If you’ve ever been lucky enough to have a Nonna who greeted you with dessert before dinner, you’ll understand the heart behind Mangia Baby™ Cupcakes. Created by local mom and baker Gina Cicatelli, Mangia Baby brings treasured recipes from her Italian-American family straight to our sweet corner of Annapolis, one decadent cupcake at a time.
Gina’s specialty, The Original Cannoli Cupcake™, is pure genius. Imagine the crispy-creamy magic of a cannoli reimagined as a soft, fluffy cupcake with all that rich frosting you secretly wish the regular cannoli had more of. It’s indulgent, elegant, and absolutely unforgettable.
Our tasting lineup felt like dessert after a big Sunday dinner with family. The tiramisu cupcake layered with espresso and its smooth, cloud-like frosting was a standout, as was the toasted coconut cupcake that had a light, fluffy sponge with the perfect hint of coconut flavor. We also tried the chocolate mascarpone whip cupcake which was decadent, smooth, and deeply chocolatey for all of our chocoholics.
Then came Gina’s BabyCakes which were small trays of joy as beautiful as they are delicious. The Torta Nua (Boston Cream Pie) was comfort in a spoon, with a cool, creamy filling and smooth chocolate frosting. The Strawberry Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake had a perfect blend of the strawberry sweetness and lemon tang that felt like summer in every bite.
We also tried the Chocolate Cannoli and Tiramisu BabyCakes, each one capturing the essence of Italian comfort: creamy, cocoa-flavored, and just the right amount of decadent. Each BabyCake arrived in colorful patterned tins with golden rims, topped with silky swirls of frosting that made them almost too pretty to eat.
We also sampled an assortment of mini cupcakes, each as delightful as their full-sized counterparts. The tiramisu chocolate, spumoni (a festive mix of chocolate, pistachio, and cherry), toasted almond, and lemon ricotta cheesecake with vanilla custard were tiny bites of perfection and proof that you don’t need a big portion to get big flavor. Perfect for sharing, gifting, or sneaking one for yourself when no one’s looking.
And can we talk presentation? Every treat was packaged with love and flair. Gift bags tied with bright ribbons and tissue paper made the whole spread feel like a celebration before we even took a bite. Che bello!
Bottom line: Gina bakes using family recipes passed down through generations, proof that some traditions are just too sweet to keep secret. Our favorites? The Torta Nua (Boston Cream Pie) BabyCake, the Strawberry Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake BabyCake, and the tiramisu cupcakes. And of course, we can’t forget those incredible cannoli cupcakes that started it all.
So go ahead, channel your inner Italian, and Mangia, Baby! You can pick up your order in Eastport (with free parking!) or have it delivered locally around Annapolis. Gina also creates custom and large wholesale orders, with gluten-free options available. Grazie, Mangia Baby, for sharing your family’s sweetness with us!
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