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BabyCakes NYC
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Gluten-Free Bakeries, Vegan, Gluten-Free [Edit]
248 Broome St(between Ludlow St & Orchard St)
New York, NY 10002
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
(212) 677-5047
- Nearest Transit:
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Delancey St (F)
Essex St (J, M, Z)
Grand St (B, D)
- Hours:
Mon, Sun 10 am - 8 pm
Tue-Thu 10 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Joanna B. said: "This bakery is as good as it gets! Everything is super fresh and homemade tasting.....if I continue to frequent this place I am afraid that my waistline will expand but at least I'll know that I am super happy lol. Here is a list of…" read more »
547 reviews for BabyCakes NYC
Review Highlights
"babycakes cupcakes and pastries are so heavenly."
(in 302 reviews)
"The staff is great and so are the baked goods."
(in 91 reviews)
"My favorite is the "Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie."
(in 25 reviews)
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547 reviews in English
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Review from Kimberly K.
Manhattan, NY
Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich!
This was my first experience with a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free bakery. I was definitely excited to try something new.
Tried the Pumpkin Maple Cupcake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich. The cookie was crisp around the edges and chewy in the middle. Loads of chocolate chips were found throughout. The vanilla filling was smooth, cool, creamy, and not too sweet. Delicious.
The cupcake was not as moist as I would have liked but extremely flavorful. The icing was smooth, light, and creamy. The baked goods weren't too sweet.
The cashier was friendly and helpful. There is little seating available and some counter space. I appreciate that this bakery offers healthier treats without compromising flavor.Listed in: Cupcake Wars
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Review from Yan F.
2/8/2012
I've always wanted to try out the vegan version of guilty deserts so when a friend introduced me to this bakery, how can I resist? Not being a big fan of sweets, I would say this is an awesome place for vegans and those who are allergic to spelt, gluten and sugar. I had one of their strawberry frosting cupcakes and their cornbread. I sat in their tiny shop to enjoy it.
The verdict:
Being not a fan of frosting at all, (Yes, I know I am one of the few ^^;;) I didn't mind this frosting because it was less sweet than the non-vegan version. The cupcake part was rather dense but I guess that's what happens when you take the butter and eggs. Still, it's not terrible. It's just dry. It's the same deal with the cornbread. It was basically dry all over but at least you can really taste the corn bits in it.
Three stars. Not my preferred cupcake place but I wouldn't dismiss it. It's healthy and edible but I guess I'm just a sucker for the non-healthy versions. -
Review from Jacqueline Y.
New York, NY
1/23/2012
Great lemon sugar free cupcakes - although the icing is real thick with agave and coconut oil (which makes it not as healthy as you might think) its still pretty addicting, if you aren't allowed to have sugar. The cupcake tops are really sweet because it doesn't have the bottoms to offset the sweet thick icing. The carrot cupcake is also highly recommended.
i wish it was cheaper... -
Review from nancy y.
1/6/2012
Came here for a post-prandial cup of coffee and sweet tooth craving. Babycakes impressed on both fronts - Stumptown coffee, which is always at the top of my list, and the most delicious cookie sandwich ever. If you ever decide to pay this bakery a visit, you MUST try the cookie sandwich, which is delicious frosting (a fuller, more substantial kind, not your average, whispy lulffy buttery kind) mashed in between two chocolate chip cookies (crispy and crunchy, the way I like them). My friend enjoyed an oatmeal raisin cookie just as much. It was only afterwards that we realized that the delicious pastries we devoured were 100% vegan! No wonder it cost me 5 bucks.
Would be nice if they had seating within the shop though. Not really a place where you can meet someone for a cup of coffee nor a place where you'll hear me say "this is cute!" (#shitgirlssay). The storefront also looks kind of worn down, great desserts, just needs a makeover. -
Review from Stephen M.
Milwaukee, WI
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a vegan. Nor do I suffer from any need to remove gluten from my diet. I do know my way around the city, and am fully capable of finding items that contain everything you might possibly put into a baked concoction. I'm also a bit qualified to just make them myself...but, honestly, I enjoy the labors of other bakers and pastry chefs more than my own. Less clean up!
