Bakeries for Cakes & Cookies

Parent Q&A

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  • I'm hosting a morning birthday party for my daughter at a local park and I need some recs!

    • Fruit platter / board - I'm looking for someone who can assemble a huge, beautiful platter of fruit and breakfast-y snacks. While this is something I could totally do myself and would actually enjoy doing, the party starts at 9:30am and I'll likely be too busy setting things up to get this done myself. 
    • Does anyone know of a good local coffee shop that does those cardboard coffee-for-a-crowd boxes with a spout? I know Starbucks does that but I can't drink that stuff. Looking for legit coffee!
    • Custom cookies - Has anyone ever hired someone to make custom cookies? I'd like to buy a bunch to give out as party favors (either soccer balls or superhero themed).

    Thanks in advance!

    • Fruit Platter -- Safeway does this well and it looks pretty. I've used Safeway for platters (fruits, cheese, etc.). Whole Foods and Market Hall do them well but they're more expensive. 
    • Coffee -- Peets (better than Starbucks)
    • Custom cookies -- https://sugarsweetoak.com/ (we used them for custom designed cookies and they were delicious and beautiful.)
    • Another idea -- For morning birthday parties, I've seen people do Noah's bagel (they do bagels, coffee traveler/box, and fruits) and assorted pastries from another place or from Noah's. Their muffins are pretty good.

    If your budget allows, I really like Ann's Catering for breakfast spreads and fruit trays--they have a range of options. For coffee, many local shops that do catering offer this. I like Farley's in Oakland, but call any nearby shop you like and ask if they offer it. If you go for a chain, I personally like Peet's and Philz a lot better than Starbucks. Philz also used to offer reusable containers that you could return afterwards, but not sure if they still do that.

    For the fruit/breakfast platter I’d recommend Julie’s Tea garden in alameda! We had some great catering from there for my baby shower 

    Ann's Catering is the BEST for this, and the food is beautiful and amazing, but their minimums are a bit high. I have also used Julie's Tea Garden in Alameda, which is fantastic and more affordable but with fewer options than Ann's. 

    Cole Coffee on College Ave has the large cardboard containers for to-go orders. 

    Nearly all coffee shops will have the large to go containers. I regularly get these coffee from Highwire. Try to order in advance otherwise you may be waiting.

    Reply now  »
  • Custom Cake - Unique Design

    May 25, 2023

    Our child is an avid baker and requests their dream cake every year as a birthday present / in lieu of a fancy birthday party. Usually, it's a fondant or illusion cake, and we have had great experience with Debbie Does Cake and another baker who is no longer in business. However, this year, the child's cake design idea is very particular -- largely influenced by things they have seen on baking shows. I haven't see the effect that my child wants to see on a cake in real life. I've only seen it on TV. Do you know a creative and talented baker who can work with our child to realize her cake dream for this year? Thank you!

    Check out Kady Rachlin.  Instagram @kadybake.   I've seen some of her specialized birthday cakes for kids and they are out of this world.

    You could try @cakesbykarl on Instagram. He’s based in Vallejo and was a 2x Food Network Baking Champion so can probably do some interesting things, for the right price I’m sure. Hope this helps and that your child enjoys their birthday! 

    I recommend Cakes by Karl located in Vallejo. He actually competed and won a couple of those TV baking shows so perhaps he can construct what you are looking for. His cakes taste pretty good too. Examples of his work can be found on Instagram (@cakesbykarl).

    Hi,
    We ordered a Raspberry Royale as a birthday cake from La Farine on College Ave., and it was lovely even though it wasn't very custom apart from "Happy Birthday" written on it. My giftee ate the cake in 2 days, and asked for a bigger one next year :) They used to do cake customizations but temporarily discontinued them; I hope the option will be back soon. My friend and I also enjoy La Farine's Princess Torte. If you're interested, here's the link:
    http://www.lafarine.com/cakes/
    I'm also partial to Mother McDowell's Bakery,too. 
     

