They're small. Cute. Only $1.50 each (or two for $2.50) at a place known for $4 drinks and snacks. But should you waste your cash trying Starbucks' new Cake Pops, the chain's new cupcake-on-a-stick concept? We'll make it easy for you: if the idea of a big ball of sugar that tastes vaguely of cake sounds fun, sure. Otherwise, pass.
The three flavors on offer are Birthday Cake (the pink one), Tiramisu (the classy-looking tan one), and Rocky Road (the chocolate one with mini marshmellows and nuts). Each one looks neat, but they all taste a lot alike: like not-quite-finished, sorta chewy, sorta gooey cake batter inside a sweet, thin ball of sugary frosting.
Though the Birthday Cake version is like any sweet single bite of mediocre yellow cake you've ever eaten, and the Rocky Road one is that, but chocolate with a little texture diversity tossed in, the Tiramisu one almost rises above the others. There's just a little actual coffee flavor there, and maybe a little amaretto hiding under all that sugar. Maybe. When we were done sharing the three of these, which Starbucks is pitching under its "Petites" menu, we weren't exactly racing to have them again.
But we liked the idea of smaller desserts: portion control is admirable. We'd just rather do it at Spot Coffee, which makes better-tasting drinks. And doesn't sell a bite or two of so-so cake for half the price of a whole piece.
