Best Red Velvet Cake in Brooklyn
My girlfriend's favorite cake is red velvet, and her birthday party is Saturday, does anyone know a bakery that makes a notably good one?
I heard about something in Williamsburg, and though it would be a trek, I want the best!
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17 Comments:
On this site, you're more likely to find a person who can bake the best RVC vs. buy one.
This one in NYC looks great. The link goes to a blog but here's the site for the bakery. That RVC looks great!!
This link should take you to a search of "Red Velvet Cake, New York City." Browse the list and pick a place close to you.
Good luck! To make your girlfriend happy it's going to be worth the trip wherever you go.
therealchiffonade at 8:42AM on 07/08/09
This place is known for them although I have not eaten there.
http://www.cakemanraven.com/
bobbob at 8:54AM on 07/08/09
I have also heard of the Cakeman Raven. He was on Throwdown with Bobby Flay (i don't remember who won) but I think Bobby said he was going to serve Cakeman's red velvet cake in his restaurants, so it must be pretty darn good.
illinigal at 9:24AM on 07/08/09
I've heard great things about Cakeman Raven but there is a contingent that thinks he is highly overrated.
bobbob at 9:27AM on 07/08/09
billy's makes awesome cupcakes, so i'm sure the red velvet is scrumptious there. they also have a new tribeca location so that's at least close to bklyn. although much further up (86th and 2nd) two little red hens also makes AMAZING cupcakes (dean & deluca sells them at their soho store) and i have seen (not eaten) a gorgeous, gorgeous red velvet bday cake they made for my co-worker.
soopi25 at 11:10AM on 07/08/09
I think Cakeman is supposed to be the best. We got a cake from Ladybird Bakery (formerly Two Little Red Hens) that was heavenly so you could try to that too http://www.ladybirdbakery.com.
nithya at hungrydesi at 12:53PM on 07/08/09
I really liked the cake form Cake Man Raven and I generally don't like red velvet. But I haven't tried Ladybird!
Robyn Lee at 1:38PM on 07/08/09
I think Cakeman Raven is great, though for taste alone I prefer the red velvet cake recipe I use (all butter, no cocoa in the batter, but otherwise the same recipe, which you can find on his site). If you're not going to bake, and don't have the time, skills or inclination to beautifully decorate, than Cakeman Raven is the way to go. The taste is wonderful and the presentation is excellent.
MMinNYC at 2:41PM on 07/08/09
I've tried all of the ones listed above.
- Cake Man Raven is HIGHLY overrated. Not good.
- Billy's is ok
- Ladybird/Two Little Red Hens is the best of the ones mentioned but I have found it to be a little dry.
However, the best red velvet cake (well, cupcake) that I've had at a bakery in NYC is the one at Sugar Sweet Sunshine on the Lower East Side. They can custom make cakes of all their cupcake flavors..
I hear Baked (Red Hook) makes a good red velvet cake (I've never tried it) but they use cinnamon buttercream - although since everything is made to order, you can likely request plain buttercream or cream cheese frosting.
charm city cupcake at 8:00PM on 07/08/09
I haven't tried SSS for the red velvet but I had the rest mentioned----I really liked the red velvet cupcake from Dessert Club, Chikalicious--it was ridiculously good...I believe they do a cake as well...it was moist and tasty and the frosting unreal....
Italiancupcake at 10:43AM on 07/09/09
p.s. I know you wanted Brooklyn by this I thought was worth the trip to the East Village....
Italiancupcake at 10:44AM on 07/09/09
I recently tried to order a red velvet cake from Cake Man Raven and was thwarted at every turn. The number listed on their website didn't work for several days and then I was never able to leave a message; I emailed the address listed and got no response; I eventually went to the store in the middle of the day when it was supposed to be open and discovered it was closed. I eventually gave up and got a red velvet cake from Betty Bakery on Atlantic that was delicious and only involved one phone call to order.
laceyc at 11:01AM on 07/09/09
I have tried red velvet from Cake Man Raven, Ladybird, Baked, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Chickalicious/Dessert Club and everywhere else in between. The main problem I find with red velvet cupcakes/cakes (and most cupcakes in general) is the dryness factor of the cake. Also with red velvet, I'd like to have a hint of the cocoa. In my experience, Cake Man Raven has been the consistent best (I have only tried slices, though, not full cakes) and Ladybird also makes excellent red velvet. I actually tried their red velvet yesterday for the first time. My favorite bakery for cakes is Two Little Red Hens in Manhattan (Ladybird used to be Two Little Red Hens before the partners split, as noted before), so I wanted to "compare," seeing as though they were once 1 bakery. I have to say, in the end, Cake Man Raven won from a combination of a very moist cake, frosting, crumb structure and overall "mouth feel" with Ladybird/Two Little Red Hens coming in a very close second). Baked cupcakes were dry (although have not tried their cakes, so could be different). But they make excellent chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Sugar Sweet Sunshine is usually good. But I once ordered a red velvet cake from them for an office party and the frosting tasted like pure butter. As a result, no one could really eat the cake. Perhaps an employee made a mistake in making the frosting, so I considered this incident a fluke. Chickalicious/Dessert Club cupcakes (again, sorry, didn't try the cake) were all dry, although the frosting was the best I had ever had on cupcakes.
Although not in Brooklyn, I hear Make My Cake in Harlem makes better red velvet than Cake Man Raven. I have yet to try, so perhaps worth investigating. Anyway, good luck on your search!
sirbakesalot at 11:41PM on 07/09/09
Honestly folks. Cake Man Raven tastes like sugar. Sweet beyond words and otherwise has no essence. The recipe is online, look it up.
If you want a great Red Velvet, with flavor and moist cake, Heavenly Crumbs in Fort Green is the answer. The icing on top not a sugary glop like CMR. It has flavor and a hint of tartness that makes it a must have. Also, their German Chocolate Cake is beyond words delicious.
http://www.heavenlycrumbs.com/Cakes.html
ScottF at 4:06PM on 07/10/09
Even though it may not be famous, like Little Red Hens and the Cake Man, I think that Betty Bakery in Boreum Hill makes the perfect Red Velvet. You can taste the cocoa without it being overpowering and the frosting is delicious. I believe it is as it should be: cream cheese frosting.
nicplante at 10:36AM on 07/11/09
The one from Baked in Red Hook is great.
justhungry at 12:13PM on 07/13/09
Cakeman wouldn't take my order on Wednesday for Saturday, and I'm glad. I ended up ordering 2 dozen red velvet cupcakes from Joyce's Bakeshop on Vanderbilt Avenue and Park Place - they were a HUGE hit.
Thanks for all the help everyone!
z911empire at 12:48PM on 07/13/09