What is your favorite bakery item or sweet treat? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I don’t know about you, but I need a regular sugar fix. I don’t seek out sugar often, but when I do, I need it to be uber-delicious, decadent and heavenly all at once, while also squashing my cravings. In my search for the most satisfying desserts available in my area, I wondered: “Where are the Black bakers whipping up the desserts of my childhood? I craved bread pudding, cobbler, sweet potato pie, lemon pound cake, beignets and brownies. And what about those birthday cakes with thick buttercream icing and strawberry filling? Yum. Or maybe you’re vegan or have a gluten allergy but still want a sweet treat made with love.
So I went on the hunt, and here’s a list of what I found. Check out our list of Black bakers and black-owned bakeries near you to get your fix. There’s something here for everyone.
SOUTHEAST
B. Sweet Bistro and Bakery
Location: New Orleans, LA
Owner: Cake designer, Brittney Walker
Specialties: Sweet potato and bananas foster beignets, specialty cakes and a full bistro menu
Must Try: Beignets - sweet potato, bananas foster, berry bliss or savory beignets - seafood or cheesesteak stuffed
Seating: yes
Shipping: No. Not currently
Website: bsweetorelse.com
Keisha’s Cakes
Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Owner: Netflix “Sugar Rush” contestant, Keisha Gaines
Specialty: Extravagant, custom-crafted special occasion cakes and cupcakes that are works of art. She also has cake decorating classes.
Must Try: Cake Jars (taste Keisha’s popular flavors in small cake jar portions, including vanilla, almond, chocolate, red velvet and carrot cake)
Seating: No
Shipping: No
Website: keishacakes.com
TC Bakery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Owner: Baker, Jennifer Young
Specialty: Traditional layer cakes, bundt cakes and cupcakes
Must Try: Old-fashioned bundt cakes
Website: tcbakery.com
Seating: No
Shipping: No
Swank Desserts
Location: Summerville, SC
Owner: “Best Thing I Ever Ate” star, Danetra Richardson
Specialty: Cookies, cakes and brownies
Must Try: Brownies in dark chocolate, Nutella and salted caramel
fudge flavors
Seating: Yes. Limited
Shipping: Local delivery
Website: Swankdesserts.com
Pastry Addict
Location: Atlanta, GA
Owner: Celebrity cake-designer, Daneisha Simon
Specialty: Luxury, unique special occasion cakes, cupcakes, mini desserts and cakesicles for events
Must Try: Cakesicles
Seating: No
Shipping: No. Local delivery.
Website: pastryaddictco.com
Indulge Cupcakes
Location: Atlanta, GA
Owner: Best friends Patti Williamson and Sherita Kimpson
Specialty: Custom cupcakes and special occasion cakes
Must Try: Red Velvet or Salted Caramel Cupcakes
Seating: No. Drive-thru pick-up available
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: endulgecupcakes.com
The Avenue Bakery
Location: Baltimore, MD
Owner: retired UPS manager, James “Jim” Hamlin
Specialty: Rolls, cinnamon buns, croissants, bread pudding, cobblers, lemon pound cake
Must Try: Pappy’s Dinner Rolls
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No
Website: theavenuebakery.com
SOUTHWEST
Southern Roots Vegan Bakery
Location: San Antonio, TX
Owner: Husband and wife team, Marcus and Cara Pitts
Specialty: Vegan, nut and soy-free cookies, doughnuts, and pies
Must Try: Red Velvet Cake Donut
Seating: No
Shipping: Yes. Nationwide shipping and local delivery
Website: Southernrootsvegan.com
Ms. Myrtle’s Bakery Shoppe
Location: Houston, TX
Owner: Family-run since the passing of matriarch, Myrtle Zachary Jackson
Specialty: Custom cakes for special occasions, sweet potato pie, pound cake, peach cobbler
Must Try: beautifully designed custom special occasions cakes
Seating: Yes
Shipping: Local delivery. Nationwide shipping coming soon.
Website: Msmyrtlesbakery.com
The Cookie Society
Location: Frisco, TX, and other locations
Owner: Husband and wife team, Jeff and Marissa Allen
Specialty: Gourmet cookies and cookie cakes
Must Try: Banana Pudding Cookie
Seating: Minimal
Shipping: No. Local pick up and delivery
Website: cookiesociety.com
Kessler Baking Studio
Location: Dallas, TX.