That said, I have an appreciation for being able to bake with limitations. Creating something that tastes good when you are restricted from gluten, soy, sugar, egg or dairy can be a pretty insurmountable task. Baking is a form of perfection where every ingredient has to be precise, and finding ways to replace key items and retain the quality and taste is a trying practice of failure and repetition. Doing it on a large scale just makes it more ridiculous.
I can't applaud Erin McKenna enough for what she's accomplished here. I love this place for the outlet it provides for anyone unfortunate enough to have to skip out on basic staples of the cookie and cupcake world.
While this place isn't putting out desserts that you'd write epic poetry about, lacking the high style and glamour of Uptown restaurants, they provide something real and measurable. The carrot and red velvet cupcakes, banana bread and chocolate chip cookies are awesome, regardless of the variations. Maybe a bit less sweet than you're used to having from Pilsbury, but, really, you don't need the sugar. Seriously, take stock in your diet. She's doing you a favor.
Cookie sandwiches are also a great treat. It's less about seeing something machined in a freezer aisle than it is to see a cookie sammie that looks like something you would make in your own kitchen.
The only drawback I find is the lack of space inside the store. I've had the misfortune to walk a ways to get there in poor weather and then have to wait in a bit of a wet mass for service. It's really the only drawback that I've found.
This is a bit of a niche market, but a necessary one, and it's a performance at a level that works regardless of dietary needs or tastes. I love the success they've had here, and I hope to see it continue on for a long, long time.Listed in: Version 2012, The Yelp 100, NYC 5K 1-Mile
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Review from Melush F.
Manhattan, NY
2/3/2012
This place is so overrated........I'm no vegan and maybe that's why I feel this way? I dont know....
I am baffled by the constant crowds and the raves about this place.
I used to live in the same block and yeah I am lazy and for a sweet treat this place was closer than any bodega or bakery or anything else, so I've tried most things they sell and with the exception of their brownie bites (non agave!!) and maybe, just maybe their cookie sandwiches, everything else was just not good. The taste was off. I am probably too used to refined sugar but so be it.....Pastries and yummy things are supposed to taste yummy and 90% of babycakes just doesn't taste good. -
Review from Chaya A.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ahhhh OM NOM NOM NOM says the allergic food bunny! Finally sweet stuff I can scoff down my throat!! Since my brother's supper allergic girlfriend brought me here on the recent visit to the States I have been dreaming and drooling about the most delectable doughnut I consumed, something I have been deprived of eating since my biggest food allergy fears were confirmed many years back. The corn bread is good (better than most other's I have tried), and the chocolate brownies just melt in your mouth. I would say these baked goods are best consumed in the quirky diner-esque bakery, as let's be honest, you aren't going to make it too far from here with them in your hot little hands! NB: The frosting on the cup cakes does melt if taken long distances.
I think I may have to head here after the gym tonight...reward, recognition and all that jazz! -
Review from Alicia S.
1/7/2012
Just when you think that it's amazing that you're surrounded by millions of gluten free/vegan goodies, it gets better....Yes people, they serve Stumptown coffee along side that tasty cupcake you just ordered.
Love coming here to just hang out & have a treat after shopping all day...worth the trek! -
Review from Meli J.
New York, NY
1/7/2012
BabyCakes was the first vegan bakery I went to when I was on the search for vegan deliciousness. When I walked in, I thought I hit the lotto; there were cupcakes, brownies, donuts and even gluten free items. The girls that run the place are decked out in a sorta 1950's looking getup. It's small. It's cute. The cupcakes are just OK.
I would certainly visit BabyCakes again but only if I were in the area. Their brownie bites are the best item on their menu. I'll stick with Sweet Ave Bakeshop in Jersey as my daily vegan bakery. -
Review from Regina C.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
This was the first place I had a vegan donut and I loved it. Since then I've had Mighty-O's and Dun-Well Doughnuts, of which I've enjoyed more. But Babycakes makes some really good and delicious combinations - the salted caramel still ranks as one of my favorite donut flavors ever. I really loved it! I still recommend a visit here, you won't be disappointed!