    Hi,
    Before it ended, Ace of Cakes was one of our family's favorite shows on Food Network many years ago. Just now, I realized that the show's host, Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes, has very recently partnered with GoldBerry to offer nationwide shipping for some of his cakes.Here's the link:
    https://duffgoldman.goldbelly.com/
      

  • Has anyone mastered a recipe for the virgina bakery butter cookies? Years after they closed and I'm still having trouble living without them 😭

    Have you tried the rainbow butter cookies at Cupcakin Bakery, which moved into the old Virginia Bakery location? I was also heartbroken that I’d never have VB’s cookies again, but these are pretty close in flavor, if not quite in appearance. And maybe they would have a recipe to share? 

    The new tenant - Cupcakin' - has the recipe for the old magical Virginia Bakery rainbow sprinkle cookies (which are basically just butter cookies with sprinkles, right?) and sell them! 

  • Any recommendations for a bakery that does nice cupcakes that are not too over-the-top unhealthy, close to berkeley?

    Not sure what you mean by “unhealthy” -are you looking for something made without sugar or that are gluten-free or vegan?

    We’ve enjoyed traditional cupcakes from the following places:

    James and the Giant Cupcake (they have some gluten-free and vegan options) https://www.jamesandthegiantcupcake.com/

    Sweet Adeline Bakeshop https://www.sweetadelinebakeshop.com/

    Casa de Chocolates https://casadechocolates.com/

    Cupcakin’ 🤤 

    Cupcakin' Bakeshop https://cupcakinbakeshop.com/. It's a black woman-owned cupcake shop with locations in Berkeley and Oakland. The cupcakes are delicious, well-decorated but not over the top. They sell minis and regular-sized cupcakes. 

    For cupcakes in Berkeley, we like Cupcakin’ (in the old Virginia Bakery location on Shattuck) and James and the Giant Cupcake on San Pablo. As for relative healthiness- well, they’re cupcakes :) I know Cupcakin’ has vegan options, if you’re looking for that. Their carrot cake cupcake is amazing, if you need a vegetable included. :)

    Cupcakin', with locations in North Berkeley, South Berkeley, and Oakland, are incredibly awesome.  Their flavors are way beyond the standard and blow my mind.  I think they are also a Black-owned business and have great customer service, in my experience.

    This new-comer in El Cerrito is well worth the short drive - PennDel's Bakehouse

    https://www.penndelsbakehouse.com/

    I really love Angel Cakes!!

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86241480778

    I messed up my times/dates once, and really needed cupcakes when she was closed - I tried another shop's cakes and was sorely disappointed.  Angel Cakes are the best.

    Angel Cakes is my favorite cupcake shop - soooooo good!

    https://angelcakes510.com/

    Cupcakin make the most wonderful cupcakes.
    New store on Shattuck and Virginia in Berkeley.

    Angel Cakes in Alameda is pretty good, reasonably priced, and they offer vegan and GF cupcakes on top of the regular ones. I love their carrot cake cupcakes. They also deliver.

    Maybe add icing to a muffin? The banana oat bran muffins at Naboloms are great!

  • Is there anywhere in (or near) Berkeley where I can order an ice cream cake...that isn't Baskin Robbins?  Thanks in advance for your help!

    We get one every year for daughter at Ben and Jerry’s in downtown Berkeley. Wonderful!

    Try Loards ice cream! 

    Lexie's frozen custard is amazing. At the moment they are offering frozen custard pies (as well as pints) for delivery. Not sure if they'd do a special order cake, but maybe the pie would work. 

    http://www.lexiesfrozencustard.com/

    Menchie's in Berkeley sells cakes and is open (technically frozen yogurt but still yummy). https://www.menchies.com/cakes

    Ben & Jerry's! You can even order online and design your own. The best!

    https://www.benjerry.com/berkeley/cakes

    We’ve gotten ice cream cakes from Tara’s in the past.

    https://tarasorganic.com/

    The shops are currently closed for COVID but they have a Saturday pick-up option.
     

    Fenton's in Oakland.

  • We are celebrating an anniversary and are saddened with the recent closing of our beloved Katrina Rozelle bakery (our go to for all of our special occasion cakes).  We are looking for recs for an amazing bakery, and we are open to places in SF, East Bay or North Bay. Would love to hear where you all go for cakes! Thanks-

    Casa de Chocolates is our go-to place for chocolate cake (The El Rey cake).

    https://casadechocolates.com/
     

    Batch Pastries in Montclair makes very special and beautiful cakes. Delicious too. I’d say they match the specialness of Katrina Rozelle. And super nice, woman-owned, local. They’ve been doing deliveries during Covid, but now you can also order online for pickup. We are big fans!

