Brown Betty Dessert Boutique, gaining popularity and publicity since a September 2007 feature in O magazine, offers a wide variety of pastries and baked goods including cookies, cakes and their innovative cupcakes. Their most popular item, the Brown Betty cupcake ($3), ranges in flavors from simple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting to a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
The cupcake menu, which changes daily, offers both everyday and seasonal selections. Most cakes are named after women in the owner’s family. Try the “Hattie Don’t Play” (pineapple pound cake with cream cheese frosting) or “Sallie’s Sourcream” (vanilla pound cake with vanilla frosting). The cake is moist and dense, so one is plenty. This weekend, the bakery is offering Valentine-themed cupcakes. In summer months, they sell a fruit-filled version. A deliciously prepared cupcake with lemon or raspberry filling could certainly top off a date, assuage a breakup or make up for that failed midterm.
The main bakery has ample seating, creative décor and plenty of baked goods. The owners also run a more conveniently-located satellite bakery, Brown Betty Petite (20th S. 20th St.) near Rittenhouse Square. Petite exclusively sells their decadent cupcakes (take-out only) Tuesday through Saturday.
Brown Betty Dessert Boutique 1000 N. 2nd St. and 269 S. 20th St. brownbettydesserts.com