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Review from Tuan D.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Am I missing something here? O wait...I am...the $$ that I wasted on these so called vegan cupcakes. I don't get it. Everyone was raving about these cupcakes. There sure was a lot of people in the store getting them. And for the price of these treats, they should give me intense foodgasm without the guilt. While I'm not into the healthy conscious food movement (because you're eating a cupcake...don't try to feel better about it), I do want to try something good if it is actually good. What I got were some dry and bland 'cakes. I could tell these were definitely vegan even though I've never had vegan cupcakes before. They tasted exactly like a cupcake without milk or fat...just water, flour, and sugar.
If you're vegan and think this is fantastic then more power to ya. I think I've been spoiled with too much of that golden elixir called butter to bother myself with distraction like this. -
Review from Amanda L.
Brooklyn, NY
12/7/2011
Ah! it was a rainy evening but def a great place to end a long day of work.
I came here with two of my friends and we had a gluten free carrot cupcake and a spelt chocolate and vanilla cupcake.
Since I had the spelt chocolate with chocolate frosting, I will say I really enjoyed it. It was difference...in a good way. Being so use to the sweet, heavy and greasy cupcakes this was light, no sugar (def no sugar) and crumbly. I got crumbs all over the table. The cupcakes are a reasonalbe size. Although not as huge as the ones as crumbs for around the same price. I had a bite of the gluten free carrot and I liked it a lot. It had like a kick of ginger/chai-ness to it and smelled really good. -
Review from Lesley D.
Burlington, MA
12/12/2011
On my third ever trip to NYC, having recently been dubbed allergic to gluten, dairy, and eggs (among myriad other delicious things), I decided to stake this place out before returning to the Boston area. Gluten free and vegan means I can eat it, yay!!
I'd heard about Babycakes after seeing the cookbooks in stores and having read some rave reviews online I made the trek from our hotel near Central Park wayyy down to BabyCakes.
I feel sad saying it but it made me regret taking almost 2 hours out of my last day in the city to get to and from this place to order over $30 worth of what I prayed would be deliciously amazing gluten free vegan baked goods.
I got four cupcakes, a peice of chocolate crumb cake, a cinnamon sugar donut, a chocolate chip cookie sandwich, and a piece of cornbread (not to eat all at once, good lordy! But to take home and savor for days/possibly freeze).
I took a bite out of the red velvet cupcake and almost wanted to spit it out. I felt so bad about it but it was really bad. The frosting was this weird consistency like nothing I've ever had -- I think it's made with agave instead of sugar which would explain it but there was no granularity in it whatsoever. It was almost like the consistency of room-temperature butter. And it had a very weird, fake butter flavor (though there was a cream cheese element that was interesting). The vanilla cupcake had the same weird frosting and I made my yuck face. My husband, who's not gluten intolerant, tasted the frosting on the red velvet and agreed that it was really unpalatable. : (
The cake itself wasn't dry, but it was really heavy and very gritty/obviously gluten free.
The cinnamon sugar donut, however, was incredible, both in consistency and flavor, so a star is added just for that.
The cornbread was heavy and kind of sicky sweet despite its non-sugar sweetened-ness. I haven't gotten to the chocolate cake yet (I'm hoping it's good) and the cookie sandwich, but it's held together with the same frosting as the cupcakes so I will probably take a bite just to say I tried it but I don't think I can stomach the filling.
Service was also amiss. The girl at the counter was nice enough to answer a question I had while I was thinking over the array of what-I-thought-would-be-deliciousness in front of me. But when I signed my receipt, including a tip for the fact that this bakery exists and caters to people that can't enjoy ordinary baked goods, she disappeared. No 'thanks'. No 'have a nice day'. Nothing. Just talking to someone else behind the counter who then took someone else's order. As I gathered my things to leave I was like "thanks so much!" nothing. So I said "bye thank you!" one more time. Nothing.
