Slicing and sharing a wedding cake is a time-honored tradition signifying a couple’s first activity done together. Although that symbolism isn’t as sharp nowadays, with a caterer often cutting the cake after the first slice, a gorgeous multi-tiered wedding cake still presents a lovely photo op and a chance to savor a sweet moment on your festive day.
That said, sometimes one partner or another really isn’t into having cake. Black-owned wedding cake bakeries might put their best tier forward with edible flowers and theming, but these sweet tooth connoisseurs also understand if your first date involved ice cream or if you like to share a little sugar over peach cobbler. There are plenty of other creative treats that a Black-owned bakery can whip up for your wedding, from vegan sweet potato cupcakes or banana pudding to a gluten-free donut tower.
Here is a selection of Black-owned bakeries ready to deliver the wedding day confection of your dreams.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Atlanta
Sugarhi Sweet Eats N Treats
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (404) 777-0299
Since 2014, Atlanta native Tasha Taylor has become known for her flavorful cake jars—and her wedding cakes, which she calls edible masterpieces. She’s also happy to save couples on a budget a little money and time at the reception by crafting a breathtaking multi-tiered cake with only a real bottom layer for you and your beau to slice (and a double-layered sheet cake for guests). No one but you and your spouse will know the secret.
Snackie Cakez
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (678) 509-3490
Baker Zerrick Williams launched Snackie Cakez in 2017 and soon competed in the Netflix baking competition Sugar Rush. He’s been completing delectable desserts ever since, including a Rosette Cake smothered with icing roses and a cake that resembles a quilted Chanel bag. This Black-owned bakery is proud to “bake with love” and happily will discuss how to make any custom wedding cake design you want a reality, including vegan options. Prices vary depending on cake size but include a keepsake, setup, and delivery.
Not as Famous Cookie Company
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (678) 293-5588
The artisan Not as Famous Cookie company is being humble. They’ve catered for corporations and movie sets, including Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and Black Adam. So if you and your sweet cookie want to deliver your guests a gourmet treat, check out their handmade, delectable delights made with real butter, select nuts, and fine chocolates. Each month inspires new flavors, such as peach cobbler and lemon blueberry. They also put their own spin on classics such as chocolate cookie butter and red velvet cheesecake.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Chicago
Bjorn Cakes
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (872) 529-1428
A 2019 pick from The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” issue, Bjorn Cakes (soon to be Lenox Cakes) is a couture bakery run by Kossivi Guede, proud to use super-premium European-style butter, organic eggs and dairy, and imported or handmade premium fillings. Their designer cakes and cupcakes include Rosette and Rose Cupcakes; The Stone Orchid, a cake frosted with marbled gray buttercream and handmade sugar leaf orchid blooms; and The Opulence, also decorated with marbled gray buttercream with gold and white fresh flowers, gold macaroons, gold drips, and gold leaf.
Brown Sugar Bakery
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (773) 224-6262
Owner Stephanie Hart’s motto is, “Life is sweeter with a little brown sugar,” and her Southern-style bake shop delivers that and more. A 2019 James Beard Award nominee, Brown Sugar Bakery specializes in custom cakes and traditional sweet treats such as Carmel, Porgy & Bess, Red Velvet, Double Dark Chocolate, and Turtle. The bakery also has a curated line of hand-crafted chocolates in case you’d like to send your guests home with something to nibble on later.
