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Jul 2011  |  By Liz Logan  |  Comments

Fresh: Cupcake Wars

The cupcake craze just got crazy in Highland Park, where two new bakeries are churning out creative flavor combos across the street from each other.

Marla’s Sweet Bites, owned by Marla Levitt, offers three sizes, some stuffed with two fillings, and all topped with meringue-like Italian buttercream. The shop has a whimsical feel, with walls and tables painted by Liz Chazen of Mundelein. Turtle’s Cupcakes, owned by Barrington native Stacie Foster, has little-to-no ambiance, but offers kid-friendly, standard-sized cupcakes with more traditional, buttery frosting.

Marla’s Sweet Bites
478 Central Ave., Highland Park
847-432-4440

Turtle’s Cupcakes
469 Central Ave., Highland Park
847-748-8627

Lead photo: Marla Levitt of Marla's Sweet Bites, courtesy of Marla Levitt

Second photo: Stacie Foster of Turtle's Cupcakes, photo by Donte Tatum