I lost count.

I celebrated my 22nd birthday with a coffee and chocolate “tea” party. The theme of twenty-three was s’Mores and Karaoke. This is The Year of The Cupcake.

I have eaten cupcakes from three different Manhattan bakeries in the last twenty-four hours. Cupcake count unknown. I lost track during the sugar blackout I suffered this afternoon.

I got started last night with a S’mores Cupcake from Crumbs Bakeshop, a surprise from Rachel. A very large, luscious surprise. This confection was as sloppy as a real s’more dressed up as a fancy gourmet cupcake. In less time than it would take for me to set a marshmallow aflame over a campfire, I was covered up to my wrists in milk chocolate frosting. I had mini marshmallows stuck to the tips of my fingers. I had my elbows in fluffy crumbs. And when I finally got halfway through the plush cupcake, I discovered a silky marshmallow bubble hidden in the center. Forget the glass of Six Point Sweet Action; I was drunk on glucose.

Crumbs Bakery get points for the enormous portion, frosting that tastes like whipped up cotton candy, and a menu of extravagant flavors.

Next, Caitlin delivered another surprise: cupcakes for the crowd from Magnolia Bakery. Chocolate and vanilla cake with chocolate and vanilla frosting, respectively. And the vanilla frosting was dyed a lacy light purple—my favorite! Magnolia cupcakes are firm and light, but that swirl of frosting is what’s really special. The texture is sort of crisp around the edge, like a fine shell. Your teeth sink through it like a frosting biscuit with a delicious, fudge center. The chocolate flavor is light and refined, but it has this tangy intensity to it, too. So good.

Magnolia Bakery gets points for pristine presentation, stylish simplicity, and harmonius flavor.

Leftover Magnolia cupcakes came in to work with me this morning. They were gone by lunch—when a box of cupcakes from Billy’s Bakery appeared. These had soft, whipped frosting in a handful of girly colors. Frosting was applied generously and spotted with rainbow polka dot sprinkles. The cake was perfect. I could smell the freshly baked ingredients as I peeled the waxy tissue liner away from the moist pillow of cake. Um. Yum.

Billy’s Bakery gets points for home style appearance and their nostalgic, straight-from-the-oven taste.

I’m so far beyond the sugar capacity in my blood stream. I think my heart has actually been replaced by a cupcake, and now its pumping frosting through my veins. I’m going to have a cupcake attack before my actual birthday! I think I need mouth to mouth.