I'm so disappointed for so many reasons. It was a real let down not only because it required me to drive a super long way in NYC traffic to get to what I hoped would be a GF/V mecca of treats, but it makes me sad to know that people with food allergies still have to suffer through this frosting. : ( Unfortunately my experience here only reinforces my undying hope that my newly diagnosed food allergies are temporary. -
Review from Lauren L.
Updated - 11/24/2011 8 photos
My friend had purchased a coupon from Gilt City for Babycakes breakfast. It was really such a great deal for this vegan bakery. For $12, we got 2 donuts, 2 banana breads and 2 cinnamon buns. I was way too excited when I saw in the glass case pumpkin bread and pumpkin donuts, I felt like a little kid again! The woman helping us was very kind and rather than giving us 2 pieces of banana bread, we got a pumpkin chocolate chip bread and a banana bread. For donuts, we had the pumpkin and vanilla sugar.
After being served up a hearty portion of vegan pastries, I couldn't wait to dig in. I started with the pumpkin donut which had a little glaze on it. The flavor was certainly there but it wasn't overwhelming with pumpkin, I actually felt like a hint of pumpkin spice or cinnamon could have been used to spruce this up.
The vanilla sugar dough nut was not only a thing of beautiful but it was outstanding. It was the right amount of sweetness and the vanilla accents made this donut one of the best I ever had ... while having the last bite I was wishing it would never end and another would reappear on my plate. Sadly this did not happen ... unless of course I wanted to purchase another.
Moving along to the star: pumpkin chocolate chip bread. This was a thick piece of bread filled with mini chocolate chips. This bread was bursting with pumpkin flavor and then with little bursts of chocolate, how could one go wrong?!
The cinnamon bun ... holy hell!! Drizzled with glazed and topped with crumbled cinnamon and sugar ... oh and it was warm! What?!?! It was absolutely outstanding.
I love this little bakery, they were pumpkin some serious throwback jams and had the whole staff in there whippin up cake, after cupcake after donut. It was great to see and mind you this was a Sunday. They were also relatively busy which I was kind of surprised because for me I had to travel a little ways to get there but heck if I lived nearby I would be in trouble!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/16/2011
So I had been dying to try this place after seeing on a number of TV shows and then just trying to… Read more »
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Review from Danielle W.
Bronx, NY
11/23/2011
Pros:
- vegan (I'm lactose intolerant), mostly gluten-free
- DELICIOUS
- pretty much everything is freshly-baked that day!
- really cute space
Cons:
- overpriced, but I guess that's what you pay for a place that caters to such specific dietary needs (-0.5 stars)
- the staff are a bunch of rude, snobby, veganer-than-thou types -- totally awful and very unprofessional (-1.5 stars) -
Review from Susan H.
10/23/2011 1 photo
I was looking to bring home some vegan cupcakes so on our last full day in NYC, we headed to Babycakes to buy a couple of cupcakes.
Babycakes is fully vegan. You can get your cupcakes gluten-free or made with spelt flour. I wasn't sure what to choose so I asked the clerk what the difference was. She said that the spelt flour ones were a little cheaper and that there really wasn't much difference in flavor. As long as one doesn't have an allergy to spelt, then that's the one to try.
I picked out one vanilla and one lemon cupcake. When we left NYC to go home, I packed the cupcakes in a small cooler with 2 ice packs. Once home, I refrigerated them. Before eating them, I left them out to come to room temperature.
Having tried many vegan cupcakes, I must say that these were some of the better ones we've tried. The cake had good density and while not overly moist, it was just moist enough and held together really well. The vanilla one didn't have a very strong flavor of vanilla. My husband had the lemon and I thought that the frosting had good lemon flavor. He felt otherwise and thought the frosting could have used a bit more flavor. Yet he did agree that the cake part was well done and better than many vegan cupcakes. -
Review from Amela sandra D.
Astoria, NY
1/11/2012
If you are Gluten Free. This is your Gluten-Free Mecca!
Delicious Cupcakes even the Gluteners {i am one] will envy!