    Masse's Pastries in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto has delicious and beautiful cakes - and they can personalize for a special occasion. http://www.massespastries.com/

    Batch Pastries  2220 Mountain Blvd  Oakland  near Montclair Village

    the only cake I will buy  you can customize your order in any way

    Check out Batch Pastries in Montclair (formerly Montclair Bakery but under new ownership). Their cakes, and all of their goods, are great! 

    We are obsessed with cupcakin bakeshop - two locations (berkeley and oakland)!

    Katrina Rozelle made my wedding cake and I was sorry to hear they had closed. However, Masse's Pastries in North Berkeley makes beautiful cakes that are perfect for special occasions and they are so delicious too. You can get them personalized. My favorite is their opera cake. The mango mousse cake is fabulous also, especially in warm weather.  And if you are a chocolate lover it's hard to beat their chocolate ruffle cake! I just looked on their website and they are open for pre-order pickups. http://www.massespastries.com

    Katrina Rozelle was our go-to too! I recommend Cakes by Karl (http://cakesbykarl.com/). Pictures of his cakes can be found on his Facebook page too. He also won the Food Network Halloween Baking Championship last year. His products were on sale at Berkeley Bowl in the bakery section pre-shelter-in-place. If their bakery section is open again (I haven't been recently so I can't verify), his products should hopefully be back in the display case. 

    Fournee, by the Claremont is always a good bet. Everything there tastes better than you’ve ever had (how do they do that?) and the cakes are beautiful too. 

    Masse’s pastries on Shattuck near Sauls is amazing. I don’t know their SIP hours, I do know they are still  baking.

    Sesame Tiny Bakery (Marykate McGoldrick, former pastry chef at Camino) is a genius cake baker - her cakes feature layers of seasonal organic ingredients (such as roasted cherries or pluots -- fresh strawberries or peaches) and they are such LIGHT and fluffy and special, striking cakes. She’s working on opening a storefront at 2969 Shattuck but in the meantime she is available for special orders with a limited seasonal menu, and pickups are at the Kebabery. I have loved getting slices at the Kebabery when she had pop-ups there.

    My all time favorite was a Kabocha squash cake with ginger graham crunch+cream cheese frosting+pepita brittle. That was years ago and I still think about that cake.  

    Website is sesametinybakery.com and click on "events" to see some past cakes and for contact info.

    I second the recommendation for Sesame Bakery. http://sesametinybakery.com/

    Especially wonderful for special occasions!

  • Does anyone have advice on where to purchase an edible photo for a half sheet cake? I am thinking of getting a cake from Costco and adding an edible photo. 
    Thanks.

    Not sure where to buy just an edible photo but I have seen cakes from Red Ribbon Bakery with edible photos. They have locations throughout the Bay Area. 

    Safeway (bakery section in the store) on Shattuck and Rose in Berkeley does.  You supply the photo and they put it on the cake on full or half sheet.  I put in an order and they did the cake with only 3 days notice.  Taste like a sheet cake from Costco (in other words, nothing fancy and super sweet).  I've gone to them two years in a row, and I have been satisfied.  Hope this helps.  

    A few years back we got a photo cake from Lucky’s in El Cerrito. It was well done and yummy too! 

Archived Q&A and Reviews


Questions


Cake for baby shower

Sept 2008

I am hosting a baby shower and looking to get an affordable but not full-of-buttercream-frosting cake to serve to my 25 guests. I'm not too picky about the kind of cake, just something a little different from your average safeway cake. dani


Diandas Bakery at 25th and Mission makes delicious tres leches cakes with whipped cream frosting (not buttercream). If you ask them to limit their decoration to strawberries or some other fruit (as opposed to buttercream flowers) it is a tasty affordable cake. Anonymous


Believe it or not, Costco makes pretty good cakes, and you can have them decorated. You can pick up whatever they have day of, or order in advance. $15 or so for a half-sheet, filled. janet


