Cupcake bakery, Sprinkles, opens its first East Bay location next week

What took so long, Sprinkles?

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the legendary Los Angeles-based baker of cupcakes, cookies and much more is finally bringing its sweet treats to the East Bay. Sprinkles debuts Feb. 4 at City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite 1612, San Ramon. This is only the second Sprinkles location in the Bay Area. The first is located in Palo Alto.

The San Ramon bake shop will also offer coffee, a first for Sprinkles, as well as seating inside and an on-demand cupcake “ATM.”

Sprinkles’ menu has evolved since Candance and Charles Nelson opened one of the world’s first cupcake-only bakeries in a 600-square-foot shop in Beverly Hills. There are now 20-plus cupcakes on the menu, which ships nationwide and features everything from a Carrot Cake cupcake studded with walnuts to a Vegan Red Velvet cupcake. They also have cookies — hello, Salted Oatmeal Cornflake — plus chocolate bars and layer cakes.

There are also limited series cupcakes, including a line of astrology-inspired cupcakes beginning with Aquarius, whose miso caramel-filled cupcake will surely steer the stars. And it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a few red-or-pink frosting-topped cupcakes. At least one — we’re hoping the Raspberry Chocolate Chip with Belgian dark chocolate and raspberry frosting — will be part of the limited opening menu.