I've bought 6 of the most delicious cupcakes ever from this wonderful place as a gift for my mother, she indulged so much so that she had forgotten to give me one. So the next day I bought one just for me & savored every single fl -
Review from Aliza R.
Hoboken, NJ
1/2/2012
I had the best cookie sandwich I have ever ate....delicious! Thanks baby cakes for my sweeter tooth!
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Review from Augusto M.
Manhattan, NY
12/2/2011
Meh. I've experienced better.. Even with a GiltCity voucher, cupcakes were just eh. Really did not like the icing.
Cookies however, pretty tasty, i like the crisp edges and soft middle.
Tu-lu is much better in my opinion. -
Review from Leonard S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2011
I don't eat wheat and don't eat dairy and love the cup cakes.
I go back often for the 4 pack often. :) -
Review from Lydia L.
BabyCakes had long been on my list of Had To Go places when in NYC. So when we had the car in the City and traffic was kind to us we bolted downtown to hit up BabyCakes for me and Doughnut Plant for The L.
Parking was a relative cinch and in I dashed to get some take home goodies to be enjoyed over the next few days. I let the cupcakery's slinger choose 6 for me, I did not care which ones since they are all vegan. I ended up with an assortment with six different cupcakes in a presentation box. There was Red Velvet, Carrot, Lemon, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate, and a lavender colored one I cannot recall, but what I do remember clearly is that they were very dry, a bit monotonous in appearance and textures and very disappointing taste wise. :(((,, It was almost as if they had not been baked that day but had been sitting around. They were eaten within 48 hours of purchase if not sooner but it was clear to me that if I had tried them all in the car on the way home it would not have made a difference.
I was pretty sad about the cupcakes, being a vegan, and going to one of the renown vegan motherships for cupcakes and it was not all that. I make vegan cupcakes often and mine are not dry like that. I was hoping to be inspired but for $20+ I would have rather invested in ingredients and made them myself. :(((
http://www.youtube.com...Listed in: Get Baked., Strictly Vegetarian
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Review from Chris S.
Manhattan, NY
1/8/2012
This bakery is the S-H-I-T! Their baked goods are better than most the competitors who actually use dairy. Too bad the prices are pretty steep for what it is.
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Review from Dick M.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 12/27/2011
Such great products. Delicious and fresh. Can't get enough!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2011
I am a fan. I love BabyCakes.
I need to learn how to shop here, however. I seem to find less to… Read more »
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Review from Janel Y.
11/11/2011
I was brought here because I was told the cupcakes were really good. Once I heard it was a Vegan, gluten free bakery, I was very (very) hesitant. We walked into this small bakery and here's our order ($7.50):
-lemon: moist cake with subtle lemon taste. The frosting was smooth and perfectly lemony
-carrot cake w/maple frosting: moist, but not a fan of the maple frosting
I felt that there was so much going on when looking into the display cupcake cases. There was writing on the cases telling you what flavors they had, which cupcakes had sugar, which were spelt and something else. Then I was like, "What's spelt?" and before I knew it, I saw a sign explaining what spelt was.
The service was friendly, patient and efficient. Overall, I was surprised by the taste of the cupcakes. I did notice that they were super crumbly as I was losing parts of my cupcake. There's a sign that says to keep the cupcakes in the fridge as the frosting will melt at room temperature.
Cute place with lots of character. -
Review from Adjoa T.
New York, NY
12/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I heart Babycakes. I've been here 3 or 4 times now anwhile I admit, after the first time, I've had at least one less than stellar experience, this most recent time reaffirmed my heartage. I've only ventured into the spelt cupcakes, but I totally dig them. I love how moist yet reasonably dense they can be all at once (just enough crumbliness). They're also sufficiently sweet. The vanilla spelt cupcake I just had was freshly frosted and like pure heaven. I've also had the carrot (not my fave, but good) and red velvet and they've been filled with win. As a carnivore who often flirts with veganism, I would and definitely have tried to evangelize others (regardless of diet preference/lifestyle). Clearly something's going on if I keep coming back!
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Review from Alice T.