My Just Desserts Alton
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (618) 462-5881
Since 1989, My Just Desserts Alton has crafted hearty fare in the old Krug Flower Shop in historic Alton, a building that dates back to 1845. This restaurant and tea room has more than 150 recipes, including soups, salads, and sandwiches, but locals also love its homemade pies. If a wedding cake isn’t your style, sample a slice or more at the Saturday dessert-only menu featuring favorites such as Mrs. Ledbetter’s Chocolate Pie and Sour Cream Lemon Pie, either of which would give your event a unique twist.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Dallas
The Tipsy Cupcake Dallas
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (855) 908-4779
Toast your nuptials with the alcohol-infused cupcakes that are this boutique cupcake shop’s specialty. The Tipsy Cupcake’s treats include a Red Velvet Rosé, which infuses red velvet cake with rose Champagne topped with sweet cream cheese frosting; a Lemmon Drop Martini, which infuses a vanilla lemon cake with citrus Cîroc vodka; peach cupcakes imbued with peach-flavor schnapps, peach Cîroc, and peach custard buttercream icing; and Caramel Crown Vanilla, featuring Crown Royal Vanilla, a vanilla-infused whiskey.
Dough Boy Donuts
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (682) 841-7797
Since 2014, this artisan donut shop in the heart of Burleson, Texas, that began as a food truck has made dozens of donuts daily from scratch. (It has no gluten-free or vegan options, though.) Its whimsical menu goes beyond glazed or jelly-filled, with a Pina Colada donut featuring candied pineapple and toasted coconut flakes topped with a pineapple-coconut glaze and a cheesecake donut topped with a cream cheese glaze and crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
Avery’s Savory Popcorn
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (469) 677-0069
If you’re a movie-loving couple or want more variety beyond a wedding cake, the gourmet flavors of Avery’s Savory Popcorn can get your reception hopping. Owner Steffon Avery, his sister, Aleisha Avery, and their parents have thirty-one different flavors, from the savory to the sweet. Order up some Bacon Cheddar, Dill Pickle, and Ranch, or go for Zebra Drizzle, Cornfetti, the Dallas Mix, or Caramel with Pecans. For the traditionalists, don’t forget Perry’s Favorite, an extra-butter blend named for Steffon Avery’s grandfather.
Black-Owned Bakeries in DC
My Cake Theory
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (202) 544-8000
Washington, DC, native Tiffany Lightfoot enjoys helping clients find their sweet spot. Her fast-casual boutique bakery provides a “build your own cupcake” experience with an array of cupcake flavors, frostings, fillings, and toppings so that anyone can create a custom confection. Arrange for favorites such as Classic Vanilla, Lemon Head, Raving Red Velvet, and Strawberry Shake alongside a few specialty flavors such as 24 Carrot and Can’t Help Falling in Love—an ideal name for a wedding day treat.
The Bakers’ Lounge
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (202) 601-7107
Creative director Catherine Cotay learned the English tradition of baking pastries from scratch from her grandmother, whose bakery, The View, specialized in wedding cakes. The fresh ingredients and generational expertise at The Bakers’ Lounge result in multi-layered riches such as Strawberry Short Cake, Margarita Flavoured Cake, Double Chocolate Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Jack Daniel’s Honey Whisky Flavoured Cake, and Coconut Cake.
Macaron Delights
Instagram | Facebook | (202) 964-0710
This Black-family-owned bakery specializes in French macarons that are gluten-free, along with some vegan twists on classic dessert flavors, such as the Strawberry Cream Macaron. These colorful treats are sure to make your guests smile, even if they have a slightly tart taste, such as the Basil Lemon Macaron, featuring a lemon curd center, a basil-infused mousse, and a chocolate shell. Imagine a rainbow’s worth of colors inviting everyone to the dessert table.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Houston
Ms. Myrtle’s Bakery Shoppe
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (713) 951-9211
Formerly known as Not Jus’ Donuts Bakery, this “taste of Southern sweetness” now honors founder and matriarch Myrtle Jackson, who passed away in 2021. Her family proudly carries on baking delectable desserts, with elegant wedding cake specialties that feature cascading bows and more. Favorite designs include Tara, Red Ribbon, Navy Bow, Red & Black, Teal and Coral, and His & Hers, a fun design divided down the center that gives guests a glimpse of each sweetheart’s taste.
