Heart Cupcakes, a new concept bar in Access City near Maboneng allows you to build your own cupcake. Mokgadi Itsweng takes her son to test drive the experience.

A red velvet cupcake at Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng. Photo courtesy of Mokgadi Itsweng.

The concept centres around creating your own cupcake in four easy steps. First you choose your cupcake base from four flavours: chocolate, red velvet, vanilla and savoury. Next you select the filling, either chocolate mousse or caramel, and then you choose your frosting from the three options: chocolate, vanilla butter cream or cream cheese. The final step is deciding on your toppings, anything from crushed Oreos to silver balls and multi-coloured sprinkles. Owner Ntombi Chonco is a home baker who also makes special occasion cakes to order.

The kiddies play area at Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng. Photo courtesy of Mokgadi Itsweng.

Food

I tried the red velvet option; my son tried the chocolate. The quality of the red velvet cake was good and moist, and the caramel filling in my son’s cupcake turned out to be Caramel Treat from the can (which is admittedly always pretty great). The toppings could be more inventive – the current selection is limited to old faithfuls like hundreds-and-thousands and silver balls. The savoury option, parmesan and basil, was a little dry.

Two different varieties of cupcakes at Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng. Photo courtesy of Mokgadi Itsweng.

Drinks

Drinks on offer range from the usual soft drinks to coffee, homemade iced teas and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices served in mason jars.

Vegetable juices served in mason jars at Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng. Photo courtesy of Mokgadi Itsweng.

Service

The whole cupcake construction process is done by a waitress behind the counter, which makes it a little impersonal – and disappointing, if you were hoping to create your own masterpiece. The service is efficient, though. Cupcake bases are pre-made, making the filling and topping process pretty quick and easy.

Ambience

Décor is quirky and playful, with a few corners in the store dedicated to kids. The cupcakes are served on colourful wooden boards and the drinks in mason jars – a nice touch.

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Have you been to Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng? Let us know what you thought of the cupcakes and the setting by writing a review.

The counter at Heart Cupcakes in Maboneng. Photo courtesy of Mokgadi Itsweng.