Cafe for cake on the weekend

April 2008

We're looking for a good cafe to go to in Berkeley for cake on weekend afternoons. The two primary criteria are (1) yummy cake and (2) outdoor seating with nice ambiance. We know about Crixa Cakes (yummy cakes, but expensive, and the outdoor seating doesn't have much ambiance) and Cafe Strada (great ambiance, but difficult parking, and they seem to have downgraded all their cakes to bars). Anyone know of a place that fits the bill? Hungry for cake


I'm looking forward to hearing others' suggestions, but we like Cafe Roma at College and Ashby, which offers both yummy cake and outdoor seating. Cake & Sunshine is a Great Life Philosophy


Oh boy did you ask the right person! Price-wise, Bakesale Betty's has great treats, mostly cookies. Katrina Rozelle on College has lovely cake with a little outdoor seating.

Down the street, Bittersweet has amazing brownies and cinnamon chocolate cake, not too crowded on weekdays. Some of the employees can be way too business-like (c'mon, it's cake!).

On Fourth St., Betty's has amazing lemon bars and fruit cobblers, and Market Hall has really lovely cake with lots of outdoor seating, good for people/dog watching. Oh, I don't eat a lot of cake or anything...


I don't know if the ambiance is nice enough for you, but Masse's has the *best* cakes. The mango mousse is especially delicious. It's on Shattuck near Vine. Parking can be a bit challenging, but not as bad as it is for Cafe Strada. Caaaaake


I highly recommend Masse's on Shattuck & Vine, a couple of stores down from Black Oak Books. They sell large and single-serving cakes as well as tea and coffee. This is one of the best (if not the best) bakery in Berkeley. There is a small number of tables inside and some outside. It's a delightful place for afternoon tea & treat, with or without kids. Parking can be a pain on weekends but, were in Berkeley is it not? Brenda


We just ate some delicious honey rolls and pie at Sweet Adeline's today. Yummy --we live closeby, the neighborhood isn't the greatest our real estate agent forecast is ''positive upside.'' It's simply a delicious bakery & worth the visit. There's a small outdoor spot which is pretty good, no great views (cross street MLK/view of parking LOT), oh yeah tonnes of free parking. They always ask me if I'd like that 'take-out.' Check it out if you're still hungry for CAKE. anon


masses in berkeley - http://www.massespastries.com/ i like cake too


Best chocolate cupcakes?

Oct 2006

where are the best chocolate cupcakes with delightful decorations for a science loving 6 year old boy? Bakery suggestions welcome, or persuade me to use a gorgeous cake.. 20 kids. Elaine


I don't know where you live, but you should try Virginia Bakery. I'm sure they can do great cupcakes; their sheet cakes are incredible. (And the frosting actually tastes really good- not like supermarket yucko). Happy Birthday! Dessert lover


For easy inexpensive uniform cupcakes, and you can do it at the last minute, Neldam's Bakery. I think they were a dollar a cupcake, and you can choose white or dark, and white or dark frosting. More important than the taste or quality of the cupcake is if you can put some sort of little flag or special object on each-- Bakery cupcakes work for me!


We love Love at First Bite or soomething like that..It's in the Vine Street square. At Vine and Walnut St. in N. Berkeley. They have amazing, beautiful, delicious and creative cupcakes..a whole store full! cupcake lover


The yummiest cupcakes I've found are from Teacake Bakeshop: www.teacakebakeshop.com. I like their cupcakies, which are shorter & flatter than traditional cupcakes
Now I'm Salivating


No contest - the very best cupcakes I have ever had in the East Bay come from Braxton Boxes. Moist, flavorful, just the right amount of sweet \x96 no cloying mass-produced treats here. Pam and Ron will work with you to ensure you get the flavor and design you want. They created pink lemonade for my friend\x92s daughter\x92s last birthday. Each cupcake had a little candy ladybug or flower perched on the frosting. When one of the kids at my daughter\x92s preschool moved back to China, they topped each cupcake at her going away party with a piece of chocolate with a character from the Chinese alphabet on it. Their cakes rock too but I am most partial to their cupcakes \x96 the ultimate comfort food! They are a home-based business so can keep their costs competitive with the cupcake bakeries. And Ron and Pam are truly wonderful. If I sound like I\x92m gushing, it\x92s because I am. Contact them at braxtonsboxes[at]sbcglobal.net.
shari