Manhattan, NY
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had an incurable itch for vegan red velvet, after devouring Tillie's of Brooklyn's earlier in the afternoon. So, I decided I would try to find some red velvet on the trek back home.
BabyCakes was second closest to me after Birdbath, which didn't have much of a selection or staff that put me in a buying mood.
Ended up ordering a Red Velvet cupcake + Chocolate Mint Brownie Cupcake + Chocolate chip cookie = $10. 50, which is a little much. However, they are solely a bakery.
The red velvet cupcake was nothing to write home about, especially for $4.75. It lacked that vibrant, blood red color that I like to see. It was a duller brown and had way too much allspice or cinnamon. I don't know, it just left much to be desired.
Chocolate Brownie Cupcake, 5 stars. It was a brownie and a cupcake and delicious! The texture was cool, because it remained fudge-y yet light 'n fluffy like a cupcake. I thoroughly enjoyed this number. Worth the $5.
And lastly, the chocolate chip cookie... I'll cut them a break, because I did come in near close. However, it tasted like it had been sitting and lacked chewiness. All crispy. It just wasn't the chocolate chip cookie you would expect from a bakery, but rather a mediocre batch I whipped up myself. Though I'm an excellent vegan baker.
GREAT: Staff (the girls are so sweet), the shop is tots kitsch, and the icing is heavenly on your tongue. Not too sweet, just perfection.
NEGs: Price, mediocre chocolate chip cookie and red velvet cupcake. Not awful, but they are a bakery and these items are bakery staples. -
Review from Laura W.
9/26/2011
Slightly off my usual path one drizzly fall day, I started to feel the need for food. I was unsure where to go, when I turned a corner and was welcomed by the warm glow of an oversized, retro 'Bakery' sign. I was vaguely aware of the name, but really had no idea this was different than any other bakery.
After a friendly conversation with the ladies hard at work icing cakes, I took my order and perched on a stool with my coffee and banana bread slice; and I realized I was right in front of the listed ingredients for each product. It was just after I took my first bite that I realized the light, banana-ful moist and rich bread I was eating was made with... bean flour? sorghum? Agave and rice milk? Had I not seen the ingredients I may never have known: my slice of banana bread was moist and flavorful without being too sweet.
With a low glycemic index (not to mention being vegan and gluten free), Babycakes provides some baked goods I can be on board with. -
Review from Anthony G.
New York, NY
1/27/2012
Look. I've been going here since like 2006. They have the best...BEST vegan bakeries and pastries and sweets and omg ever. In all of Manhattan at least. I don't know what else to say, but their stuff just taste soooo goood, I have to force myself not to go every single day! I stopped going [because of lack of employment] in around 2009 and then forgot about them. Just recently, I remembered because I got cravings for cinnamon bun and bam. The cravings [foodielust?] came all over again. So I say...go and try something. If you like sweets, you'll love them. It may be a bit pricy for some, but it's worth it to me!
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Review from Jesse F.
Queens, NY
12/5/2011
Better donuts than Donut Plant's! It just so happens that these are vegan, and I can feel slightly less pudgy about eating (lots of) them. I'll be going back to try a spelt cupcake. You heard it here first: ancient grains are the next big dessert trend.
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Review from Neline S.
9/18/2011
I'm nowhere near vegan but my friend recommended this place because he is and wanted dessert.
As the ever obliging friend tags along, I was pleasantly surprised that the cupcake actually tasted good!
There are certain vegan dishes that are exceptionally made well however, the desserts have always made me craving more.
I chose the spelt chocolate and vanilla cupcake and was pleasantly surprised at the sweetness of the frosting.
My friend, his wife, and I sat on the stoop while eating our desserts and pondered what the neighborhood was like back in the 70s and 80s.
Despite the tiny spot, there's actually quite a few doorsteps to sit on much to the annoyance of the neighbors coming in and out.
I'd definitely come back if I'm in the area for dessert! -
Review from Adrienne P.
Culver City, CA
11/8/2011
I really wanted to love this place, but I easily bake much better cupcakes. The red velvet cupcake was the second worst I've ever had. The caramel crunch donut was ok I guess, but I would certainly never come back for another.
