Fantasy In Frosting

We are using this location for our wedding for cupcakes because the price cannot be beat ($ 1/​cupcake). We’re picking them up and setting them up, which is why we get such a great deal, but otherwise I found them to be competitive at the $ 3 – 4 per slice/​cupcake with other vendors. To boot, their cupcakes at the Wendy’s Bridal Show were moist, flavorful, and tasty. I have yet to really try more than a bite since they don’t seem to just sell cupcakes out of their shop, but I’ll be sure to update on that front when we taste these treats in September.
My concern with Fantasy in Frosting is that they seem very low tech and maybe a touch out of date. Their website is confusing and leaves a lot to be desired. If I had only found them through that avenue, I would not have contacted them; thankfully, we met in person and they were much more charming. Their brochure is old, like the website, and a bit confusing, but it communicates what it needs to in order to be effective, so it’s practical, if not charming.
They recently remodeled the bulk of the store, but where we had our consultation the room we were in was an 80’s-licious pink. The man we talked to (very nice if über distracted the day we talked to him) said this was the previous color of the entire store. I’m glad we waited the three weeks to have our appointment because pink tends to put me in a foul mood; it seems a necessary update to banish 80’s pink. It’s certainly my bias (and I’m an 80’s child).
I’m happy to be working with this local vendor, but in a market where cupcakes are so trendy, I’m surprised they haven’t stepped up their game a bit. In full disclosure, they have a lot of supplies, classes, and bulk items– almost a warehouse-​like feel to their store– which I don’t suppose has to be hip to be good (why we are using them) but it’s kind of confusing at the same time given their presence in the wedding market place and at shows (sadly, this conveys a certain level of dedication to staying with the times, I think).
Moreover, I have been disappointed with the lack of ability to email documents and interact in ways that are certainly not new– mostly via email. To be clear, they will respond to emails, I’m just thinking they may not have contracts and things of that nature stored electronically. Fine, but off pace with most of my other interactions. It’s this disconnect that I feel the need to point out, not that they are doing ANYthing wrong in their business, it’s just a tad out of date in presentation.
The people who work there are nice enough, the atmosphere in downtown Newport (a place I’m not familiar with generally) is a bit depressed so there isn’t much traffic, but I get the sense they do a lot of cakes, deliveries, and orders; this is what they are good at and what matters in the big picture.
The other piece, atmosphere and being current, is constructive criticism and maybe even encouragement. I think it’s just surprising that in this fast moving, competitive place of wedding planning, that they have still been able to stay so old school. To each their own, and I’m hoping for some good cupcakes!

I always try to support local business, and after picking up and putting down Nordic Ware pans at Target, ordering one online from Macy’s (and cancelling the order because it wouldn’t arrive in time for a birthday deadline), I remembered Fantasy in Frosting, a few blocks from my office. This place seems to be a destination for cake bakers, amateur to professional. I am of the former category, so for me, it’s just great fun to look around for ideas. Today, I ended up with a great birthday gift for my mother, and a severe craving for cake as the smell of lovely cake wafted from the back kitchen… I wasn’t greeted, but then, the clerk (who I found later was the owner) was very busy with a woman who had 2 VERY active toddlers, running amuk in the store with heavily frosted cupcakes… when they left, she seemed to be able to relax and be interested in other customers. She was quite friendly.
Last year, when I decided to make my daughter’s birthday cake, a friend recommended this business. Everything I needed was right here! I didn’t do one of the molded character shaped Wilton cakes, but, if that’s something you were inclined to do, this store has every character you could think of – something for everyone, young and old. I was doing a layer cake, and had something a little more «classic» in mind. On the back right wall, there are about 3 tall sections of plastic container boxes FULL of royal icing flowers, bugs, dogs, cats, birds, soccer balls, butterflies, bows – quite literally, WHATEVER you want to decorate a cake with. I found these gorgeous dark purple and blue violets, in 2 sizes, to decorate the white chocolate cake with, as well as violet colored sanding sugar and gel tint for the icing. Though I’d never done any cake decorating before, I felt like I had the tools I needed with very little effort or cost expended.
They also carry a wide range of candy molds, cupcake wrappers, paper doilies, pedestals, party candles and other themed items to decoate cakes. On my way out, I saw advertised on a bulletin board, their schedule for cake baking/​decorating classes and children’s baking classes as well.

I stopped in this nice little shop the other day to pick up a few treats for my wife’s birthday. What an interesting store. From the outside they have some great examples of wedding cakes, so as I’m coming in, I wasn’t quite sure if this was the kind of store I need to go into.
Once you are inside there is hardly anything prepared. They explained to me their main business is wedding cakes and things are made to order. But lo and behold, true to being a real bakery they still had a few treats that you could buy on the spot. And I thought, Perfect! Some very fancy and tasty looking cupcakes (few varieties), chocolate covered raspberry cake on a stick, and some chocolate covered Oreos. Very nice. And just the sort of thing I was looking for.
Besides having what I wanted, I do want to make mention of a few things about Fantasy in Frosting. Most Importantly (from what I gather), about 98% of what they do seems to be Wedding Cakes AND be a supplier of any sort of baking/​pastry equipment. Once inside the store there is nothing but baking pans, cookie cutters, frosting tips, etc. Basically any equipment a baker could use, they sell. So don’t expect to come in off the street and find display cases of cookies, smaller cakes, desserts, etc. if you want to walk in and walk out something ready made, you better try Busken’s or some other bakery. Their selection like I mentioned above is quite limited, but delicious nonetheless.
Personally I like the place, I even hear they have baking, decorating type of classes. And if you are in the neighborhood, on Monmouth, its worth stopping in there for a look. The people were very friendly.

They had lots of baking supplies, and a pretty good selection of cookie cutters. I found exactly what I came in for, although it did seem a little unorganized at first. The workers didn’t seem especially helpful, and there was a weird smell when I walked in, but it’s close and it has what I needed, so I’ll probably visit again!

What a great bakery!
I’ve been ordering cakes here for about 10 years and am never disappointed. The cakes are always amazing and the icing is tasty. This place caters to a heavier cake… each is about 4 – 5 pounds so if you don’t like «heavy cake» you may want to specify. They do great theme cakes and put a lot of thought and effort into what you want!
I also took a cake decorating course here and even though the course itself wasn’t that expensive the tool kit and the «start up» stuff was… I would recommend Hobby Lobby for the Course 1 Wilton Starter Kit… but save the card boards and doilies for the bakery because they are only .15
The teacher Sue was incredibly sweet and taught so well and I feel like I got a lot out of the class… I’m signed up for the 2^nd round and now that I have all of the initial cost stuff out of the way my costs shouldn’t be much… new icing tips run about, 75 cents!
I definitely recommend the cakes and Sue for teaching!