I just read your post and wanted to mention that I have recently seen a cupcake cake that was really neat. It was made up of about 20-30 cupcakes all set upclose to one another with frosting decorating them all as one big picture. Super easy to serve and lots of fun looking. Here's an example I found on the web (not nearly as cute as the one I saw though). Endless possibilities... http://cakefun.blogspot.com/2005/06/have-your-cake-and-your-cupcake-too.html Good luck!
Fellow Mom


I get birthday cupcakes at the Pak N Save in Emeryville, at 40th St. and San Pablo Ave. The store has a big onsite bakery, the cupcakes have gooey frosting, lots of decorations, come in vanilla and chocolate so kids have a choice, and are reasonably priced. They are not gourmet but I think that is wasted on kids. Pak N Save is actually a Safeway store, I guess they call it that because it's bigger than the usual Safeway. rami


Tres leches cake

Feb 2007

Can anyone recommend a good place to get Tres Leches cake? I'd like to be able to buy a slice, and if I like it, then I'll go ahead and order a whole cake. However, I don't know where to go! Thanks! craving tres leches


Try Sugar Bowl Bakery in the 4th St. neighborhood in Berkeley. 524-3906. I don't remember if they sell tres leche by the slice but I got a tres leches cake there last year and it was good! anon


I just bought a slice at Neldam's Danish Bakery - Oakland, on Telegraph at the mid-thirties (cross-street). It was yummy! pregnant & sampling LOTS of sweets ...


Feb 2006

My birthday is coming up in February and I'm trying to give my husband some ideas for bakers. I am in love with tres leches (3 milk) cake that I tasted in Cabo. Does anyone have a good baker that makes cakes? Thanks. loretta


Merritt Bakery in Oakland has a Tres Leches cake. I haven't tasted that particular cake, but I have been happy with other cakes I have purchased there.
Tina


Market Hall in Rockridge makes a Tres Leches cake, and it is available on the catering menu, too. Market Hall Caterers number is 547-4066. Happy birthday!
Dessert Fan


My family loves the tres leches cake at the Cactus Taqueria on College Ave.! You could also try chowhound.com


Someone asked about getting Tres Leches Cake in the East Bay for her birthday. I saw a friend tonight, she owns a bakery in Mexico and lives part of the year here. She told me that The Pasta Shop (Market Hall in Rockridge, or Pasta Shop on 4th Street) recently started making this cake. If you get it, she advises to order it fresh for your party.
Cake Lover


Sugar-free cakes

March 2005

I am trying to prepare for my son's first birthday party as a sugar-free kid. Can any of you recommend a bakery that makes sugar-free cakes? Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Lena


Hi, The Nabolom Bakery on Russell street at College Avenue makes some goodies with maple syrup or sucanat instead of sugar. You might want to make them a special request.


Try Barbara Llewellyn Catering--they did a fructose sweetened chocolate cake for our wedding and it was delicious. http://www.barbarallewellyn.com/


See also: NON or LOW sugar Birthday Cake for 2-y-o


Gourmet, pretty cakes like Masse's

May 2005

Interested in recommendations for Bay area bakeries that do gourmet, pretty cakes like Masse's. Especially interested in a bakery that can do great quality with a large, event cake. Thanks. Cake Connoisseur


Hi, Looking for a beautiful and yummy cake for a big event function. I know about Masse's and Katrina Rozelle and am looking for other recommenations in the Bay area along the lines of the sort of cake that Masse's makes.


Crixa Cakes on Adeline in Berkeley makes wonderful cakes. I have also had good luck with Virginia Bakery in Berkeley for larger sheet cakes. S.


Here's the website for a well-known Sonoma County Baker: http://www.fleurdelisacakes.com/

A friend is using her for a summer wedding and say the cakes taste awesome. They are certainly beautiful. I believe she travels with her cakes. I want cake now!