The biscuits looked delicious though...maybe I'll try to find them in DTLA sometime and try one. -
Review from Carol B.
9/21/2011
Wheat intolerances, lupus and other hullabaloo from the health world has forced this foodie to go gluten-free. While this diet transformation isn't too bad and simply has me craving pizza and meatball subs more than ever...I find the gluten free lifestyle tolerable...until I realized that I'd have to go an entire fall season without the quintessential desert of autumn...donuts!
I knew that if I couldn't find a gluten-free donut, I'd never survive this wheat-free stint...low and behold, BabyCakes NYC was my savior!
After doing some netsearch and Yelp review reading, I decided to head downtown and try these babies cakes' out.
If Julia Childs is god, then BabyCakes NYC is a small room in heaven. It's thus only fitting that they've got a picture of the cooking guru shrining over customers and bakers alike.
The place is tiny, but all of the staff are dressed in cute dresses with aprons (and yes they were all chicks) and despite it being rather cramped, the service is pleasant and quick considering.
There were bundt cakes, cupcakes, cookies...but I honestly wasn't even looking at anything but the donuts! Although I was a bit put off by the price tag (about 3.50/each)...I had already come all the way downtown, so I wasn't about to leave this place without a donut!
I bought 2 of the cinnamon sugar donuts, 1 apple donut and 2 mini-cookie crunch type donuts. My total came up to around $11. As I was handed my little pink box of wheat-free guilt, I was surprised that the donuts were still warm...they must have been just baked...another plus!
Although I had originally planned on gorging down at home, I rushed to the nearby Starbucks and sat down to dine on my apple donut. Delicious, not overly-sweet like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts...this thing was delicious...and I was maintaining my 'diet'!
Russell even liked the cookie crunch mini donut...so you know that these things have to be good.
Will I be visiting again? You bet! I wish that they served hot cider, that would make for a perfect autumn snack! -
Review from Erik P.
Plainville, CT
12/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
With great vegan treats, you'll pay the price. BabyCakes NYC is no exception. It's well worth the occasional splurge when we are in the city. Had a chocolate frosted donut that was out of this world on a recent trip.
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Review from Corrine C.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 11/18/2011
I'm tired of the rude service- get better staff. I've been in Babycakes twice since my last review and the credit card machine was down both times. They didn't say anything until I had picked out over $60 worth of items then they told me to go to the ATM. Really? Is it too hard to put up a piece of paper saying the credit card machine is down? The place is super tiny you can't tell customers when they walk through the door the machine is down? Then you catch an attitude with them because they aren't carrying enough cash? Two times I have received the wrong items in my order and if I didn't live in Bay Ridge I would have gone right back and had them fix it.
The straw that broke the camels back- I called yesterday to put an order in for Thanksgiving for a carrot cake, corn bread and a few other things. I spoke the person at length to ensure what I wanted would be available even though it wasn't on the Thanksgiving menu. She tells me it's fine and take my credit card info. I get a message later on that evening telling me that they can't sell me a carrot cake bc it's not on the Thanksgiving menu WHAT THE WHAT?! That is exactly what I asked when I ordered! The person leaving the message rattles off a list of what I could buy instead into my answering machine? really?! I'm spending a $100 and you are going to tell me what to buy too?
I called back to cancel my order completely the guy that answered the phone was polite and apologized for the confusion. I think it's over but they call again to confirm I really canceled my order and leave a message with my husband. I call them back to make sure they aren't going to charge my credit card since they clearly don't know what they are doing at this point.
The girl that answered the phone catches an attitude with me for calling after hours to cancel my order? Babycakes is open until 10pm and I called them at 6pm. She then says "So you are canceling the order? Ok good then you're done" and hangs up. What kind of service is this?
Too much ego- Babycakes needs to grow up. Also stop begging for tips with a sign saying "poor college student" it's not charming in a place that sells $5 cookies. Rant over1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/3/2011
Babycakes makes the most delicious carrot cake and lemon cake you can find. My husband takes my… Read more »
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Review from Vanessa W.