Owner: Clyde Greenhouse, 2020 James Beard Nominee for Outstanding Baker, also known as the #BowTieBaker
Specialty: Large cookies, shortbreads, brownies, specialty treats, packaged nuts, confectionsand special-ordered cakes
Must Try: Unicorn Bait cookies, vanilla sugar cookies, chocolate hip cookies
Seating: Yes. Very limited
Shipping: Yes
Website: kesslerbakingstudio.com
WEST
Patty’s Cakes, Cobblers and Fried Chicken
Location: Lakewood, CA
Owner: Southern cuisine expert, Patty Murray
Specially: Cobblers, cakes and fried chicken
Must Try: Strawberry Crunch Cake
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: instagram.com/pattyscakesandchicken
Crustees
Location: View Park/Windsor Hills, CA
Owner: co-owners Steve, Sharon, and Carl Washington
Specialty: Cobblers, pies and pot pies, banana pudding
Must Try: Chicken Pot Pie
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: crusteeseatery.com
Sweet Potato Pie Company
Location: Modesto, CA
Owner: Modesto community advocate, Catrice Prince Claxton
Specialty: Pies, tarts, cheesecake, cakes, and cookies
Must Try: Sweet Potato Pie
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: thesweetpotatopieco.com
Maya’s Cookies
Location: San Diego, CA
Owner: Plant-based cook, Maya Madison
Specialty: Vegan cookies
Must Try: Everything Cookie
Seating: Very Limited
Shipping: Yes. Nationwide shipping
Website: mayascookies.com
NORTHWEST
Yvonne’s Southern Sweets
Location: San Francisco, CA
Owner: Yvonne Hines, inspired by her grandmother’s recipes
Specialty: Pralines, cookies, bread pudding, cakes and pies
Must Try: Pecan Pralines
Seating: No. Very small take-out shop
Shipping: No
Website: yvonnessouthernsweets.com
MIDWEST
Brown Sugar Bakery
Location: Chicago, IL
Owner: founder and chef, Stephanie Hart
Specialty: Southern-style desserts, cheesecake, lemon cake, red velvet
cakes and cupcakes
Must Try: Signature Caramel Cake
Seating: Yes. Limited
Shipping: Yes. Nationwide.
Website: brownsugarbakerychicago.com
Lutunji’s Palate Bakery and Cafe
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Owner: Minneapolis activist and former inmate, Lutunji Abram
Specialty: Gourmet and specialty cakes, cookies, breads and cobblers, including gluten-free and vegan options
Must Try: Peach Cobbler
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: Lutunjispalate.com
Rebecca’s Bakery & Cafe
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Owner: Ethiopian baker, Assegedech “Asse” Kidane
Specialty: Authentic Italian cakes, cookies, Zeppole, Bomboloni, Ricotta, crostata, baklava, and more
Must Try: Tiramisu
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No
Website: RebeccasBakery.com
Sweet Potato Sensations
Location: Detroit, MI
Owners: Married couple Jeffery and Cassandra Thomas
Specialty: Sweet potato pie, sweet potato cheesecake, sweet potato cookies, Belgian sweet potato waffle with chicken, as well as a menu of savory hot food
Must Try: Sweet Potato Cookies
Seating: Yes
Shipping: Yes
Website: sweetpotatosensations.com
Estella’s Vegan Cuisine & Desserts
Location: Detroit, MI (Only open Spring to Fall)
Owner: Chef Chantele Jones, author of “Our Vegan Family Favorites”
Specialty: Vegan cakes, cookies, muffins, as well as salads and sandwiches
Must Try: Vegan Pound Cake
Seating: No
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: estellascuisine.com
NORTHEAST
Sweet Life Bake Shop
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Owner: Husband and wife team, Megan and Antonio Kennedy
Specialty: Banana pudding and other flavors of pudding. sweet potato cupcakes, peach cobbler, pineapple upside-down cake
Must Try: Banana Pudding
Seating: Yes. Very limited
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: Sweetlifephilly.com
Make My Cake
Location: Harlem, New York, NY
Owner: Chief Baking Officer, Aliyyah Baylor
Specialty: Pastries, custom special occasion cakes, award-winning red velvet cakes, and cupcakes.
Must Try: Red Velvet Cake or Cupcakes
Seating: Limited
Shipping: No. Local delivery
Website: makemycake.com
Je T’Aime Patisserie
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Owner: pastry chef, Jetee Kearsley
Specialty: Artisanal French pastries, croissants, macaroons, as well as
baking classes
Must Try: Croissants - ham and cheese, chocolate or almond
Seating: Yes
Shipping: No
Website: jetaimebk.com
Keeping You Sweet
Location: Wayne, NJ
Owner: former R&B singer, April Harris
Specialty: Vegan and gluten-free cakes, cheesecakes and special occasion cakes
Must Try: Vegan Mini Cheesecakes: sweet potato, piña colada and chocolate brownie
Seating: Yes
Shipping: Yes
Website: keepingyousweet.com
What is your favorite bakery item or sweet treat? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