Sweet Adeline at Adeline and 63rd in Oakland has great cakes. They mostly take orders, but occasionally have some pre-made. I assume that they do event cakes. La Farine: west side of College avenue between Alcatraz and Clairmont also has yummy special cakes. bakery addict


Walnut Creek Baking Company has the very best cakes in the East Bay. I frequently purchase cakes for business luncheons and office functions. The location is very convenient w/ ample parking, the cake deocorators there are superb, the cakes are absolutly delicious and beautiful! I highly recommend Walnut Creek Baking Company! Their phone number is 925.988.9222 and their website is www.walnutcreekbakingcompany.com Carin


Good & affordable cake for a shower

July 2004

I am looking for a recommendation on a good and affordable cake for a shower for 20-40 people in the east bay. I am open to suggestions from Costco to bakeries. Thanks WSP


My extended family agrees that you can't do better than Costco. They sell half sheet cakes (serve about 50) for about $12-14. They are delicious and very pretty, with about a dozen designs to choose from, and they will add writing or customize colors to your specifications. You can either just choose a pre-made one from the case or order in advance. We just used one of their cakes for my son's third birthday, and it was far better than the Toot Sweets cake we paid $40 for the year before. Catherine


I recently had the caramel delight cake from Adronico's. It's a moist chocolate cake with caramel filling and buttercream frosting. If you like chocolate and caramel, it doesn't get much better than this. And the price is decent. Kerry


Boston Cream Pie

June 2004

Hi there, Can anyone recommend a bakery, or grocery store that has a good boston cream pie? thanks, cris


Crixa Bakery on Adeline, near where it hits Shattuck (Berkeley Bowl area). Call to see if available before you go, but all their stuff is great. Ellen I've never tried it, but my favorite bakery, Crixa Cakes, has a beautiful Boston Cream Pie. Their other cakes, which I've had, are absolutely delicious, old-fashioned, simple and uncomplicated. This bakery is on Adeline Street in Berkeley and was just written up in San Francisco magazine. Berkeley cake lover


Cake that dogs can eat

June 2004

I didn't see anything about this on the web site. Does anyone know where I can purchase a cake that dogs can eat? My dog's half-sister is having her 1 year old birthday party.


My sister thought I lost my mind, but I have purchased a birthday cake for my dog. We got it at the Three Dog Bakery. I don't believe there are any in this area, but you can order it online and have it shipped. The dog seemed to enjoy it. www.threedog.com

I don't know if they have any cakes, but there's a store on Chestnut St. in SF called Catnip + Bones. They have really cute and fancy (& expensive) dog treats. Kindof like a fancy pastry shop for dogs. anon


Three Dog Bakery is a great place to purchase a doggie birthday cake. They do not use sugar or any chemicals. All the ingredients are natural. The ''chocolate'' cakes are really not chocolate since chocolate can make a dog sick. The chocolate cakes are really make from carob. Here is their website. http://www.threedog.com/ Click on ''Shop the Dogalong'' and then Click on ''Celebration Cakes''. Joy joy.randel [at] kp.org


I don't have a dog, but I know you can buy a dog *cake* at Bella and Daisys on Union Street in SF (http://www.bellaanddaisys.com) Kim


Check out City Dogs Boutique and Barkery in Pleasant Hill. 925/685-4688 Rachel

 


Spice cake with cream cheese frosting

June 2003

I need to find a bakery in the Oakland area that makes a good spice cake with cream cheese frosting (with no nuts in either). Any suggestions? This is for a special birthday, and he does not like carrot cake as a substitution. Thanks! Ellen


I would recommend Crixa Cakes at 2748 Adeline. Phone # is 510- 548-0421. I believe they make a spice cake and all of their cakes are delicious. Cake Lover


I seem to recall that one of Virginia Bakery's cake options is spice cake and I think they'll do a cream cheese frosting. It's been a while since I got that info., so definitely call them and ask.


The Virginia Bakery (Shattuck and Virginia) makes an applesauce cake that I can only describe as a spice cake. They generally make it with a caramel frosting, but I'd be shocked if they wouldn't make it with cream cheese if you preordered it. They're really nice there -- I'm sure they'd give you a small sample to see if it fits the bill. Tamar