(credit: http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com)
(credit: http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com)
Whether you are throwing a superhero or a princess birthday party, a cake that matches your theme is a must. Sure, you can always pick up a sheet cake at any one of the big grocery stores, but why settle for a mass-produced cake? There are so many independent bakeries in the area offering amazing cakes that taste as good as they look. Just be sure to order enough to feed the kids at your party and their parents because everyone is going to want a slice of these cakes! Here are some of the best places to order a kids’ birthday cake in the Chicago area.
(credit: http://www.pastriessotasty.com)
Pastries So Tasty
708-997-1062
pastriessotasty.com
If you want a truly custom-made cake, contact Chef Jen Giovingo from Pastries So Tasty. Without a brick-and-mortar store, Chef Jen takes orders over the phone or email. Everything is made to order and Chef Jen will work with you to ensure you get the exact cake you want. You pick everything from the cake flavor to the filling to the design. And the cakes taste like homemade. Chef Jen is based in the western suburbs, but delivers anywhere in the Chicago area for a small fee. Pastries So Tasty’s individually wrapped, decorated sugar cookies ($2 each) also make great party favors.
Roeser’s Bakery
3216 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-489-6900
www.roeserscakes.com
Since 1911, family-owned Roeser’s Bakery has been the North Side’s pick for custom birthday cakes. They can create a design for almost any theme you can imagine and they have a wide variety of licensed character cakes, ranging from Disney princesses to Harry Potter to Sesame Street. Right next door to the bakery is Roeser’s Party Palace selling everything you need for your party besides the cake – balloons, decorations, paper goods. So it’s truly one-stop shopping for busy parents.
(credit: http://www.alliance-bakery.com)
Alliance Bakery
1736 W Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
773-278-0366
www.alliance-bakery.com
“We can do anything,” claims Wicker Park’s Alliance Bakery. And when you see this bakery’s whimsical, three-dimensional designs, you believe it. Sure, anyone can make a sheet cake with a picture of the Cat in the Hat or Harry Potter, but what about a cake that looks like a stack of Dr. Seuss books or a giant Hogwarts Castle? Alliance Bakery takes themed cakes to a whole new level. Owner Chef Peter Rios spent many years as an Executive Pastry Chef in downtown hotels and has won numerous awards, and it shows.
(credit: http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com)
The Bleeding Heart Bakery
1955 W. Belmont Ave
Chicago 773-327-6934
1010 North Blvd
Oak Park 708-358-0559
www.thebleedingheartbakery.com
With its two locations in Roscoe Village and suburban Oak Park, Bleeding Heart Bakery is the home of “punk rock pastry.” Known for its irreverent attitude and for its commitment to using local, sustainable and organic ingredients, this bakery is also a great place to find delicious vegan baked goods. Bleeding Heart Bakery is very accommodating of food allergies and can even make a gluten-free chocolate cake, so no child has to be without a delicious, custom-designed cake on his or her birthday. Bleeding Heart Bakery’s prices are high, but their many fans think the pastries are worth every penny.
Weber’s Bakery
7055 W. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60638
773-586-1234
www.webersbakery.com
A South Side favorite, Weber’s is another family-owned bakery that goes back several generations. Everything in the gleaming old-fashioned case is baked fresh daily. The accommodating staff will work with you to design the perfect cake for your child’s big day. Weber’s is especially known for their colorful sprays and their sports-themed decorations.
Emily Paster is a mother of two living in the near west suburbs. She teaches writing at Loyola University School of Law. Read more of her thoughts on balancing work and family and raising kids in the Chicago area on her blog West of the Loop.
