighting" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6223400506/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6223400506_c06ded0b39_b.jpg" alt="Ball jar lighting" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I started with the pumpkin spice cupcake and an Americano (which was pretty great) and ended the adventure with a coffee cupcake. Yep. For those of you who are counting, I ate two cupcakes. These things are allowed (and encouraged) when you know you're going to be writing a blog-review <em>or</em> when you like cupcakes as much as I do.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Rows of cupcakes"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Rows of cupcakes" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6223418670/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6223418670_1055c266cf_b.jpg" alt="Rows of cupcakes" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Both cupcakes were tasty but given the change in weather and seasons, I think that the pumpkin spice cupcake was my favorite. It was moist, pumpkin-y and a little sweet.

Here's the thing, these are not exactly the cupcakes I know and love from my childhood. The cupcakes I tried today are much more reminiscent of a muffin rather than the smooth, fine crumb of cupcakes in the States. They were still tasty but not what I think of as a cupcake. These were something more like sweet muffins with frosting.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Vanilla cupcake and strawberry frosting"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Vanilla cupcake and strawberry frosting" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6223430904/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6223430904_cc78ba4daa_b.jpg" alt="Vanilla cupcake and strawberry frosting" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Was this a problem for me? Not really. I've come to understand that nothing will be exactly as I expect it in Bulgaria.

Did I like the cupcakes? Oh, yes.

Will I go back? Of course.

Am I complaining? Not really. I just thought you should know. Tasty. Just not exactly traditional cupcakes.