Kandice VincentThe 5 Best Cake Shops in Toronto
We all need a bit of affordable emotional support, and since cake is often cheaper than therapy, we've compiled a list of the best cake shops in Toronto!
While a customised cake can elevate any occasion, cake is no longer reserved solely for celebrations; it's a dose of happiness we all deserve. Whether it's a small victory or a regular Tuesday, a slice of cake from these shops can make any moment extraordinary.
The Best Cake Shops in Toronto
How much does a cake cost in Toronto?
On average, expect to pay approximately $50 for a 6-inch gourmet cake in Toronto. Prices may vary depending on the cake’s complexity, design, and the bakery you choose.
How We Chose the Best Cake Shops in Toronto
1. Butter Baker Market Café
Created by siblings Calvin and Tina Su in 2017, Butter Baker Market Café offers cakes and other treats in a charming space with a MUJI-style minimalist interior.
Their cake selection is pretty decent, offering classic choices like tiramisu and rich white chocolate. They also have unique creations such as ube (purple yam) and vanilla and peach matcha cake, geared towards those who appreciate vibrant, Asian flavours.
Gift certificates are also available, making it a perfect surprise for friends and family.
If you prefer to savour your cakes on the spot, Butter Baker boasts an onsite café with tables available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Don’t forget to explore the array of local products they carry, including candles, tote bags, jewellery, and more.
Pros
- MUJI-style minimalist interior
- Order before 12 PM for next-day pick-up
- Free shipping for orders over $150
- Offers classic and unique creations
- Has an onsite cafe with free WiFi
- Carries local products
Cons
- Pick-up delays for cake orders
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Pistachio raspberry cake was one of the most delicious cakes ever!
“I loved it. Pistachio raspberry cake was one of the most delicious cakes ever! Friendly staff and cozy environment in downtown close to Eaton Centre.”
Kimiya Gerami, Google Review
I have never tasted a bakery so fresh!
“I have never tasted a bakery so fresh! We ordered the raspberry pistachio cake and it was truly to die for. Great delivery and customer service, all around an amazing experience. Will definitely be ordering again!”
Nadine, Google Review
2. Phipps Bakery
Since 1986, Phipps Bakery has been one of Toronto’s visual delights, adorned with enchanting wall-to-wall murals that transport you to the pages of a fairytale.
The bakery specialises in custom-sized cakes for various occasions, from weddings to parties, with options to cater to 24-72 people.
One of its bestsellers is the Mom’s Chocolate Layer Cake. This sinful treat features layers of incredibly moist Belgian chocolate cake generously coated in a velvety chocolate fudge frosting.
Notably, Phipps exclusively uses premium ingredients like Callebaut Belgian chocolate, fresh local sour cream, and sweet cream butter. They also prefer local fare such as farm-fresh milk, cage-free eggs, and locally sourced apples.
Their cakes can generously serve 6-8 people, with prices ranging from $39.99 to $53.99.
Pros
- Over 30 years of experience
- Fairytale-like interior
- Uses premium ingredients
- Known for their Mom’s Chocolate Layer Cake
- Competitively priced
- Free delivery for orders above $160
- Crafts custom-sized cakes
Cons
- Lack of responsiveness to calls or emails
- Charges $3 for writing a message on cakes
Customer Reviews
My go-to bakery in midtown Toronto
“Phipps is my go-to bakery in midtown Toronto. I’ve never been disappointed with a dessert or sweet treat. While I can’t comment on their savoury options, I’ve had birthday cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats from Phipps, and everything has been delicious. I often find street parking in front of Phipps on Eglinton, but there’s also a paid GreenP lot around the corner. Update as of April 2023: I have since tried a savoury option, the vegetable lasagna and it was excellent.”
Jonathan Myers, Google Review
I hit the jackpot with this one!
“First time coming here and definitely won’t be the last, I got the Lemon Cream Cake for my moms birthday i was looking for something tasty and elegant! I hit the jackpot with this one! The white chocolate shavings with the creamy lemon filling and a light cake. Was the perfect bite! Will be coming back for more haha!”
Rudi Waller, Google Review
3. Velvet Lane Cakes
Founded by sisters Danielle and Diana Johnson, Velvet Lane Cakes is a cake artistry studio and cafe. It specialises in handcrafted custom cakes for a spectrum of celebrations, from weddings and birthdays to baby showers and graduations.
To preserve quality, they only use traditional American buttercream for their custom cakes. This type is known for its superior texture and rich, indulgent flavour.
They even offer complimentary phone consultations to discuss all the intricate details of your design and any additional dessert add-ons you desire. This makes sure that your cake is exactly as you envision it.
For their customizable cakes, customers typically go for their vanilla-strawberry combo. This duo provides a balanced light flavour, which offsets the richness of their buttercream.
For added convenience, they provide tasting boxes, each featuring four delightful flavour pairings from their extensive list.
Those looking to complement their cake at events would be glad to know that they also offer cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, macarons, rice krispie treats, and choux pastries.
Pros
- Specialises in handcrafted custom cakes
- Only uses traditional American buttercream
- Complimentary phone consultations
- Offers gluten-free options
- Provides tasting boxes
- Offers other sweet treats for catering
Cons
- Does not offer vegan cakes
- Limited flavour profiles
Customer Reviews
The cake was not only beautiful but also delicious
“Such an amazing team to work with! We ordered a 2 tier cake for our daughter’s first birthday. The customer service was great. Ordered everything by email – the team was prompt, and provided detailed responses. The cake was not only so beautiful and so so cute, but the flavours are delicious ! We also got 12 of the rosette cupcakes, and everyone just LOVED them. We will be ordering here again for our son’s birthday coming up in a few weeks. Thank you for creating art with cakes.”