Leonia, NJ
12/22/2011
Hmm I heard many good things about this place and was really excited to try something. I got the Vegan Spelt Red Velvet Cupcake and when I took my first bite it was a bit dry. It also had a funny bounce to it when I chewed it, but I did really love their vegan frosting! That I give 5 stars! I just wished there was more of that frosting to cover up that cake! opps! heh :x But I am rooting for this place and I will return. Hopefully my first experience there will not repeat itself! I will be back with an update! :)
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Review from Jocelyn G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/5/2011
Love love love Babycakes!!!! I always go to the one back in LA, was excited to see the OG. Delicious. Happy people working. Good music. A little small, but doesn't matter.
All in all, cannot even tell that it's vegan or gluten free. It's so darn good.
Try the cookie sandwich with pumpkin filling its heaven! Or the brownie with mint frosting. Or the biscuits with jam... Okay it's all delicious. -
Review from Nicole M.
Astoria, NY
9/20/2011
I'm a big fan of babycakes overall! I bake from their cookbook and amaze my non-vegan friends with "out of this world" cookies!
But I have to say, I went in recently and got a spelt chocolate cupcake....WHY do vegan cupcakes have to be so damn dense and dry? Are we dairy-free folk destined to a life of dry cake? I can't stand it. Hated it so much I licked the decent frosting (only decent I say) and chucked the rest. :( I felt sad. But the chocolate chip cookies never disappoint. So I think I'll wrestle with making my own cupcakes and find moistness goodness on my own, and just rely on what I know babycakes does well....those damn cookies and cookie sandwiches!
....the soy latte also sucked. -
Review from Rebecca M.
New York, NY
10/5/2011 1 photo
For my first vegan bakery experience, it was wonderful!
My vegan friend came to visit and we needed a little snacky-poo. Babycakes name has been playing in my head for years and I took this opportunity to finally get down there.
Cute and cozy little nook in nowhere LES. People hanging out inside and out eating delicious looking treats. The smell you would want from a bakery upon entering, check! The variety of so many things you cant decide, check!
We went with chocolate chip cookie, the chocolate chip cookie sandwich with vanilla, a chocolate cupcake top and a salted caramel mini doughnut. My friend almost fell off her chair she thought the cupcake top was so good. She told me how you either nail this kind of baking or its a disaster and its not easy to do by yourself. So the expert gave it 5 stars, just an FYI.
Coming from a sugar filled, gluten filled, chemical filled world that I do, there was something "off" but it was still really yummy! The doughnut tasted more like a corn muffin and could have used more caramel/salt. The cupcake top was good and so was the cookie sandwich. The cookies were meh for the price. Good but not amazing.
When we got home I gave one cookie to my roommate without telling him it was "special". He immediately asked me what was wrong with the cookie because it tasted "funny". So I guess to each his own. I liked it! -
Review from Eve S.
Updated - 11/29/2011
Still THE place to go if you are looking for gluten-free allergy sensitive yummies. I had the frozen chocolate mint coolie which was straight up like a thin mint and twice the size. I also had a chocolate chip cookie. Everything was tasty and the cookies were cheap. The cupcakes are pricey but then the ingredients cost more.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2008
I'm a fan of people who see a need for something and do something about it. Erin McKenna had some… Read more »
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Review from Elizabeth D.
New York, NY
8/16/2011
Healthy? Perhaps. Ethical? I do not know. Kosher? Pretty much I think. I have few words for this little place: cakey, sticky, and gloopy all come to mind. Cardamom is a nice addition to the donut, but not a daily nosh. Kind of overwhelming in a got-my-horse-stuck-in-quicksand-filled-with-cinnam on-paste sort of way. But hey, it is Vegan.
On the bright side, I did not need to brush my teeth after the cupcake. The baker was kind enough to put half a tube of Tom's of Maine on top.
I am not sure what is going to happen tomorrow or the next day, but can someone recommend a plumber? I am anticipating an epic movement, and I am not talking about Beethoven.
