Wrightberry's Cakes & Cupcakes

Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

As part of my ongoing tour of local bakeries in search of the perfect cupcake, I was pretty jazzed to find this cute location in downtown Oregon City. They've been open since October, but somehow flew below my sugar radar.

There is plenty of competition in this area, so I'll break down the positives and negatives:

** Selection - at least eight flavors daily as part of a rotating menu and they have some really interesting choices (Red Velvet, German Chocolate, Boston Cream, Lemon, Apple Spice) in addition to your typical vanilla and chocolate variations.
** Size - most flavors are available as deluxe 'Wrighteous' size cupcakes or minis
** Fillings - All cupcakes contain filling.
** Price - Houston, we have a problem. $3.50 for a cupcake is steep. Minis are $1.50.

Lately I've been getting cupcakes from Sweetest Thing (Newberg and Tualatin) and they can be on the dry side. Wrightberry actually errs on the other side of being too moist. The cupcakes are filled, not with icing (ganache), but instead with various flavors all with the consistency of pudding. Some folks may love this, but I found it a bit much.

All the other elements are there. Adorable shop, great variety, cute packaging and a friendly staff. I just have issues with the price and the over-the-top sweetness and consistency. Muno's is the old school bakery in town and not really my style. I am very happy to have options, especially when they are this cute, but just a taste is enough.

I was really concerned when this cute little shop opened in downtown Oregon City last year. The concern was that the bridge closure in January would effect another local business. Plus, is there really a demand for cupcakes?

After finally breaking down and trying them, I have to say yes there could be a demand for cupcakes. I believe this business continues to thrive for several reasons.

1. The bulk of their business is special occasion cakes. They did the wedding cake for a friend and not only was it exactly as ordered, it was beautifully decorated, delivered, and delicious. You can't beat the 3 D's.

2. Large selection of wonderfully large cupcakes.

3. Both large sized and mini cupcakes are available for purchase depending on your hunger level and pocket change.

Now I have to agree that $3.25 for a cupcake might seem a bit stiff but compared to dessert at almost any sit down restaurant, I can guarantee you are getting more than your money's worth with one of these monsters.

Something happened to this place and it is not the same and not even close to as good. I went in on a Saturday at 2 pm and they were completely out of cupcakes for the day. The man at the counter made me feel dumb for even going in by saying "there's a sign on the door" - which was ridiculous because there were about 50 signs on that door.

When I did manage to get a cupcake, it was not the delicious ones that I had the first time I went in. Bakers have changed and I won't be going back! This makes me sad because they had such an amazing product before.

We popped in here after some delicious Mediterranean fare around the corner at Cypress (review found elsewhere). You know me and my sweet tooth. We got a dozen mini cupcakes for an amount which I do not remember, but seemed reasonable to me. Everything is made fresh. The owners (husband and wife) started at farmers' markets some time ago and progressed on to their own shop. They make (beautiful) wedding cakes as well, so keep them in mind for that. They were very nice and friendly (especially for late(r) on a Friday evening).

They do the whole filled-cupcake thing. My original experience with the filled cupcake was really unpleasant (sorry Cupcake Jones). But this was much more subtle and the fillings were well matched to the cake itself and the frosting.

I would still choose Saint Cupcake over these in a pinch, but since they're 20 miles apart, I don't have to! I can happily eat cupcakes in both places!

Finally got to try Wrightberry's earlier this week.
I got one Lemon cupcake that I split with my hubby. I was slightly disappointed. But i'll give them another chance to wow me. I should have got a chocolate cupcake apparently.
The cake was SUPER moist and almost pound cake like but not heavy at all. That part really wowed me. Although the cake didn't have much flavor. It was cakey and moist and yellow. I'm not sure if it was suppose to have a lemon flavor to it or not. There was a tiny squirt of something yellow under the frosting. No idea what the point of that was. I'm not even sure it even had a flavor? Or maybe it was just for decoration? No idea.
The frosting was lemony and sweet and i would have liked a bit more since the cake didn't have any flavor.

Nice variety of flavors, the regular sized cupcakes are HUGE... way more than we were up for. We tried the raspberry velvet, marionberry , and chocolate/peanut butter mini sizes. Nice flavors, but SO sweet. REALLY REALLY sweet. The minis were plenty and the filling was kind of overkill, but the moistness was great. I'd take any sugar-junkie friend here, but wouldn't make a habit of it for myself.

After hearing so much about the pink boxes, they were out.

I am a woman who loves a really good piece of chocolate cake....yes I'll admit, one of my weaknesses! I really like to eat my chocolate cake with a nice bold glass of red wine! Is that like having your cake and eating it too?!

Winestock wine bar lead me here... They have the biggest, most decadent chocolate cake on their counter at the wine bar. On many occasions my sweetie and I have shared a piece over some great red wine here! Sara told me that Wrightberry's around the corner makes this heavenly chocolate cake. So a few weeks later I wondered down here in the sober hours to see what else they offer.

Walking in you see their display of cupcakes all lined on the counter under glass cake stands. It doesn't smell like sugar in here, you know the overly sweet smell in some bakeries. The owner came out from the back and explained the flavors to me. They have some really cute names like the white velvet with raspberry filling. I asked if it tasted like a red velvet, he says no, his wife came up with that name because their white cake tastes very smooth and velvety. I have to agree, his wife is spot on about their cakes!

The cupcakes are huge I will say. Big enough for 2 people to share! The cake is not dry, very moist and the icing is perfect! Not to sweet, but sweet enough to fill that craving! I did find the cupcake version of that chocolate cake from next door...and yes it was just as good!

I left with a smile on my face and chocolate craving satisfied.....for now anyway!

UPDATE: You can safely ignore user Mykael B.'s "review." Her slanderous attempt to discredit the shop is ridiculously transparent, as she has connections to the short-term, previous owners that damn near ran this place into the ground. I guess every small town needs a good scandal, eh?

The good news is that the shop is back under control of the Wright family, and everything is up and running as it should be. If you avoided this place like I did during the temporary change of ownership, I am happy to report that it's safe to return.

I like cake. Most times I like cupcakes. The problem is I have not found any that I care for that much.

Yes I have been to all of the Portland cupcake places and they are good but not great and I have even drove to Newberg and once again good but not great. So now after 3 trips to Oregon City to Wrightberrys, Yep it's good cake. They are big and moist and have a good frosting. The problem being I have to drive all the way to Oregon City to get them and then with the hours they are open it has to be on Saturday or no day.

So it looks like I will be going to Wrightberrys for myself and that St Cupcake joint for the wife (only because she loves cream cheese frosting and Wrightberrys only has it on the Red Velvet which I have not seen yet.) otherwise she also like the cake better at Wrightberrys.

Make the trip you will be glad you did...

Old owners took over the business. They remodeled the bakery creating warm and inviting atmosphere. The mini cupcakes have dramatically improved. Try it out.