Aishwarya Sudhama, Google Review
Velvet Lane absolutely exceeded our expectations
“Velvet Lane Cakes exceeded my and my twin brothers expectations. We wanted a real showpiece for our champagne birthday, and Velvet Lane absolutely delivered and exceeded our expectations. Not only did the cake and cupcakes look positively beautiful, people couldn’t stop raving about the taste. The custom cake we ordered was the topic of every conversation and it made our day so bright and special. I will certainly be a returning customer for many years to come, and will spread the word (a huge number of my party guests already asked me for the Velvet Lane business information for weddings and upcoming events). The cupcakes were as delicious as the funfetti champagne cake and everyone loved the surprise chocolate chips inside! Thank you Velvet Lane team for making our day shine!”
Anna Moroz, Google Review
4. Daan Go Cake Lab
Daan Go Cake Lab is headed by award-winning chef, Christopher Siu, known for his 2019 Milk Tea King Title and his victory in Season 7 of MasterChef Canada.
The shop is known for its durian cake. Not only does it look exactly like the spiky tropical fruit, but it tastes delicious as well – rich without being overwhelming.
For those seeking a unique touch, Daan Go presents a quirky Designer Cake line that includes gems like the Fortune Cat cake, Long Life Ramen cake, and Dumplings cake.
Loyal customers can take advantage of their rewards points program for online purchases. Gift certificates are also available as an added gift-giving option.
Unlike other cake shops, they offer same-day delivery. Customers can order through various platforms like Fantuan, Hungry Panda, DoorDash, UberEats, SkipTheDishes, Ritual, or Otter Direct Order.
Pros
- Headed by an award-winning chef
- Offers same-day delivery
- Has a quirky Designer Cake line
- Offers offer wedding cakes
- Combo pricing discounts
- Has a rewards points program
- Also has gift certificates
Cons
- Have discontinued their custom cake service
- Expensive Designer Cake line
Customer Reviews
Everything was super delicious and cute!
“Was really quiet when I popped in to get a few macarons! I ended up getting 2 cakes, too, as they just looked so delicious and inviting! Service was lovely! Everything was super delicious and cute!”
Elizabeth Yang, Google Review
Some of the most creatively designed treats I’ve seen!
“Fabulous little cake shop with some of the most creatively designed treats I’ve seen! I was in awe of many of the cakes I saw presented in the display counter when I stopped by. I opted for a simple slice of the 3:15 cake (Hong Kong milk tea mousse, coffee crémeux, evaporated milk crémeux, pineapple bun crumb) and each layer was so delicious and creamy. I loved it! I can’t wait to come back again to try something more adventurous next time!”
April Hatle, Google Review
5. The Grand Order of Divine Sweets
The Grand Order of Divine Sweets is a haven for self-proclaimed geeks and fans of all things fandoms. This shop was brought to life by cake designer Sam Lapointe and Meridith Braun, a seasoned video game veteran.
Their works cater to a diverse array of fandoms, which includes anime, cartoons, comics, sci-fi, and video games – really, all sorts of pop culture enthusiasts!
Among fan favourites are niche cake creations like Hagrid’s Birthday Cake, the iconic Picard Cake, and the irresistible Deadly Grounds: Dead Velvet Cake.
Not only do their cakes look amazing, they taste so good, too! Their bestselling flavour is their rich dark chocolate balanced with delectable sea salt caramel ganache.
If you have your heart set on a design, they offer custom cakes as well, with a minimum order lead time of 5 days.
They also offer a ‘Surprise -Me Cake.’ You just need to state your budget and favourite theme or genre, and they’ll surprise you with a design.
Beyond their in-store and online cake offerings, they accept corporate orders and offer wholesale goods to restaurants, cafes, and groceries.
Pros
- Specialises in niche fandom cake creations
- Offers gluten-free and vegan options
- Offers custom cakes
- Has a Surprise Me option
- Accept corporate and wholesale orders
Cons
- Pricey custom cakes
- Lead time doesn’t include Sundays and Mondays
Customer Reviews
I’m amazed by their creativity
“I was blown away by this shop and how excited I was to be gawking at their array of geeky Fandom chocolates, snack mixes, baked goods, and drinks. I visited in May shortly after May 4th and they were selling Blue Milk (Star Wars inspired)!! That was definitely a highlight of my day, along with the R2D2 chocolate. I’m amazed by their creativity and impressed by their choice of target demographic. We geeks love buying Fandom merch so why not Fandom inspired desserts and drinks, too? I’m not from Toronto so I was pleased to find out they do shipping across not just Canada but also the US!”
Esther Lac, Google Review
Couldn’t have asked for a better cake
“Ordered a Surprise Me cake and it was wonderful. The cake artist/baker really took my description and produced a cake that was exceptionally done. The little details went a long way. The Vanilla Dream cake was beautifully decorated and tasted amazing. I let the cake sit at room temperature for about 9 hours and it was creamy, soft, and perfect. Couldn’t have asked for a better cake and would recommend this bakery to anyone looking for a customized, unique cake :)”
Roxanne Bustard, Google Review
