Tammy Facey has been out stuffing herself – all as part of a calorie controlled diet!
Ever met a baker who is as passionate about their cakes as you are about breathing? Meet Emma Brown the superwoman with the flair of a natural baker; Emma is a breath of fresh air and here are the unbelievably good Mai-Belles Cupcakes.
Take the plunge; Follow your heart –Never give up.”
Emma can be described in one word: entrepreneurial. Inspired by everything, but mostly her children – the driven, funny, insatiable Mai-Belles owner has a thirst for all things new; to paraphrase the bubbly baker “Try every avenue because you’ll always be curious.”
After tapping into what comes naturally Emma converted her garage into her work kitchen and after only eighteenth months Mai-Belles Cupcakes is quietly, and comfortably, taking the baking world by storm.
Now you may wonder ‘why?’ The cupcake scene is kind of ‘done’; Britain had an affair with it for a few years, but it’s been and gone right? Wrong! Mai-Belles Cupcakes are better than the average, not merely because of the delicious toppings …
They are constantly improving, experimenting, and creating cakes for the customer – vegan, kosher, lactose free – Emma happily bakes for dietary requirements: a challenge is fun.
The cupcakes:
Lemon: My God the lemon was incredibly fresh, with a jam-like lemon curd in the middle, topped with a crunchy, perfectly chewy meringue. The bright yellow frosting doesn’t disappoint either – a smooth lemony flavoured buttercream was the icing on the cake – pun intended
Cherry: With a distinct cherry flavour this cherry cupcake, filled with a light cherry jam and topped with a cherry a top and pink cherry frosting, was a cherry lover’s dream: Perfect sponge with a cherry after taste.
Chocolate fudge: Chocolate fudge, nothing tempts me more – and to have this in a dinky cupcake, ooh I was on cloud nine. Not only does this cupcake have a big chunk of fudge sitting on top of the frosting, but inside you’ll find caramel in the middle of the sponge. Mai-Belles are big and clever.
Rocky road: mini pink and white marshmallows, chocolate crunchy balls drizzled with milk chocolate atop a chocolate frosting rocky rocket was an amalgam of different chocolate textures mixed with honeycomb, and of course the lovely sponge. Yum.
Vanilla: Vanilla is generally underestimated and considered boring, but not Mai-Belles cupcakes! The simplicity of sponge topped with a creamy vanilla frosting is just what you need of an afternoon with a cuppa. Mai-Belles make ‘plain’ vanilla into something more special; Classic Vanilla Sprinkle has cream rose-shaped frosting, pink, lilac and cream sprinkles, and an edible pink butterfly made out of icing! Perfect if you just want the one – I’d also go for this one: indulgent, beautiful, perfect. You can’t beat it.
Cookie monster: Arguably my favourite not least because of the comedy value; Cookie Monster with a fresh chocolate chip cookie stuffed in its ‘mouth’ is scrum-diddly! The blue frosting is as moreish as the others, but it is pricked slightly to resemble Sesame Street’s cookie monster character, and has edible eyes made out of icing. Brilliant.
Mai-Belles are relatively cheap too. In Birmingham city centre single cupcakes start from £3.00, Mai-Belles start from £1.50, so you’ve already made a saving. These purse friendly treats are ideal for celebrations – they frequently produce giant cupcakes for weddings, children’s and adult parties and companies that want to treat their work colleagues. Even if you’re not celebrating – if you just want a little cupcake for yourself, or your family Mai-Belles are the place to go.
With Valentine’s Day and Easter fast approaching why not give Mai-Belle’s a call, and see if you can return home with a frosting-free face and the cupcake(s) still in the box.
You can contact Mai-Belles via their website here.
WOW WOW WOW THANK YOU Tammy for writing such a fantastic review 🙂 I very much enjoyed our interview and how relaxed and at ease you made me feel 🙂 xx
so so true mai belles cakes are amazing such a tallented lady emma is
Just searched this company as was interested in possibly making an order, and it doesnt appear “Mai-Belles” or “Emma Brown” has even registered with the relevant authorities to trade from home as food premises. Its not on the Birmingham City Council register for food premises, and has therefore not even been inspcted or been graded a hygiene rating. Beware when buying from home bakers, who have not registered themselves correctly!
Mai-belles is registered its home based in Halesowen which is Dudley council not Birmingham
Just searched dudley council too and no record? Please share link?
Hi Lisa
I Will happily email over a photo of our latest Food hygiene certificate which was issued by Dudley Metroplitan Borough Council ?
If I could upload a photo on here I would
A copy of this certificate can also be found on our Facebook page
http://ratings.food.gov.uk/enhanced-search/en-GB/mai-belles/%5E/alpha/0/%5E/%5E/1/1/10
Hi Lisa Sadens me to read such a negative and incorect comment. I would have gladly confirm if you had contacted me directly that infact we are registered with Dudley City Council being based in Halesowen and we achieved the HIGHEST food hygiene rating level 5 🙂 Glad to have cleared up this incorrect misunderstanding and wish you all the best in locating a birmingham based home baker
Emma Brown – Mai-Belles Cupcakes
Mai-Belles Cupcakes is registered with Dudley city council, we achieved the HIGHEST food Hygiene rating of 5 🙂
Hi Lisa Sadens me to read such a negative and incorect comment. I would have gladly confirm if you had contacted me directly that infact we are registered with Dudley City Council being based in Halesowen and we achieved the HIGHEST food hygiene rating level 5 Glad to have cleared up this incorrect misunderstanding and wish you all the best in locating a birmingham based home baker
Emma Brown – Mai-Belles Cupcakes
As we are a low risk food outlet being cupcakes we do ney get inspected as much as other outlets 🙂 our certificate is in date and a phone call to the food hygency agency can confirm this 🙂 We achieve a level 5 which is the highest score 🙂 x
Highly recommend Mai Belles, have been a returning customer for over 12 months. My wife and children love these cupcakes they are so fresh moist and moreishly good well done on the review spot on
Scrummy Maibelles… highly recommend.
Well done Em xxx
Fabulous review, well deserved, your cakes are SIMPLY THE BEST… xx
Love Love Love, Mai-belles cupcakes ,I have had them many many times, I have never tasted cakes so fresh, so tasty. highly recommended.
Best cupcakes i have ever tasted, Honey & Almond, are my fav,also Lemon ,and the chocolate fudge, I Lv them all, Looking forward to my box of 6 for Valentines, God help Hubby if he has forgot to place order!!! LOL,… Highly recommended, x
Awww Thank you for such lovely comments and taking the time to read our Fab Review 🙂 x
Fabulous cakes i regularly order them for birthdays, and other occasions you really can’t beat them for taste and each cake is a unique work of art!
THANK YOU x
Have bought several Mai-Belles cupcakes for special occassions and they have been fantastic. The designs are so unique and original and have always impressed family and friends. I highly recommend these delicious cupcakes and wish Emma every success in the future.
Thank you for suck lovely comments x
I have had cakes from Mai-belles on a number of occassions and everytime they have been better then the last !
always fresh and well presented, taste lovely and you do such beautiful designs .
Ill definately use you again and recommend you to my friends x
Thank You for such lovely comments xx
http://ratings.food.gov.uk/enhanced-search/en-GB/mai-belles/%5E/alpha/0/%5E/%5E/1/1/10
I believe this should clear things up. You don’t look on the council sites. You need to look at the food hygiene website itself 🙂
xx
Mai-Belles cupcakes are the best I have tasted and I refuse to go elsewhere. Presentation and professionalism in every way. Mai-Belles cupcakes are made with love that is why they are so successful. Emma and her team are amazing.
Keep up the good work.