Is the cupcake bubble finally about to pop? It looks that way. This morning Crumbs Bake Shop, a major player in the cupcake craze, closed its doors nationwide for good. My heart goes out to the many displaced workers of this infamous New York based cupcake pusher. Stores have been slowly dying for months. Last January, our neighborhood Crumbs in Oak Park closed permanently. Honestly, it hasn’t been missed.

The Problem with Crumbs Bake Shop

Crumbs of 2014 is only a shadow of the original Manhattan storefront established in 2003. Once famous for fresh ingredients, pride in preparation, and inventive flavors, Crumbs has long deteriorated into a bakery only by name with cupcakes being produced off-location and trucked in every now and then to its many stores nationwide. Today, it’s basically a Dunkin Donuts of the cupcake variety. No fresh baked smell and a bland taste, the cup lost its cake with dry and crumb-ly assortments.

Where to get Your Sugar Fix Now?

If you live in Chicago and were an avid fan of Crumbs, my first question to you is “why”? Were you nursing a habit lingering from a time when they actually made a decent cupcake? What was there to love about Crumbs? No, really. I want to know. Leave a comment below if you’re Team Crumbly.

Whatever the case, why not give a real bakery a try. Here are my top 3 pics for cupcakes in Chicago.

1. Molly’s Cupcakes, 2536 N Clark Street, Chicago Illinois 60614

So many reasons to love Molly’s but let’s try to narrow it down to two: 1) Cupcakes are made from scratch in small batches on a daily basis, 2) Stuff your face knowing a portion of the profits are donated to schools in the community.

2. Magnolia Bakery, 108 N State St #128, Chicago, IL 60602

Another gift from New York City, Magnolia’s flavors are inventive and perfectly executed. Try the P&J or Blueberry Lemon!

3. Sugar Fixé Pâtisserie, 119 N Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

In Downtown Oak Park, Cindy makes fresh baked goods on a daily basis with her friendly Sugar Fixé team. Come if you’re not sure cupcakes are the only thing you’re craving. They also make amazing French macarons.