Sweet Timez Bakery
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (713) 978-7874
Sweet Timez Bakery likes to say that freshly baked goods make everyone’s day a little sweeter. This full-service retail bakery specializes in Southern comfort desserts but also carries vegan options, from its homemade cupcakes and yummy peach cobbler to customized cakes, including Red Velvet Cheesecake and the Garden of Eden, a cake draped with frosted flowers. If you’re not sure what might work with a large guest list, check out a celebration pack that brings together more than one flavorful treat.
Lucy Pearl’s
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (832) 532-6244
Since 2019, founders Ron and Nicole Morris have brought five generations of recipes to life at Lucy Pearl’s, named after Nicole Morris’s mother, Sherry Lucille (affectionately called “Sweets”). Anyone with a sweet tooth will appreciate their signature Banana Pudding Cake made with bananas, pineapples, flour, butter, sugar, and cream cheese. Other signature recipes include the Betty Lou, an award-winning sour cream pineapple coconut cake, and the Big Papa, four layers of chocolate cake and peanut butter filling.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Los Angeles
Southern Girl Desserts
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (323) 484-9353
Since 2007, Southern Girl Desserts has built a “cupcake and dessert arsenal” full of comforting yet distinct delectables. Co-owners Catarah Coleman and Shoneji Robison built their business on the hospitality of their Florida childhoods. They’ve appeared on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and count Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Misty Copeland, Mariah Carey, and Stevie Wonder among their clientele. Check out their daily flavors, including Yellow Chocolate, Lemon Pound, Coffee Cake, and Sweet Potato Pound, and specialty flavors such as Tequila Lime, Chocolate Caramel, Red Velvet, Jack Daniel’s, and Hummingbird.
Chipper & Cheeky
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (310) 817-0986
Founder Uzo Ehi is a Los Angeles native and self-taught baker inspired by her West African parents to create an “inclusive dessert experience.” That means made-to-order plant-based and gluten-free treats for vegans and people with food allergies that use bold and exotic flavors. Ehi likes to say that vegan and gluten-free “doesn’t mean bland,” and confections such as the chocolate White Forest Gâteau cake look as luscious as they taste. Picture four layers of chocolate sponge cake; a rich, dark cherry filling; vanilla Italian meringue buttercream frosting decorated with handmade sugar leaves and topped with a gold-dusted edible rose.
Gwen’s Specialty Cakes
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (310) 677-9979
For more than two decades, owner Gwen Vance of Gwen’s Specialty Cakes and Catering has whipped up cakes with fresh and fine ingredients, producing a buttery, homemade taste that brings customers back for more. Her cake flavors include marble fudge, lemon, chocolate, red velvet, and butter, with fillings such as fresh bananas, fresh strawberries, chocolate mousse, banana whip, and lemon parfait. As if it can’t get any more decadent, frostings include buttercream, whipped frosting, cream cheese, and fondant.
Black-Owned Bakeries in Philadelphia
Denise’s Delicacies
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (215) 225 -5425
The Philadelphia metropolitan area has delighted in Denise’s Delicacies for close to thirty years, thanks to the moist, rich flavor of pure extracts, fresh whole eggs, and sweet creamery butter. Denise’s uses its renowned butter pound cake recipe, which it can adapt to several flavors, for its wedding cakes, frosted with vanilla buttercream made from scratch. Want an elegant smoothness to your wedding cake? Request the molded rolled fondant as a finishing touch.
4 Every Occasion Cakes & Cupcakes
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (215) 722-2250
Former wedding planner Anitria Odum turned her creativity and passion for giving couples variety on their special day into this specialty cake and cupcake boutique. It offers cake flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, banana, lemon, red velvet, pound cake, and carrot cake (both with and without nuts), plus fillings such as banana pudding, vanilla pudding, pineapples, strawberries, and raspberries. Mix or match to create your own memorable favorite.
Sweet Nina’s
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (215) 805-8757
If you or your honey love banana pudding, Sweet Nina’s is the one to call. Philadelphia Magazine twice recognized this Black-owned bakery as having “Philadelphia’s Best Banana Pudding,” and the menu makes that easy to see why. There’s the classic vanilla flavor, of course, along with Caramel Pecan, Strawberry, Peach, Coconut Limon, and even Nutter Butter. Imagine a Southern classic dessert that ends your wedding day meal on a sweet note.
Black-Owned Bakeries in NYC
BCakeNY
Website| Instagram | Facebook | (347) 787-7199
This custom cake studio in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood likes to say that anything can “be cake” and enjoys translating a customer’s vision into something truly delicious and unique. Founder Miriam Milord draws on her Ghanaian/German heritage, her degree in fine arts and graphic design, and the vibrant people and cultures of Brooklyn for her sweet, moist creations. Her signature cake collection includes a tall, slender layer cake with jewel-toned icing swirls similar to a geode, along with cupcakes and push pops.
The Bakery on Bergen
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (917) 519-6549
Akim Vann established The Bakery on Bergen in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights as a place for healthy baked goods and a safe space that teaches cooking to youngsters. That warm vibe and an extra helping of love come through Vann’s custom cakes, as well as her regular bites, such as Rum Cake Mini Bundt Cake, an ultra-moist convection soaked in vanilla and rum; Vegan Chocolate German Cake flavored with coconut and pecans; and vanilla push pops filled with buttercream.
SugarBombSweet
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (646) 436-6653
Stylized, made-to-order cupcakes, cakes, and desserts are no problem for SugarBombSweet. As it says on its website: “Dream it. We’ll bake it.” Customers love their wedding cakes, birthday cakes, baby shower cakes, and “just because” cakes, each one a mini-masterpiece that speaks to this bakery’s love for glamorous details. You might not want to cut into one of these beauties right away, but once you do, it’ll be worth it.
Black-Owned Bakeries in North Carolina
Shyah’s Vegan Bakery
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (855) 912-7305
Since 2014, Shyah’s Vegan Bakery has catered to all food allergies and dietary restrictions, presenting cakes, cookies, donuts, pies, danishes, and other delights that are decadent and dreamy. This bakery says it has “the recipe for a truly sweet day,” and it’s hard to disagree with a selection such as Rainbow Chocolate Cake combining one layer of chocolate cake with two layers of rainbow cake, topped with all sorts of vanilla buttercream frosting goodness. The Pineapple Coconut Cake featuring fresh pineapples and toasted coconuts is mouthwatering.
The Sweetest Things
Website | Instagram | Facebook| (984) 538-0316
The Sweetest Things encourages customers to think big about the little things: specifically, small-batch treats it makes from scratch. Whether your style is chocolate, vanilla, lemon, red velvet, salted caramel, peanut butter, or more, it’s happy to design and build you a wedding cake or whatever other treats you’d like to arrange. So if you’re finding it tough to decide on cake, cupcakes, pies, banana pudding, or lemon bars, check out one of their packages that has it all.
Perfectly Portioned
Website | Instagram | Facebook | (919) 885-2189
This home-based cheesecake company made its name by creating four-ounce and eight-ounce mini cheesecakes in jars. While these look adorable (and just the right size to indulge without feeling guilty), Perfectly Portioned also can provide a whole cake up to twelve inches that’s just as creamy and divine. Check out its Pistachio Cheesecake with a buttery cookie crust; its Foxy Pineapple Cheesecake, layered with a moist pineapple upside-down cake; and German Chocolate Cheesecake with a German chocolate base, white chocolate filling, and hazelnut cheesecake topping.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a lush, moist cake as rich as your love or a flavorful vegan or gluten-free wedding cake, any of the Black-owned bakeries on our list would be happy to help put the icing on your special day. Can’t decide on one unique confection? Talk with a Black-owned bakery near you about creating a custom dessert table with plenty of favorites to share.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
Content Team